- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
Please see the poll
7mm-08...7mm.....280
- Thread starter sealhunter
- Start date
If your looking for an elk rifle for up to 400yd shots, I would reccomend the 7rem, out of those choices. The .280 will work, the 7-08 I would say less than 300yds.
My honest opinion... some kind of .30cal magnum or larger would be my choice for a 400yd elk shot. I would just hate to see the poor bugger wounded and get away. I'm also not interested in tracking an elk all day long after I shot it.
My honest opinion... some kind of .30cal magnum or larger would be my choice for a 400yd elk shot. I would just hate to see the poor bugger wounded and get away. I'm also not interested in tracking an elk all day long after I shot it.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
Though it's early, the poll shows that in first place for Elk ability is the .280, followed by the 7mm-08 and finally the 7mm rem
Very Interesting
Very Interesting
I saw an acquaintance slay an elk at well over 400 yards with a 7-08 and the 140 Accubond. Two shots, two hits through the lungs. Elk went about 15 yards and piled up. I would tackle Elk or moose to 400 with any of these, no sweat! Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
You missed the best of the bunch.....7x57 Mauser
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The only 7mm I own is a 7X57, but if I wanted to build an all round hunting rifle, I think a .280 or a .280 AI is a very practical choice. I recall reading an article by Townsend Whelen in which he opined that the .280 was just a little better than the .270 and the .30/06, but not so much better as to justify replacing either if they are what you currently use. But for the man who had neither the .280 was the best choice of the three. Personally, I don't think there is enough difference between the .270 and the .280 to matter, as both can be considered 7mm. The '06 remains my sweetheart round, and logic need not attempt to influence that.
Oh crap, hold on I need to call my buddy and tell him to get that elk out of the freezer. I am so sorry for him, he didn't know, I swear. Someone told him "just put it behind the shoulder and he'll tip over"! Who knew that it shouldn't be done! I'll call him quick and we'll make sure we release that poor wapiti, and then shoot it with a 30-378 or something..................
Rackmastr shot a HUGE bull this year at over 300yds with a 7-08 AI and 140 TSX's and Tango Kilo shot an elk at just shy of 500yds with a 7-08 and 140 TSX's. Both where full pass through and both tasted good as far as I know. Apparently if you shoot straight it won't "wound" anything worse than a 300 Mag-a-num.
I'd shoot a good bullet in any of those and call it an "elk" rifle.
If you cant "hit well", dont f**king hunt. How many elk do you estimate have fallen to the lowly 270 Win. I know of one that i watched die this fall, and it was quick and clean. Magnumitius is a disease, not a cure for poor shot placement.
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As with most things, it's the shooter and the bullet, not the cartridge that makes the difference.
I'd have no problems shooting an elk at 400 yards with a 7-08. Same as moose at 400 with a .308...
I own a 7mmRM, and it's a great cartridge. If I was adding to my list of 7mm's, I'd get a 7-08.
If you make a poor shot at any range, a bigger cartridge isn't going to help you much...
I'd have no problems shooting an elk at 400 yards with a 7-08. Same as moose at 400 with a .308...
I own a 7mmRM, and it's a great cartridge. If I was adding to my list of 7mm's, I'd get a 7-08.
If you make a poor shot at any range, a bigger cartridge isn't going to help you much...
Oh crap, hold on I need to call my buddy and tell him to get that elk out of the freezer. I am so sorry for him, he didn't know, I swear. Someone told him "just put it behind the shoulder and he'll tip over"! Who knew that it shouldn't be done! I'll call him quick and we'll make sure we release that poor wapiti, and then shoot it with a 30-378 or something..................
Rackmastr shot a HUGE bull this year at over 300yds with a 7-08 AI and 140 TSX's and Tango Kilo shot an elk at just shy of 500yds with a 7-08 and 140 TSX's. Both where full pass through and both tasted good as far as I know. Apparently if you shoot straight it won't "wound" anything worse than a 300 Mag-a-num.
I'd shoot a good bullet in any of those and call it an "elk" rifle.
