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Brad- I appreciate your information along with others on this subject of 7mm-08 for use on elk. After reading through this information I think I will just keep my shots closer to a 400 yard max. I have shot several elk around the 300 yard mark but all of those fell to a 7mm mag , 300 win mag or 338 win mag. Most have been around 100 yd. All of those rifles have gone down the road because I just didn’t plan on doing much elk hunting with a rifle in the future. For the last few years it has been archery.

My load for my 7mm-08 is 47 gr of Big Game. Like I said before it shows no pressure signs but the chronograph shows 2960 fps.

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Originally Posted by rdd
My load for my 7mm-08 is 47 gr of Big Game. Like I said before it shows no pressure signs but the chronograph shows 2960 fps.


rdd, happy to offer any experience I may have.

Velocity IS your pressure sign (2,960 is way too high w/ 22"). I got to 2,900 (barely) with the 140's and Big Game (22"), but couldn't find the accuracy I wanted.


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The answer to more velocity in a 7mm-08 is a 280 or 7mm Mag.


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I did mic the case just ahead of cartridge case head before firing and then would check them as I worked up. The thousands of difference is one indicator along with flat primer and bolt lift. I also agree that velocity it an indicator. Didn’t have that at 47 gr of Big Game. Maybe future loads I should back off 2/10 gr and see if that brings it closer to 2900 fps. I find that a lot of people that reload don’t shoot over a chronograph while working up loads.

I have no intent on making my 7mm-08 into a .280 smile

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Originally Posted by drakecasey
I've taken over a dozen elk with my 7mm-08. When I see elk at 500 yards I immediately start figuring out how to get at least 200 yards closer. I'm not a long range guy, even though I shoot my rifles enough to be proficient at that distance. I've taken over 30 elk and just over 300 yards was my furthest shot. I happen to love trying to get closer so that I can ensure a good, clean kill. I've seen wayyyyyyy too many hunters take really long shots, and then walk away when the animal doesn't drop. A number of times I've gone to where the animals were at, only to find the hunter(s) had wounded one, and sometimes more. My recommendation is to get closer or be willing to pass on a shot.


Excellent advice!!!

Please take it, OP. Get closer than 500.

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Many try to make the popular SA cartridges more than they can be. The 6.5 Creed, 7-08 Rem, 308 WCF, all kill game way out there, usually well beyond most shooters skill levels. All three of the aforementioned get around 2,725 fps with 140, 150 and 165 grain bullets with 22” barrels. If you need 2,900 fps plus forget about adding 2” of barrel, just go to a 270 WCF, 280 Rem or a 30-06 with a 22” barrel. An over pressure load is something no one needs when hunting, it just doesn’t buy much in the real world except possible grief. This toil between velocity, barrel length, SA, LA, etc., isn’t worth losing any sleep over or worse yet something more critically needed.

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I was skeptical, but I gotta be fair here and eat my words: a 22” 7-08 will easily push a 162 ELDM over 2700 fps. Maybe it’s the short bearing surface- I don’t know. But I’ve done it and in fact that‘s what my 22” is zeroed with. I smacked a big mule deer with that bullet at over 600 (from a WSM) so I have a general idea what it does at the lower velocities... it goes WHUMP! and the critter falls over, lol.


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How's it act up close?

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I don’t know. I’d guess it’s not ideal. In my rifle the POI with the 140 NAB is close enough to not matter at more normal ranges so I zero for the 162 and call it good.

My Kimber 7 WSM is also zeroed for the 162 but the POI is off enough to matter with 160 Accubonds, so I just have a little mark on the turrets for the NAB zero.


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Originally Posted by Teeder
How's it act up close?

The 162 AM works fine up close, even at higher impact velocities. I haven’t tried the 162 ELD yet, but it’s basically just the 162 AM +P.

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The distance isn't the problem in most of these situations- it is the bullet performance. As long as you can hit the mark at the range you intend, it is up to the bullet performance envelope to do the job. If you choose a bullet that the manufacturer says performs best from 2000fps -3400fps and you are right at 2000 fps at the animal, you may get some erratic performance. Hitting the target is half the battle, choosing the right bullet is the other half...

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We’ve been loading the 145 gr Speer btsp in 2 rifles at just over 2800. I wouldn’t call either rifle one a Tikka and one a BLR 500 yrd guns at least how my buddy and I have them rigged. But under 400 in good conditions I would use it with confidence.
The 140gr AB should be a great choice if it shoots well.


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Wonder how many loads that brass is good for when loaded to 2960 with 140's? Mb


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Originally Posted by Brad

I've said it before, I think the 7-08 is the most hot-rodded cartridge on the campfire...


Couldn't agree more. I've only killed one elk in my life, but I've killed loads of animals with it up through Aoudad. I wouldn't hesitate to take it to Africa and kill anything up to eland sized game. I'm very content with my 140 AB's running 2820, and 120 BT's at 3000. The extra 100fps doesn't mean squat to me.


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I don't shoot much anymore, and I don't still handload. My question is, of factory 7-08 ammo out to 400 yards, which seems the best option for cow elk? Nosler 140 Accubond, Hornady 139 GMX, or Barnes 120 TTSX - if ammo can be found? In particular, are they all reliable to expand at 400 yards?

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Originally Posted by Jeff_O
I was skeptical, but I gotta be fair here and eat my words: a 22” 7-08 will easily push a 162 ELDM over 2700 fps. Maybe it’s the short bearing surface- I don’t know. But I’ve done it and in fact that‘s what my 22” is zeroed with. I smacked a big mule deer with that bullet at over 600 (from a WSM) so I have a general idea what it does at the lower velocities... it goes WHUMP! and the critter falls over, lol.


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Got a 7mm-08 Howa Alpine here with a 2 lb Timney trigger topped off with a Nikon Monarch 2.5x8. I inherited a mess of Nosler 140 gr E-tips.

Get solid sub 3/4 MOA groups from the 20" Howa barrel, Lapua brass, CCI 200 primers and 46 grains of H4350. COAL 2.790.

Sorry, no field results as yet. Planning on moose and bear in the autumn of 2022 in NB. I fear no evil...


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I'd go with 140 accubond. It's going to expand a lot more at extended ranges and lower velocity.

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I’ve killed elk out to 346 yards with 140 Partition started at 2870. DRT.

I’ve seen a bull killed at 409 yards with 150 ELDX started at 2790.

If you’re getting 2960 fps with 47 gr Big Game and 140 AB I’d check your chrono.

AB is a good bullet.


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Originally Posted by cwh2
Originally Posted by Jeff_O
I was skeptical, but I gotta be fair here and eat my words: a 22” 7-08 will easily push a 162 ELDM over 2700 fps. Maybe it’s the short bearing surface- I don’t know. But I’ve done it and in fact that‘s what my 22” is zeroed with. I smacked a big mule deer with that bullet at over 600 (from a WSM) so I have a general idea what it does at the lower velocities... it goes WHUMP! and the critter falls over, lol.


POST YOUR LOAD!!!

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