What are y'all's thoughts on the 7mm-08 as a 400yd Deer and under 300yd Elk round given good shot placement? Am I asking too much? Thinking of using either 120 or 140 grain Barnes TTSX, what are y'all's thoughts?
Well I don't see why not? Frankly I'd be more incline to go with the Nosler Partition or Accubond but that's me.
One, I don't own a rifle in 7-08, not because I don't the cartridge but I have three rifles already in 7x57 that I load to 7-08 ballistics or slightly better. I'be been playing with the 120 and 140 gr. barnes TSX bullets but so far the rifles hate those bullets. Currently starting tests with the 160 gr. Speer Grand slams for one of the rifles looking for decent speed and accuracy. I want to use that rifle on my next elk hunt. Next choice bullet is the 150 gr. Nosler Partition.
Shots at elk where I hunt can range from 100 yards or less to way the hell out yonder. Longest shot I've had was at a lasered 350 yard but two of my hunting partners have had shots at 400 yards plus. Most of my shots have been in the 200/250 yard range.
The monometal bullets interest me but the only game I've taken with any are 5 cow elk with the .35 Whelen and Barnes 225 Gr. TSX. They do smack down cow elk like the hammer of Thor. That includes the 350 yard shot so whomever says the .35 Whelen in only a short range gun does not know of what he speaks.
Bullet choices I thinking of working with start with the 160 gr. Speer Grand slams, both old two core version and the newer cup & core, straight Speer 160 gr. Hot Cores, (Basically for one particular rifle), 150 gr. Nosler Partitons and possibly Accubonds and last on the list 140 gr. Nosler Partitions and maybe Accubonds. Looking for velocity in the 2600+FPS with the 160's, 2700+ FPS with the 150's and I have a 2800 FPS load with the 140 gr. Ballisitic Tip so I believe that is a possibility with the 140s mentioned. The Ballistic Tips I have are from the early runs from when they came 100 to the box. They cost me a deer about 17 years ago when the bullet blew up like a bomb on the shoulder. I haven't shot anything with them since then. Paper only.
Just me, but if I were to do an elk hunt with the 7-08 I do believe id got with the 150 gr. Nosler Partition or Accubond if you rifle likes them. I'd maybe stay away from the Nosler Accubond Long Range and they've been a disaster in three 7x57's, a .280 Remington and 7MM Rem. Mag. My guide on my elk hunts told me they're iffy at 150 yards or less, especially from higher velocity guns. Said they had a tendency not hold together at short ranges. I snagged a whole bunch as I figured they'd be fine at what I could push them from my 7x57 and consequently what a 7-08 could do with them, not to mention the increase in reach. Mine are the 150 gr. ABLRs. I'll keep trying and maybe I'll get lucky.
Paul b.