In between 7mm-08 & .308

[Gcan]

Have you shot any guns with a good suppressor on it? My 300 WM with a thunder Beast break and suppressor combo has substantially less recoil than my 308. My 14 year old daughter who weighs 80 lbs shoots it fine without issue. Trust me. It's worth the time and money of noise and recoil are important factors for you.

I can only say it so many ways. Where I live, suppressors are illegal.

Well, there's the problem. Move! In the most liberal places on earth, England, France, Germany, etc. suppressors are perfectly legal. As a matter of fact, they are encouraged or mandated for hunting in many places.

 

[xsn10s]

Moving isn't always an option. Also moving doesn't guarantee anything anymore. I see some red states ready to turn.

 

[Holycity73]

No one remembers the recoil… spend time on shooting fundamentals, find the right rifle and add a brake if need be. There's not a whole lot of difference between a 140 7mm and a 150 .308 recoil wise IMO. Lighter rifles mean a harder wallop. Ultimately, there's a real world solution out there. Range time and shooting different loads will be the deciding factor, not our opinions. We won't be there with you or your kid when the heartbeat is in the throat.

 

[bamban]

Well, there's the problem. Move! In the most liberal places on earth, England, France, Germany, etc. suppressors are perfectly legal. As a matter of fact, they are encouraged or mandated for hunting in many places.

My friends over there call them courtesy devices.

 

[Starlite]

I feel your pain.
We cannot have them on Australia but I believe that there are no real restrictions across the ditch in New Zealand.
I used one in South Africa but here it is very difficult for private citizens to get a permit or approval.

Same in Canadian law. It's a backwards approach in my opinion. As a minimum They should be legal to use at the range.

 

[NDF]

I was happy just to get to go hunting as a young man, let alone know the difference in recoil between almost identical cartridges, but if a 308's a little stout to practice with put him on a 223 or 243 to get his trigger time and when it's hunting season bump him up to whatever fits the bill for whatever you have tags for, if it's deer the 243 is plenty anyway, if your chasing elk the adrenaline will take care of any perceived recoil as long as he's got the gun into his shoulder properly, raised one of each for kids and I started taking mine to shoot trap with a 20ga in spring league so by the time fall got there recoil was not a issue, glad to see your spending time with your boy hunting, good luck putting something in the freezer

 

[.300 Dakota]

Ok I haven't read all posts..my bad. However, I have some popcorn leftover from the hockey game so.. Let the new game begin .
Just go get a 6.5 creedmoor with a 140-160gr pill and go get er done.
Another option is to develop, group and zero your heavy recoil gun from a lead sled…no recoil pain.
For me any time I've shot a large animal where I'm excited to have had the opportunity I've NEVER been able to recall what the recoil felt like when I pulled the trigger.
Regardless of your need to have a light recoil gun, when your shooting that trophy animal your thought should never wonder to felt recoil.
Just my 2c.

In all seriousness, a 6.5 Creedmoor with a slightly compressed charge of IMR 7828 SSC under a 160 grain Weldcore is a BAD machine and has penetrated far into some big, tough critters for me. Looks like said cartridge with 156 EOLs (Berger) and a max load of RL 25 or RL 26 is even "badder." Recoil will be less than the 7-08.

 

[Starlite]

In all seriousness, a 6.5 Creedmoor with a slightly compressed charge of IMR 7828 SSC under a 160 grain Weldcore is a BAD machine and has penetrated far into some big, tough critters for me. Looks like said cartridge with 156 EOLs (Berger) and a max load of RL 25 or RL 26 is even "badder." Recoil will be less than the 7-08.

One of my best loads is a 160gr RN by Hornady. Really deadly out to my tested distance of around 250M. DRT with a low neck shot.

 

[.300 Dakota]

One of my best loads is a 160gr RN by Hornady. Really deadly out to my tested distance of around 250M. DRT with a low neck shot.

Holy smoke! I'd be strutting like a peacock if I got groups like that at 100 yards on a regular! There is something to be said for having a cartridge/rifle rig capable of making a neck shot at 250 meters!

