I owned one for a bit, I special ordered a remington model 7, it didn't shoot for [bleep] and I lost the wood lottery on it, so I sold it. The next guy bedded it and it shot worse, so he sold it!

first of 3 model 7's I dumped but thats besides the point.

They are all but giving away the Kimber adirondacks in 7mm-08 for $1199 I've seen a few Kimber Montana's on GunBroker sell for ~$750

It just seems the caliber does alot of really good things, fills a great role, but nobody wants one? Too many of them out there? 6.5 Creedmoor the flavor of the week?

No makey no sense to me, can someone help out?

i like em. Got three rifles in 7mm-08

Because you're on the wrong forum

7 pages worth of love:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...-08...._The_Good,_The_Bad,_#Post11724593

And accompanying thread:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...11726517/1/Finn_Aagaard_On_The_7mm-08...

Brad beat me to it.
Lots of love for the 7-08 here. Enough so that this skeptic(me) is thinking very hard about one in a Kimber Montana.


Edit: that being said, OP you could be right about the new 6.5 CM taking some potential sales from the 7-08?

No love? You must not spend much time on 24hr Campfire. The 7mm-08 is extremely popular here. East, West, North, and South. I would bet that if a poll were taken, it would be in the top five or six.

Because there is a 7X57 that seems to get most of my attention in 7mm's

Otherwise it's a pretty good cartridge.

This.

RM

Yeah, me too.
Paul B.

The 7x57 is the 7-08 Improved...no fire forming needed...:)

But a Long Action is needed.

A mauser action is neither long nor short...but just right...:)

That's what my M1999 "short" action is: the box is 3.125 inches - an intermediate length...perfect for the old round.

CZ 550 7x57 factory rifle.

I've got a 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08. Shoots under MOA.

About the only other rifle currently in the safes I'd rather carry when the going is steep and far, is my Montana in 308.

that has elk written all over it...:)

regarding love...both of my kids shoot 7mm-08 by way of a 700 MR and Kimber 84 and have an early 60's Browning bolt chambered so, here.

If I could only have one caliber rifle it would be the 7mm-08.
Very nice caliber and ive owned several chambered in it.



There are a lot of them out there being used. They just dont get all the hype the newer stuff gets.
Gun manufacturers have to constantly be coming up with something different to sell new guns. If they didnt we would all probably do like our grandfathers and great grandfathers who just owned one or two calibers their whole lives. Someone forgot to tell them that they needed the latest and greatest caliber out to kill something.
The 7mm-08 is a gun you could buy for a pre teen and use factory off shelf low recoil rounds, and then step to the regular stuff and use the rest of their lives.

Just as the 6.5 is being praised as the best round ever, but the 260 rem which is almost perfectly identical and been around for years is overlooked. Its all in the marketing.

6.5 Creed is the flavor of the week. But I wouldn't get rid of a 7-08 for one.

Like 284 Win. In a bolt gun its remarkable! I have one in a FN action that always impresses me!

I thought this was a joke....

W

Me likey some 7mm-08; probably gets more work than the rest of my rifles combined.

Three of five bucks





Three bulls












Decent shooter










P

I keep meaning to buy one but I just havent done it yet.

I know OregonMuley on here is sold on the 7mm08 he even talked me into getting one or two!! Wife shot a black bear with it a couple years ago,did the job.

What bullets you shooting Pharm?

What kind of rifle is that? Weatherby?

I am on my second 7-08, a Tikka T3 Lite that I haven't had the chance to play with much yet. The first was a cobbled Savage I gave to a good friend and hunting partner who LOVES it and has killed a bunch of game with the 120 NBT & Big Game.

I just bought a SS take-off barrel in 7-08 I am going to use on my Kimber Classic Select .257 Rob because I have a "build to end all builds" in that, my other favorite cartridge.

My top 4 are now: .257 Rob, .223 Rem, 7-08 Rem, and .30-06 in that order and 7-08 is my favorite for pure versatility.

A Gunbroker completed item search shows the lowest realized price for a Kimber Adirondack in any caliber was a single outlier on 11/4/16 for $1004.00. The next lowest realized price was $1249.00 on 12/28/16. Both were chambered in 7mm-08. Zero Kimber Adirondacks were sold in any caliber for ~$750.

uh, trying not to sound like a jackass, but you obviously spent more time trying to prove me wrong than to try to understand what I posted.

euro-optic is selling adirondacks in 7mm-08 for 1199 new in box shipped to you...

http://www.eurooptic.com/kimber-adirondack-7mm-08-rem-3000767.aspx

AND

thats why I said KIMBER MONTANA which sold for $750 this morning by the way.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/617052586

So I guess... thank you for quoting my post and NOT reading it and proving me right in the process???