You can hunt your elk with whatever the he11 you want, use a .243 for all I care. I would perfer something with a little more clout than a 7-08, especially at 400yds. A 7-08 on an elk at 200yds, I'd go for that, but i would not be comfortable, personally, at 400yds.
Your dissing magnums and your name is 338 win, does that mean your dissing yourself?
So what is the problem with "mag a num"s anyways? There has been tonnes of animals taken with .300 win, .338 win., 7rem, .300wby. They are very fine and proven cartridges. I agree that the non magnum cartridges are good too, I own several of both. My .300wsm is only a bit faster than a .30-06, and a bit slower than a 300 win, because I use the wsm means I have magnumitis and I'm not worthy of hunting big game because I picked it over my 7-08? I would rather be over gunned than under any time.
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Are you saying a big cartridge can make up for poor shot placement?
Shot placement is #1
How do you come to conclusions on what is a "marginal" cartridge and what is not?
It's not all about horsepower....
I'm curious can you place your shot in field/hunting conditions exactly were you want it to go everytime?
If your answer is yes then you either don't shoot enough or your lying to yourself.
Everyone with experience knows that if everything is equal ie bullet construction, velocity, shot placement etc a larger caliber bullet will do more damage resulting in possibly stopping a poorly shot animal faster now add some velocity...
Are you saying a big cartridge can make up for poor shot placement?
Shot placement is #1
How do you come to conclusions on what is a "marginal" cartridge and what is not?
It's not all about horsepower....
Read my last statement above...
No it is about the shooter and the placement.
Once again shot placement but when that shot goes wrong then read my statement above.
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
I own several 7X57's, a 280 Remington, couple .280 Ross's and a 7m/m Rem mag. The Rem mag has been my "hot gun" for the last 10 years taking close to 20 deer across the country, but wouldnt hesitate to hunt Elk with any of my 7's. Mind you, this year I'll be taking my Rem mag and my .375 Taylor Mauser just for the heck of it.
Geoff
Geoff
Your answer is that you might screw up, so cure it with horsepower......
My answer is don't screw up, and/or dont' take marginal shots, since a bad hit from a 7-08, 280 or 7RM is still going to be a bad hit.
What is your method to determine that a cartridge is "marginal?"
I have no problem at all with magnums, I've owned stuff from 7mm Rem Mag, a couple of WSM's, a few 300 WM's, and 2 338 WM. I liked them all. None of them killed anything any faster or farther than my .270, with the exception of the .338, all bullets being equal.
The fact is that the majority of people do not shoot magnums half as well as they will shoot a 7mm-08 or .270 or 30-06 for that matter. And that means that they are relying on magnumitis to cure their poor shot placement. Which is pure BS. The only "extra" killing power a sub .35 magnum really has is penetration, and that is a great thing if applied appropriately by a practiced marksman. So for the average broadside or slightly quartering shot that is the majority, I do think that a magnum is a waste of powder and recoil.
As for this comment, what a very adolescent use of logic. First .338's are not all magnums. ie. 338 Federal, 338-06, 338 Scovill, 338-284, 338x57, etc. Secondly, a house divided against itself eventually falls, that means if I "named" myself after the .338 and I did not like it I would be causing self confusion. So no, I like the .338 bore and I use it. But I would never use the incredibly AA word "dissing". I don't like Escalades either.
Nor did I accuse you of magnumitis. I suggested that the need to restrict the 7mm-08 to 200yds shows a sign of inexperience with the cartridge on elk or even moose. If your 300 WSM makes you warm and fuzzy at night in elk camp, then congratulations on using a rifle you have confidence in. And if you really want more "clout" in the future, then hit them with a truck. It has wayyyyy more paper energy than anything in your gun closet. Thanks for the laugh.
Hmmmm, describe marginal. I know that you are a seasoned hunter, but for some people anything over a .270 causes a flinch. I know and know of seasoned guides and other of that ilk that would rather see a solid shooter with a .308 than a handloader with a .375 Ruger show up at bear camp. I like using my magnums, but the "standards" make nice holes in the clock work too.
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