7mm-08. Who uses one?

[yorksjt]

There's another similar response to this thread, and I've also noticed a similar characteristic with my Tikka 595 7-08 which I've not seen in other calibers before. To be honest I just assumed that it was a peculiarity with my rifle. It would be interesting to know if the other 7-08 users are finding similar characteristics with their rifles and if any ones finding the same thing with other calibers such as 308, 260 etc
dcg

I had an old Sako 243 (pre 75) that would shoot 100grn and 120grn without re-zeroing and with or without a mod.
I replaced it with a 7-08 in which I have only used Federal Fusion 140grn, but they shoot well and are always in stock at my local gun shop.

 

[tackb]

I had an old Sako 243 (pre 75) that would shoot 100grn and 120grn without re-zeroing and with or without a mod.
I replaced it with a 7-08 in which I have only used Federal Fusion 140grn, but they shoot well and are always in stock at my local gun shop.

what 120g 243 bullet were you using?

 

[yorksjt]

what 120g 243 bullet were you using?

Federal Premium (grey box). Might have been 80grn and 100grn, there was about 20 grn between them.

 

[pierred]

Semi custom sako 75 shooting hornady 139g interlocks and N140

 

[Penyard]

I have had a similar experience with my 7mm-08 which puts 110gr Speer TNT (light load), 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 140gr Accubonds in virtually the same point of impact at 100 metres. Very handy!

 

[The deer man]

I have used 175's years back in 7x57 in the guise of Hornady Round Nose at around 2200 fps. They were unexciting on whitetails; killed them dead, of course, but nothing spectacular. I think that these GK's will be a too much bullet for deer and going the other direction from where I'd like to go with this 7-08. Since I must buy all of them to get that price I'm not certain. That's $200 on bullets I won't much use. Of course, I'm the only person interested so i have some time to think about it. I'll look for 160's. I bought all the dusty "A-MAX MATCH" in 162 grains that they had....~Muir

.

That's $200 towards another gun!

Although I mess about, mostly for fun, with different 7-08 loads the reality is I generally find 140gr and 150gr thereabouts the best for hunting in this calibre and that's for our Fallow and Reds (which I'm guessing are on par with your Whitetails and Mule deer?). I've mostly found the "bonded" bullets (Fusion, Hot-Cor type, not BT's) and SGK soft points best for these deer even down to the smaller Muntjac. The 120's are accurate, fast and flat and use the Hornady Varminter for fox's, the 120gr Pro-Hunters (bit tougher bullet) are better for deer though.

I've got a strange feeling a 7x64 is looming on the horizon and that will be my 160's to 175's gun!

ATB

 

[Muir]

Muir - have you tried the 158gr Groms by Privi Partizan (PPU) ? Have heard good things about the performance of Groms in .30 and I intend to give them a whirl in my 7-08. The primary quarry will be fallow deer - Chris.

Chris, I've only heard of the GROM bullets on this site. I can get some PPU's but only 139 grain SP and 175 FMJ that I can find. The 139 SP's, as ugly as they are, shoot very well and I have killed several large deer with them using my 7x57 a couple of years back. Never more than a single shot from 150 to 180 yards. I'm very pleased with them.~Muir

 

[Muir]

That's $200 towards another gun!

Although I mess about, mostly for fun, with different 7-08 loads the reality is I generally find 140gr and 150gr thereabouts the best for hunting in this calibre and that's for our Fallow and Reds (which I'm guessing are on par with your Whitetails and Mule deer?). I've mostly found the "bonded" bullets (Fusion, Hot-Cor type, not BT's) and SGK soft points best for these deer even down to the smaller Muntjac. The 120's are accurate, fast and flat and use the Hornady Varminter for fox's, the 120gr Pro-Hunters (bit tougher bullet) are better for deer though.

I've got a strange feeling a 7x64 is looming on the horizon and that will be my 160's to 175's gun!

ATB

UH... Yeah. Another gun.

But yes. You have the size of the deer about right. The 150's are good and will cover anything I run into, but I want to try some lighter bullets. I have the above mentioned PPU's but also 400 of the 120 grain Sierras. Thought I'd give them a try.

As I said, the 175 grain killed deer really well. Awesome penetration.~Muir

 

[Heym SR20]

I really like 7mm calibre. Don't have 7mm-08 but use the rimmed 7x65r. My own load of 139 gn Hornady soft point flat based spitzer bullet flattens deer with little damage. Muzzle velocity ic c2,700 fps. In terms of the 173gn bullets I have used the RWS 175 gn round nose as well as having the 173gn brenneke bullet. I was given three boxes of 7x65r ammo - a mix of different RWS bullets that I have mostly shot to get the brass. But those 173 Brenneke shot to same point of impact as my own load and they polax whatever they hit. I have about fifteen left and saving them for big Stag or piggies (at £50+ a box of 20 they are not cheap). Recoil in a 7lb rife is a non issue with the 139gn loads - nice and smooth, but you know when you've shot the 173gn - box velocity is c2,800 fps.