Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Thinking about a Tikka in 7mm-08

Any thought on this caliber? I see that some folks love em but overall I don't see much about this caliber

I had a hunter show up with a custom Jarrett 7mm-08 AI this year in Mexico and he absolutely loves it but never shoots past about 300 yards

Give me a call tomorrow...

It's a great cartridge, low recoil,very accurate and hammers game...everybody should have one!

Good cartridge. Dumpy rifle.

I think I'll have a T3 Lite in 308 before long.

The 155 Scenar and the 308 hull just seem like easy fun in that package.

7-08 would likely be more of a good thing.

My buddy has three of them, and although they are plastic and kinda tinny looking, they do shoot. A 7-08 is his most recent model. We were shooting 4" groups at 300 yards with it in the wind. Not to bad for a cheap, light rifle. Then he goes and buys a Kimber mountain ascent. We will see how it shoots and holds up!

7mm-08 is a great round! Looking forward to putting it to use on hogs/deer/black bear ect. Light weight, low recoil, a modern version of the 7 x 57 that should hold to the 57's proven track record.

I'm running a 140 TTSX with max load of H414. This particular 7mm-08 was a very picky and sensitive to seating depth. I had a few headaches trying to find a decent load. I now have a decent load that shoots consistently sub moa and ready to take to the field.

You can't go wrong with an accurate 7mm-08!

I'm going w/the 338 Federal. Already have a 7x57. powdr

I would get one in 7mag, love tikkas though.

This !!

Tikka's are far from the classiest rifles around, but you'll forget that as soon as you walk up and look at your first group.

I think the 7mm-08 is about the most practical cartridge going. I'm not a .243 fan at all but I do appreciate the .308. I just think the 7mm-08 gives you a better cartridge, i.e. less recoil and better BC.

I have considered Tikka's to be Sakos on sale. I have three now after a long hiatus. But once again, the have been a problem free rifle from box to excellent range results.
There are those who like to bemoan the "plastic" parts but in reality they aren't plastic. There are a few hundred thousand service members serving our country plus many thousands of law enforcement who are carrying weapons with "plastic" parts.
Good luck with your new 7mm-08.

If I didn't almost exclusively hunt elk, I'd have it on 7mm-08. But I have opted for the very mannerly and accurate .308Win. as it gives me a nice range of bullet options.

Love me the 7-08.



Travis

I would think the Tikka in 7-08 would be just about perfect for your environment. I have worked mine (243) hard in SW Texas, dust,sand, wind & rain. Just wipe it off, spray a little corrosion X occasionally and go.

They are very easy to carry, I roughed the stock up on mine some. It was a little slippery to me. Good triggers and they all seem to shoot well.

I have rinsed my magazine out several times with tap water. Can't hurt the dang thing.

I also see no reason why a guy should limit himself to 300 yards with that cartridge. Good bullets and good shot placement always seems to work.

Randy

He's 80. His eyes aren't what they used to be

I have one in 7-08 and really like it. I've also owned ones in 7 mag and 270. They all shot GREAT. The 7-08 is my favorite of the three.

Until I ran out of them, I was shooting the A-max at 2650. At my elevation and with a 200 yard zero I was hitting at 1K with 28 minutes and with 2 minutes less wind than my 155 Scenars at 2950.

I added Limbsavers to my rifles and it makes them feel better, but the 7-08 is easy to shoot anyway.

It also likes the 139 SST and the 154 SP (Not a long range bullet, but great for most hunting).

Those 154 Hornadys are among my favorite big game bullets in 7mm; killed elk, deer and bears with that bullet.

+1

I like them better than M700's etc. They have a lighter/stiffer action, better trigger, better extractor, better bolt handle, 70 degree bolt lift, side bolt release, and they are smoother...not to mention a Sako barrel.

Use another action!!

If the Sako/Tikka factory has a department that makes barrels for both brands, do the Sakos have Tikka barrels?....or do the Tikkas have Sako barrels?...just wondering.

oh, and a long action 7-08 is only good for one thing.....rechambering to 280 Ackley.

A long action is good for everything.

Tikkas have Sako barrels.

I've posted my experiences with Tikka 7mm08s before, so I'll keep it concise. I'm a big fan, and they work fine on elk.

Don't have a tikka but shot a few and they have all shot good.
I do have a few 7-08s and they work. I have loaded all with 140nbt or 139 hornady sst and imr 4350. Deer and coyotes don't seem to like them.

I've got a T3 Lite Stainless in 260. Wonderful shooting rifle. I'd sure own another one, but just can't make myself believe I need another rifle (but I'm working on it).

