7mm-08, What's the big deal?

Alleycat

Alleycat

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OK OK I know I'll likely get blasted for this but please bare in mind I'm just a simpleton from the east.:confused: Since I have been on this site I have noticed a huge following for this cartridge. I see it recomended over the .308
here fairly often but I don't see much of a difference ballistics wise. So tell me what the attraction. Better long range characteristics? More accurate?
Educate me. :redface:

Cheers
 
IMHO, the .308 is the only choice because of its accuracy, the availability of relatively cheap ball ammo, its balance of power and recoil, its ubiquity, shortness, and the myriad firearms chambered for it.
 
Alleycat said:
I don't see much of a difference ballistics wise.
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That's the Key, nearly identical performance but with less recoil, lighter bullets and a slightly flatter trajectory.
What's not to like ! :cool:
 
Alleycat said:
OK OK I know I'll likely get blasted for this but please bare in mind I'm just a simpleton from the east.:confused: Since I have been on this site I have noticed a huge following for this cartridge. I see it recomended over the .308
here fairly often but I don't see much of a difference ballistics wise. So tell me what the attraction. Better long range characteristics? More accurate?
Educate me. :redface:

Cheers
Click to expand...
On paper there is a slight difference in favour of the 708, but not enough to tell in a hunting situation.
Sihouette shooters use it becaus eof the recoil thing, but many still win with the 308 and 7X57, as well as stuff like the .260 and 6.5X55.
it is a matter of choice IMHO, not enough advantage to say one is bettter than the other.
I have shot and handloaded for all these crtridges , BTW and speak from experiance.
Cat
 
There are no bad cartridges, just misunderstood or misapplied cartridges!

If it works for you, it is evidently the right cartridge. My aim is to eventually have at least one of each so that I can do fair, unbiased comparisons!

So many nice rifles, so little time!
 
7mm bullets have on average much higher ballistic coefficients, and are thus more efficient in flight. For instance a 7mm 162gr Hornady SST has a ballistic coefficient of .550, vs the 165gr .308" Hornady SST's BC of .447. The gap grows as weight goes up, with the 7mm 180gr Bergers I shoot having stunning BC's of .684, vs a .308" Sierra Match King 180's BC of .475.

Basically, the farther the shot is out, the harder the 7mm hits over the .308. Win/win situation, though I own both, and still quite like the .308.
 
7-08 Vs 308

The 7-08 is a great round and it is a better performer as Ardent pointed out. It is 7.62 necked down to 7mm, in a 308 case. The short case allows for a shorter action and a shorter action means lighter rifle. I have a Remington 700 BDL barreled up in 7-08 with a light contour 22" barrel from a Remington Mountain rifle. I like the combination it isn't heavy, has good hitting ability, and comfortable to shoot. It will not be selling it unless the Sako Finnlight I am trading for turns out to a much better gun.
I like the 7X57 but it isn't loaded hot enough from the ammunition manufacturers. it's probably due to the age of existing firearms there could be a liability problem. The 7-08 is a new combination and firearms being manufactured at this time can take the heavier pressures. It's a similar situation with the WSM ammunition shorter rounds means lighter rifles.
I have a hard time shooting the heavy recoil rifles due to a spinal injury, but I can handle the recoil.
That's my two cents.
 
I thank you for the input fellas. So I see there isn't much diff from a .308, which I already own. so how can I explain the urge to have one of these
7-08's? Damn guns, they'll bankrupt me yet. :eek:
 
Alleycat said:
I thank you for the input fellas. So I see there isn't much diff from a .308, which I already own. so how can I explain the urge to have one of these
7-08's? Damn guns, they'll bankrupt me yet. :eek:
Click to expand...

All depends what you're doing with it. For hunting, no practical difference, though 7mm-08 has a slight edge due to recoil and ballistics, so minimal as not to matter much though. BUT, when you start extending the range, the difference becomes large. I'm a long range shooter first and foremost, and my 7mm-08 and .260 absolutely leave the .308 in the dust, require less elevation, less windage (easier to hit with), have less recoil, and arrive with more energy.
 
As you stated, there really isn't much difference, at least not enough to warrant dumping a perfectly good 308 for a 7-08. But where's the fun in being so practical?
 
One thing to look at is how much powder it burns. compare it to a 7mm Mag for down range energy, velocity, and trajectory.

Would I still buy a 7 mag. yup. why? Cause I'm a canadian gunnut:dancingbanana: The 7 mag will push heavier bullets better.;)

139gr btsp 7-08

muzzle 3000fps
300 yards 2304fps
500 yards 1898 fps

NRG
muzzle 2777
300 yards 1639
500 yards 1112

trajectory

+1.5 100yds
-7.6 300 yards
-20.6 400 yards



7mag
muzzle 3150fps
300 yards2727fps
500yards 2160fps

NRG

muzzle 3060
300yards 1976
500yards 1633

trajectory

100yds 1.1
300 yards -6.1
500 yards -35.5


Info was taken from petersens hunting. results will vary with different powders and powder weights.
 
.308 Win vs. 7m-08 Rem

BCWILL said:
That's the Key, nearly identical performance but with less recoil, lighter bullets and a slightly flatter trajectory.
What's not to like ! :cool:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah!

Love my .308's but love my 7mm-08's, too. :cool:
 
xcaribooer said:
I have been curious about this cartridge too. One thing I notice is if you dont handload its only factory ammo choice seems to be 140gr. Wouldnt a 160gr or175gr be a nice choice for moose if available?
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The 160's and 175's are useable and certainly have some appeal but eat up alot of the '08 case capacity. Velocity suffers and the 7mm-08 loses some of it's Zing with the heavies.
They Perform best with the medium to light weight bullets for the bore size.....at least mine did;)
This is where a Lighter Premium bullet such as the TSX, Partition or what have you Makes the lil 7 shine:cool:
 
Best reason for the 7mm-08 is that you put another rifole in your safe. Good for Varmint all the way up to Moose. Not saying it is better than the 308, just more versatile. Ask yourself why not another rifle. :dancingbanana: Les
 
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