I am starting to think the 7MM-08 might just be perfect!!!!!!!

[DalesCarpentry]

I have been doing a whole lot of reading and comparing ballistics over the past year. I have been in search of the perfect Varmint and Deer rifle. What do you guys think of the 7MM-08? I really like the 308 family and it sure shoots flat enough. I also like the 260 a bunch for such a task. What I really like about the 7MM-08 is the large selection of bullets. You can get from 100 grain to 180 grain bullets in this caliber. It would be great to load some 100 grain hollow points for Groundhogs. I don't know how heavy of a bullet you could shoot with it. I would think 150 grain for Deer would work great. I just don't know how a heavier bullet than that would shoot out of it. Do any of you know? Have any of you shot heavier bullets than 150 grain out of your 7MM-08? If so how did they shoot? So tell me do you guys think it would be a great all around good cartridge for Varmints and Deer? Thanks Dale

[chutesnreloads]

Only grouch I have with my 7-08 is the throat is so short.Been loading 160 grain speers to shoot mainly at pigs.Have to seat them deeply into the case but they group ok.Tried 175 grain corlokt and they never grouped well with any load.Really didn't spend a lot of time with 'em though as the 160 grainer shot fine

[George Foster]

Most people who use the 7-08 use a 120 to 140gr bullet for deer, after all it is a 7mm and not a 308.  I believe if you want to use a 150gr or heavier bullet you should go to a 30 cal cartridge.

[wyohandi]

I have a 98mauser I built in 7mm-08,it started out with a 24" barrel on it I cut it back to 18"
(long winter not enough projects). I have shot a pile of deer and a couple elk with it.
120gr. is fine for deer, 140gr. is plenty for elk. I've shot 160s in it they shot fine,But a
little to slow for my taste. I get 2900FPS out of the 120s and 2750FPS with the 140s
in the 18" barrel. When the barrel was 24" the 120s were 3100FPS the 140s were 2900FPS.
It was so close to my 7Mag that I figured I didn't need two,so I cut her down.
It may just be the barrel on it but it sure shoots,If all five holes aren't touching @100yds
I'm having a real bad day.

[Dave in WV]

 Critters can't read ballistics tables so they only impress us. IMHO a 7mm-08 would be ok for what you want but not ideal. IIRC you have a .243 and that's about as good as it gets for what you want. A 25-06 is a bit better for deer than the .243 and is good for varmints. I have a 7mm-08 pump and it's a great deer rifle/cartridge combo.  A 260 Rem is worth a look too. One thing you could consider is get a 7mm-08 and keep your .243. I have some nice rifles but I could be happy with a Stevens 200 7mm-08.

[lilabner]

If it isn't the perfect deer cartridge, it is pretty close. You didn't say what kind of varmints you will hunt, but if its prairie dogs, I would go for something with less recoil, like a .22 centerfire or perhaps the .243. The .260 is another very good choice - better than the 7-08 for varmints, almost as potent for deer. Coyote hunters don't have to worry about recoil because they don't shoot as much.

[DalesCarpentry]

I shoot a lot of Groundhogs. I do have my eye on a 260 also. Dale

[wi-deerhunter]

7mm-08 may be too much for varmint at any distance. Get .243 or 6mm remington

[DalesCarpentry]

I have a 243 Remington 700 SPS Varmint. It is pictured below. I was just thinking the 7MM-08 would be a better round for dual purpose for Deer and Groundhogs. Dale

[wi-deerhunter]

You eat groundhog a lot?

[DalesCarpentry]

Nope never have. I know a bunch of people that shoot them. I have yet to meet anyone that eats them. Dale

[buffermop]

30-06

[Freezer]

    Dale, you hand load, have you considered 6.5 Swede?  The 6.5 bullets have a very high bullet coefficient with good bullet penetration and performance and bullet weight from 95gr to 160gr.  The both have lite recoil but 6.5 Swede has a greater case capacity than the 260 Rem.  6.5 Swede factory loads are mild because of the older (pre 98 Mauser) actions it's chambered for.    How many ground hogs can you shoot in a row?  Are you concerned with barrel heat?  IMHO 6.5 Swede with a light taper 22"- 24" barrel, scoped 4x12, weighing 7-7.5 lbs may fill your nitch.  Just think every thing from ground squirrel to Elk.  Just don't tell your wife

[DalesCarpentry]

I have to say the 6.5 Swede sounds great. Britthunter has a couple of them and I have read what he has to say about them. He sure seems to be a big fan. I don't know of anyone who chambers one in a modern firearm. Dale

[30-06man]

Custom Barrels. Talk to your gunsmith about it.

[j104wd]

sako still chambers the 6.5 swede very nice rifles with the single set trigger it would be hard to beat for a dual purpose rifle

[charles p]

Currently have whitetail deer rifles in nine different calibers.  For whitetail I think the 7mm-08 is about perfect.  In 2007 I found a Rem LVSF in 7mm-08.  It was a special run, as this was a non-published caliber for the LVSF.  Rifle alone is under 7lbs.  Mine weighs 7lb 12oz scoped.  It has a 24" fluted barrel. 

If I was asked to design a perfect whitetail rifle, I don't know what I would change other than to tweek the trigger and/or go to an AI chamber.

