Thanks for your replys, I suppose I knew the answers to what I was asking. It might be all in vain for me as I may have to stick with what I already have but the 08 really seems like a good hunting caliber.
Colin or Peter please can you tell me how the recoil is compaired to other calibers I.e say a .243 and a .270? Can you still keep your scope on the kill and watch the deer drop?
Recoil is a subjective and individual perception,,, That's MHO anyway, but in answer to your question and this is a purely personal perception remember. I had a .243 for years, using mainly 85 Gn HPBT Gamekings and that was gentle enough, the 7-08 is launching a bullet some 75% heavier and Mr Newtons Law applies to give more recoil just from the bullet weight alone. Having said that, it is noticeable less 'barky' than a .308 with the equivalent load. Another part of the recoil equation is the mass of the rifle itself. My 7-08 has a heavier barrel and a McSwirly stock, so it isn't the lightest Sako in the woods either, and that reduces recoil also.
With a moderator on it I can see the bullet strike if the light is good enough, and certainly watch the drop. Unmoderated, no.
A .270.... sorry to all those enthusiasts on here, but I just don't like it, again it is a personal perception, and mine is that it is OK to shoot at deer, but zeroing it at the Range is unpleasant, therefore I wouldn't want to do much load development with one,which means that I wouldn't have sufficient confidence in the round to use it on deer.
Hence I use a 7-08 or soon a 275 Rigby.
Maybe a .260? ..... lovely round, again personal opinion, but its what the .243 should have been all along.
ATB
P