I love the 7-08. I'm gonna build one this year. I only have one currently. It has by far outkilled any other rifle in my safe. It is a M7 KS and it is a little lightweight laser...

You're right, I scoured the earth looking for $750 Kimber Adirondacks in 7mm-08 and didn't find any. It took a lot of love and a little delusion.

I am in the no love dept.. Mine shoots great, makes a great gun for shooting water jugs.. Built it for eastern whitetails, but seldom go there anymore.. I plan to give it to my namesake when he starts hunting..

My wife has a nice little Sako 85 Finnlight 7-08 and loves it. Great round I think. One we won't sell ever

Lots of love for the 7-08 here. I had three, was down to one now back up to two.

They kill antelope and our little blacktails fine.

"What kind of rifle is that? Weatherby?"
EFW,if you are inquiring about mine; yes Weatherby in a McMillan Sako Classic stock.

[

6.5 Creed is the flavor of the week. But I wouldn't get rid of a 7-08 for one. [/quote]

Same here. Have 2 6.5's in the stable that I'm more than happy with. Have a very nice 7mm-08 that shoots bugholes More than satisfied with it.

I always thought the Remington M7600 in 7MM08 would be more popular than it is.

Works great for the grown-ups.... You little fu cks can keep using your short actions.

I dig the 7/08. Great round for the Kimber MT platform.

Ask him where he got the 7-08 bug.





P

140 Partition
47.5 gr Big Game (work up)
Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primer
2.805"

One of the bulls I killed at 346 yards

Two bucks last year were 541 and 548 yards.






P

Wow. In the bottle again...

Yup, you helped it along nicely Pharm!! Hard not to like the 7MM-08!! I currently have 4 of them in the safe so feeling mighty good:)

Thanks for the laugh....

Keep following Bob around the board. Suits you better and reduces your stupid statements...

If for some silly reason I was putting a rifle together to pretty well handle my normal 'lower 48' needs..it would probably be a 7-08



But then I'd have to turn in my loony card.....One gun....sheesh....

Oh no, you didn't just say that.

I have been shooting modern stuff like the .223AI and the 6.8spc...

It has affected my mind......

Obviously, you haven't read the 300 vs 30-06 thread...

I have read it, and made my recommendation for the old 30-06

So I tend to waffle a bit..like any good loony would

Maybe it's just bad booze.

not waffling, its dealing with a constant stream of new data...:)

things may change but the 280 seems about right for the heavy classification...would pick the 7x57 as an all-arounder for the 48, but I hate to overkill stuff

Bad booze will never pass these lips....

Killed my 1st deer w a 7-08 in 1992. M70 FWT. Owned 3 M70s in various configs and (3) 700s, BDL SS sporter, BDL - Varmint, and VLS. Also had. M7 in 7BR built which served up 120's @2878mv and did nice work.

Guess over the past 25 years I've been doing more R&D in 6.5's. The Swede, -08, Creed, and now a Lapua. 4 in 55mm, a custom -08 pre-260 Saami, (2) 260's, one Creedmoor and now the 47.

All were sold or traded but the 47 which remains. All worked well.

I detect recoil and blast and all of the above are mild - modest depending on load and barrel length. All accurate and deadly.

Soon if Kimber does a 6mm Creedmoor - that might be the Newest Latest Greatest

Good shooting, hunting, and R&D.

With the ad nauseum postings of the same tired 4-5 rifles picts, a fella would think at some point a game photo would find its way into your rotation.

7/08? Yawn

Give me a 270 or 280.

Just another target round designed to knock over silhouette rams. The whole short action business is "who cares"?

I kinda like the 7mm-08













prolly killed more stuff with 7mm-08 than anything other than a 22 rimfire.





140 gr. Nosler Accubonds or even a 140 gr. TSX noodlin' along just seems to work.


ya!


GWB

Not exactly!

The 7mm-08 is a great cartridge but I've never been able to justify one for myself as the opportunity cost was always too great. Have had my 7mm RM since 1982 and when I had the money for another rifle it always went for something else. When I sold my Ruger #1 in .280 Rem the 7mm-08 was on the list of possible replacements. Got a bolt in .280 Rem instead. Same thing when I bought my .308, the .308 won in large part because it was a Ruger Scout. Last year I had an opportunity to buy a Savage FXP3 in 7mm-08 for $295. Right beside it was a FXP3 in .243 for the same price and the .243 won out.