[DalesCarpentry]

I would not go the custom route and have a rifle re-chambered for the 6.5x55 Swede. That would probably add up to big money. I do see that CZ makes a 6.5x55 Swede though and priced just over $600.00. Not a bad price. Dale

[Buckfever]

Dale, I have a Tikka T3 6.5x55.  It is sub-moa with both 140 grn. and 120 grn.  I use the 140 grn for large Northern Whitetail.  The 120 grn speer Hot core rolls on at about 3000fps using RL-19.  The other 120 grn. is a Barnes TSX and it is set up for when I don't know if the shot will be 50 yds or 350yds.  The firearm shoots all these loads sub-moa.  However it really like the TSX, had one 3 round group @ .333".  I have never shot a 100grn but would be careful since the T3 is leaning toward 120-140grn sweet spot.  The CZ may have different bore grove per inch and take varmint shells better.  I spent $550.00 for this firearm it is one of my favorites and was one of my best purchases.  However,  7mm-08 is one fine caliber also.  Buckfever

[nilescoyote]

DALESCARPENTRY, I have been struggling with the same question(260 vs. 7-08), but custom rather than factory. Im getting into the longer range varminting and paper punching at 1000. For pure paper punching the 260 (or even the new 6.5x47 Lapua) look good at about 280" of drop at 1000. the 7mm is nearer to 320" but both beat my 308 which is very near 370".  The thing I'm trying to decide is just how much energy I fell I need if I where to use it for deer as well at distance. The 7mm will hold 1000 foot pounds out to 800 yards if using JLK or berger low drag bullets, the 308 is a couple hundred short of that, as is the 260.

In the long run I think I'm going to go 7-08 because barrel life it better than the 260 and the long distence energy gain, even though I'm lossing about 30-40 inches of drop at 1k.

[DalesCarpentry]

Sounds like we are in the same boat. I have run so many numbers over the last year that would make your head spin. For what I want you could almost toss a coin an not go wrong with any of the 3 rounds I have been looking at. The 3 that interest me most are the 7MM-08, 260, and the 6.5 Swede. All of these are great rounds and will get job done. I would just like to have one rifle for long range Groundhogs ( 600+ yards ) and a great Deer rifle out to 400+ yards. I enjoy shooting and when I go to the range with my rifle I don't like to be beat up. I had a 300 Win Mag that after a couple boxes of shells at the range. I had a sore shoulder with bruises for days after. That is not for me. I just want something fast and flat. Dale

[nomosendero]

More fun reading;   http://demigodllc.com/articles/6.5-shootout-260-6.5x47-6.5-creedmoor/

The 6.5 kicks butt with this case capacity. So, for targets & Var. the 260 has an edge, afterall the Tactical boys are going from 308 to
6.5 in droves (& I am a 308 fan), but the move for these guys from 308 to 7-08 is seldom seen. A serious Tact. shooter told me not long ago that he does well with his 308 against the 260 boys, but with a little puff of wind the 260 competitors will have more predictable results because of less wind drift.

The 7-08 is as good as it gets for a pure Deer rifle, but with your limit for this rifle being at 400 for Deer but wanting to shoot Varmits further lends itself to the 260 quite well.

[nilescoyote]

Thanks nomosendero, looks like I have another 6.5 to look at now.... creedmoor, hmmmm.

[jasonprox700]

I'm with nomosendero on this one.  I do not currently own a 6.5, but I am hoping that will change within a year or so.  The nice thing about the 6.5 is the availability of bullet styles and weights.  You could load the 140's for deer and paper, and load a lighter bullet for varmints. 

I'm not knocking the 7mm-08 at all (my go to gun is a .280), but for taking varmints, deer, elk, and paper, one of the 6.5's is hard to beat!

[jmayton]

I'm too toying with the idea of a 7mm-08.  I think it would be ideal for hogs (what I hunt the most) and for deer as well.  But I think it's a bit too much lead and powder for varmints.  For long range varmints like you're talking about I think the .243 with 85grainers would be pretty ideal.  You get a high BC and excellent velocity.  The lighter 7mm bullets don't offer the BC.  When you're talking about long range hunting, I don't think there is a perfect varmint+deer caliber.  Though, if I had to vote, I'd vote for any one of the three you picked, but I might add in the 6mm rem (but only if you handload). 

[30-06man]

6.5 Rem Mag would have to be a custom barrel and I would look at at just because I liked it. I had one in a Rem 673 Guide gun that I had 80 rounds for. I hate I sold it.

[221fireball]

This is a reply to WI-deerhunter. I had an uncle that eat groundhog. He would hunt them in mid-to late fall and only shoot them in the head and if you went with him you better shoot for the head. He would boil them till the meat would fall off the bone then grind it up and put Bar-B-Q in it. You couldn't tell the difference  to regular pork B-B-Q. He was a great wildgame cook. I know this didn't have anything to do with subject 7MM-08.     

[DalesCarpentry]

Thanks for your reply. I have yet to eat one but that don't mean I won't. If I could find some one that could cook them right. I would try them for sure. Dale

[nilescoyote]

Thanks for your reply. I have yet to eat one but that don't mean I won't. If I could find some one that could cook them right. I would try them for sure. Dale

Id take a bite too. 

after reading some more on different forums I think, at least for now..., I'm going to go 7mm for my use, deer and paper at distance.

The 260 looks great but with all the problems of brass quality at the pressures I would be shooting at with the 130 and 140 VLD bullets, I don't think its worth the hassle. the 6.5x47 lapua looks great except the cost for dies and brass. I will keep my eye on the creedmoor. If hornady keeps it and more suppliers start to make stuff for it as well, I'll jump into that on my next rebarrel.

[nomosendero]

I have cooked them in a crock pot & then Bar-B-Que them. Pretty much the same meat as Beaver. After all, if you look at a Beaver
& visualize them without the tail & big teeth, they look almost like a Groundhog.