It's funny how time has changed things. The 7mm-08 was brought into production in 1980 after being renowned by competitive long range shooters touting it's flatter flight and lighter recoil (all things being equal) compared to the .308. Some 25 years later the Creedmoor enters the scene and rewrites all the record books.

I have found the 7-08 to be a bit temperamental to load for compared to the .308, and the .260 Rem even moreso. Perhaps I've just had a poor lot of specimens for rifles. I've probably owned a half dozen 7-08s, and it has been one of my favorite cartridges except I've only ever had 1 gun that would group well with the cartridge and that was a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle back in the early - mid 90s. The chamber on that gun was cut to short, and factory ammo would bind the bolt. That was before I reloaded, and what it did with 140 grain Core-Lokts was a thing of pure beauty. My most recent experience was with a Bergara B14 Ridge that wouldn't
quite get to 1.5 MOA. I tried everything. I haven't had stellar success with the 6.5 Creed to date, either, I've gone through 3 of them and MOA is about all I could pull off, with the exception of the load with the Woodleigh I referenced earlier, which made 3/4 MOA. The 6 Creedmoor seems more forgiving and has been easier for me to load very accurately. The 6.5x47 L has been a dream, also.

At any rate, the 6.5 Creedmoor is obviously one of the very top rounds for both hunting and target shooting. It is still being improved by the newer powders and bullet options. I still prefer the 6.5x284 Norma for deer hunting (including mule deer), even over the newer 6.5 PRC. My last mule deer guide said he used the 6.5x284 as a loaner to clients that showed up for elk hunts without a weapon, and has had great success at ranges outvo 450 yes and change. No doubt that in the right configuration, the 6.5 Creedmoor could be just as deadly on elk at those same distances or beyond.

 

[Son of a Gun!]

My daughter, grandaughter, and grandson, all shoot the 308 Win! If you reload you can load light loads to get them use to the gun then up the power for hunting! Remington also has low recoil loads if you don't reload!

 

[Tac-O]

284 win?

 

[VLD Pilot]

284 win?

Great round BUT nothing available in factory ammo

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Here's a little "Tip" for you,.. Tikka, 7mm-08 owners,..
We found that, my son's T-3X Tikka, wouldn't shoot, the High BC, VLD "Type" Bullets ( even some, ELD-X's ) "consistently well",
( good groups, WOULDN'T repeat ) due to, his Rifle having an ABRUPT,.. 3* Throat, Angle from, the Factory !
He rented a 1.5* Reamer and hand Reamed his Rifles Throat area ( slowly / carefully ) then, hand Polished, the Throat with JB's !
NOW, the Rifle shoots very well, consistently ( usually, SUB 1/2 MOA ) with all, High BC bullets !
The 7mm-08 with, StaBall Powder and 168 grain Berger, HVLD's puts this Cartridge into, a 600-700 Yard, Elk killer ( In the RIGHT Hands ! ) and IS,.. FAR Superior to, the 6.5 Creedmoor !
The 7mm-08 is an Amazing little round, used by many "serious",.. Hunters !

 

[Kimber7man]

Here's a little "Tip" for you,.. Tikka, 7mm-08 owners,..
We found that, my son's T-3X Tikka, wouldn't shoot, the High BC, VLD "Type" Bullets ( even some, ELD-X's ) "consistently well",
( good groups, WOULDN'T repeat ) due to, his Rifle having an ABRUPT,.. 3* Throat, Angle from, the Factory !
He rented a 1.5* Reamer and hand Reamed his Rifles Throat area ( slowly / carefully ) then, hand Polished, the Throat with JB's !
NOW, the Rifle shoots very well, consistently ( usually, SUB 1/2 MOA ) with all, High BC bullets !
The 7mm-08 with, StaBall Powder and 168 grain Berger, HVLD's puts this Cartridge into, a 600-700 Yard, Elk killer ( In the RIGHT Hands ! ) and IS,.. FAR Superior to, the 6.5 Creedmoor !
The 7mm-08 is an Amazing little round, used by many "serious",.. Hunters !

'Lefty,
what range of powder are you using with the 168 and StaBall? I have a jug of it to try with my 708. Thanks!