thoughts on the 7MM-08

[retiredcpo]

Looking for my next project in thinking about a 7MM-08
How is the barrel life with round? I know all wear out but some are way faster than others.
This will be mainly for varmits maybee deer
Its either the 7MM-08 or a 308 I like the ballistics of the 7MM bullets more
retirdcpo

 

[trebark]

7mm-08 is a nice round, it will shoot the 120grain bullets very well. It has trouble shooting the heavier bullets with 'real' velocity.

308 is a great ground. Get an 1:11 twist and you can shoot virtually any 308 bullet out there.

The best of the 308 based cartridges? The 260Rem. With a 26" 1:8 twist barrel, you can shoot 140grain VLD (BC = .612) or the 140grain tagent ogive bullets (BC = .593) at 2950fps.

 

[meatyrem]

The 7mm-08 is an awesome round, not that I have one but, I want one.
It's short and sweet! It's basically nipping at the but of the 280 rem. I think the 7mm-08 is an excellent choice!

 

[trebark]

The 7mm-08 is an awesome round, not that I have one but, I want one.
It's short and sweet! It's basically nipping at the but of the 280 rem. I think the 7mm-08 is an excellent choice!

Not quite. My 280Rem will shoot the 168VLD at 2800fps. I wouldn't even consider the 168grain bullets for the 7-08.

The 7-08 will shoot the lightweight bullets, but doesn't have the case capacity to push the heavier bullets.

 

[strombeckj]

I would move away from a 7mm for varmints and look into some sort of 6mm. A 87gr or 95gr VLD will put some hurting on a deer out to 800 yards in the right 6mm case. I shoot a 6mm-06 and will push a 95gr VLD @ 3450. However, there are slower 6mm's that will perform great for what you want and the barrel will last.

Jon

 

[trebark]

I would move away from a 7mm for varmints and look into some sort of 6mm. A 87gr or 95gr VLD will put some hurting on a deer out to 800 yards in the right 6mm case. I shoot a 6mm-06 and will push a 95gr VLD @ 3450. However, there are slower 6mm's that will perform great for what you want and the barrel will last.

Jon

Agreed, a fast 6mm is an even better choice than the 6.5mm (260Rem) for pure varmint hunting. If you plan to move into shooting at deer though, the 260Rem becomes a better choice for longrange work.

 

[Centxshooter]

To each their own my 7/08 sees more field time than any other gun I have. Great accruacy and really easy on the shoulder. I have taken game (deer,hogs, yotes, and rabbits) out to 318yds using 140 BT's and all have dropped in their tracks. As far as barrel life? I only have about 400 rds through mine (all handloads) and going strong gun)

 

[jimbires]

exactly right . I was messing with the 168's for awhile . I was pushing them hard with overloads of reloader 17 . I had some half decent loads but nothing great . I started to work around book max loads and that is where the better accuracy was for me . you can see in the pic what the muzzle velocity was , and what the elevation correction would be at 400 yards . driver error got me on the last two shots . Jim

 

[retiredcpo]

WOW
First off sorry it took me so long to get back here I have been scouting for my deer hunt in three weeks.
Thanks for all the great info and opinuns
A little more info about my situation
this new gun will be to replace a 25-06 I am using now I have a 7mm sendero for the long range stuff a 300 WSM that is good to 700 yards so Im looking for something between my 7mm and my 223
retiredcpo

 

[jimbires]

WOW
First off sorry it took me so long to get back here I have been scouting for my deer hunt in three weeks.
Thanks for all the great info and opinuns
A little more info about my situation
this new gun will be to replace a 25-06 I am using now I have a 7mm sendero for the long range stuff a 300 WSM that is good to 700 yards so Im looking for something between my 7mm and my 223
retiredcpo

the 7-08 is great with 140 grain bullets . I'm using RL17 powder and now the Berger140 hunting vld's in my remington rifle , it's right around 3100FPs . in the Tikka , I'm using IMR4064 and 139BTSP hornady bullets and getting about 2850FPS . Jim

 

[dwm]

If you don't mind hand loading the standard .284 will push 7mm bullets quite a bit faster than the 7-08 and still work in a short action.

160 / 168 grain bullets are fine in the .284 ...

 

[retiredcpo]

Jim
Thats about the bullet weight I am looking for really like 110-140 gr would be great
How many rounds do you have through your?
whatis the barrel wear like?
dwn how does barrle wear compare to the 7mm-08?
How much more recoil is there
retiredcpo

 

[strombeckj]

WOW
First off sorry it took me so long to get back here I have been scouting for my deer hunt in three weeks.
Thanks for all the great info and opinuns
A little more info about my situation
this new gun will be to replace a 25-06 I am using now I have a 7mm sendero for the long range stuff a 300 WSM that is good to 700 yards so Im looking for something between my 7mm and my 223
retiredcpo

I would look into a 6x47, 6mm Rem, 6mm RemAI shot the 105's or 115's. Both have a higher BC then the 140 7mm and will travel around 3000+ FPS with very limited recoil. and then you can always load down into some 80grs for Varmints

Jon

 

[jimbires]

Jim
Thats about the bullet weight I am looking for really like 110-140 gr would be great
How many rounds do you have through your?
whatis the barrel wear like?
dwn how does barrle wear compare to the 7mm-08?
How much more recoil is there
retiredcpo

when I bought the rifle it was supposed to have under 200 shots fired through it . it has a broughton barrel . I've put about 200 through it , so it's around 400 . I don't have a bore scope . I can say that it cleans very easy , no copper coming out , and the bore is smooth . I don't think a 7-08 is going to be hard on barrels . Jim


I bought the Tikka used and I have no idea on round count with it . but again it cleans easy , and feels smooth .