As my collection grew to include a .257 Roberts, 6.5-06AI, .280 Rem, 7mm RM and .308 (among others), justifying a 7mm-08 got harder and harder. As have additional rifles in any size or configuration. These days I'm building an AR in .308 and thinking the next big expenditure will be for a suppressor. Or a Ruger #1 in .45-70 if I can find one at an irresistible price.)

Through the years I've thought a 7mm-08 would be great for the girls, but even that 'need' has diminished. One has her own rifle now (I recommended a .308 instead of a 7mm-08 and she agreed), one shoots but doesn't hunt and the other will likely never hunt anything but antelope with me and for that I have to fight her for my .257 Roberts.

And these days I'd probably buy a .260 or Creedmoor instead anyway, other factors being equal.

Not everyone has to over compensate for shortcomings with magnums and lifted trucks.

I've been a diehard 7RMag user for almost 40 years, but the more I shoot (and kill stuff) my 7-08's the more impressed I am with them.

But a Longer Action is needed.

The 7mm-08 pushes 140 grain bullets in the neighborhood of 2800 fps. That means that it's field performance is mighty close to 270,7x57,280,308,and 30-06.

In fact it might be the best of the lot due to the fact that it has the mildest recoil. Also cup and core bullets tend to exit critters when fired from a 7mm-08. Partly due to moderate impact velocity and partly because 7mm bullets tend to be built stout to endure 7mm mag velocities from which most of them are launched.

You're too young to be a curmudgeon

I agree with BobinNH, the only thing on a .308 case I really liked was a .22 Cheetah!!! It was a fantastic shooter..

I can write my name in the snow....

I am a fan. I have two and in the market for another in the Kimber flavor.

That's pretty impressive for a guy that shoots a long action to be able to put that many letters together.

Short name.

See below my sig line.

I'm just waiting for DJTex to weigh in with some pics...

Ya, anymore would be pushing it.

Yup,my hands would freeze.

-some like to strain the 7mm/08 and 7x57 to the max. to prove how close it is to the heels of the .280..

I once tried that myself that with a LA 7x57 with bullets seated out to gain capacity... then logic prevailed over nostalgia -
A longer case in a long action gave more capacity than just seating bullets out in 7x57...I could then get my velocity targets
without having to play on the edge.

Varget + 140's gave me 2960 in partial sized RP in 21" factory 700's.
20" M70 = 2850

Never failed. I had a RM. Never miss it. Like ice cream. Different strokes.

Wow. I can't even get close to that with Varget.




P

I ran 45.0. Was safe in my rifles. One grain over the original book max as I recall. Again. Partial sized if that matters.

I'm running +P+ on Varget also. Below is from Hodgdon. 43.5 is only 50k on a 61k cartridge.

Bullet Weight
139 GR. HDY SP
Manufacturer
Hodgdon
Powder
Varget
Bullet Diam.
.284"
C.O.L.
2.800"
Starting Loads
GRS. VEL.(FT/S) PRESS.
40.5 2,436 44,700 CUP
Maximum Loads
GRS. VEL.(FT/S) PRESS.
43.5 2612 50,000 CUP

Fwiw I've also run the same charge of IMR 4064 w a hair better accuracy and same speeds. I know there may be newer powders that do very well since I've last owned 7-08's

The only data I've ever seen that shows a 140 over 2,900 is RL19 @ 2,930 from a 24" bbl. Not even MR2000 or Big Game goes over 2,900 from 24" bbl.'s (2,850 and 2,880 respectively), and certainly not Varget.

I've always considered the 7-08 a 2,800 to 2,830 cartridge with 140's from a 22" barrel (the only length I've ever owned in a variety of 7-08's).

There is nothing that would induce me to run a 140 in the 2,900's from a 22" 7-08.

But we all accept different levels of risk.

Current book max is 42.




P

Not advocating unsafe loading, only mishap I ever had was a blown primer using IMI brass long ago which was a lower capacity brass. Here is a load on a site, using WW Brass, in a 20.25 bbl, over 2900. MY Speeds may have been atypical, IDK, but it's what I was getting, in my guns, and I never had a problem. If loading today, I would use WW brass vs RP, which has about 1.5 more capacity and is better quality, and I might reduce the charge to 44.0 - just depends on pressure signs and what speeds I was obtaining.

Book max changes over time with various manuals. Years ago with my first rifle, a RM - I wanted to duplicate 280 speeds with a lower charge, so I picked one in an OLD Speer manual. The 145 blew up on the shoulder of a large WT deer, and I later found out it was much faster then the book, in my 700.
In talks later with Speer, I was informed the original load data was in a firearm that gave different pressures and speeds. They later used another rifle and charges were dropped.

