7mm08

[Hw60sniper]

I had my renewal there and added a 7mm-08 plus mod to acquire. I know a few people with them and had looked at reloading supplies etc before deciding on this calibre but since getting my new certificate through and actually having a look for rifle availability (not that I'm ready to buy this side of Xmas) they seem to be thin on the ground in the UK do you guys know of any reason for this.

 

[Ronin]

It appears to be the new vogue calibre for stalkers

I’ve built several this year

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I have four used ones!
New ones in some brands are special order
Immediately available in others

 

[A Guy Out West]

The very fine 7/08 is not real popular with the masses over here either. It may be a result of not having many choices in factory ammo. When I see it on the shelf over here, it's usually in the 140 gr loading. This cartridge has so much more to offer than just the 140 grainer. It pretty much duplicates the 130 grain .270 Winchester loading and it is a very accurate round. A quick glance at my Nosler #7 manual reveals that the 7/08 firing a 120 gr bullet has a MV of over 3200 fps, the .270 Win firing a 130 gr. bullet is listed at a little over 3100. Any powder that works in the .308 Win should be good in the 7/08, N140 comes to mind. Get one, you won't be sorry.

 

[1894]

^The nosler manual has from memory data from a 26" barrel which plus the slight optimism of their data makes it seem a faster number than most mortals can obtain. No matter, I'd not want to shoot anything with a 120gr BT at 3,000fps, they're pretty devastating at 2,800fps.

I got mine in 2006 as a lighter recoiling and slightly more BC rifle primarily for West Country reds and roe. Its been very good and I really rate it. I'm not convinced it's noticeably better than a 308.

Its one failing is carcass damage on roe. Conventional 120 and 140gr bullets make very big holes in roe. I cant download as I need the 300yd performance and I don't like tough bullets for the same reason.

Mine has a 20" barrel (and an ASE jet z) I found that factory 140gr chronographed at 2,600fps as did handloads with N140. To get really good performance I had to move to more modern powders and get 2,800fps with N550. RS 60 might work well too.

 

[Muir]

I just bought a 2nd hand Savage Model 11, left hand, in 7-08 for my wrong handed girlfriend. In all her years of shooting on a ranch and hunting she has never owned a left handed rifle. This will be the first. Will be shooting it tomorrow. It will be fairly accurate, I'm sure.

I can heartily recommend a Tikka T-3 Lite in 7-08. I have been shooting mine for 5 years now and it is amazingly accurate. I have killed deer with Sierra 150 grain Game kings over IMR 4350 and 120 grain Pro Hunters (Sierra) over Varget. In truth, I like the 120's best. I carry a magazine full of 150's in case I run into a mountain monster mule deer but the 120's have dumped every deer I've shot into it's high noon shadow. The TIkka T-3 is my 'go-to' back country rifle. I have hunted rough terrain with it and it's come through time and time again. You wouldn't be disappointed if you went that route.~Muir

 

[caorach]

The very fine 7/08 is not real popular with the masses over here either. It may be a result of not having many choices in factory ammo. When I see it on the shelf over here, it's usually in the 140 gr loading. This cartridge has so much more to offer than just the 140 grainer. It pretty much duplicates the 130 grain .270 Winchester loading and it is a very accurate round.

I think this pretty much sums the situation up. I'm sure they are lovely, though I kind of got the impression that the 6.5 Creedmore is the latest "trendy" cartridge and that probably means a good supply of second hand 7-08s but maybe a declining supply of new ones, but for the practical stalker availability of ammo and components has to be the priority and, as you say, it's as near the same thing as the 270 as makes no difference.

 

[Uncas]

I had a 7mm-08 in a Blaser 93 22.75 inch barrel a maximum load with Sierra 120gr pro-hunters would give only 2925fps, so much for manuals Nosler or otherwise.
Very accurate killed well though.

 

[enfieldspares]

7mm-08 and .280 Remington were quite popular in France before the prohibition of owning sporting rifles military calibres was repealed about five or so years ago. I always was inclined to believe, GUY OUT WEST, that in the USA it was also popular in Mexico, 7mm-08, for the same reason? And also via that route for metal silhouette shooting?

 

[Southern]

I just bought a 2nd hand Savage Model 11, left hand, in 7-08 for my wrong handed girlfriend. In all her years of shooting on a ranch and hunting she has never owned a left handed rifle. This will be the first. Will be shooting it tomorrow. It will be fairly accurate, I'm sure.

I can heartily recommend a Tikka T-3 Lite in 7-08. I have been shooting mine for 5 years now and it is amazingly accurate. I have killed deer with Sierra 150 grain Game kings over IMR 4350 and 120 grain Pro Hunters (Sierra) over Varget. In truth, I like the 120's best. I carry a magazine full of 150's in case I run into a mountain monster mule deer but the 120's have dumped every deer I've shot into it's high noon shadow. The TIkka T-3 is my 'go-to' back country rifle. I have hunted rough terrain with it and it's come through time and time again. You wouldn't be disappointed if you went that route.~Muir

I have had a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08 for about 8 years now and love it. It is about the right cartridge for that light rifle, which shoots so well.

