7mm-08

Thank you all for the imput but i would still like to know anyones gripes about the 7mm-08? if no one has any why are they not more popular? Thanks again

Probably because those who do not travel to places like France where 7x57 is a No-No have the 7mm Mauser instead. I always wondered at why Remington tried to re-invent the wheel with the 7-08.
 
Referring to your earlier post a 7 - 08 has a 5mm shorter case than a 7 x 57 and must therefore be better!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :stir:

David.
 
Less case capacity means less fuel available and a shorter neck...................... naaaaw!!!

7mm Mauser for me thank you.
 
All the deer and boar I have shot with my 7mm08 at ranges from 10 - 250yds haven't noticed the 5mm shorter case or shorter neck. Works just fine with any bullet from 100 gr - 175 gr. Ive read all the gripes you have with the 7mm08 Brit but I very much doubt any quarry species will notice the difference. Maybe it is in fashion at the moment, perhaps the older 7mm cases aren't in fashion. Who gives a rats ass - its a case / bullet combo that works and that's all there is to it!

Tom
 
Thank you all for the imput but i would still like to know anyones gripes about the 7mm-08? if no one has any why are they
not more popular? Thanks again
Hi Home Loader, I think the reason you dont hear that much about the 7mm-08 is the old catch 22 in so far as when production guns became readily available the supply of factory ammo was very poor for anyone that didnt homeload. In calibre terms its one of the new kids on the block only 25-30 years I think.
I would hazard a guess that most of the current users homeload - I have one for a good few years now, and in that time the supply of factory ammo has improved.
I wouldnt pay any heed to the unasked for comments by others telling you every thing old is the way to go - we have electricity and phones now and dont travel by donkey any more - not all things new are bad.
For deer stalking in this country it will easily do all you ask of it and more, without the recoil of a .308 in a nice tidy rifle that works well with a fairly short barrel.
If you think about the last few years the fashion calibres have probably been the 7mm08 and the 6.5 x 47, try finding the latter in a factory production and you will realise how mainstream the 7mm-08 has become,
Thanks
George
 
Well I have a 7mm08. Not because its fashionable or because I thought i'd like one or anything like that, but simply because one came my way on a really nice rifle (or at least it suited me). I just wanted a rifle I could keep for the rest of my life the way my father and grandfather did. So I ended up with a Heym sr20 which just happened to be in 7mm08. Its ok. Doesnt kick as much as my friends 30-06. A bit more than my .243win, and pushes a bigger and pig legal bullet along just fine. If you point it in the right direction it usually kills what you point it at (assuming you pull the trigger).

So in answer to the op I have no bones to pick.
 
Thank you all for the imput but i would still like to know anyones gripes about the 7mm-08? if no one has any why are they not more popular? Thanks again

You seem to want someone to provide you with a reason not to get one mate.

I don't think any calibre is any better than another as long as its legal for the quarry you shoot and you can place the shot then any will do.

It's all personal preference.

As we have all said it does the job, not super quick and not slow.

If you fancy one then get one.

Steve
 
The 7-08 is a fine and efficient cartridge which is something few people aspire to these days. A "Magnum" moniker(or "Improved") and flat out speed seems to be the seller. As WARDY said, the 7-08 is not too fast, not too slow. I like to think of it as a modernized 7x57 Mauser. The 7x57 has about .3CC more case capacity than the 7-08 but, due the the stockpiles of early Model 1893 and 1895 rifles still floating around, lloading data is limited to about 50,000 psi. The 7-08 is loaded to 60,000 psi in some loads and will get 200+ fps more than the 7x57 with a range of bullets. I use a splendidly accurate 7x57 for hunting and it is one of my favorite rifles. If I didn't own it, I'd be actively running a good 7mm-08 to the ground as fast as could. I had one years ago and loved it. I'd dearly love another should one pop up.~Muir
 
Last edited:
Hello all
Thank you for the imput, I already have a slot for a 7mm-08 and was just interested as to others experiences, Haveing used a .243 for the last 15 years with very few problems, I have just decided to get a second rifle and on a wim i chose 7-08!

