7mm-08 questions ....

bigjeepman

bigjeepman

New member
To fill in a gap in my calibers (I need some kind of reason don't I?), I am going to make the 7mm-08 my next rifle. I have done extensive reading on this caliber and it seems to be perfect for my newest needs. My gap range is from my from .243 to my .300 wsm. I know that is a big gap but my needs (varmits and coyotes) have been filled with an assortment of calibers .243 and below. I never really needed the .300 wsm but wanted to try a larger bore to see what the fuss was all about.

In my .243, my most accurate loads include 60gr HP, 70gr Nosler BT, and 80 gr BT. In my .300 wsm, my most accurate loads have been in the 165gr to 180gr Noslers. In a 7mm-08, I am thinking I will have a low recoiling, accurate rifle that will use bullets in the 120gr to 140gr area. I reload and I understand every rifle is different but this leads to my questions. My main use for this rifle will be occasionally hunting coyotes (not worried about pelt damage), lots of range shooting (up to 400 yds), and a future hunt for antelope and mule deer.

1. What are the most accurate hunting bullets for your 7mm-08?
2. What are the most accurate range bullets for your 7mm-08?
3. What are your favorite powders?
4. What is the largest game the 7mm-08 is capable of taking?
 
Well, lets see. I have a browning a bolt in 7mm08 with a Burris ballistic-plex and love it.. BUT my next 7mm08 will be a Savage with accu-trigger.. I am shooting 140gr federal ballistic tips.. I do not reload for this rifle... I have taken whitetail out to 375 yrds I have also taken this rifle bear hunting, without any thoughts of it being "not a bear gun" my only wish is that i had gone with the savage. I am not taking anything away from the browning but I have other guns in the savage and love them and will be the first to say they are hard to beat for out of the box accuracy.
 
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1. What are the most accurate hunting bullets for your 7mm-08?


I used Hornady Light Magnum 139 grain SST ammo...it loves it
Factory model 111 w/ factory barrel
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4. What is the largest game the 7mm-08 is capable of taking?


I know someone who shot an antelope with that Light Magnum ammo and had a pass through and ended up killing 2 with one shot. I think that anything you would shoot at with a .308 would be adequate game for the 7mm-08.
 
140gr NBTs (fed prem) and will load them first when I actually start with that rifle. I would go anywhere from 120-162gr pills (I bet a 162gr a-max will kick butt in that chambering)
 
i have a remmy m700 mountain rifle in 7mm/08, i reload 140 gr. ballistic tips w/ IMR 4350, and it is super accurate. my longest shot was a coyote at right at 300 yds. i have killed very large hogs with it...i think you would be very happy w/ the 7mm/08. it is a very versatile cartridge.
 
I bought a Savage Model 11 (with the Accu-trigger)for my wife and it's a great rifle. She shot her first elk last year with 140 grain Nosler Partitions, but it shoots better groups with 140 grain Sierra Pro Hunters. The elk was a one shot kill and it put the bull down on the spot. I shot a doe muley this year with the ProHunter bullets and the result was lung and heart soup--she went down within sight after a 50 yard dash.

I like RL-19 with the 140 grain bullets and I've also used Varget with good results.

In the hands of a reasonable hunter a 7mm-08 with premium bullets like Partitions, Triple shocks, or A-frames is just fine for elk, and more than enough for deer, black bear and antelope.

Some would disagree, but that's my take.
 
Ok guys ... great feedback ... just what I was hoping for.

txagyotebuster .... I have heard about that combination of 140gr Nosler BT and IMR 4350 several times on different forums and here you mentioned it again.

The Hornady 139gr SST bullets sound interesting though I know nothing of Hornady .284 bullets.

yotehunter74.... I have a Savage 10FP in .223 with a B&C stock that shoots "lights out" with the Accutrigger. This trigger took me a while to get used to but now everything is fine.

chuckaholic .... I was thinking the same thing though I always said I'd never sell a gun. I can shoot .500" to .600" groups with the Win .300wsm but after about 5-6 rounds, I have had enough. I'm no wuss ... I just enjoy less recoil at this stage.

Keep the advice coming guys ....
 
well rick jamison said it best, if he wanted to see just how good a rifle would shoot he'd start with a BT, you need 2 bullets to shoot anything from rabbits to moose, the nosler 140 BT and the 140 accubond, for powder you can't beat the 4350's from IMR and Hodgdon.
I killed a 207 # black bear and a 300 pound boarhog with mine, with 120 gr hornady spire points.
RR
 
Ridge Runner ... varmentwacker ... thanks for your help.

