Effective hunting range of 7mm08

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TrevorMack

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So for those who have hunted with the 7mm 08, what is the effective hunting distance the calibre will take medium large game at. I've been doing searches some say keep it within 200 other people are saying good out to 500? That is just from a google search I'm looking for info from folks who have used them and taken animals. Thanks.
 
Bullets matter more than headstamps. The cartridge is merely the vehicle that gets the bullet to the game.

Pick a bullet you want to use, and then see what it's operating envelope would look like and if it's applicable to what you want to do with it.
 
I hunt with a 7.08 - use it for moose. Have never had to shoot "over 100 yards", so not sure how to answer you. I don't know many guys that even shoot out past 200.

I "consider" it a Moose rifle out to 350 yards using a stout bullet (Partition, A-Frame, Accubond etc) in the 140 grain weight.

With the same bullet I consider it "easily" a 500 yard deer rifle.

But none of that matters if you will never shoot that far - since I never shoot (never ever) past 200 yards, then what it will do at 300 or 500 means "nothing".

Perhaps you should ask the question you really want to ask, as in "I plan on shooting out to 650 yards, will this be lethal on a ....."

Or are you simply "wondering"?
 
We used to joke at the gun counter that the only thing wrong with most hunting calibers at 300 yards was the loose screw behind the trigger.
 
It's crude, but I've always thought 1800fps and 1000ft/lbs as a standard for deer sized game

So a standard 7mm-08 140gr load would be around 450y. Much like a 170gr load in the 30-30 is 175-200y

As its been stated, its more to do with shot placement and the skill/experience of the guy pulling the trigger.
 
cup and core bullets work very good at the velocities the 708 can deliver at 500 yards...it's more about what the rifle and shooter can do at that distance.
 
I haven't hunted with the 7-08 but I have with the 280. My guess would put the effective range of that cartridge to 400 for moose and certainly 500 for deer sized game. It would work beyond that but you would need a very specific bullet. Most projectiles cease to expand properly in that class of cartridge at about 400-500yards. Find out what the lower level of expansion is for your bullets in your cartridge and don't shoot game beyond that limit. I know fellas that are taking game at 6-800yds with VMAX bullets but this is only for accomplished riflemen with very specific training and skill, I don't recommend this for type of hunting for most shooters.
 
I think with most hunters there is a ' comfort zone ' regardless of rifle capability.
Maybe a 7-08 is a killer out to 500 yds. or so but speaking for myself only I am comfortable with a maximum of 350 with any rifle I have and much less with some.
I know this is side-tracking from the actual question but that's my feelings..
 
I don't mean to sidetrack this thread either but I think it would be beneficial for all of us to actually have an opportunity to shoot our hunting rifles at 300 yards to see how they really group.

I know seeing my groups at 200 with my best rifles is enough for me to know I shouldn't shoot past that distance.
 
I set 300 as a max distance rule for my 7-08. I am sure it would be effective out to 400 but again we need to think about the ethical shot. Took my buck last year at 290 yds with 140 g Partition. Solid neck shot and fell over in its tracks. My two bits
 
BigUglyMan said:
Another day, another 7mm-08 thread.
Click to expand...

More 7MM-08 rifles in EE as well...

OP: check hunting recommendations for the game you are after. NL has minimum requirements for Muzzle Velocity and recommended minimum impact as well. Find the info for the 7-08 and compare with recommendations.
 
The 7-08 is a nice cartridge..... and maybe it doesn't offer much over the .308, but this is CGN, we spend lots of time arguing over c-hairs......

I own both... I love my ruger scout in .308 and have harvested a few deer with it.... but for how I hunt I needed a dogging thick brush rifle and also a tree stand / spot and stalk rifle.... The scout will be fitted with a short range sighting system shortly and the 7-08 will get the traditional scope package....

If you want this for longer ranges, the 7-08 offers advantages......
 
Energy numbers are one thing. Hitting and killing at exactly 400 yards is another. Walking all that way out to where you "think" you shot the critter is another.

If you can practice, practice and then practice some more, then have at 'er.

One of my buddies has 3 or 4 uncles, who, all summer long would burn off a box of ammo each every weekend, all summer long. They usually hunted powerlines, so had a 300 yard reference for how far away the shot was. Even as good as those guys got, they still had to track once in a while. Not every hit is a bang-flop.

Their guns of choice? Sporterized Lee Enfields. Not exactly sniper rigs, but my buddy wouldn't go against any one of them in a turkey shoot. They were just that good.
 
Looking into what the bullet will open and preform reliably is the answer ie: a Barnes LRX 145 will expand reliably down to around 1500fps... In my rifle with my load that means 850 yards.. Each bullet will vary greatly in performance expectations and suggestions for me, 400 is current verified max using my reticle on deer, maybe once I upgrade my optics I could extend that, but likely not.

Will my rifle hold moa or better (fairly rough size of kill zone anyways at 850), will my optics track or hold reliably, did I verify my drops and wind reading, can I shoot that with 90+ percent perfection? Can I retrieve it after the shot? Those are the real questions..
 
put a 4x scope on it . take the time to figure out how far out you can reliably hit a target with your rifle with a 4x scope ...... for all intents and purposes that is as far as that rifle will take game reliably .
 
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