Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7mm-08 What makes it popular?

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A 120 gr ttsx at 3175 fps over max of big game works well. I shoot that in a 700 sps ss barreled action dropped in a McMillan mountain rifle edge.

My choice is 145 gr, hot cor at about 2800 fps, but any 140-150 gr. at 2700-2800fps will damage a deer enough that it no longer decides to live longer. Have 9 1shot kills on whitetails with these all drd.

Thanks... What started out as a real curiosity for me, turned into a good situation. I was tossing around a couple rifle options, a Tikka T3x then putting new furniture on it. Or, a Kimber Mtn Ascent, change out the trigger and hope it is a good shooter..

I do appreciate the assistance from all of you who took the time to write up what you like about the 7-08...And those who wrote what they didn’t like...Of course, Kingston, for making me aware a 7-08 was in need of a new owner.
😎

The 7-08/180 ELD melding,is a reliable Mind Fhuqk.

Hint......................

Thinking 162 eld’s 😎

I’m a SA fan, and it’s no secret I like the 308, but I honestly think the 7-08 makes the highest and best use of the 308 case.

I think a lot of the 7-08’s popularity is due to the timing of its release. I was in my 2nd year of college when it was released (1980), and a lot of us grew up, had kids, and started them on mild recoiling hunting rounds. The 7-08 was at the top of the heap in that regard.

Today, I’d put the 6.5 Creedmoor in that place. If there was a 7mm Creedmoor, it would supplant the 7-08. The Creedmoor case is the ultimate .473” headstamp SA case.

Beautiful rifle, you should be very happy with that. The 7-08 is probably one of two most versatile utility game chamberings in existence, IMO.

162/180 ELD, and 120 TTSX/145 LRX are my favourite bullets in the 7-08.

You ought to.










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I wouldn't exactly say that the 7-08 is popular. There is a long list of cartridges that outsell it, but it's just popular enough that ammo companies produce a fairly good variety of loads for it. That said, the 7-08 just flat works. In fact a Montana so chambered found a new home in my safe last year. If I were to become a one rifle hunter, I'm thinking it would be that one. Enjoy that new rifle Beaver, it's a beaut!

Jordon, just to wrap this deal up, I checked the specs on the throated depth. This rifle can handle 162g elds. I’m not sure where I will land between the 162g elds and the 120g NAB or 140g Vlds for hunting with this rifle...

I have some 150 eldx coming. Kingston had some bullets he said he’d send my way for a part of my work up.

The original owner was getting consistent .5 MOA outta 120g Nosler BT’s....Seems I’ve got choices. I’m hoping 140-162g Hornady eldx will be a sweet loading spot.

I did pick up a like new SWFA SS 3-15x42 on eBay specifically for this rig. Price point with 15% discount made it $526.45 including shipping. I’m racing to get rifle, scope, dies, powders and bullets coming my way in a 5-7 working days...I have a “grocery store cow elk hunt” in two weeks. Hoping to put one 162g ELDX bullet behind a shoulder at 300 yards and see what’s happens. 😎

Very nice of you ryoushi. I’m hoping to be surprised as well. This is an complete departure from what I do. I was born and raised a little on the 7mag as a youngster, but found the faster, harder hitting 30 cals to be what worked well for me for enough years to know it wasn’t a fluke. I did a dandy job taking big fur with them...Times have changed. A guy can’t really complain about a cartridge or chambering unless he’s tried one, and given it a fair chance at being successful. I gonna do just that.

If the 7-08 shows me it’s up to the task doing it how i think it should. I may be sending some 30 cals down the road. I know for a fact, I’m stating off right with a tier 1 rifle. The rest is on me to make the magic work in it...More to come after my cow hunt...😎

Maybe it is a regional thing, but it isn't at all popular here. Ammo is all but impossible to find in stores and if it is choices are limited. You're just as likely to find 280 ammo. I like the round and on paper is a smidge better than 308. It was developed to offer flatter trajectory and less recoil than 308. And it succeeds, just barely. But I chose 308 years before I started hand loading and could never justify owning a 7-08 too. With best loads a 7-08 would have 2.5" less drop and less than 50 ft lbs more energy than my 308 at 500 yards, with 1 ft lb less recoil. That isn't enough to sway me over,, but had I started with 7-08 as a hand loader I'm sure I'd have a hard time justifying 308.

“What’s to like about the 7mm-08?” ...asks the OP

It is a capable round for medium game and target shooting. Same story as the 7x57.

It just works.

I don't see many here but I used a 7x57 for awhile. I think it is superior to the 7/08, handloaded. Neither hits as hard out of a 22" barrel as my .270 wcf and elk are the baseline. If I had a hankering for another .284 round it would be the .280 rem.

Cite the projectiles and their velocities,as per your "experience"...mainly because it will be funny.

Hint.................

I am far from an expert and know far less than many on this forum but this is how I view it on paper as well.

The 7mm-08 has had a hard life. When it was finally brought out as a factory cartridge Remington did it. Their marketing sucked and it took nearly two decades for it to catch on and be chambered in anything other than Remington rifles. Then, when it did catch on a bit, it was seen mostly as a women and kids’ rifle. But it was just too damned good and as light rifles started to get popular IT REALLY started to catch on. THEN the 6.5 Creedmoor craze started and now, it seems the star crossed 7mm-08 is being overshadowed again.

I’ve used the 7x57 and the 7mm-08 a lot. And for me, they’ve worked dramatically well. I’ve never used the Creedmoor, but I’ve used the 6.5x55 quite a bit and for my money, the 7s are just a bit better. Maybe the 6.5s do better out past 500 but that is largely theoretical for me and where I hunt.

Bullets matter more than headstamps,which is why CLUELESS Window Lickers reliably refrain them particulars.

Hint.........................(grin)

This load works well in multiple 7mm-08 rifles




According to Nosler, 52 grains is max. Start low and work up.






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