7mm-08 & 7MM Rem. Mag. Deal or not??

[tackleberry45]

If you look back in my threads you will see I am a novice hunter. I just got a .25-06 a little while ago. There is a deal from a guy where I shoot for 2 Remington XCR II rifles, one in 7mm-08 and the other 7mm Rem. Mag. $1200.00 for both. He claims that he is tired of loking for ammo, tired of specialty calibers, and wants something that can take any North American game. Being a student of the 'net I researched this.

1. I found ammo plentiful on line in as many places I could look
2. I could not find anything to lend creedence to his statement of being "specialty calibers"
3. From what my novice self can tell the above mentioned calibers would be in the running for good choices with most North American game , assuming the right load.

I want to dive in on this deal, but I am at the "to good a deal to be true" point.

What are the THR folks thoughts on this????

 

[homers]

Sounds like he is trying to take (a little) advantage of you and having you pay near top dollar for 2 guns he wants to get rid of. Are the rifles scoped, and if so, with what?

Both are pretty main stream calibers, although the 7 mag factory loads will cost more.

 

[tackleberry45]

no scopes, just the rifles

 

[oneounceload]

I have other Remington models in those calibers (700 BDL and Model 7) - both are very good and would work for most applications, especially in the lower 48. Whether those two rifles are worth $600 each, I can't answer

 

[Gtscotty]

I'll preface this post by stating that I don't have this kind of rifle, or even either of these calibers (although a 7mm-08 is in my future some day). That said, around here (GA), aside from the old '06 the 7mm rem mag is probably the most popular bolt gun deer cartridge. 7mm-08's are a little more sparse, but my no means a "specialty caliber". I would say if he can't find either of those calibers he probably isn't looking terribly hard.

Shaky seller's story aside, I too am a student of the inter-web, and look at Buds gun shop shows that you can get a new Remington XCR II in 7mm mag for $759. As long as his rifles are in good shape, it doesn't look like too bad of a deal, you might even be able to talk him down to ~$1100. If you want two identical rifles in pretty similar chamberings, and can talk him down a bit I'd say go for it. Otherwise you could buy one of the same rifle in either of the two calibers for ~$400 less.

~$.02

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Don't know why he wants to sell them, but I don't know of anywhere that considers 7mm Rem Mag a specialty caliber. Like Gtscotty said, it's one of the most popular rounds for deer where I'm at. At least top three.

 

[Abel]

Offer 500 for the 7mm-08 & call it a day. Don't haggle with him. There are plenty of guns out there, no need to rush into a mediocre deal.

 

[Sholiz]

If you reload, or want to reload ... research careful. Get a good buy on .284 bullets and can reload '08 and the Mag cartridges w/ the same bullet (and maybe powder?). I've got both but haven't gotten into hand loading.

 

[Whalen7840]

I'm getting into reloading and the 7mm08 ballistics wise is an amazing bullet for hunting North American game. While I wouldn't consider them a "specialty caliber" you can't however walk into your local Wal-Mart or Dicks and buy a couple cases, but any serious firearms dealer would have this caliber. As far as reloading goes, theres no scarcity for the dies/brass/ etc.

have to remember, the 7mm-08 is just a .308 case necked down to accept the 7mm bullet

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 7mm-08 has no real advantage over you current .25-06. The 7 mag does for larger critters.

And IMO, his prices are too high for used bolt guns without scopes. YMMV

 

[Art Eatman]

I wouldn't go for the deal, not at all. For all that I'm no particular fan of the .25-06, it's certainly plenty good for any deer in North America, and I'd imagine that would be the case to 300 yards or thereabouts, depending more on the shooter than the cartridge.

For the usual deer hunting distances, I see no point to the 7mm Rem Mag. It's not "overkill"; it's merely far more than what's actually needed.

For all practical purposes, the 7mm08 is fairly close to a "do-all" round, although maybe a tad light for elk at longer than the usual distances.

At $400 each, those rifles might be good trading material..."Might". I'm seeing an awful lot of unsold bolt actions in the gun stores, these days.

 

[GMFWoodchuck]

1200 seems high for me.....They are used...I'd rather new myself for mainstream guns like those.

 

[hogshead]

Too high!