Enlighten me on the 7mm-08

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1a (like): accuracy galore for the hand loader
1b (dislike): not always easy to find, but then again, is anything right now?
2: ideal deer/pronghorn round
3: yes. Not a huge gap though

edit to add: if I had it to do over again I would have started out with a 7mm-08. I love my .308 but the 7 seems a little more perfect-er
 
I've never owned one, but only because I have several 308 rifles. It is just a 308 case necked down to 7mm. On paper 7-08 is ever so slightly better than 308, but not enough for me to justify owning both or to trade in my 308 rifles. It shoots 140's to about the same speed as 150's from a 308. But since the 7mm bullets will be a bit more aerodynamic the 7-08 shoots a tad flatter and carries a little more energy at longer ranges. Recoil is ever so slightly less too. But those differences are mostly on paper.

If limited to factory loads there are far more 308 options and at better prices and that is the only reason I chose 308 over 7-08. You used to be able to pick up military surplus 308 dirt cheap too, no more. And that decision was made before I was into hand loading. I've said in the past that if my home burned and I lost everything at this point in my life I'd probably take the insurance money and just buy one good rifle and scope in 7-08 and call it good.

It is a legitimate elk/moose cartridge and capable at ranges out to around 400 yards. Unless I needed bullets 200gr or heavier I'd use it for anything I'd use a 30-06 for.
 
for?
Will it fill the gap between 30-30/ 7.62x39 and .30-06?

Fits between 3030 and 3006. Real close in performance as 308.

I've had great accuracy with 139 to 160 gr bullets over imr or h 4350 my best load so far has been h 4350 and 239 hornandy spbt.

Dropped the last buck i shot with it in its tracks.
 
My wife hunts with one and I was pretty surprised how light the recoil is with 140g bullets. Hunting wise I’d say it’s every bit as as good as a .308 but with better ballistics and softer recoil. It also has the edge over a Creedmoor for elk with a selection of heavier bullets and larger frontal diameter.
 
Not much to say besides....I dig it.....
It shines with the same powders the 6.5CM does, and Staball gave me awful close to factory 280 performance.

Close to .280, please tell us more! And what is “Staball”? Edit, it’s a powder… interesting indeed!
 
I don't have one yet, but I do like rounds based off the 308 win.

I also like the Handi Rifles and single shot firearms in general. Low cost, utilitarian type guns. I wish they didn't discontinue them. Now what's left is the Henry's, but I can't justify the price.
 
I like the 7mm-08, yet have never owned one. My stepmom has a Rem. Model 7 in it, and I've shot that gun some. She though enough of it to use it for a moose hunt, but didn't practice enough at 200 yards, and shot under a moose at 225 with it. Not the gun's fault, though. A good friend has a 700 BDL in 7mm-08, and I've shot that one also. both guns were mild on recoil. More than a .243, but not much.

I would like to hear likes and dislikes of the 7mm-08.
Capabilities and shortcomings....
What are game is it ideally suited for?
Will it fill the gap between 30-30/ 7.62x39 and .30-06?

Like: Punches far above it's weight, mild recoil.
Dislike: As mentioned, brass may be harder to find, though it can be made from .243 or .308 if need be.
Deer, black bear, pronghorn, coyotes at distance in the wind. I wouldn't recommend it for moose unless you practice with it at 200-300 yards.
Sits right in that gap, like the 6.5 Swede and 7x57 Mauser, it's ballistic twin.
 
I had a 7mm-08 Savage once upon a time. Even worked up some handloads for it, first caliber I ever did so for. So in that respect, it has a lot of pros. You may not always be able to find factory ammo, but there are lots of 7mm bullets out there you can play with. And for powder, it can take pretty much anything you would put under a 308 bullet. Didn't use it for any hunting myself but read deer and under would be easy pickings for it.
 
Close to .280, please tell us more! And what is “Staball”? Edit, it’s a powder… interesting indeed!
140s run 2950 from my guns 22" tube. Federal fusions hit 3050 from my 280AIs 26"

Staball is one of those things thats hard to get now tho, so I havent dont much more than chornographing. Im currently running 120s in front of Varget right at 3K.
 
I have a couple, one is an integrally suppressed Mossberg Patriot.

I really like the round, it's very well balanced.

Now, if I were buying a full length big game rifle with a 22"-26" barrel, I'd go .280. However, in a shorter barrel, especially under 20", the more efficient 7mm-08 closes the performance gap, and does so with less recoil. That's why my Sussurrus integral with its heavily ported 18" barrel is a 7mm-08, not a .280.
 
40+ years ago I bought a 30/06 because it was the do everything, anywhere big game round. It still is.....but the 7mm-08 is a lower recoil,higher efficiency do everything big game round. If I were starting over looking for the do everything rifle I would be debating 260 Rem. 6.5 Creedmore, 7mm-08 and .308. Based upon widespread availability the .308 might win....but I haven't used a factory loaded cartridge on game in decades except with a borrowed rifle in Africa......so 7-08 would probably triumph.
 
It’s what the kids learn on to get to a 280ai.

Whats not to love it’s a 308 with better BC bullets.
 
I have more than one 7mm-08. What's not to like about a 7mm round. I use them for hunting anything in the medium size game arena and target shooting. My one and only Handi is a 7mm-08 and I could never get the thing to hold decent groups. I tried different loads, different powders and different bullets. I applied all of the Handi tricks suggested by the Handi fans. 3 inch groups don't cut it in my books. Maybe I got a dud so it sits in the back of a safe.
 
The perfect whitetail cartridge, plenty but not too much. As noted above the ballistics are slightly better than .308, so it's also a round very capable of reaching out to considerable distances. Find the loads your rifle likes, and stock up on what you need, because when times get tight (as they have recently) ammo for this caliber tends to get hard to lay hands on.
 
@Armored farmer enjoy your new to you 7mm-08!
I owned a Browning BLR in 7mm-08 for awhile before selling it to a buddy for his kids to use for whitetails in Wisconsin. I only shot one doe with the rifle in WI.
The cartridge is a good balance between 243 & 308. It will be a nice addition for you between your 7.62×39 and 30-06. Have fun with the rifle! I see some coyote practice this winter with it :)
 
Pic 4.jpg
That's our grandson, Jake, his mom, Chrissie (our daughter) and the mule deer Jake shot with his grandmother's (my wife's) old tang-safety Ruger 77, 7mm-08 a couple of years ago. My wife has (had) two 7mm-08s - one Ruger 77 which our grandson kind of laid claim to, and one Winchester 70 "Featherweight" which our oldest daughter, Chrissie kind of laid claim to. BTW, Chrissie has also taken more mule deer with her mom's 7mm-08 than I can remember right off.
My wife uses a 7mm Rem Mag now, but that's only because she wanted a custom rifle of her own, and the rifle she found to have customized (and got for a song) was a barely used Model 70, 7mm Rem Mag - which we only load to "7mm-08 +P" levels anyway - sort of like a 280 Remington.
I myself have been kicking around the idea of having a lightweight "mountain rifle" built for just mule deer hunting, and I've been debating between a 7mm-08 and a 308 Winchester. I know either one would work great, but I kind of have a thing for 30 caliber rifles, so I'd probably go with the 308 Winchester.:thumbup:
 
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