7-08 vs 30-06

[dwebb49]

When I first starting reading here I thought the 7mm08 vs 30-06 comparison a little lopsided but after looking at balistics maybe they are pretty close. I have hunted with both and settled on the 7mm08 over 20 yrs ago. It has never failed me and it is very accurate. Last year I used the 140 TSX with great results and I like them better than the 160 Sierra's that I previously used. If I had to choose again I would still stay with the 7mm08. It is my opinion that a better deer caliber has not been made. I have Rem 700 Varmint barrel cut to 20" with a HS Precision stock and it sure shoots nice. The 140TSX's move out at 2840 and the 120 TSX is 3000 fps.

 

[Jeff/1911]

Concerned about .300WM 180 grain P-P load...

...Oh, and case in point: Winchester Power Points suck when hitting bone. Even the smaller blacktails' shoulder from around here blow them apart I suspect they'd "penetrate" less than half of the bullets in Gate's test...

Hmmmm....I guess I'd better not place too much confidence in the factory 180 grain Power Point load I bought for my .300 WinMag - especially if I am pointing it at Moose or Elk. I just returned from the local range where I was disappointed in the accuracy performance of my handload using Hornady 180 grain SPBT's, but delighted with the precision shown by the 180 grain Power point load (about 3/4" - 3 shot 100 yard groups).

Normally, by this point in the season I'd have pretty much perfected a premium-bullet (i.e Nosler Partition, etc.) handload for my chosen rifle but I'm way "behind" this year as I have ended up trying to work up loads for four different rifles so far - with a fifth on it's way to me.

Jeff/1911.

 

[Gatehouse]

The power points will work just fine if you work within thier limitations- like most bullets.

 

[Jeff/1911]

The power points will work just fine if you work within thier limitations- like most bullets.

Gatehouse,

I suppose that's the way to look at it...I'll try for "eye shots", if possible.

Thanks, Jeff.

 

[Gatehouse]

With the recent "what cartridge" thread, I thought I'd pull this up again, to maybe add some discussion...

Placement, bullet construction, cartridge..

 

[Salty]

 

[Woodsman]

Very informative indeed. These modern bullets probably do great when super penetration is needed like on a moose.....maybe. On deer, give me a plain old 180 gr powerpoint in my '06 and come and see the 2" exit hole it leaves!

 

[Rackmastr]

How did I miss this last fall? Great post Gate......and renews even more faith in that littl 7-08.......

 

[Brambles]

I must have been too busy hunting last fall to read this post

I think these tests work well as a general benchmark however I don't really think they duplicate the "on game" performance of individual bullets.

I think that people are assuming that penetration is everything, yes it is very important but so is the amount of force that is projected on the animal and the resulting shock wave.

Unfortunately in order to measure these variables you would probably need some rather expensive equipment.

All this being said there is definitly an argument for the 140 TSX since it retains almost all of its weight and does indeed penetrated deeper and provides similar if not better wound channels. I will definitely try these on my new 280AI when it is finished.

Thanks Gatehouse, Good read

Brambles

 

[sandyamac]

7mm08

The magic 7 rules.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

It would be interesting to see the same tests run with wet newspaper. I know, it's a PIA, but I think a bit closer to real world.
Dry newsprint is damned hard on bullets.
By the way, I got better penetration in dry newsprint than either bullet in your test, with a 303 firing 174grain Hornady interlocks. I got 6" with a 200 grain 44-40 at 900fps!

 

[mylesrom]

Gatehouse, when using the Stevens for range work, take off the buttpad and pull out the foam, replace it with a bag of shot, or some old bullets in a bag, to add weight, as much as you can fit in there. If you have a slipon sims pad, that will make a ton of difference.

 

[Gatehouse]

Gatehouse, when using the Stevens for range work, take off the buttpad and pull out the foam, replace it with a bag of shot, or some old bullets in a bag, to add weight, as much as you can fit in there. If you have a slipon sims pad, that will make a ton of difference.

Thanks, but I won't be using it for range work again, unless I dream up some other stupid test to waste my time with

I have one 180gr Accubond load for it, and I don't shoot it much, as it's just for th etruck. Or my dumbass buddy Rob, to lend to when we go hunting.

 

[Gatehouse]

It would be interesting to see the same tests run with wet newspaper. I know, it's a PIA, but I think a bit closer to real world.
Dry newsprint is damned hard on bullets.

Well, that was the whole point...To see if a 7-08 wiht premium bullets was up to the same task as the old standby, a 30-06 with 180-200gr bullets. We all know that if you shoot a moose in the ribs broadside wiht a 7-08 and just about any bullet, it's gonna fall down...It's the tough shots (that require breaking heavy bone or plowing deeply) that you start wanting more 'power' so I felt stressing the bullets in dry paper that was tightly bound was a better medium.

And I was too lazy to soak the paper for days.

By the way, I got better penetration in dry newsprint than either bullet in your test, with a 303 firing 174grain Hornady interlocks.

This doens't really surprise me, especially if it was lower velocity when the bullets impacted. The lower velocity would tend to keep the bullet from blowing up. What distance and what velocity?

I got 6" with a 200 grain 44-40 at 900fps

What bullet and what range?

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The 44-40 was a hard cast 200 grain bullet, range was 50 yards. Even a hornady Jacketted handgun bullet went in a few inches, I think about four. That was a jacketted 200 grain 44 mag bullet, sized to .427 for the 44-40.
Time to dig out your handgun and do a few more tests.

 

[Gatehouse]

Since we are back to discussing the 7-08...