Wyoming with a 7mm-08?

[Macchina]

I've been invited to attend next year's Wyoming pronghorn/deer hunt he organizes every other year. He's made a lot of contacts out there over the last few years and the hint us done right and it's become somewhat of an honor within my extended family to be invited. I currently hunt Michigan with a 7mm-08 (a nice compact Savage 112) or .44 lever gun. I'm a decent shot and can work up any load for the Savage. I currently shoot 140 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter's over a Max-1 load of Varget. I get .75" groups regularly and would love to use this load if it's acceptable. Last year, pronghorn were taken at 300 yards and deer at 250. Would my current setup have enough umph at those ranges our would this be a good time to add another rifle to my safe (I am tempted by a 30-06 Ruger American topped with a Leopold VX-2). Any suggestions on load or rifle change?

 

[HOOfan_1]

If you play around with ballistics charts I think you will find the ballistics and retained energy of a 7mm-08 140 gr bullet is about the same as a .30-06 150 grain bullet out past 100 yards. 7mm has better 140 gr ballistic coefficient than a .30 150 gr.

 

[dprice3844444]

it will work fine if you do your ballistic calculations right.get a chrono and chrono your loads so you can get the calculations right as far as bullet drop at diff yardages,then find a long range to double check.get a good rangefinder also

 

[Pacsd]

I use my 7mm-08 pet load on antelope in South Dakota. Don't think I'd drop below 130 grain though. Love the caliber.

 

[Macchina]

I've shot well at the range at 200 yards, and a Redfield rangefinder is on my short-list.

 

[WYOMan]

Just remember to make your ballistic calculations for an avg. of 4500 to 5000 feet above sea level, depending on where your going to be hunting here. And practice shooting in the wind. That's just something normal here. I shoot a 6.5X55 with 140 Hornady SST's so I'm fairly sure your 7mm-08 will be perfect. Our whitetails aren't big like midwest whitetails, and antelope are lightly built animals. And don't fall for the hype about all of the shots on game out here being 400+ yards like you see on TV, if you can't get within 300 or less your trying to make a long shot.

 

[wyohome]

^ Good Post^ So many of the self-proclaimed experts on here say that 300 - 400 yards is not a long shot. I would like to see their targets after shooting that far with 20 MPH winds and 35 MPH gusts at 7,000 ft.

 

[Baba Louie]

I would like to see their targets after shooting that far with 20 MPH winds and 35 MPH gusts at 7,000 ft.

THIS is what you'll need to master. Reading and doping the wind.

Grew up in KS and I thought that state was windy... (it is) but Wyoming... good Lord, does the wind never cease there? (apparently not)

Your round is fine as is the setup IMO. But the wind. Ya definitely gotta deal with that, unless you're up in the lodgepoles, which is another ball of wax.

 

[WYOMan]

We only consider it windy when it's blowing ( without gusts ) at 35 mph or more, other than that it's called a breeze.

 

[wyohome]

It is much better on my side of the hill.
Currently: Wind from 153 degrees @ 9.0 MPH Gusts to 14.0 MPH Temp 84F Humidity 20% Dewpoint 38F Pressure 1015.4 mb

 

[bhk]

Been hunting antelope in Wyoming a couple of times and went through the 'long range' worries like you prior to our first hunt. The three I killed out there were at 65, 50, and 165 yards. The multiple other ones I saw killed probably averaged less than 150 yards. Sure, you can take long shots. OR, you can wait for something a little closer. Your 7-08 will be great out there. Don't sweat it unless you just want an excuse to buy a new rifle.

 

[wyohome]

Use your rangefinder...they are quite small and people have a tendency to overestimate the range. I think more are missed 'over' than 'under'.

 

[mshootnit]

you would be a lot better off with a 257 weatherby. I hunt open country and I like being to be able to just pull up and shoot on stuff out to 450.
+1 on most people missing high.
Aim dead on for everything that seems in range and only aim towards the top of the shoulder/back (but not over) if you KNOW its WAY the hell out there.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If you were looking to buy a new rifle for this, I'd tell you to consider the .25-06. However, your 7mm-08 will work just fine.

We only consider it windy when it's blowing ( without gusts ) at 35 mph or more, other than that it's called a breeze.

Sounds like Elbert county! (OK, I consider 25 or 30 MPH windy)

 

[Flintknapper]

Your 7mm-08 will retain PLENTY of energy for Deer or Antelope all the way out to 500 yds.

Odds are you will not shoot beyond 250-300 yds though.

Varget..is not my favorite powder for the 7mm-08, but if it is working well for you...no need to change.

 

[Art Eatman]

The most common .308 or .30-'06 loads have a 150-grain bullet at around 2,800 ft/sec. The most common 7mm08 load is a 140-grain bullet at around 2,800 ft/sec.

For critters smaller than elk, I fail to see any significant difference.

 

[interlock]

7mm08 is an excellent round. the ballistic coefficients of the 7mm bullet are excellent. it will be spot on for your needs.... unless you want a new rifle..

 

[wdyasq]

7mm08 is an excellent round. the ballistic coefficients of the 7mm bullet are excellent. it will be spot on for your needs.... unless you want a new rifle..

Shoot the rifle you are most familiar with and learn to estimate ranges. If you have a range finder, verify your guesses with it. You should soon be able to use the range finder as a 'backup'.

Ron

 

[dprice3844444]

they have ballistic calculators for your ipad/iphone

 

[exbiologist]

you would be a lot better off with a 257 weatherby. I hunt open country and I like being to be able to just pull up and shoot on stuff out to 450.
+1 on most people missing high.
Aim dead on for everything that seems in range and only aim towards the top of the shoulder/back (but not over) if you KNOW its WAY the hell out there.

Wow.
How about you ignore this post. Aim on hair, never on air. The guy is obviously concerned with long shots, as in he is inexperienced with them, and you're encouraging some really dumb habits.

 

[jmr40]

The 7X57 has been successfully taking every anmal on the planet, including elephant since the 1890's. With factory loads a 7-08 beats it slightly. I see no problem using a 7-08 on anything in North America.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Never miss an excuse to buy a new rifle.

Tell your wife that you must have a 264 Win Mag or similar.

 

[jmr40]

Aim dead on for everything that seems in range and only aim towards the top of the shoulder/back (but not over) if you KNOW its WAY the hell out there.

Wow.
How about you ignore this post. Aim on hair, never on air. The guy is obviously concerned with long shots, as in he is inexperienced with them, and you're encouraging some really dumb habits.
__________________

Did you even read his post? You both said the same thing, yet his advice should be ignored. I think both of you gave good advice with most shooters abilities in mind. I zero my rifles at either 100 or 200 yards, mostly at 100. By aiming at the top of a deers back I'm in the kill zone at any range inside of 300 yards with my rifles and my loads with no need for accurate range estimation. If I underestimate the range and a deer is actually at 350 yards my shot should miss low.

There is nothing wrong with aiming over a deers back for really long shots if you have the skills to do it. Not advocating this for just anyone, but will not be critical of those who can.

 

[T.R.]

Pronghorn antelope are small-ish animals. An exceptionally large buck may have live weight of 125-135 lbs. They're easy to kill with a well placed bullet. Many hunters in South Dakota use 22-250 and 220 Swift but I've killed quite a few with my .243 rifle. None got away.

Practise and plan for a 275 yard shot.

TR

 

[WYOMan]

In Wyoming 22-250 and 220 Swift would be illegal to use on anything other than coyotes and prairie rats.