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7mm-08 ultimate youth elk cartridge?

Coldfinger said:
I used to take a Remington model 7 in 7-08 for a backup rifle in case something happened to primary rifle. I'd take a 7mm-08 over the 6.5 creedmoor anyday. I loaded 139 grain hornady interlocks and never would have thought twice about using the setup if I needed. It's a light and low recoiling setup.
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No matter what you decide to go with for a caliber I would like to Thank You for involving your children in our Creators Great Outdoors!!! I think everyone here would agree that the future is bleak without our children being taught about Conservation! Good hunting and be safe out there!!!! My 6 year old is taking kindly to feeding his family!
 

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bigngreen said:
One thing guys don't think about is as you go up in cal but stay the same in weight your more frontal area on your bullet with less behind it which really defeats the purpose on elk. Larger bullet diameters ONLY win if they have enough weight behind them to keep trucking as the frontal diameter increases. I'll put a 6.5 140 against a .284 140 gr bullet any day of the week when it comes to shooting elk.
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This is an interesting thought which is true in some respects.
One factor is bullet construction and that could/would likely change the outcome of your example. A 140 .284 mono is very likely to completely penetrate most game at most angles. I don't load for 7mm anything- but 130 gr ttsx in a 308 hasn't stopped in any animal I've ever shot. In fact I've never recovered a Barnes bullet, regardless of cartridge.
I'm only pointing out you're example is a little skewed because the larger diameter bullet would weigh more keeping things proportionally equal.
 
bigngreen said:
One thing guys don't think about is as you go up in cal but stay the same in weight your more frontal area on your bullet with less behind it which really defeats the purpose on elk. Larger bullet diameters ONLY win if they have enough weight behind them to keep trucking as the frontal diameter increases. I'll put a 6.5 140 against a .284 140 gr bullet any day of the week when it comes to shooting elk.
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That only stands a chance at holding water if you are talking about the same bullet, such as 6.5 140 grain Partition and a 284 140 grain Partition. As soon as you make the 140 grain 284 bullet a mono, bullet the calculus changes.
 
I'm a big fan of the 7mm08. I've never hunted elk with it but have shot several deer with one. My nephew has been shooting one since he was 11. I load 140 Accubonds and my Xbolt composite stalker shoots 1/2 moa or better out to 300.
 
I went through this exact exercise about 10 years ago. At the time I was debating 243, 260, 308, and 7/08. I am glad for the choice I made. Today I would also throw in the 6.5 Cr.

One trick I used that I have finally told my two oldest kids is that I downloaded their practice ammo.

Practice load:
100gr Sierra HP
27 gr of H4895 (60% of max) reduced load of H4895 .60X45=27gr This follows Hodgdon's guideline for reduced loads of 4895

Then work up a good load for hunting season, and don't tell them. I get 3150 fps with a 120gr TTSX.

They will enjoy shooting a really low recoil load that will build confidence. They will hunt with a very adequate elk cartridge.

Both of my older kids love their 7/08 and have killed elk with it.
 
Here's what my tikka 7-08 does at 400 and 500 yards off a bipod and rear bag with the 140 accubond. I've taken many whitetail at varying distances, cow elk at 350 and antelope at 300. I love shooting it.
 

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Highvoltage said:
I've handled the Mossberg patriot super bantam in the 6.5 Creedmoor and it seems like a very good youth rifle for a reasonable price, I've seen them as low as $280 new online. I plan on getting him one for his birthday this year. My son is 8 60lbs and killed 2 bucks last season drt Hornady American whitetail 129 interlocks with my creed. Another good pick is a 25-06. The rancher we hunt on in Colorado uses 110 accubonds and kills elk and mule deer to 600 yds with low recoil as well. Good luck lots of options!
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When I lived in Colorado, I met a few hunters who used the .25/06 on elk. Never met anyone experienced, speak ill of its performance.
 
AussieWriter said:
When I lived in Colorado, I met a few hunters who used the .25/06 on elk. Never met anyone experienced, speak ill of its performance.
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I killed my first 4 bulls with a 25-06. It was the only rifle I had growing up so that's all I knew. My grandpa lived in Idaho and used a 270 win so I didn't really think I was that undergunned. I shot 120 grain Nosler Partitions. Killed each bull with a single shot to the shoulders and and or lungs. Shot one close 125 yds in the neck. Dumped him on the spot. Never shot over 400 yds and thats a chip shot with a 25-06. I bought a 300 mag 8 years later but would have no problem shooting a 25-06 at elk again someday. 243 and 257 roberts are my lower limits for elk.
 
I have a Remington M7 in 7mm-08. With a Barnes 120gr. TTSX I would not hesitate to use it on elk to 300 yards or perhaps a bit more. I shot a big bodied deer at 260 yards quartering away. Bullet entered near the last rib and broke the off shoulder on the way out. DRT! Have a friend whose daughter killed a very big moose in Newfundland at about 200 yards with the same load. Bullet broke the onside shoulder going in and a rib on the way out. She hit it through the lungs with a second shot that my buddy said was unneeded. It also exited. He said the heart was destroyed by the first round, bullwinkle just didn't know he was dead yet! By they way, these are both M7's with 20" barrels loaded to 3020fps. Hers is just a little faster than mine, say 5-6 fps on average. I load for both rifles.
 
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