The majority likes 140gr Noslers and IMR-4350 from information gathered from two different forums. I also have Varget and RE 19 to try.

Thanks everyone and have a great Holiday season!!!!
 
I have a model 7 stainless synthetic. I love this rifle, it is now my deer and antelope rifle of choice. I have only tried two powders, varget and IMR 4064. 4064 gets the nod with 140 grain bullets. After reading this thread I'm going to try some 4350.
 
bigjeep,

I use the 7mm08 in my Savage Striker, and the family of .308 rounds (i.e., .243, 7mm08, etc.) are all inherently accurate, but for some reason, the 7mm really shines.

I used the .308 at work a lot and really got an education while using it. I've handloaded for many years, and as far as I can remeber, have never really bought factory ammo except for maybe a box or two for testing many years ago.

Having some good experiences with the .308 in my dept. rifle, I read many articles stating the added benefit that the 7mm08 had over it's parent round. After buying the Striker and loading and shooting it, everything said was an understatement. Even in the short barrelled handgun, the things unbelieveably accurate with the right handloads.

As far as loads go, I use lighter bullets in the 15" Striker to gain a slight edge in comparison to rifle ballistics. The shorter barrel causes a loss in velocity, so to gain some of that back, and get performances that are relatively equal to a heavier bullet in a rifle, I use bullets at 120grs. Namely the Nosler 120gr. BT's, and the Hornady 120gr. Vmax's.
I use 43.0grs. of Varget under that 120gr. bullet, and I use Federal 210Match primers as well.
IMR4350 is another great powder, as is H414, which is a ball powder that was designed to duplicate 4350 in burn rate, but meter much smoother. IMR 4064 is a little faster than 4350, and might not achieve the highest velocities in the 7mm08, but never the less, performs well.
I've loaded them initially using CCI200 & 250 primers, but the switch to Federal Match primer's netted me a whole lot better groups...very visible difference.

FWIW....

Take care,
Bob
 
I have a good friend who hunts with a 7mm-08 Savage Striker and has great success with his like you have. I really appreciate your in-depth reply and the reasoning behind your reloading. Someday, I will get a Striker or Contender for handgun hunting ... maybe in 7mm-08.

Thanks to everyone.
 
You will get a ton of opinions on this one, and for good reason. The 7mm-08 is simply one of the most inherently accurate, least finicky cartridges out there. PERIOD. Good results can easily be obtained from a variety of bullets and powders. I've dropped more deer with the 7-08 than anything else. It is THE best overall deer cartrridge in existence when ALL factors are considered. Do yourself a favor and buy a good one, because you'll find yourself using it more than your 243 or your 300whizzum.....My current 7-08....

100_0177.jpg


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She's a sweetie.....2MG
 
2MG ...

Thanks for the pictures and your opinion on the caliber. I remember after I bought my Savage 10FP (put a new stock on it) in .223, my friend/gunshop owner told me it would most likely shoot several different bullet/powder loads very well. He told me not to be satisfied with groups over .500" and to keep working at it until I could consistently shoot 5 shot groups .500" or less. I did what he said and everything turned out fine. I have a Tikka in my plans for the 7mm-08. I know of no one in my area, personally,who owns one but I read a lot of posts in forums and not so many gun magazines. I handled one almost a year ago and it seemed to be what I would want for this caliber.
 
I think that with a handloaded 154 gr Hornady SP the 7mm-08 is capable of taking down any deer or elk walking No. America. Granted it is not a 400 yd elk rifle, but it certainly is a well up to the task of taking down a bull at 200 yds.
The 7mm-08 came into being as a factory load when metalic siloulette shooting was a rage in the early 80's. It was legendary for is knockdown ballistics of the 500 meter Rams.
 
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Hey Don ...

I was being recruited by a company up your way about 2.5 years ago in Monroe, WA. The country was beautiful. I was really impressed. I had a rental car and drove through the Cascades for over a day.

Thank you for your input!
 
Thanks for the compliment, it does have its' appeal. I have gotten hooked on salmon fishing out here, and I like to go to E. WA for my hunting. Here on the western slope of the Cascades it is pretty wet and very brushy.

Take care,
 
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