7mm 08 A few Questions

You won't lose much using a 20 or 22" barrel compared to a longer barrel.

My Vanguard has a 24" barrel and a buddy of mine has a 20" compact. While his is a Rem, his is about a pound and half lighter than mine.

The only "practical" difference we note is that his is "way louder" than mine and only really noticed when we are shooting at the range.

So when looking for a rifle I wouldn't pass one over simply because it had a 20" barrel or a 26" barrel for that matter.

A "hunting gun" in 7.08 is in my opinion a 350 yard gun - at that max range 50 fps one way or the other is just not that big of a deal and you are shooting animals so even at 2 MOA you would still be within the 8" "target area" of a deer's vitals at 350 yards.

Basically what I'm saying is "buy what feels right" - it will do the job regardless of how it's configured.
 
Leavenworth said:
Hi Fellas

So now I have another question for you all. What length barrel should I go with in the 7mm 08 ?

I will be using factory ammo for the time being.

Please keep suggestions coming for Manufactures in this calibre
Pictures of your setup would be great !

Thanks !
Leavenworth
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I've moved away from my 30-06 and magnums to rifles with less recoil. The 7mm-08 caught my eye for that reason. At the end of last year's deer and moose seasons I picked up a pistol grip Browning BLR White Gold Medallion in the calibre. It has a 20" barrel. I also have a BLR in 308Win and I find the BLR to be well balanced and pretty light. The 7mm-08 is right at 8 lbs scoped and loaded. The BLR is pretty nimble so should be right at home still hunting in the bush or on a watch/stand.

View attachment 47845

My plan is to hunt black bear, deer and moose with it this year, though it is not (yet) my primary rifle for any of that game. I also shoot factory ammunition so I've been testing different makes/bullets in it already. The first I tried, and zeroed the scope with, was the Hornady 139g GMX Superformance. It wasn't bad but I wasn't so happy with it to stop my testing there. The next I tried were the Hornady 139g Interlock American Whitetail and the Federal 140g Fusion. It prefers the Fusion and I've pretty much decided that I will use the Fusion on deer and black bear but not for moose.

View attachment 47847View attachment 47848View attachment 47849

Next I want to try the Federal Premium Vital-Shok 140g Nosler Partition but so far I haven't been able to find any around here.
 
Hitzy said:
I would have no issue using the Fusions on moose.... Bonded core, tough bullets.
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My 7-08 took a 52" bull moose with 140 grain fusions a few years ago. The bullets held up very well considering the range was maybe 15 yards. The first shot was high to the shoulder and it dropped him on the spot, a few more to the neck and he was done.
 
JPOHLIC said:
My 7-08 took a 52" bull moose with 140 grain fusions a few years ago. The bullets held up very well considering the range was maybe 15 yards. The first shot was high to the shoulder and it dropped him on the spot, a few more to the neck and he was done.
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Did you have to change your shorts after that one....15 yards from a huge bull
 
I am in New Zealand now, and the 708 is now the most poplar, hunting rifle caliber for deer (7 species here, reds, fallow, sika, elk, samber, whitetail, rusa , plus thar, pigs, goats and chamois), for the last few years, once the domain of the .270win and 308. pretty well balanced cal for hooved game, at sensible ranges.
I prefer the 7x57, myself. but nothing between the two, unless your running heavy for caliber bullets.
 
Yep gaining popularity here in Australia too compared to years gone by, more people see the light and ammo is now available in most larger places. Prior it was scarce and expensive.

You hunting much over There ?
 
In my experiences so far with the 150gr standard federal load , 22 in barrel and 2-7 scope, my 708 is a 250m walk about rifle!
No doubt with some more practise and better loads it will be a 300m gun.

Cheers . My 2c

WL
 
WhelanLad said:
Yep gaining popularity here in Australia too compared to years gone by, more people see the light and ammo is now available in most larger places. Prior it was scarce and expensive.

You hunting much over There ?
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Yea mate, just been out for three days, bloody interesting weekend, culled a small mob of goats, tested a few handloads with the .260,
Too slow getting the bolt in the rifle, and missed out on an easy pig, only had a ass end shot, by the time I got sorted, only time ever, I wished I didn't have a controlled feed rifle, as the bar turned, and bolt wouldn't drop right in,:redface: bugger.
Made camp on the river, and right on dark a couple/ three, pigs come down, could here them feeding, in the waste high ferns, 2m away and see the ferns moving, but couldn't make clear shot, all hell broke loose, once I turned on the flashlight, grunting, squealing and they crashed away, :) made me laugh, and made the night, woke up, to a camp site half rooted over, so they came back in the night.
caught 3 good trout, in the river sat afternoon, lost several more
and seen a dozen or more fallow deer today, mostly does, but a couple small bucks, got sum nice photo's, was a good weekend.

708 well supported now, wasn't always the case, .260 is pretty much were the 708 was 20 years ago, guys are interested, if they can find a rifle, but few choices for ammo, and its expensive compared to common cal's,
 
I think an excellent rifle for this caliber would be the Tikka T3. A good rifle at a decent price (around a grand). Top it off with a Leupold 3X9 and you're in business.
 
For those that shoot a 708 and load for it, how does it generally handle the larger 175 grain bullets. I ask this because my wife should get drawn for bull moose this year and in my head I should be building her some tougher rounds than the usual 139 gr hornady sp.
 
Use a quality bullet in the 140-150gr range.Bonded , partition, a-fame, interlock , they all will work.

175 are getting pretty heavy for factory twist rates and likely wouldn't gain much over a 140 moving at 2850 ft/sec anyways. Stability will be sketchy unless you have a 9 twist or faster barrel .Mine in 9 shot 168 OK, but it was dropping off in the accuracy department.

I use 150gr bonded for everything , it works for everything.

The illusion of heavier is better is just that, an illusion.

It is about on game performance, bullet for intended game and purpose and velocity.

Since you mention Hornady you could start with the inter-lock, price will increase from there.

Your 175's will likely give you 2500 ish ft/sec , run that on a ballistics chart vs some 140/150gr , I doubt you will want the loss in trajectory and accuracy of the 175's when the lighter projectiles will be giving you similar energy but football like trajectories.

heronfish said:
For those that shoot a 708 and load for it, how does it generally handle the larger 175 grain bullets. I ask this because my wife should get drawn for bull moose this year and in my head I should be building her some tougher rounds than the usual 139 gr hornady sp.
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Leavenworth said:
Hi All

I'm wanting to know from you that shoot a 7mm 08 what you think of the calibre .

#1 What's the recoil compared to a 30.06. ?

#2 I know it's very suitable for deer, would you use it to hunt moose ?


# 3 If you bought a new rifle in 7mm 08 what rifle would you buy ?

# 4 What factory loads would you use ?
Thanks I appreciate it !
Leavenworth
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1. About half as much
2. Moose? Absolutely!
3. Remington 700 CDL/Mountain Rifle
4. Nolser Trophy Grade with 150 gr. Accubonds
 
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