In the 7/08 I know charges were lowered IIRC since I first started using Varget.

2800-2850 is a good goal and average many get in the 7/08. My loads were what I consider top end, safe, and accurate, in MY rifles. 50-100 fps is not significant and a couple of clicks on a turret or adjustment in POI will compensate.

FWIW, as a comparison, I ran 47 routinely using 120s, 3050-3100 was the norm. Again, RP brass. That same load btw, shot 3/4 - 7/8" at 200 yds in my BDL - Varmint (in a VLS stock, pressure pad removed, no bedding), for (3) 100 Hornady HPs...was very fast, and a coyotes worst nightmare

Last thought on My speeds - here in Louisiana in summer, we have temps in the 90s.....that might have added a bit of heat to the equation. Someone might chime in but that might change things a bit, I'm not up on the temp sensitivity of various powders.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/detail.asp?CaliberID=43&Powder=Hodgdon+Varget&LoadID=8760

why not a .308 win? cheaper does the same job.

Me no understand...

Not what you're accustomed to Scott, but decent Ga. deer...7-08 each of them

Nice deer Nick!

David

Me neither. Max load of Varget under a 140 SPH gives me about 2775-2800 out of M70 Fwt.

Just curious. Does anyone know what the ammunition industry runs for pressure on their ammo? If max is 61K what do they load for?

Fremont - in my former 20" Syn/Matte M70, I was using 139...

Again I refer to this:


http://www.reloadersnest.com/detail.asp?CaliberID=43&Powder=Hodgdon+Varget&LoadID=8760

As to the 308......someday

Perhaps its a .435 for a 150AB vs .485 for a 140AB in 7mm....
Not that the diff in downrange is substantial, not run the #s but the 130 TTSX option does warrant consideration given 3k mv and that MUCH work in the field is this side of 1/4 mile.

I own a 7mm08 and hate it.. Not accurate in the gun i own. Recoil is just as stout or more than my 308 and ammo is about $10 more a box.

Why not just go to the 308? or even 270 if you want long action. Also, can't find ammo half the time but always find the big 3 calibers even at some remote gas stations.

Personally i think it was a solution looking for a problem. I loved the idea at first but now it makes little sense to me. 308 does it better!

Most people I know sell guns they hate. Why keep it?

And the difference between a .308 and a 7mm-08 is negligible, so saying either is superior to the other is ridiculous.




P

That's why I lean on 6's and 6.5's - fly flat and accurate killing well with minimal recoil. More enjoyable to shoot and allows more range time.

I haven't said anything in this thread, I don't have a dog in the fight, so to speak.

Back in the early 80s I was hunting with a bud who bought 1 shortly after they came out. The rifle and cartridge were fine, especially since we were hunting woods/thickets. I had a 77 UL in 308.

I HAD - HAD - 270s since the mid 70s so the 7-08 didn't attract a lot of interest in me.

I'm up on the assets of the 7-08 and I don't hate it.....

I still have 270s & 7 Mags so.....

Short actions and a little less recoil mean nothing to me.
If it floats your boat....fine with me.

Jerry

Same reason some people stay with a wife or job they hate, for some strange reason they actually enjoy the aggravation.

Very nice, I put off getting six-lug Wby cause I wanted a diff. stock to factory, but IIRC a number of yrs ago McMllan
weren't offering such inlet when I enquired.

The difference between a 308 and a 7mm-08 is the difference betwixt a 36C and 34D, respectfully.

I've had the rifles I want in 7RM and 308 WIN for a long time. Think I've got that base covered. No interest here.

Plus, for the non-handloaders (most people), 7/08 factory ammo is a ripoff. When/if you can find it. Seems that might be a HUGE factor for "no love", among the masses.

I agree with all that, except the "ripoff" part. It's priced higher because there's less demand than 243, 270, 308, 30-06. Those four and the 30-30 are the stalwarts of American Hunting.

Here in Montana, for every box of 7mm-08 on the shelves, there's five in 308. Still, the 7mm-08 is VERY popular here. It's typically considered a kids and ladies round for all the state's hunting up through elk, though I've always wondered why it's ok for ladies and kids but not grown men?

Regardless, I have three 308's, but I do have a 7-08 too.

As the late Finn Aagaard said;

"The 7mm-08 is also a fine cartridge that possibly makes the optimum use of the .308 case... The more I use the 7mm-08, the better I like it. It is an altogether superb little cartridge, a modern version of the 7x57mm that will do everything the renowned old Mauser ever did - which makes it an ideal choice for a good 90% of all big game hunting."

I have no more love for the 7-08, but only because our youngest has mine now, many miles away. I guess you could call it a long-distance love affair.