My first 7mm-08, which I still have, is a Winchester Model 70 Compact. It is handsome, smooth, lightweight, and pretty accurate.
That led me to to buying a Browning BLR in 7mm-08, and last year, a Winchester XPR in 7mm-08 for guest hunters, bad weather, etc. It really shoots well, too. These other 3 rifles are about 7 ounces heavier than the Tikka.

 

[A Guy Out West]

7mm-08 and .280 Remington were quite popular in France before the prohibition of owning sporting rifles military calibres was repealed about five or so years ago. I always was inclined to believe, GUY OUT WEST, that in the USA it was also popular in Mexico, 7mm-08, for the same reason? And also via that route for metal silhouette shooting?

I don’t know a lot about shooting in Mexico, I have heard that military calibers are or ware banned for citizens. 7/08 was a popular silhouette round but I don’t know much about that either. Guessing the .260 Rem and Creedmore have converted a few shooters. 7mm bullets are in abundance here and we are lucky in being able to get them in 100 to 175 grains. The Hornady 100 gr HP and IMR 4064 go together like tikka Marsala and nan bread.

 

[jon2]

I think this pretty much sums the situation up. I'm sure they are lovely, though I kind of got the impression that the 6.5 Creedmore is the latest "trendy" cartridge and that probably means a good supply of second hand 7-08s but maybe a declining supply of new ones, but for the practical stalker availability of ammo and components has to be the priority and, as you say, it's as near the same thing as the 270 as makes no difference.

+1

 

[jon2]

+1

And a slightly better BC with like for like bullets in the .270 win. For what it is worth - which in reality is about the sum total of zero.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Don’t forget that the little 7 matches the .270 Win with about 20% less powder and can be made in smaller lighter guns on a shorter action. The smaller stature shooter may really be helped by that. Our first 7/08 was a Weatherby Vanguard youth model and it really helped my two oldest boys to become skilled rifle handlers.

 

[User00007]

I have a .270 not much at all in it as people have just stated in the above posts, I’ve also got a space on my ticket for a 7mm-08 the befits a short action lighter by a little rifle as a whole, I was told about hand reloading and utilisation of different powders for the .270 round use a faster burning powder and less of it gives about the same speed and impact at the other end but less of ankick with the .270 (I might add I’ve never found it an issue) but I tried it and it works and looks well, but the 7mm-08 does seem to give a little more meat damage, I’ve shot roe red and chinks with my .270 with very very little meat damage at all

 

[NigelM]

I have 6mm and 6.5 Lapua, 7mm08 and 280ai. The 7mm08 has become my go to deer rifle. Loaded with 150 grain ABLR at 2770fps it has been plenty man enough for any Red or Sika stag I have met and it's much softer shooting than a 270. I have it in a light weight rifle, 7Lb scoped, and it's a joy to carry all day on the hill. In terms of meat damage it does far less than any 270 I have used or seen used with 130 grain bullets at over 3000 fps. Used on Roe the 7mm08 is perfectly acceptable too although if that's the main quarry I will take the 6mm. Best all round chambering I have ever used for UK deer species and has proven itself to work well on Mouflon and Chamois in France too.

The 280ai works with more authority on Red stags but is more gun than you need for red hinds or Roe and Fallow. The 6.5 works very well up to Fallow and for Red and Sika hinds, but on Sika and Red stags, especially if they are a bit rangy, has not had quite enough authority on a couple of occasions despite good shot placement. They die but not fast enough for my liking.

I'm a fan in case you hadn't noticed, but that's based on 20 years experience of a lot of chamberings.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I looked at buying one in 1999 and bought a 260 Rem instead. I now have 260 Rem and 308 Win. I can't see me ever getting a 7mm-08 as the 308 will do the same job with a much greater availability of ammunition. I've 308 Win copper, soft point and match ammunition in the cupboard, all sourced relatively easily.
Regards
JCS

 

[Hw60sniper]

I have four used ones!
New ones in some brands are special order
Immediately available in others

I will give you a shout when I'm ready to buy Ed as your kinda local. Thanks for the other replies guys.

 

[Muir]

FWIW: My girl friend and I shot her Savage 7-08 yesterday. We were shooting PPU 140 (139/140) grain SP bullets over IMR 4350 and I was a little disappointed at the accuracy. The groups from that light rifle were about 2 inches from the bag. I watched her shoot a couple groups and asked for a try. I shot as she had and got the came results. I then took my left hand and placed it over the top of the scope, leaving my left elbow on the bench. This tamed the 'buck' of this 6.5 pound rifle and I shot an inch. My girlfriend watched me and then imitated my hold (in reverse) and shot several sub MOA groups. Off hand she hit whatever she aimed at. She is very happy with the rig, and I'm certain she will like the performance. Great round.~Muir

 

[User00033]

7mm-08 is the second best selling chambering in New Zealand, after .308. The .270 Win is in third place, and dropping.

It’s versatility and advantages over the long action 270 that it has usurped are well known. That it is not that well known elsewhere is a reflection of tradition and resistance to change I guess. We always pick the best, first, adapt the fastest, the others eventually follow....