Does the 7mm08 deserve its reputation as a "girl's" gun

Superbrad said:
I personally consider .243 to be a bare minimum deer round...... But don't feel over gunned with an aught six or a .308.......

And yes, it's a rare occurs de that the big boy steps out....... But I sure do want to be ready if he does!
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Don't think I'd categorize it as the bare minimum. With the ammo offerings currently available I don't doubt any centerfire round is more than capable of harvesting a whitetail, but the individual squeezing the trigger needs to be 100% sure they do their job correctly This includes respecting the effective distance of the round they're using. Having said that I'm a big proponent of shooting the biggest round you're comfortable with. A person who is well practiced with a .243 is always going to be more effective than a person who flinches every time he shoulders his 30-06.
 
Nothing wrong with the 7mm-08, I got my son's first rifle in that calibre and he loves it, and it knocks down deer with no issues. At reasonable ranges it's also fine for elk and moose. When Dad took me to get my first rifle in '81 it didn't exist, or I might have chosen it instead of the .270...as it's ballistic performance is close to the .270 and it has even less recoil. Then again, I did like the idea of having a rifle chambered in a classic calibre that Jack O'Connor made famous. In any case, I'm sure the 7mm-08 will serve my son capably for years to come.
 
I don't care if people tell me it's a beginner's or a woman's gun. What I don't like is when people try telling me it's only good for deer and that I need something bigger for anything else. Too late. Tell that to the moose that I shot. A lot of people seem concerned about carrying a rifle for bear defence. I have spent most of my life in the woods and never had to defend myself from a bear. Not saying it can't or won't happen, but to me that is not the reason to buy a particular caliber or cartridge. I am not up for 500yd shots at animals. I wanted a rifle that gives me more range than my 30-30 and doesn't recoil much more. If that makes me less a man so be it. By the way, it was my mom that taught me to shoot and if I ever become half the marksman she is, I would be happy
 
alberta_outdoors said:
I don't care if people tell me it's a beginner's or a woman's gun. What I don't like is when people try telling me it's only good for deer and that I need something bigger for anything else. Too late. Tell that to the moose that I shot. A lot of people seem concerned about carrying a rifle for bear defence. I have spent most of my life in the woods and never had to defend myself from a bear. Not saying it can't or won't happen, but to me that is not the reason to buy a particular caliber or cartridge. I am not up for 500yd shots at animals. I wanted a rifle that gives me more range than my 30-30 and doesn't recoil much more. If that makes me less a man so be it. By the way, it was my mom that taught me to shoot and if I ever become half the marksman she is, I would be happy
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Well said......

I am ex military, and have gone overseas with an issued rifle in 5.56, expected to defend myself against bad guys with it for 3 six month stints...... I sure am glad nobody told me the 7-08 was a girls gun....... I would have had to question God and country..... Lol
 
You know, I don't think I've ever seen a thread started by a magnum user called "the 7-08, .257 Roberts, little 6.5 something or other is a total POS". I don't see them searching out people to insult their cartridge choices. On the contrary; normally if someone got an opinion on the milder cartridges its because he either asked for it, or went out of way to tell someone that their choice is either excessive, or no more effective.

So while people will have stories about the guy who told them that his 300 Throat-scorcher is in a different league than a .243, they usually leave out the part where they started it.
 
Dogleg said:
You know, I don't think I've ever seen a thread started by a magnum user called "the 7-08, .257 Roberts, little 6.5 something or other is a total POS". I don't see them searching out people to insult their cartridge choices. On the contrary; normally if someone got an opinion on the milder cartridges its because he either asked for it, or went out of way to tell someone that their choice is either excessive, or no more effective.

So while people will have stories about the guy who told them that his 300 Throat-scorcher is in a different league than a .243, they usually leave out the part where they started it.
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I have seen it go both ways.... usually started by guys who only have one or the other in the safe.....
 
I'd hardly describe myself as insecure, heck I shoot from a 6.5 swede up to a 45/70, with many in between. I don't care what anyone shoots, although I chuckle at magnum shooters who wax poetic about their boomer only to shoot a critter at 100 yards offhand like the rest of us.

I do think the 708 has a reputation as the gun that guys buy their wives which likely diminishes the number of hunters who will buy one for themselves. But I may be wrong.
 
I think its a cartridge that enthusiasts buy their wives and daughters, and maybe sons. Maybe one for themselves. The average once a year hunter hasn't even heard of it. Heck, if it wasn't for metallic silhouette it would never have left wildcat status in the first place. Its got low recoil in its DNA, since the tin chicken shooters wanted the lightest recoiling thing that could reliably tip over rams and not tear up targets.
 
heronfish said:
I do think the 708 has a reputation as the gun that guys buy their wives which likely diminishes the number of hunters who will buy one for themselves. But I may be wrong.
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Funny how that is, yet those who buy the 260, 6.5 Swede or 7x57 are considered "accomplished" or "specialist" hunters, all because a phenomenal marksman used one for elephant and the other is used in a country that's teeming with moose, surplus ammo and cheap guns.
And I'm not sure what the attraction is with the 260, maybe for the Nancies who can't handle the recoil of the 7-08? :nest:
 
This whole idea is stupid. If it can humanely put down the game, who cares what the recoil is. By all accounts it's a great versatile, flat shooting round.
 
bearkilr said:
Funny how that is, yet those who buy the 260, 6.5 Swede or 7x57 are considered "accomplished" or "specialist" hunters, all because a phenomenal marksman used one for elephant and the other is used in a country that's teeming with moose, surplus ammo and cheap guns.
And I'm not sure what the attraction is with the 260, maybe for the Nancies who can't handle the recoil of the 7-08? :nest:
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haha. good one
 
alberta_outdoors said:
I don't care if people tell me it's a beginner's or a woman's gun. What I don't like is when people try telling me it's only good for deer and that I need something bigger for anything else. Too late. Tell that to the moose that I shot. A lot of people seem concerned about carrying a rifle for bear defence. I have spent most of my life in the woods and never had to defend myself from a bear. Not saying it can't or won't happen, but to me that is not the reason to buy a particular caliber or cartridge. I am not up for 500yd shots at animals. I wanted a rifle that gives me more range than my 30-30 and doesn't recoil much more. If that makes me less a man so be it. By the way, it was my mom that taught me to shoot and if I ever become half the marksman she is, I would be happy
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Well put.
 
Ahhh yes, but colt, it doesn't stoke egos.

Everybody wants the Long Horn, King Ranch , Denali even though the performance under the hood is the same as the XLT , Sierra , SXT. ;)

Well I don't, probably because I can only afford used economy. :)

coltseries70 said:
This whole idea is stupid. If it can humanely put down the game, who cares what the recoil is. By all accounts it's a great versatile, flat shooting round.
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