Author Topic: 30-06 to 7mm-08 (Read 1377 times)

Buckfever · « **on:** May 25, 2004, 05:24:40 AM »

Gentlemen how much do I give up if I go from a 30-06 to a 7mm-08? I will only use the gun for Whitetail in USA and Canada(250-300lbs). I am interested because of recoil, old shoulder injury, and accuracy. I would have shots under 200yds mostly under 100yds. I really like my 30-06 but the recoil is starting to cut my practice time. If this makes any sense what would be the best bullet for the 7mm-08. Any game shot experience would be very interesting. Thanks Buckfever

Iowegan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2004, 05:39:38 AM »

Buckfever, I use a 7mm-08 for pretty much the same reason. The older I get, the more recoil sensitive I get. The 7-08 is very tame in my Rem 700. I shoot 140 gr bullets, optimum for power and accuracy. So far, the longest kill was only 100 yds but I'm sure it would reach out much farther. Yes, you're giving up quite a bit of energy but I doubt the deer will know the difference with good shot placement.

Zachary · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2004, 05:45:28 AM »

I currently own many rifles in many different calibers, two of which are the .30-06 and the 7mm-08.

Let me just say that the 7mm-08 has to be the ideal whitetail cartridge out to 200 yards or so. Recoil is much milder than the .30-06, and accuracy seems to be better, probably because the 7mm-08 shares the same inherent accuracy from the .308 cartridge.

With today's premium bullets, the difference between a 7mm-08 and a .30-06 shooting plain jane bullets is not that great.

Get the 7mm-08 and you'll never look back.

Zachary

PA-Joe · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2004, 05:46:11 AM »

Ballistically what the 7mm08 gives up in velocity is counteracted by the increased BC for the same weight of point. They are basicially equal. Do you reload and why not start soft reloading for your 3006. At 200 yds do don't need max powder 3006s.

Buckfever · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2004, 07:39:07 AM »

Pa-Joe I don't reload and don't know if I would shoot enough to justify. I probably would shoot about 4 boxes a year plus the 1 or 2 shells I need for the hunt. I have a 300 Win. Mag. with a brake if I ever go on a bigger animal hunt but I don't think so. Those Whitetails I love hunting them! What a great time sit in the stand and slow down enough to see everything going on in the woods. Also the interaction between the deer and their pecking order. I am just concerned that some of those tip over kills will turn in to running deer and tracking shot deer. Or am I concerned about nothing? Thanks Buckfever

Zachary · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2004, 08:22:50 AM »

You can shoot a deer with a .300 Win Mag and it can run a mile. It all depends on where you shoot it, and how your bullet performs. If you shoot a deer at 100 yards through the lungs with a .30-06 with a conventional 180 grain bullet, the deer will probably be impacted just about the same as if it were hit with a 7mm-08 with a conventional bullet.

It all depends on shot placement and bullet design. Don't worry about the performance of the 7mm-08 - it's there!

Zachary

John Traveler · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2004, 11:46:09 AM »

For all practical purposes, the 7mm-08 duplicates the performance of the classic 7x57 Mauser.

Jack O'Connor was famous for his promotion for the .270 Winchester as the "all-around rifle". Less well known is that he was also a 7x57 fan and considered it suitable for all North American game using the right bullet.

You can switch from .30-06 to the 7mm-08 and never have to look back!

John

Dave in WV · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2004, 03:12:51 PM »

I've read several positive comments on the Simms recoil pads. Having one installed on your rifle and using a Past recoil shoulder pad at the range could take care of your problem and save you money.

Big Tom · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2004, 04:24:00 PM »

Buckfever, The 7mm08 recoil will be less IF you use the same weight rifle and comparable loads. My buddy Longwinters has a 7mm08 Encore with a laminate stock and with 150gr loads it kicks harder than my WBY Mark V SS in 30.06 with 150 gr loads.

But a 7mm08 in a standard weight rifle is milder than an 06.

I still don't see any advantage a 7mm08 has over a .308 :?
Of course I am a big fan of the old .308 Winny :grin:

jvs · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2004, 12:41:04 AM »

Quote from: Buckfever

Gentlemen how much do I give up if I go from a 30-06 to a 7mm-08? I will only use the gun for Whitetail in USA and Canada(250-300lbs). I am interested because of recoil, old shoulder injury, and accuracy.

You might want to check out the new Remington model out this year, the CDL. It's supposed to have a new kind of recoil pad that is hyped to be pretty effective.

There is a limited number of calibers available this year, I believe 7mm-08 is one of them.

Remington has pics and details on their website.

