7mm-08

[scottbird]

I bought a stevens model 2oo in 7mm-08 this year off my nephew. I have shot it several times using hornady 120 grain sst. it is very accurate. this is my first rife in this caliber, I have shot my stevens 243 for years, and shot the barrel out. I am excited about hunting with this little rifle. I have heard all good things about this caliber.

I will start reloading for it soon, my funds were depleated for this month or I would have started this month.

if you have a 7mm-08 tell me some ranges to stay within. I have shot my 243 at 600 yds at ground hog and cyots.

 

[FL-NC]

I never used 7-08 but I am interested in it just out of curiosity. I'm stilla die hard 243 guy. How many rounds do you think it took you to kill your 243? Mine only sees 20-40 rounds a year- Rem 700.

 

[Reloadron]

I have a M1 Garand I chambered in the 7mm-08. I have shot it out to 500 yards strictly target. I have always liked the round and shot mostly 150gr and 168gr Sierra Match King bullets. Maybe someday I'll get around to getting a bolt gun setup in the 7mm-08 which is what I would really like. Much like the .308 Winchester it spawned from I like powders like IMR-4064 and IMR-4895 I also had really good results with AA2495. Never got into trying Varget but it should be a good choice. Wanted to try but never did some of the Berger bullets. The cartridge shoots relatively flat which is nice and the recoil is negligible.

While I never hunted with the cartridge I would be comfortable using it on thin skin deer sized game out to around 350 yards. The cartridge with a good hunting bullet is likely capable of more distance but for me? I would be comfortable in the 300 to 350 yard range. I haven't hunted in several years and these days just enjoy the target range.

Ron

 

[d2wing]

It should reach that range easily. It is slower but the same case. I have not shot either one that far but both of mine in each caliber were very accurate at 300 yards.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I have shot at steel targets with my 7mm-08 out to 800 yards. I used 140gr hunting class bullets. I did pretty well to. Just think of it this way anything the .308 can do the 7mm-08 can do it better.

 

[Steel Talon]

Shoot the 140grainers through it,it's a killing round out to 500yards. My daughter shoots the 7mm08 and took her deer at just over 500yards using Hornady Fusion factory.. One shot DRT.

For re loading, the TSX bullets are the absolute fits for this caliber. Daughter killed last years elk with a TSX. And her 7-08.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Hornady 139 gr SST bullet is best for me. 1 1/2 in high at 100 yds and it will do well to 250 yds for deer. You will need to work up a load for your gun as they all eat ammo differently.

 

[HexHead]

The Nosler reloading manual "recommends" 140gr. as the do-it-all load. I'm a real fan of the caliber, got my Blaser R8 in it.

 

[eastbank]

i use 43-44grs varget with the nosler BT 120gr bullet for eastern white tail deer and have killed a boat load with that load at about 3000 fps, its double lung shots for me and is a sure killer. rem 700 left hand rifle with 2.5x8 BC leupold.

 

[hoghunting]

Steel Talon.....My daughter shoots the 7mm08 and took her deer at just over 500yards using Hornady Fusion factory

Fusion ammo is made by Federal.

 

[scottbird]

FL-NC:

my stevens 243 went through three generations. my grand dad used it for years, my dad had it for at least twenty years, and I had it just over twenty. as far as how many rounds it took! I do not even want to say how many rounds went through it.

I know I took at least 30 deer with it, and way over 600 ground hog. in my house now and growing up it was called old faithful. cant remember what model it was, but it was a bolt action single shot.

I was sad to put it down. it never looked real good, but it sure shot straight, I thought about getting a new barrel for it, but just keeping it the way it is. my mom has it hanging on her wall.

 

[ntg]

Aaah...the mini 270...IMO that's basically what it is. It's a fine round. I took my last mule deer with a 7-08 at 435 yards with a 139btsp. I'd be comfortable with it for deer out to 500, elk 300, yotes at least 800. Great round!

 

[Jim K]

The 7mm-08 is basically a modern version of the 7x57 and that ain't bad!

the 6.5-7mm range gives us some of the best bullets going for sectional density and efficiency, and with less recoil than a .30 caliber.

I always thought a neat gun would be a Remington Model Seven with a walnut (not laminated) full length stock, but Remington was not interested in a special order.

Jim

 

[Steel Talon]

Fusion ammo is made by Federal.

Thanks Hog.. I meant to write Fed. But had Hornady on my mind..

 

[scottbird]

I have been using hornady 120 grain sst. it is very accurate I got 1.25" at 100 yds. I would say it might do better as it was rather windy that day, and my first time shooting it.

I have shot it a few more times, just kind of plinking around. I killed two crows at about 60-65 yards, and missed about four. I do have to say, I was a die hard 243 fan, but I have added to that fan club.

 

[zb338]

At one time the Metallic Silhouette shooters used 7mm/08s almost
exclusively because of the good BC of 7mm bullets and the light
recoil. The rams are shot at 500 meters. I bought one for my
grandchildren and they each shot an antelope and a few deer, and
my grandson shot his first black bear with it. It's a good caliber.

Zeke

 

[nastynatesfish]

I shoot mine with 140s. Either Nosler hunting or Bergers. 42gr varget and it's just a dead on round.

 

[nastynatesfish]

These where the first rounds through the new barrel. Bottom right was factory Remington

 

[FL-NC]

Well, my 700 243 gets a box through it a year at most, so I guess I'm good for a while!

 

[Newtosavage]

7mm-08 may be the best modern deer round ever devised, which is why I have a 7x57 Mauser.

 

[SSN Vet]

What twist is the barrel on your Stevens?

Savage used to barrel their 110s in 7-08 with a 1 in 9 twist. But have in more recent years switched to a 1 in 12.

If you have a 1 in 12, you will likely be limited to the 140 gr. bullet. Which is not a great loss, as 139/140 is usually promoted as the ideal bullet weight for the cartridge.

Hornady does make a 165 gr. bullet for the 7-08 that has a fantastic BC. But many report that the 1 in 12 will not stabilize it.

That said, I've loaded 139 and 165 gr. pills for my older Savage 114 (1 in 9 twist) and for the 200 & 300 yd ranges I have convenient to me, 139 works very well.

I find that even with the better BC of the 165 gr. pill, because I have to back off the powder charge to stay within published loads, I have to hold over more at 200 yds than with the 139 gr. pill.

I'm using RL15 and neck sized my fire formed brass. I'm pretty pleased with the results.... but the rifle, is not the tack driver I had hoped for. I either need to keep searching for the sweet spot, or bed the barrel.

 

[scottbird]

my stevens 200 is an 11.5:1 twist. I use the hornady 120 grain sst, my rifle likes them very well.

 

[PowerG]

At one time the Metallic Silhouette shooters used 7mm/08s almost
exclusively because of the good BC of 7mm bullets and the light
recoil. The rams are shot at 500 meters. I bought one for my
grandchildren and they each shot an antelope and a few deer, and
my grandson shot his first black bear with it. It's a good caliber.

Zeke

This. Great caliber for whitetails, IMO the best balance between killing power and recoil, enough but not too much. I like PSP's like the Hornady Interlock somewhere around 140 gr.

 

[Llama Bob]

If you get your gun in 1-9 twist so you can run the 160 Accubond and even 175 Partition, there's no reason not to use a 7mm-08 up to elk & moose. Depending on your exact elevation and load both bullets will stay in their velocity window about as far as it's ethical to shoot.

That's a nice balanced cartridge - enough oomph to allow you to take any ethical shot, but no more.

 

[scottbird]

all I hunt is white tail and ground hog, so the 120's are fine for me