Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 7mm-08 for elk

What are your thoughts on a 7mm-08 with 140 gr Accubonds at 2960 fps and an elk out at 500yds. .

I;ve killed two, but never a 500 yards

My first thought is: 2960, dang how long is your barrel? My second thought is why is 500 yards important? Just curious

I have killed around 10. Longest close to 300.
I have been shooting ttsx.
I might do 400 but don’t think I would do 5

Only killed 1 elk cow with 140 TTSX at 160 yds.

The reason I mentioned 500 yd is because that would be my personal limit for a game animal. I practice out to 500 frequently at my range. My 7mm-08 has a 23" proof barrel and must be a fast barrel as I am .5 grain under max with no pressure signs and yet the chrono shows 2960. The JBM ballistic calc says just over 2000fps at 500 and a little over 1300 energy. I was looking to see what real world info was out there on a 7mm-08 out to the 500 yard mark. I'm thinking I might need to look towards a bigger hammer for the elk if I want to shoot that far. So either I spend the money on an elk rifle set up or live with a shorter max range.

Have you looked to see what your velocity will be at that range? Have you shot that load at that range?

I’m guessing that velocity will be too low at that range. If I was set on shooting 500 yards I’d look for a more powerful cartridge. That said, try to get closer. Shooting 500 yards (my self imposed limit on game under ideal conditions is 400 yards) at live animals is pushing the limit for most really good shooters. The typical hunter probably shouldn’t be shooting much more than half that distance at live animals in real world hunting conditions.

Edit-just saw you answered my questions before I could ask them.

If those numbers are right that bullet should do it’s job at that distance, I would think.

In all my years of hunting, I've only shot 1 elk over 300 (350). Most have been under 200. The last 3 years I shot 1 at 150 and 2 under 75.

Mid weight barnes ttsx [140] and moderate or closer ranges its good elk medicine.
Sorry didnt read the 500 yard part. As has been stated above my comfort would start to run out with the ttsx opening well at 500. Guess if my 7-08 shot both the ttsx and the accubond well I would hunt with the ttsx and if that exact situation presented with a controlled broadside rib shot would switch to the accubond.

I've shot over 20 with my 7-08 and the 140 accubond at 2860.

Farthest was 620. My brother killed a bull with my rifle at 486....rest have been 300 or less, majority less than 200.

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.

My wife shot a nice 7x8 NM bull at 405 yds with a 7-08ai in 2015. She used a 120 gr TTSX at a MV of around 3050 fps. Altitude was around 7000 ft. The bullet hit just below and behind the heart and exited. The bull walked about 40 yds uphill and laid down. It took over a half an hour for my wife and her guide to get to the bull. There was no blood trail. He was still alive but was rustling around when they got close to him. She had to put another bullet in him to finish the kill. I believe she would have gotten better on game performance if she's used a higher BC bullet like the Accubond. With a MV of 2920 fps, the Accubond would have been traveling faster than the 120 by the time it reached the bull.

If I had it to do all over again, or if she ever goes elk hunting again, I'll probably go with the 139 gr LRX (wasn't available at the time). Good expansion down to 2000 fps, decent BC to retain downrange velocity and maximize the expansion and penetration of the bullet. But I'd think an Accubond would be another good option for a 500 yd poke. At 500 yds, the 140 would be traveling almost 100 fps faster than a 120 gr with the MVs I used above. Regarding velocity, Barnes lists several powders on their website that provide velocities over 2900 fps with the 139 and 140 gr bullets.

Fascinating.

I have carried my 7-08 elk hunting (loaded with 150 Partitions at the time) but not killed one with it, so I’m just spitballing here..... At 500 I’d smack it with a 162 ELDM. At more normal ranges the 140 Accubond should work fine, though I’ve only killed deer with that particular Accubond. Accubonds are good bullets, and 7-08 velocities at normal hunting ranges are about perfect for them. It’s not going to blow up, it is going to expand, and it is going to penetrate.

You are only about 150 FPS below 7mm RM velocities so it’s a decent elk killing load. I’d say 500 is pushing the effective range, 500 was my limit when I used the 7mm magnum with 150 TTSX. Killed a few past 300 never tried 500 even though we practice out to 800 yards.

They are extremely tough animals sometimes traveling 200+ yards downhill when hit well with a 7mm bullet so I switched to a 300 Weatherby & 180’s years ago with much better stopping results. Last couple of cows were DRT but both under 250 yards. With that combination I have killed a cow at 550 without a long trailing job, she got 2 in the chest then bacflipped over a small cliff. I’m over 90% hits at 5& 600 yards practicing in 15 mph winds sitting resting on my backpack. If there is more wind than that under 300 would be my limit.

I’d agree with most that you might want a shorter limit unless you knew you could get follow up shots & know where it went fairly certainly. That is the case in a couple of canyons I’ve hunted but not many they tend to like cover close in my observation.

Not a problem if you limit your range to the capability of your chosen bullet at impact velocity. I had pretty good results on mule deer and elk with 150 TTSX out of my 7mm Weatherby at 3,180 FPS muzzle velocity. Happy trails

I think Buzz is the one that gave you the answer you need. My experience with the 7-08 on elk is limited to exactly one bull with a 150 Ballistic Tip at 40 yards, but I'd have no hesitation with the 7-08/140 NAB at 500 yards.

Aside, in the three 22" 7-08's I owned, I generally loaded 140's at around 2,830 +/-. If you're running a 22" barrel, you're dancing with the angels @ 2,960. A 24" barrel will barely get you there with a couple of powders. Maybe.

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

I agree 100% with Brad.

It will work at 500 yards, with proper shot placement of course.

And the 7-08 is the most hot rodded because everyone wants it to be a 270.

Also agree with Brad. If I'm shooting 140'ish bullets in a 22" barrel, I'm looking for about 2825 fps.
Usually that's with about 48grns of H-4350.