Big Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2004, 02:05:08 AM »

half-inch-group brings a good point to mind... :-)

Remington BDLs and the new CDL are retailing near 700$, and Rugers cost over 600$...A Weatherby Mark V SS is only 100$ more and a lot more for the money...you get a made in USA quality rifle, 26" barrel, crisp 3# trigger, and 1.5" MOA guaranteed! Or check out the new Vanguard(Howa), from everything I read they are a helluva nice rifle for the price.
Every time I go out to the range the Weatherbys they impress everyone with the consistent tight groups under an inch. :wink:

jvs · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2004, 03:52:25 AM »

Only one correction for Big Tom. The MSRP for the new CDL's is around $699 but they sell for $519 at the gunshops in my area, depending on the caliber. The SAM's run a little higher.

Most rifles never see MSRP. Basically, MSRP is the price they could get if this was a perfect world.

I haven't seen a CDL up close yet but if I was buying a rifle, it would be one to see.

Big Tom · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2004, 09:09:25 AM »

Remington 700 BDLs sell for 649$ here at ACE hardware. We don't have a gun shop for 120miles. The CDL is 679$. I guess I live in the perfect world :lol:

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2004, 04:21:09 PM »

I'm a real fan of the 7-08. It is my favorite deer round and I consider it about ideal. So I'd say you're really giving up no "effective" advantage in going from an '06 to a 7-08. BUT you also aren't really gaining anything in reduced recoil. Now I have both calibers in the R700 LSS Mtn. Rifles. These guns are as identical as a long and short action of same make can be.

If I use the 165s or especially 180 grain bullets the '06 definitely comes back with more authority. But 150s aren't really noticeably more in recoil than the 140s in the 7-08. Sure I guess there is a wee bit of difference but my shoulder (which by the way needs rotator cuff surgery badly) can't tell it. I'm not gonna shoot either of them a lot from the bench.

When you get to the point where your shoulder says it's time for lighter recoil the really proper thing to do is to use your deer rifle when hunting and buy a ligher recoiling gun for practicee. Say a .22LR or a Hornet or .223. Use that for the practice. Just make sure it is as similar to your hunting rifle as possible. Shoot the hunting gun as little as possible to make sure it is still sighted each year and then use it for hunting only. That's what I've been doing now for a good while.

And when you use the hunting rifle at the range use a PAST Magnum recoil shield between it and your shoulder.

GB

Val · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2004, 08:01:12 AM »

If recoil is the issue, consider a 25-06. I just got one and it is quite a bit milder than my 30-06. It throws out 120 grain Nosler partions at just over 3000 fps. Using a different powder or more powder I'm sure I could get a much higher muzzle velocity but I load for accuracey. The 25-06 is an excellent deer round as well as varmint/predators.

hunter991 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2004, 05:43:31 AM »

as far as i am concerned, the 7mm08 is the perfect deer cart. You are not giving up much except for versitility to hunt bigger game. And even that is questionable. I have both the 06 and 7mm08 and 7mm is now my favorite caliber. You will never look back. However, i did install a nice recoil pad on my 3006 and it seems to kck less now than my 7mm08 without a nice pad. Recoil pads make a huge difference. But i do know that the 7mm08 has less recoil it's just not as apparent anymore with the pad on the 3006.

I say do it.. go for the 7mm08. Look at the ballistics. it's not a slouch by any means.

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2004, 09:45:26 PM »

I think you will be more than happy with the 7mm/08. But for your needs maybe consider the .260 Rem.

brasschaser · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2004, 06:41:31 AM »

Quote from: 7magWoodsman

I think you will be more than happy with the 7mm/08. But for your needs maybe consider the .260 Rem.

+1

Look at the .260 Rem as well as the 6.5. Both plenty of power out to 200yds.

Buckfever · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2004, 12:05:57 PM »

The 7mm-08 was my first choice but the old school wood stock wasn't available in that caliber. I have had it to the range with 140gr Hornady custom ammo and it is MOA at 100yds out of the box, what a lazer!!!!!!
Hey this is almost all gun I am a hunter and not that good of a bench shot.

I wonder if the 140gr Nosler Partitions I am having loaded will be good enough for those big Saskatachewan bucks or should I go to the 160gr?

Buckfever

goose7856 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2004, 12:29:14 PM »

Ok I dont know how many of you feel about this but Remington has a round that is called managed-recoil. It gives half the recoil as a normal 30-06 bullet. Yes, it does have a few drawbacks. The bullet is only 125 grains, but that is still plenty for deer sized game, is shoots a little slower (aorund 2600 fps instead of 2900) and the energy is lower (1965 instead of around 2800). But this would save you your $700. You could just shoot that round instead of buying a brand new gun. I guess it is kind of like one of the earlier posts. It is a reloaded round, that is at the minimum for everything, instead of pressing the max. pressure points.

I dont know.......but it was just an idea.........I do not know how the bullets perform on animals.......WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK??

Here is the website to check out this ammo:

http://www.remington.com/ammo/centerfire/managed_recoil.htm

Just my 2 cents.........I would rather buy a awsome scope then spend $700 of something that you already have, that will do the job (this should feel like shooting a .270 or .243 I would guess)