Thanks

Martin
 
The 7-08 is a fine and efficient cartridge which is something few people aspire to these days. A "Magnum" moniker(or "Improved") and flat out speed seems to be the seller. As WARDY said, the 7-08 is not too fast, not too slow. I like to think of it as a modernized 7x57 Mauser. The 7x57 has about .3CC more case capacity than the 7-08 but, due the the stockpiles of early Model 1893 and 1895 rifles still floating around, lloading data is limited to about 50,000 psi. The 7-08 is loaded to 60,000 psi in some loads and will get 200+ fps more than the 7x57 with a range of bullets. I use a splendidly accurate 7x57 for hunting and it is one of my favorite rifles. If I didn't own it, I'd be actively running a good 7mm-08 to the ground as fast as could. I had one years ago and loved it. I'd dearly love another should one pop up.~Muir

It can run "quick" when required, 120 gn Sierra pro Hunter, 47gn IMR4895, Federal brass, 210M primer, chronoed this in winter 3167fps on a hot sunny day 3222fps, primers a bit flat but bolt lift wasn't sticky. My normal load is 150gn Sierra Gameking BTSP, 42 gn Varget, 2780 fps, same brass and primer as for 120's COL 2.795". I just get a bit better accuracy with the 150's than with the 140 Gamekings.
 
You wont be disappointed with the calibre martin, thats for sure!

Tom

No the 7mm or .28" calibre is a fine one with numerous CARTRIDGES designed to handle bullets of this calibre ;). Some of the cartridges are of course better suited to some purposes than others.
 
Thank you Folks!

Just one more Question barrel lenght? long or short?

When i chose which one to buy i will be tapping you all up for more info about your reloads!

Thank again!
 
For me the 7-08 is best served in short barreled form. I shoot an 18.5" 7-08 at 2740fps with the 140gr NBT.


I have taken reds to munty to charlie with the same rifle.

My .20Tac is currently away being re-stocked and I am using the '08 under the lamp (yes my condition's allow this) My farthest fox with a std A4 ret and no dope is a shade over 300 yards.
 
I found 7mm-08 a good deer stalking calibre. I was persuaded to change to 6,5x55mm Swedish Mauser which I've found similarly good. The reloading for 7mm-08 was helped by being able to use .308 Win cases simply by resizing them.
I think its a good calibre, moderate in recoil, economical as regards powder quantity, good selection of bullets and competitive in performance with other 7mm calibres. Hope this helps. Simon
 
I think its a good calibre, moderate in recoil, economical as regards powder quantity, good selection of bullets and competitive in performance with other 7mm calibres.

May I add of a similar case size/capacity ;).

There is no way it can reach the performance of say the 7mm Rem Mag or the 7mm RUM, STW or excuse me whilst I spit .......................... the 7mm Weatherby.
 
There is no way it can reach the performance of say the 7mm Rem Mag or the 7mm RUM, STW or excuse me whilst I spit .......................... the 7mm Weatherby.


True Brit, but no one harps on about how there's no way a .308 could possibly reach the performance of a .300 win mag? Get over the 7mm08 - it's a decent cartridge, to which there are no real world downsides. It is a very good all round cartridge, end of.

Tom
 
Last edited:
I've run through a lot of the variables for a 7mm with a riflebuilder whom i asked to build me a rifle for stalking and target shooting out to 1000 yards. As with all things shooting it depends what bits you want to compromise on and in the end i settled on the 7-08 as to me i don't want to get hammered by recoil shot after shot on the range. Reloading costs will also be a bit more reasonable.

In terms of barrel length i've gone for 20" because i'm a shortarse and don't want the muzzle dragging through the grass! The builder wasn't happy going any shorter given the long range stuff i'll be doing.

I should be collecting it in a few weeks and as with any big purchase am getting quite nervous but quietly excited!

So i'd say go for it - you can always flog it if you hate it...
 
True Brit, but no one harps on about how there's no way a .308 could possibly reach the performance of a .300 win mag? Get over the 7mm08 - it's a decent cartridge, to which there are no real world downsides. It is a very good all round cartridge, end of.

Tom

Well I have not seen any such posts about the .308 Win. I have posted about the stupid idiots who overloaded the 7.62x51 so as to keep their target bullets supersonic at 1200 yards with the result that due to their overloading and exceeding the pressure limits of the cartridge that now Places like Bilsey are insisting that rifles like the Envoys are proofed to beyond Magnum pressures. What needed to be done was these idiots be banned for their stupidity and putting them selves and others at risk.

If one wants that sort of performance from a modern high pressure cartridge get the correct cartridge and use it. Or course a lot of this stems from the perceived need for the must have short action as it seems that a lot cannot manage the longer bolt throw of the M98 and it's clones never mind the tremendous length of bolt travel in a 64mm case like the 30-06 :shock:.

After all the .308 Win already operates at higher pressures than the 30-06 just to keep up with the older cartridge and with heavier bullets it still loses out due to lack of powder capacity compared to the 06 case.

What I am pointing out or at least trying too is that there really is no free lunch. To get velocity you need fuel and a larger case capacity makes it easier to do so. The 7-08 is not a super cartridge as some seem to be trying to make out it's and OK cartridge based of a good case design.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top