Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Is the 7-08 dying?

Love or hate it, the 6.5cm has so flooded the market it's going to be a tier 1 seller for a long time. Maybe the best marketing for any single cartridge since the 300wm?

I thought you were trying to snag a deal on a 7-08 VLS by driving down the price.

Per Jim Harmer / Backfire LLC (as of June 2022)

That doesn't surprise at all except for the PRC being there and the 270 not. I wonder if the PRC was driven by sheer availability (though that sure didn't help the Noslers during COVID.... that stuff sat no matter what)?

This is interesting. Being strictly a handloader for everything centerfire, I had no idea 7mm-08 ammo was so lacking in variety or hard to find—the whole ammo hoarding thing not withstanding.

More so, the two cartridges that do not stay on the gun shelves very long here in Colorado are the 7mm-08 and the 270W. Yet I rarely meet hunters carrying those chamberings during hunting season here in the southern Rockies.

Interesting that the 6.8 western outsold the 270.

Not surprised at all by the prc.

That one surprised me too. Likely timing of release ramping up sales.
If I had to venture a guess, it won't be in the Top 20 a year from now but, admittedly, haven't kept track of its popularity.

You can throw out the rimfire. Looking strictly at top 5 centerfires, two .26 cal, next 3 are .30 cal. I would have guessed the 270 WCF or 7mm Rem Mag would’ve been in the top 5 centerfires. 30 caliber still very much alive and well.

If anything, I think there is a minor resurgence of interest in the 7-08. I think the 6.5 CM opened a lot of eyes to the virtues of a small case/smaller bore on BG, and a lot of guys that knew nothing about the 7-08 turned to it in the same, general, low-recoil, 6.5 CM wave that has taken hold (thankfully) in the USA.

The 7-08 is a great round I have no use for - make mine .308

I have never seen a 6.8 Western sitting on the shelf—either they sell before I get there or people are ordering them from their dealer.

But as Skane mentions it may be a surge from initial release.

Brad, you abandoned your 7/08(s) ?

Re: 7 vs CM, IF ammo companies loaded 'like quality' ammo, at same same prices, with quality bullets - both equally accurate....and top safe speeds.....THEN had the same variety of factory Rifles available for either, it would be interesting which folks would buy first.

I ran 6.5x55s nearly 30 years ago, 260s, CM, and x47 since, along with many 7/08s. All highly effective. No Flies on the 7/08, I ran 140s at 2960 in 21" 700 bbls and shot some very tight groups.......even a factory 700V that made SEVERAL consecutive 3 shot groups, 1/2" with 100......yes 100 gr Hornady HPs over Varget......in trash RP brass.........Oh.......at 200 yds. I never clocked them......but I would bet they were Hauling Azz.......they got downrange fast It would have put the hurt on coyotes.

Good thread.......when we consider that in 2022, we are talking about nigh ballistic twins of a round that was invented in 1891....

And it will STILL shoot right with......or best the 7-308 and the Creedmoor.

As to ammo availabiltiy, let's not forget, it may not be a supply issue, in the sense that it's not produced in substantial quantity (though no doubt the machines are spitting out plenty CM)...........but it may well be that there are plenty rifle owners using 7/08 that are buying up said ammo. Don't sweat it, flip a coin and pick one, you will do just fine.

No elk picture? Lol

I’m willing to wager the 7 prc will be ahead of the 6.8 W in sales a year from now.

in my area there are 2 types of rifle buyers; young folks in 20s and 30s who are all buying a 6.5 CM and old folks (over 40) who are getting the old favorites like 270, 308, 30-06. i visit a very large lgs almost weekly (my cousin is the owner) and look at most rifles. i've seen a tremendous number of 6.5CMs and somewhat less in 270s/308s. i haven't seen a factory 708 in at least 3 years, and same for a 7mmremmag/300winmag. i also haven't seen factory 708 ammo in over 3 years. 6.5CM is in every store in my area. my local walmart has plenty of 6.5CM, 270win, 308, and 30-06 ammo.

i'd say the 708 is still very much alive as long as one reloads. the 708 isn't dead but the 6.5 CM has sent it to the back of the bus and i don't see it moving up in the next 10 years. i repeatedly read that handloaders are greatly outnumbered by those who don't reload and the vast majority of those who hunt buy their ammo from either the local lgs or walmart. if that is true, the 708 is on an uphill climb. the 708 is a fine, capable cartridge but it isn't getting the support it needs to remain popular to the average joe. ymmv.

I drove by the cemetery today and I saw a headstone with 260 REM engraved on it.

You asked for it!








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Guess I should have asked if the .270 is dying.

Somebody must be chambering rifles in 7-08 if it's the #9 most popular bolt action cartridge on the list.

😂😂

Where did he get these numbers?

I picked up one of those man bun calibers in a Kimber Hunter for $679 so I think the caliber is losing it’s luster.