Thoughts on a new hunting rifle in 7mm08

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I've never seen a CZ chambered in 7mm-08.

They are chambered in .243, .270 and 6.5x55 though, and those are close to the same functionality as the 7mm-08

I liked the CZ 550...they have mostly replaced the standard American style hunting rifles with the CZ 557 though...no longer a controlled feed (which doesn't bother me at all)...but I believe they all have 20" barrels (CZ's website is sparse on information now....)

IMO 20" is just too short for .243, .270, 6.5x55 or 7mm-08.

For 7mm-08 I would probably look at Tikka T3 Hunter, Ruger 77 Hawkeye, or Winchester Model 70: Sporter or Featherweight
 
Every CZ 550 I've picked up was.... Substantial. I think for a lighter caliber like the 7mm-08, I'd go for a lighter rifle.
 
I shoot 7mm/08 in a stainless Ruger and it has served me well using reloads, burt wouldn't shoot factory well.
 
I like the 7mm-08. I like it so much I have a M1 Garand chambered in it. I figure it this way, any cartridge that is the spawn of the 308 Winchester can't be all that bad. :)

I wouldn't hesitate to run with a good 7mm-08 hunting rifle for suited game for the gun. As to a rifle? I would be looking older Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70.

Ron
 
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I would go with a Winchester M70 Featherweight, or if you can budget a bit more, a Kimber 84M.
 
bpl said:
I would go with a Winchester M70 Featherweight, or if you can budget a bit more, a Kimber 84M.
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I was going to toss in the Featherweight as my favorite option as well, but figured since he was specifically interested in CZs I decided keep it to myself. Since the seal is broken though, I'd suggest that the OP look over a featherweight in his chosen caliber, my .243 featherweight is definitely one of my favorites.
 
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Any rifle you choose in 7mm08 will be a great choice. For a very nice gun where $ isn't a consideration then look at the CZ's or the aforementioned Featherweight model 70. But for a more budget friendly rifle then Savage T/C Venture or Tikka get my vote.
 
If 7mm-08 is your caliber of choice, look at a Tikka. My wife had one and it was a sweet rifle. I would still have it, but sold it when I found a 6.5x55 Tikka.:D
 
The Savage 14 American Classic in 7mm-08 is my current wish list top dog rifle for my first, only (yeah right! for now, though, as my wishlist has too many others in 2nd place), and future heirloom rifle. I am hoping I can afford it before rifle season 2015, or I will end up getting an Axis or 11 Trophy Hunter XP and trade up when I can.
 
yu mite look at some older model 7 rems. if older is not your choice then i dont know what to tell yu. i dont buy newer guns.

one poster said 6.5x55. i cant endorse that caliber enuf. its all i hunt with anymore.

the 7-08 is a really good caliber. you can look at the history of it and see that.
 
If you want blued steel and walnut-- Winchester model 70

Light weight- Tikka , Kimber or Remington 700 mountain.

Economy- Savage.
 
If you are climbing up and down mountains, the Rem Model 7 I have from years ago fits the bill - very light, accurate enough and very reliable - paired with a fixed compact 6x scope it is easy to tote all day
 
My 7mm-08 is a Browning A-Bolt, and while I love it I would not list it as my first recommendation, simply because mine HATES all factory ammo, shoots ghastly 5" groups at 100 with every kind I have tried, but shoots cloverleafs with my H380 and Big Game handloads using Sierra Game King and Pro Hunter bullets.
If I were to purchase another 7mm-08 I would go for another Tikka if I wanted synthetic or a Winchester 70 Featherweight if I wanted blued/walnut. Both of those rifles have performed very well with factory and handloads and are a delight to shoot, well designed and well built. I would not hesitate too hard on getting another Savage either, but much like the Browning they sometimes don't like factory much either (1.5-2.5MOA). I have had half a dozen of them they are hit and miss in that regard, but all have performed very well with SGK or TTSX handloads.
Edit: I would be very hesitant to try another Remington after that last disaster they called a rifle. Yeah that was 2008 but it still pisses me off they would let QC slip that far. I expected much better from the legendary Remington 700, my other older ones were MUCH better even with their flaws.
The 6.5x55 is another great low recoil hunting round, similar to the 7mm-08 and my personal favorite hunting cartridge, but it is something of a handloaders cartridge, since some 6.5x55s are over 120 years old factory ammo is loaded to a VERY low pressure and will not give good 300+yd performance, you can safely stroke another 300-400fps out of it if you roll your own and that puts it in the same class as the 7mm-08, slightly smaller caliber but considerably better downrange ballistics, if you wanted a 6.5mm and did not handload I would opt for the Creedmore or the 260 Rem they are made for modern pressures (62,000 psi+)
 
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The 7-08 is a good all purpose round. CZ makes good rifles. But I wouldn't want a CZ chambered in 7-08. The 7-08 just seems right in a lighter, more compact rifle.

My preference would be a Kimber or Winchester FWT. But really anything that suits your fancy that you could scope and still keep weight around 7-7.5 lbs.
 
Yeah the 7mm-08 and pretty much everything in the 308 family lends itself to compact lightweight rifles, not that CZ won't make you a good one. CZ lends itself to longer action slightly harder kicking cartridges like the 270 or 30-06 where the extra weight has a purpose. A CZ 270 win has been on my wishlist for a long time now sadly I can never find one in person and I don't buy walnut stocks over the internet.
 
oneounceload said:
If you are climbing up and down mountains, the Rem Model 7 I have from years ago fits the bill - very light, accurate enough and very reliable - paired with a fixed compact 6x scope it is easy to tote all day
Click to expand...

+1

I've got a MOD 7 (with Mannlicher Stock) in .350, and just put together another for my 11 year old in .260. On his I mounted a Leupold V3 2.5-8X, very compact and capable package. The 20" barrel doesn't give up too much and the rifle sans scope weighs in at 6.5 lbs.

Chuck
 
I had a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08 and I loved it. I also had a Remington Model Seven in 7mm-08 that shot really well. I like the caliber a lot for South Carolina Whitetail deer.
 
Light weight- Tikka , Kimber or Remington 700 mountain.

Economy- Savage.
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If you want light weight and economy, you might look at the Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter which weighs in at 5.5lbs without scope and bases.
 
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