Author Topic: 7mm-08: Anyone shoot one? (Read 1299 times)

Patriot_1776 · « **on:** January 21, 2005, 07:10:41 PM »

Seems like a dandy little cartridge. How is the accuracy? Reloading would be pretty straight forward, but how does it handle the heavier bullets (145gr. and >)? How about performance-wise (flat-shooting, long-range ballistics)? Seems like something to put into the ole' "Consideration Box". If I seriously started wanting one of these, I would would probably be looking at it in something like a Weatherby Accumark. Any other comments on this cartridge? Thanks

-Patriot

ms · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2005, 02:01:44 AM »

Just buy the dang think and don't worry about it. Its a great caliber! :lol:

hellacatcher · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2005, 02:17:15 AM »

Only thing I know is I have meat in the frezzer.

Zachary · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2005, 02:18:58 AM »

Patriot,

The 7mm-08 is my favorite deer cartridge. In fact, I own not 1, not 2, but 3 rifles chambered in thge 7mm-08. Why? Let me explain...

The 7mm-08 is simply a .308 Winchester necked down to fit a 7mm (.284) bullet. The .308 is one of the most accurate cartridges out there, and people say that it is inherently accurate do to its design. Well, then that means that the 7mm-08 borrows from this inherent design.

Factory favorite bullet weight is a seemingly standard 140 grains, which is more than enough for deer, especially when you consider the premium bullets that are out there. Also, although there is not a lot of factory loadings out there as much as the .308, the 7mm-08 is still popular and has its own share of factory loadings - certainly much more than the 7x57.

Recoil is also quite mild, and, since it is a short action cartridge, you can have it in smaller, lighter rifles - which means it's ideal for not only hunters hunting up in the mountains, but also for youth and smaller framed women.

I truly is a great cartridge and I highly recommend it.

Zachary

Dave in WV · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2005, 02:50:50 AM »

I most rifles the 7mm-08 is a mild kicker. In my Rem 7600 is has some kick but not anything like a 30-06 in the same model rifle. My son has shot a Rem 700 7mm-08 and said it hardly kicked.

Seedsntrees · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2005, 03:35:41 AM »

Hello, I have a TIKKA T3, just love the thing! It shoots "holes in holes" @ 100 yards. Flat, fast and accurate performance. Wish I would have started shooting one 20 years ago!

No more 30 calibers!

HogFan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2005, 09:00:46 AM »

My T/C Encore is in 7mm-08 and I love that rifle. I am a 7mm loone, so the 7mm-08 was a natural. I also own a .280 Rem. and have a 7mm WSM on order. I am moving to MS this spring, and I am sure the 7mm-08 will see more action than all the others combined.

HogFan

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2005, 09:21:00 AM »

When my granddaughter turned 12 last year and became old enough to hunt big game(deer, etc.) I told her to choose the rifle and caliber she wanted. I built her the 7mm-08 that she wanted. Very accurate, mild in the recoil department and easy to reload for. She has taken two nice Mule Deer bucks this last fall to go along with the two wild hogs that she has taken with it. The 7mm-08 is a favorite of the benchrest/silhouette crowd. Lawdog

SamSpade · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2005, 10:21:57 AM »

Ackley Improve it and it will shoot with the 7mmWSM or 7mm Rem. Mag. without the recoil.

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2005, 10:42:31 AM »

Glad to see it has been living up to what I have read about it. I won't be getting another rifle for quite a while; as I just got a new one last month in 223 WSSM. Haven't fired it yet, as circumstances beyond my control have so far ordained otherwise. But this cartridge will be one to seriously consider in the future. Thanks all for the opinions/info, as I do hope there will be more posted here in the future about this great cartridge.

-Patriot

old06 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2005, 04:38:24 PM »

I have a Browning BBR in 708 it has been one of the most constant rounds and rifle combination I own. Its a joy to shoot first reloading session the largest group was under a inch out of 2 different bullets and 3 powders. By one you wont be sorry.

Sigma · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2005, 05:50:36 PM »

The 7mm08 seems to make the best use of the .308 cartridge case, period. Beats the .308 in ballistics and offers bullets with good sectional density for excellent penetration and performance on deer-sized game up to elk. Recoil is mild as well. As stated, its ballistic twin is the 7x57, but modern powders easily make up for any perceived shortcomings. Simply a great combination - IMO hard to beat. :wink:

Regards

mountainview · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2005, 08:12:20 PM »

Yup, I shoot one. Has been an excellent deer cartridge for me. Like the others, I highly recommend it.