If you can find one a Tikka 595 is a great option... more substatial than the T3 but fat out shoots! Typical butter smooth actions but not much to complain about ...love it and love the cal.ck out the ballistic co. And you will realize it is indeed formidable and long range.

You dont see many 595s for sale for a reason.....I do own both but extra light isnt what I desire all the time. I like the balance fit in a rifle that is great on the bench and fine for my average hunts...very practical for both. If I were young enough to be hunting mountians and miles...Id grab the T3 for one well placed shot during a challanging and rewarding adventure...everyday at the bench or the avarage 3 to 6 hr hunt honestly give me my old friends...well balanced, they dont heat up as fast, and are as kind to me as I try to be to them.

Elk don't like the 7mm-08




140 Partition going 2870 ft/sec. Out of a T3 Lite stainless



P

Congrats on the elk, boys!

Our family are die hard Remington folks, we change out a lot of barrels, stocks, triggers.

The 7/08's that we have are simply unreal accurate. Here in the South, if deer run very far, they may be lost. We have not shoot every bullet there is, of course. We settled on a hot load of IMR 4895, Rem primer, rem brass, with the 160g Speer BT sp. This load kills deer extremely well out to 325 which is as far as we have had to shoot. I can not count how many people we have converted over to this load due to how it hammers deer.

I have a sako 85 7mm-08... just one word... a jewel...

Keith, try a 130 Speer, save your shoulder any extra beating - it's what I ran over 4895 for deer poison.

My niece who was 12 at the time shot her first bull moose last August in Chetwynd with a 7-08 Rem rifle and Super X 140gr Power Points her Dad bought. That moose hit the ground so fast it has me questioning my choice in packing magnums.

Mike, talked to a guy from Canada at a Shot Show, in the Sako booth, he was not staffing the booth, just a visitor. He dropped a Moose over/at 500 yds w a 25/06 and if not mistaken factory ammo, green/yellow, prob 120s.....

Magnums get it done further, but non mags get it done at most ranges game is taken, all assuming placement as you know.

I venture to say, 90-95% of hunters have MORE gun than they need, and 90-95% of Failures in the field, are do to hunters needing more practice/range time, assuming proper bullet chosen.

I agree with you Cliff 100 per cent with everything you posted.

Art from the Campfire posted a thread where his son Riley shot a massive bull moose with the 25-06 and a 80gr TTSX. From what I can gather it was a quick kill.

Big Stick aka Boxer told me years ago that bullets matter more than head stamps. As usual Stick is right.

Indeed, the bullet is what impacts game, and they know nothing about speed/energy, and all the ballistic garb we debate here.

I have s 7mm -08AI in heavy barrel form and will have a lightweight to match soon. I've used the 162gr Amax the last 3 years on game with great results out to 450yds.

I just put a muzzle brake(shoulder surgery) on a Rem 700, wanted try the 150g Nosler Win C/T bullet just for grins. 49.0g of R#19 was shooting a single ragged hole at 100 at 2850 out of this 24" barrel(work up to this load in your rifle).

Worked up a load with the 130g Speer BT at 3000 with 42.5g of IMR 4895 with a Rem 9 1/2, shot a single ragged hole.

I have an AI reamer and throater on order, no down side since the 162 A's are going back into production.

I owned my first 708 in 1990 and killed a few elk with it.

Didn't make a big impression on me and I preferred the 280.


Tikka, 708 in a long action.... Might as well get a Super Light in 270.

What's the difference in total length between a long action (.30-06 length) and a short action (.308 length)?



P

Modern Tikkas are just like dennisinaz said. I have a 7-08 on a Sako Forrester action built by Shelby Custom Rifles many years ago. It has performed flawlessly on antelope and deer with various Noslers, Sierras, and Bergers. I have zero complaints about the cartridge but also rarely shoot it beyond 300 yards at game. A neighbor's wife has taken several really good bull elk with her Model 7 Rem actioned rifle in 7-08. She wonders why many of us shoot magnums for the same purpose.

I've got a few sets of Talley's ready to go if you pull the trigger...

I got mine yesterday, thanks!


P

Don't have a 7-08 but my tikka 06 is tack driver and the costumer service is excellent.

I have a sako 85 in 7/08.... my favorite all round all game is my 7mm RM but I love the 7/08... it's a serious "client" for any game up to Dall Sheep at over 300 yds... especially with a 140 gr BT behind a strong load.... go with the Tikka and ad a McMillan when you get enough cash or go with a sako.

Shot that exact recipe Sunday, most impressive accuracy and my first encounter with the Tikka action left me rethinking a model 700 build. 7mm-08 is a nice choice.