Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Spotting your own shots... which 7mm?

My definition of spotting shots is watching paint fly off a piece of steel, seeing a critter drop or propel across the sky (pending on species), watching a rock turn into gravel, or in the case of misses, dirt fly over, above, left, or right of the target.

It's not really that tough.

Got it. "Spot" in sniper circles typically refers to both reading mirage and bullet trace. There are those who can do it through a heavy 308, and there are men who can hit (and see) like Ted Williams. I think one is about as common as another. Just askin.....

Deflave, How do you like your 7mmRUM?? You also shoot a7mm08??

The RUM is nifty, but the amount of powder it consumes is not. Will likely go up for sale soon.

My 7-08 is getting rebarreled this week. I love the 7-08.


Travis

I agree that a 7/08 just might be the best ever, but living where you live, I'd find it hard to part with the RUM if it shoots. Get some LR bullet dialed in a save it for special occasions.

7tcu?
Lol

Well TAK, if you knew anything about where I live, or RUM's, I'd take that under advisement.


Travis

If you're not interested at killing things long distance the 7-08 is a great round...cheap to shot, especially with reloads. You're talking 45-50 grains of powder vs. 85-100 grains in the 7RUM. I see it as a tool to shoot twice as many bullets...which wasn't a bad thing the last time I asked myself.

If you're not wanting to reach way out there, it's a great hunting round as well. I've got loads that basically mirror my .270win.

The OP has no interest in a RUM. He was only looking for empirical data on which .284 cal would allow him to shoot an 8.5lb rifle and spot his shots.

Please don't compare the 7-08 to a .270...


Travis

I have even had the strange experience of a few hitting below the target. Not often, but it has happened.

Me too. But I forgot to put that one in there. Thanks buddy.

Thanks for the input fellas. That's the info I was looking for.

I should have mentioned that the scope will have an M1 elevation turret and fine duplex, its at the Custom Shop now. Not using a ballistic reticle so I can run whatever magnification needed. I've used a 6x out to 800 yards in the past, although for smaller targets I'd prefer a touch more magnification.

I also recently bought a 7mm-08 Montana. With a 6x42, I can spot my shots at 500 yards on regular basis if I have a good rest and NPA as Tanner mentioned. The recoil seems considerably less than a T3 in 270 that I sold even though it weighs a full pound less. I figured it was due to the load with 120gr bullet and stock fit, as previously mentioned, but I didn't want to assume that the little 7mm-08 would still be mild with a 162gr bullet out of a different rifle.

And to address the "spotting shots" question... I have a spot on the Oregon Coast where I can shoot from a landing across a valley to a hillside. Distances range from 500 to 800+ yards. Steel targets are located in open areas with loose dirt. When its dry, the misses are easy to see. Hits are easy to hear (and read paint in spotting scope). There's some dirt banks where I can shoot rocks and see the impacts and craters in the summer (extremely dry season here). In winter (extremely wet season!) the impacts are a little harder to see, thus the need for being able to see impacts reliably. Plus, if I hunt critters at mid to longrange I may not have a spotter.

I've even resorted to recording video and replaying to see impacts. The video is also helpful to check my wind reading by looking at the trees and grass.

I love the 6X but I am going to try a 3-10 when I get my 7-08 back.



Travis

One other thing...

How's the recoil on your 7mm rigs where you can spot shots reliably?

I just shot 30 rounds through the 7-08 Montana from prone and it was a piece of cake. Could have shot all day. The T3 in 270 was no recoil monster but it started to get uncomfortable much sooner. And my 300 Win and 375 were no fun after the second shot from prone! As much as I liked the 300 Mags, they didn't allow me to shoot enough. Something to be said for shooting in volume? Or just shoot a couple and guess the rest?

Jason

I was thinking about trading a 6-18x for a 3.5-10x. Seems like the best practical magnification range. I was using 12x the most with the 6-18x anyway. 10x would have been fine.

The only thing I don't like about the VX-3 series is the tunnel vision, but I think I'm a freak since many people don't notice or care about it.

I'll know next week whether I like it or not.

I have been running 120's in my 7-08 and I can shoot it a whole lot without getting wore down. I've even used it on gophers a time or two.



Travis

I could put 30 through my 7 Rem with no problems.

3.5-10 is the shizz. Gonna' try my first 6x42 soon though.

Any over penetration problem?

I wish...

What?



Travis