Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 20" or 24" barrel on 7mm08 ??

I've never had a 7-08 shorter than 14"(XP-100),nor longer than 26"(VLS). That being said,with lotsa 18,20,21,22,23 and 24's in the fray in said chambering,I'm happy performance wise at 21". Not that an 18" can't do nice thangs,they're just louder. Hint.

While these Fhuqktards muse "performance",nary a one stipulates the schit that fhuqking matters most,which is RPM/Throat Geometry/COAL. Hint.

I'll happily gun a "lowly" 21-incher wearing 8" RPM,with .796 BC 180 ELD's,at a 2.950" Square Smooch. Hint.

Thank me later.

Just saying.

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

Stick, what's your thoughts on the 162 ELD in a 20" 1:9.5 Howa Alpine? What powder would you choose? I'm thinking the 180 is a stretch for the current barrel. Next barrel will be a 1:8.

I've shot alotta 162 'Max outta a 10" RPM Liljee SALAMI 7-08,in all weathers and nary an issue. No problem with said ELD version of same. Hint.

The attraction of a Howie 8" RPM for 180's in 7-08,do appeal. Hint.(grin)



'17 is warm/fuzzy for me. Hint..................

Stick, 150 Scenars? I have a Rem Varmint Special that I want to play with at the range, but at 2.832" Looking for around 2750 fps

Skinners are Skookum and said velocity is a breeze. Hint.

I'd be powerless not to AICS binderless DBM it and be whistlin' 162's. Hint.....................

I use Varget with the 162 A-Max. I still have about 700 of them. It’s running 2612 with 39.5 grains from a 22” barrel. I’ve had it as high as 41 grains with no pressure signs but accuracy was falling off after 40.

This is the third barrel I’ve ran that combination in and they’ve all three been between 39.5 and 39.8 for the most accurate load.


The ELD series replaced the A-Max. I don’t know how similar they are in actual use. I’ll run out sometime this fall and find out.

In my opinion the 180 is too big for the 7-08 case unless you have a 26”+ barrel.

The 7-08 is a fhuqking MONSTER with .796 BC 180's and a 21" will make 2600fps easily. Vargay sucks ass,in everything. Hint...................

For me, a 162 A-Max will get about all I can want from that round, and a 150 BT and 140 NAB will do alot of killing further than most will take a shot.

Wp - re: the 180s and long barrels, bear in mind, a HEAVY bullet will lose LESS speed as you shorten the tube.......So I would not expect a big difference. For me, I tried some 160s long ago in a 20" and was not impressed. Outside of the most extreme ranges, a 140-154 will do very well.

No doubt powders MATTER, as I was not using the latest powders back then. I had a few chats with a guy in Tx who used a 17" with a can, and some heavies...180s, his speeds were not impressive. Personally, trajectory was much better and more forgiving with lighter weights for his set up...but he wanted to use the heavies and that's fine. So long as you KNOW the range and CLICK to align POA to POI, then the animal will not know. I would rather use a 140-150 if wanting a max PBR. Not run #'s, but that's my logic.

My 21" never disapponted in both the SS BDL and the V - but they were LOUD. That said, the short tube were very accurate. 100, yes even 100gr HPs shot 1/2" at 200 yds in my V, with 3 shots over Varget, and not just once Yes, I was surprised also, would give a yote heck....

A 21" 7-08 with 180's does thusly,in this morning's atmosphere. Hint.




It loses less than 1000fps of velocity,at the 1000yd line and makes 1000ft lbs of "energy" at 1000yds,if only for conversation. Simply looking through the scope,will get it past 1100yds and one can juggle 30 MPH full value winds at 1100yds easily. Hint.

Just sayin'.................

Stick if your 7-08, or at least your calculators, can achieve accuracy at that velocity then I’m impressed.

Kiss,find pressure and rock on. No different than anything else. Hint..............

A buddy of mine has an 18.5” and although it’s very handy it’s very loud. I’ve got a 20” m7 and I love it. But when I built one I couldn’t decide on a 20” or a 22”… so I went 21”. Love it. It’s a douglas and shoots 140TTSX over varget into less than .5”.

I have a Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm08 and it has a 22 inch barrel. I like that length fine, but if I were to get another I would prefer a 24 inch barrel. This is partly personal preference and partly because I mostly hunt in open country where a little extra velocity is always welcome.

The way I hunt I’d take the longer barrel for a few free feet per second and a little less blast.

22” is just about perfect for a sporting rifle

22 9/16" is the perfect length.

22" on my 7-08.

Nooooooooooooo

That extra 16th is gonna haunt me, just knowing it’s hanging off someone’s otherwise nice rifle.

Just end it JeffO.

22" on mine