Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7mm-08.... The Good, The Bad, The Ugly......

To the OP:

There's nothing "magic" about 7mm-08 but it is pretty damned balanced. IMHO it's about as good as it gets for hunting blacktailed deer under the conditions I encounter. I haven't killed an elk with it but, while not perfect, I wouldn't have much hesitation to use it under roughly the same conditions. Like any .308-based cartridge, it will have some range limitations but those are quite a ways beyond where most of my shooting happens so they're not much of an issue.

I've owned 3 7mm-08s. The first two were fine, Remington Sevens, one blued, one stainless.

The current one is being a pain in the ass. It's a 700 CDL-SF. Accuracy has been inadequate so far, in the 2 MOA range. It has already failed with the 162 grain Hornady BTSP. It is in the process of failing, but not done yet, with the 140 Accubonds. A brief session when I first got it with 120 gran VMAXes suggests maybe it likes flat based bullets rather than boat tails so when the ABs are gone, I'll try partitions. If it fails there, I'm done with it. I haven't decided yet if I'll rebarrel to something else or just punt it.

The cartridge is, IMHO, a proven winner, but some of the rifles chambered for it are not. That's just how it goes.

Tom

The 7mm-08 is a good pistol cartridge, in the XP100.

Bought a Ruger American in 7mm-08 for my son three years ago...he's sixteen now.

It's a great round. He has taken a few deer now with it. I do handload for it with 140gr Sierra HPBT GameKings...a wicked bullet...expansion is fantastic.

The only factory ammo that particular rifle likes is Hornady American Whitetail. I tried Federal, Remington, and Winchester with pretty bad groups. Hornady grouped well...right at 1". Handloads are even better groups with Varget.

The 7mm-08 is an excellent choice.

Good looking rig!!!

I have owned two 7MM08`s.one shot ok,the one I have now shoots great.I will use it as a backup rifle to my 270.

Simple! Mine is the better choice, especially for the thinking man.

One of my 7-08's

24 inch tapered octagon barrel. It will put 140gr Accubond into a ragged hole all day.

My wife has used a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 for years on mule deer, elk and pronghorns. It shoots accurately, doesn't kick much and works very well on game with 140 grain bullets (mostly Accubonds in recent years). I think it has a slight advantage over the .308 for open country hunting in that it shoots a little flatter with bullets of comparable SD. On the other hand, I think the .308 has a slight advantage on larger game. The differences are pretty small though. Either one works very well for most North American hunting. It mostly gets down to personal preference.

I know, I know, but some need an effectiveness factor. They need it quantified in order to know exactly where they fit, re the current top 10 trend of effectiveness in calibers, cartridges, etc. Most can't come close to your rugged individualistic nature.

Nice rifle.

Mine will also, but I have to fill in the gaps most often. Which is the hard part.

Classy rifle!

Are you Ole Gun Geek in disguise, per chance?

Sounds vaguely familiar.

Jerry

Only possibly in a former life.


No, I've been ME all my life.


Jerry

Beautiful rifle!!

NICE!

Would like build details on that one.

DF

GSP - "One of my 7-08's"

24 inch tapered octagon barrel. It will put 140gr Accubond into a ragged hole all day.


G O R G E O U S !

Jerry

DF Obviously it's a Ruger action.Trigger is a Timmney skeleton pistol grip cap, metal butt plate, inleted swivel studs on islands, ebony Schnabel for end tip, custom quarter rib & QD rings. The barrel was from McGowen but I would not use them again. The English walnut blank came from Cecil Fredi in Vegas. R.O.T is 1:10.

Here are more pics

Exceptional lumber.

Well done.

DF

I can't help laughing every time I see him post this.