I love it as the modern version of the 7x57 which I also love. It is probably the perfect balance for deer. But it ain't worth fighting over. Lots of cartridges can do more or less the same thing.

I will say this though, after Sandy Hook when nary a box of .270, .308, 30-06, or even 30-30 could be found, there was always 7mm-08. I reload so I wasn't too worried about it, but even then, 7mm bullets of one sort or another usually could be had.

Finn was a great writer and wealth of knowledge. He also liked the Swede though not sure he was around for the 260

He also wrote a piecing the 7BR saying how many shots in the field are done with rifles far more powerful than necessary. Sparked a long affair I had with a Pac-Nor barreled M7. Took several deer without issue.

The ammo argument is Always there and relevant. I've done a lot of hand loading in my day including wildcats but the fascination does seem to wane over time.

The older I get the closer I may come to owning a 308. Done most of the R&D on various cartridges in my past. Odds are I will do less experimenting in the future. That said all the time invested loading and range/field testing has been very valuable more importantly perhaps it was fun. Life's too short not to enjoy it.

Cartridges are more alike than they are different...someone said that somewhere. Just not into the minutia these days, I just shoot animals with $1.00 a shot, .308 caliber cup and core loaded cartridges and it dies.

Wrong choice of words there, but I roll my own so price wouldn't matter to me if I had one. For those that own one but don't hand load though, I can see them looking at it as a ripoff.

I didn't realize you were talking about factory loads. I doubt I've bought more than one or two boxes of factory stuff in 30 years so I don't pay attention. But I get what you're saying in that light.

Was out with my 7mm-08 700 Mtn Rifle today. Really like 140 NABs loaded over RL19. Not much hunting in NA that this wouldn't work well for.

A great contributor and big game hunter and I disagree on this topic. The 7-08 is an awesome deer AND ELK cartridge.

PS - the 7-08 with handloaded bullets will take any NA game to 400 yds plus... call or email me if you have any questions.

bludog

I own two 7-08's, a Kimber Montana and a BACO Extreme Weather bought here on the Fire. The Kimber shoots really tight groups with Barnes Vor Tex factory 120 TTSX's, I stoned a Warthog, Impala, both DRT and a Blesbok which I spined and needed a finisher. The Impala was shot at 136 yards and the Barnes broke both shoulders but did not exit and was found under the skin, the Warthog was a complete pass thru at about 70 yards. I haven't shot the EW yet but I just picked up R&B's and a scope and can't wait! I'm a big fan of the 308.

Post your loads please.




P

Re: ammo cost, Hornady has done well to offer it's 6.5 Creedmoor at lower costs than many other rounds. Hopefully the new 6mm Ammo will perhaps be even less expensive given less lead used

No doubt with good bullets all are very effective, often more alike than not in field performance on many game animals when using similar bullets and shot placement.

It's a McMillan Sako Classic, standard fill; totally transformed the rifle. 7lbs 1oz w/ the Zeiss Diavari Victory 2.5-10x42 in S&K mounts

😂

d500lnn - " ...difference betwixt a 36C and 34D, " To the prior posters comment, and your post, I like the feel of both (pun intended). The 7mm-08 improves somewhat on the .308W's qualities plus gives you slightly better BC/SD in same weight bullets. Like having your cake and eating it too! Homesteader

well...those two items are identical, so if you like the feel of one you have felt the other, so to speak. The frame size is slightly larger or smaller, thus while the appearance may look different, the content is not. It is a matter of perceptual rather than practical difference.

Of course, that is what makes for discussions without end...

To put it another way, it's the difference betwixt large and small ring mausers (of like eras and metallurgy for the nitpickers). Or some analogy to S&W revolvers--but ain't a revolver slut, so can't go there...

With today's bullets of like SDs for comparison, the difference betwixt a 7-08 and 308 is completely between your ears.

Really?

C'mon, I can't believe the 308 guys are gonna let that slide...

Tom - both rounds are effective, as are the smaller 6 and 6.5 version. That said, to keep like SD/BC as you know, you have to up weight as bore size goes up, and recoil follows.

Nothing wrong with a good 308 and good bullets in the hands of one who shoots it well, which goes w/o saying for any rifle.

Yeah, I'd add the 6.5 to the above between your ears comment.

Laying trajectory aside for the moment and just dealing with killing critters, the powder capacity of the 08 case can carry a guy right up to the 9.3x62. But that is far less fun and nigh unto heresy for general rifle slutery.

fwiw, trajectory can be effectively be improved with either powder or dial, so here anyway, do tend to burn more glucose on the bullet's effectiveness than caliber employed...:)