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2005, 09:22:57 AM »

Quote from: SamSpade

Ackley Improve it and it will shoot with the 7mmWSM or 7mm Rem. Mag. without the recoil.

I wouldn't lay any money on that. I have a .30 Gibbs(another .30-06 improved version like Ackley) and a .300 H&H. Both weight about the same with the same length barrels, about as identical as one can get. Loaded to about the same velocities you can't tell the difference between them in recoil. Lawdog

razmuz · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2005, 11:49:35 AM »

I had a 7M-08 Rem model 7 once. It was a good little rifle and I've forgot why I traded it off. Maybe because I'm in love with the 6.5X55 even though it's a little over kill for deer.

while99 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2005, 12:52:46 PM »

I have a Model 70 Compact in 7mm-08. I have not shot it very much but it seems to be accurate with Winchester 140 grain ballistic tips. Groups are about 1 1/4 inches.

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:51:35 PM »

Thanks to those who posted further about their experiences. For those who want to, feel free to post their experiences with this cartridge; I still browse this thread often. Kind of an indirect admittance to my increasing interest in eventually settling on a rifle chambered for one of these.:wink:

-Patriot

Grubbs · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2005, 04:44:19 AM »

I bought my son a Tikka T-3 7-08. He is slightly built, but he promptly pasted a nice 10 pt whitetail w/ 140 corelokts, and a nice 5x5 bull elk w/ 140 gr partitions. A great shooter, lightweight, and it will kill. This has been my first experience with the 7-08 and I am extremely impressed.

Spyro Andes · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2005, 11:46:57 AM »

I currently own 2 rifles chambered for 7mm-08.

the first is a Model 7 that is sitting in a McMillan stock and wears a 4x scope in tally's. It is a light little thing.

the second is a Model 700 that has had a medium heavy sporter weight 22" douglas tube w/ a minimum chamber, sits in a laminate stock and wears a 3.5-10 Leupold in Warne rings. It has a little heft to it. It is a joy for even the most recoil shy to shoot and that little gun has killed alot of people's 'first kill'.

The accuracy of both the rifles is rediculously good. When I develop loads for a new rifle, it wears a 36x leupold and gets shot from a pedestal front and heavy bag rear rest. It didn't matter what you fed the med-heavy Rem 700, it shot small. Actually, in load development it just shot small groups and smaller groups.

The 7mm-08 is a dandy that got lost amongst the magnum hype.

hicard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2005, 07:26:08 AM »

I hunt with a friend who shoots a Rem. 7 in 7MM-08 and he never misses and the wild boars never go far. I am impressed with his ability and equipment. I have a 260 and love it also. It kills game like nothing I've seen.

Big Sky · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:07:45 AM »

The 7mm08 will do about anything any other 7mm round will do within 400 yards. I have seen well over 100 deer killed by either myself or those with me using a 7mm08. Those deer were both mule deer and large whitetails. I have also used it to take many antelope and coyotes. I personally have not killed a black bear with it, but I have a friend that has killed several Boone and Crockett qualifying bears with his 7mm08. It tends to be very accurate and relatively mild to shoot in terms of recoil. I can't think of a single reason to not own one. I bought my first one the first year Remington released them to the public. I still have one and will likely keep one or two on hand for the rest of my days. It may not be the greatest round in the world, but it's a darn good one!

beemanbeme · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2005, 04:59:30 PM »

I have owned 7-08's since back when they were still a wildcat. My son and I have used several on hunts out west when elk were not on the menu. With great success. My son's longest shot was on a mulie using a model 7 (one of the old ones with the 18' barrel). One shot, one dead mulie. Out there we used 140gr NP's and 145gr Grand Slams.
Since moving to WV, I have used a model 7 with a 1.5x5 scope and have rediscovered round nosed bullets. I have shot several deer with the 154gr RN bullet. It will really drop a whitetail in its tracks.

If a fellow's hunting was confined to east of the big river, a 7-08 would be all he needs.

:grin: