7mm 08 users

[yorksjt]

Hello
I am thinking about changing my .243 and would like to know more about the 7mm 08. I mainly shoot roe and muntjac, but want a rilfe that will shoot the odd fox up to reds and in the future boar. What are the pros and cons of this calibre and how will it perform on the small quarry in relation to meat damage?
If I get one it would more than likely be a Sako 85, do you have any opinions on this?
Hope you don't mind all the questions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jingzy]

7mm-08 is a good solid performer. It is hard hitting and will handle any species in the uk. Without getting into a ballistic debate, it can hold more down range energy than the .270, yet it is softer on recoil than the .270 and the .308. It is a short action, lending itself to being lighter to carry than long actions. If you reload, then there should be a good variety of heads to choose from as well.

 

[finnbear270]

Hope you don't mind all the questions. Yorks-- this site is "THE" WIKI question & answer site for shooters & stalkers.

 

[Moonraker68]

I've had a 7-08 for about a year now, and can't see me swapping to another calibre. It does everything I want, and is very flat shooting. Meat damage has not been a problem. The only downside is finding factory ammunition. Federal Fusion is fairly common, but I've not found much else despite phoning about 7 or 8 different dealers...I'm happy to live with that, as I love the calibre.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I was thinking about getting a 7mm-08 in 1999, but got a 260 Rem instead. Just got my hands on my third 260 Rem, this time a Remington SA re-barrelled by RG Rifles.

http://www.rgrifles.com/index.html

 

[finnbear270]

Can't put my finger on it!, but it pleases me somewhat to see a blued action of quality mated to a stain less barrel.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Yorks, a 7/08 would be a solid choice for your needs if you want to go as far as Boar. A 308 would work just as well and will be much easier fed if you don't hand load.

If you have a good quality 243, it might be as cheap to get it rebarreled as it would be to trade in and buy a new Sako 85.

If boar were not in the loop, I would say 260 also, Steve, stainless and blue really does work:

 

[finnbear270]

MMMNNnnnn! Yumminnits!

 

[cervushunter]

I shoot some roe with my 7mm 08 , i use Nosler ballistic tip 140 grain silver tips(moly coated) and yes if i hit them in the shoulders they are certainly a right off
i certainly do not have much experiance in reloading or bullet choice but it is just a great calibre and i am very confident with it, which i feel makes a huge difference to both my performance and enjoyment. I shoot sako 75's in .243 and 7mm it is the 7mm i always reach for but on most of my perms there are red present also. You do not hear many people knock 7mm 08 calibre and i know it is becoming more popular.

Try it.

 

[finnbear270]

Calibres taking knocks, it's really just havi'n the Craic, as I'm sure you are aware!, if it's deer legal & goes bang, then it's the right calibre for the freezer.

 

[Roedinator]

yorks as allready stated nothing wrong with the calibre
the important thing for me at the moment is bullet choice im hand loading
120 and 140 siera pro hunters and getting to many runners they will shoot
1/2 inch groups great . but im not getting expansion im pin holeing roe
im just about to try some ballistic tips to see how they perform
and going to load some nosler partitions other than that nice calibre
regards pete

ps finbear have you been on the whisky youve totally lost me

 

[KRS]

Yorks,

I am on my second 7mm-08, a Blaser R93 fitted with Ase Jet Z moderator while my first, a Sako 591, is now in the hands of a good friend. I mainly use a 120 Gr bullet and have tried Sierra, Hornady and Nosler B/Tips all with great success both on paper and more importantly on deer. I have used 139 Gr Hornady bullets in the past which shot extremely well but did not do any more than the 120 Gr and so I stick to the lighter bullet for the slightly flatter trajectory and because I mainly stalk Roe and some Muntjac with only the occasional Fallow and Sika. The calibre is an easy one to handload and I find RL 15 and Varget two excellent powders to use. The only con I can find is the availability of factory ammunition is rather less than its stablemates the .243 and the .308. The Sako 85 is not a rifle I have personal experience of but the brand is well respected and I'm sure if you buy one you will not be disappointed.

Regards,

KRS

 

[yorksjt]

Thanks for the replys, my main concern was in regards to meat damage, but also on the factory ammo available, what weights are generally available? I have never done any reloading but it is some thing I would like to look into in the future, how much of a greater range in weights will this give me?

 

[bobt]

Yorks
I have a tikka 596 in 7mm08,
if you are local to me? you can try one before you make the choice,

no Im not selling, cant see me wanting anything else.
as for weights anywhere from 100g rain to 160grain

most stick with 120 to 140.

 

[mickthebrick]

I bought a second hand 7mm08 and had nothing but trouble until I started reloading for it. It just wouldn't group with any of the factory stuff I tried. 2-4" at 100yds was the norm! A Browning A bolt, nice and light. Not many people stock the ammo, they have to order it in which is okay if you get a brand that shoots straight but very expensive if you have to buy 3 or 4 boxes only to find they're all crap!

Mick