I am mainly a lever-gun guy, that’s just where I find most enjoyment when deer hunting.

However, I am on a quest of adding a 7mm to the herd. This will be mainly for white tails in the Mid-South. When I am able, I will build a 7mm SAUM or close equivalent for Western hunts.

I have a .270 Win, and it leaves nothing to be desired for accuracy or killing power. It does a boringly good job of smoking critters from as far as I can shoot.

So this isn’t about necessity (how boring) just looking for a short action 7mm.

Only stipulations are this: (1) no barrel burner, and (2) not interested in fire-forming. I guess the only real question is: within these criteria, is there anything that legitimately tops the 7mm-08?

JP

Nope.

(If short action wasn't required, 7x57 and 280 are just cool. I also had a 7x64BR that I regret selling.)

If I could do it again, I’d go with a .280 all day long over the .270. I’ve even seen plenty of it on shelves recently.

I’m considering the .284 Win. But brass with the 7mm-08 will always be able to be formed from .308. But as long as I’m rolling my own, thought I’d check to see if there was anything more interesting out there.

Where do you see lots of 280 on shelves? I wasn't seeing it much *before* shortage. If only I hunted with a 26 Nosler or 300 SAUM.... it's piling up at Cabelas.

Depends on the bolt face. If it's a .473 then go with the 7-08. If it's a short mag bolt face, 7 WSM.

https://www.lapua.com/new-lapua-brass-cartridge-cases-for-2021/

You didn’t state the platform, but since your rolling your own the 284 might be worth a look if you’ve got the room.

Go with the 7mm-08. You won’t regret it. It’ll do everything you want in 7mm.

PS: Welcome to the ‘Campfire

7mm-08, no question about it.

I’ll walk back my comment about their being “plenty” of .280 available. But it does seem to be available whereas the .270’s and 30-06’s are not.

I do not have a complete rifle or action to build off of as yet. If I do go 7mm-08, I may look for a factory option. If other, a custom tube may be the ticket.

Either way, I do envision this being a Model 70.

7-08

Agree with the others on 7-08 for your application. My current 7mm's are 7x57 and 275 Rigby, and I'm currently building a 7 SAUM.

This.

A friend of mine swears by the .284 Winchester on whitetails. I tell him that it's a great choice , but my .284 Remington will kill them just as dead.

Std bolt face 7mm-08, mag bolt face- 7mm SAUM

7mm saum

+2

Though my next .473” 7mm will likely be a 7 Creedmoor.

This. I don’t think you would regret a 7mm08. I really like mine. Mine is a M70 EW. Great rifle!

7mm WSM

7-08 is a fantastic cartridge; extremely versatile, easy to find brass/components,

So no, nothing legitimately tops the 7-08; not even close.

Agreed. And Lapua brass is icing on the cake.

I am getting ready to try out the 284 Win. I can't wait to prove to myself that it performs no better than the likes of a 7-08, 270, etc. 😁

On a serious note, brass availability and quality no longer seems to be the issue it was in the past with the 284.

Lol!

Problem with the 284 is problematic feeding. It can be an issue.

You guys really seem to like the 7mm-08.

Weird.




P

You do too pharm. as you know the 7oh8 is prolly the most balanced deer cartridge ever created Bar none.
Big Ed

Perhaps. But in adhering to 24hourcampfire standards, my stance will be the 284Win is the best 7mm short action available, until my soon to be sample-of-one proves otherwise. Until then, all other opinions on the matter are illogical and communists. 🤣

If feeding is an issue, then said sample-of-one will likely be re-barreled to an "illogical and communist" chambered barrel....

Hopefully, we will find out the truth of the matter on Friday.

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

Forrest knew something about firearms too....

I like my .284W BLR

I had several custom 7 WSM’s that worked very well, last summer I built a light 7 RSAUM on a m7 action that I like just as well. Never got the velocity I expected on a 284 I built several years ago but it worked just fine too, that was on a FN built SPR (70) action with a 3.050” WSM mag box. 7-08’s work great for youth and ladies rifles...and make a great all-around medium game rifle...so far I prefer the RSAUM, but the WSM’s had a lot going for them. Toss up really, try them all and keep one!

I have two 7mm-08s and it is hard to choose my favorite, a Remington 7MS or my Kimber 84M.

Real 7-08 fans use Big Game powder....

Or at least that's the rumor....

My Bobby Hart built 7-08 in a Hunter's Edge (top gun in picture).. Hart 23" barrel turned to Rem Sporter contour. Bobby did the usual action work, installed a Timney 501.

I mostly use 120 NBT's and 140 SGK HPBT's. The latter is a bit more accurace, has shot a number of sub half inch groups, some .3" or so. The Nosler will shoot sub inch, often 1/2". Both kill deer. The SGK may be a bit more expansive. I get good tissue damage and exits with both. Deer don't go far, generally I can watch them fall if they're not DRT, sorta DROT, (Dead right over there). We generally chest shoot WT's to save the meat.

Shown with my LA 700 .257 Roberts with 24" Brux barrel, built by Ron Lampert , MN, also in a Hunter's Edge. Both with Conquest scopes in Talley LW rings. Ron did such a fine job on the original M-700 trigger, I found no need to replace it.

DF

In the land of short action 7’s. The 7-08 is king.

What’s this 7-08 you boys speak of? Is it accurate? Low recoiling? Work good on critters large and small?

7mm08 with lapua brass for the win

7-08 for me

Same.