Thoughts on 7mm 08 or other calibres

[DanC]

Just doing some research for my first rifle and was wondering what folks thought of the 7mm 08? I'm looking for something deer to moose and would be using it for varmint control (yotes mostly) as well. I'd hate to waste the pelts but realize you can't get one calibre to take big game and save pelts. I'm looking for something reliable that wont break the bank. I have no desire to reload so inexpensive ammo that is readily available is also required. I'd be looking at shooting up to about 400yds or so. Any thoughts or advice on this calibre or others for what I'm looking for would be great. Any inexpensive gun models and optics for it would be great too.

Thanks

Dan

[Dirty]

Buy a 243, they are splendid.

[Steeleco]

If you want cheap easy to find ammo, 7-08 isn't the way to go. 243 may be one option but 308 will have more knock down at distance on larger gritters.

I know for sure 7-08 isn't fur friendly under 100yds!!

[scallywag]

270 all the way cheap ammo. i don;t have any yotes around here to see what happens to one but i have seen the mess a 300 mag makes

[NaStY]

If you want cheap easy to find ammo, 7-08 isn't the way to go. 243 may be one option but 308 will have more know down at distance on larger gritters.

I know for sure 7-08 isn't fur friendly under 100yds!!

Ya they dont work well on ditch chickens neither.....

I have 2 7mm-08 and they both shoot well. Wouldn't hesitate to shoot anything around here with them.

[arcadia]

A 7mm-08 is a .308 cal necked down to .284 I believe. A .270 has a bullet diameter of .277. So anyway the ballistics are similar to the old 7mm mauser (7x57) but in a short action. I bought one for my little son. I also bought some remington managed recoil ammo. This caliber was introduced around 1980 and has grown in popularity since. It is a good deer caliber and also good for Moose.

[todbartell]

Ya they dont work well on ditch chickens neither.....

if a 260 will work on grouse I suspect a 7-08 wont bounce off them either and meat damage can be avoided with proper shot placement 8)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Oct_27_08_001.jpg



my vote for cheap ammo low recoil rifle would be 270 Winchester

[arcadia]

if a 260 will work on grouse I suspect a 7-08 wont bounce off them either and meat damage can be avoided with proper shot placement 8)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Oct_27_08_001.jpg



my vote for cheap ammo low recoil rifle would be 270 Winchester

I would like to buy a .270. It would have to be very accurate and light. Any favorite makers that are sort of cheap to buy. ---My question mark isn`t working.

[NaStY]

if a 260 will work on grouse I suspect a 7-08 wont bounce off them either and meat damage can be avoided with proper shot placement 8)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Oct_27_08_001.jpg



my vote for cheap ammo low recoil rifle would be 270 Winchester

Yep shot placement is key for sure.

I just didn't find anything there but feathers what I shot one with a 140gn tsx.

[todbartell]

I would like to buy a .270. It would have to be very accurate and light. Any favorite makers that are sort of cheap to buy.

Remington 700 SPS are good value, Marlin XL7 is another if you can live with the blind magazine top feed only. Tikka used to be a good value but this year they're a bit more than what they should be @ $800. Used guns are usually a good value too, you should be able to pick up a nice used Remington/Winchester/Ruger for $500



I just didn't find anything there but feathers what I shot one with a 140gn tsx.

you aimed at the wrong spot :biggrin:

[NaStY]

you aimed at the wrong spot :biggrin:


Maybe :roll:

[arcadia]

Hey Bartell thanx for the feedback. Marlins are cheap ($420.00 )and I like that. I handled one at WSS. It felt good- seemed to fit very me well. They say they are accurate but how accurate? I wouldn't mind something very, very accurate but still, on the cheap side. I hoping for a lovely do it all light gun that would keep me satisfied. Like a good woman who keeps you from checking out the hotties. That .260 of yours is pretty! lol What about a Weatherby Vanguard or a Savage?

[todbartell]

Vanguards and Savages will shoot well, just like most any other modern rifle. Id expect them to shoot 1" groups at 100 yards with ammo they rifle liked. Some may shoot better, some worse, but remember this is a big game hunting rifle so you dont need to have accuracy like you would on a gopher gun. Of course we all like to see tiny groups at the range to boost confidence

[arcadia]

Vanguards and Savages will shoot well, just like most any other modern rifle. Id expect them to shoot 1" groups at 100 yards with ammo they rifle liked. Some may shoot better, some worse, but remember this is a big game hunting rifle so you dont need to have accuracy like you would on a gopher gun. Of course we all like to see tiny groups at the range to boost confidence

I wonder if a XL7 would do a one inch group at 100 yards?

[todbartell]

Id expect one it too. The average hunter cant shoot a 2" group at 100 yards with a benchrest, so the rifle is not to be blamed fairly :D

[arcadia]

Id expect one it too. The average hunter cant shoot a 2" group at 100 yards with a benchrest, so the rifle is not to be blamed fairly :D

Probably true. I hope to get a whole lot of practicing in this summer. I have a Ruger in 30.06 and an old 30.30 and neither stay in the pie plate (maybe a pizza pie) all the time. So much for a tight group.

[arcadia]

Id expect one it too. The average hunter cant shoot a 2" group at 100 yards with a benchrest, so the rifle is not to be blamed fairly :D

On the other hand, I can knock down 12 guage shell at 25m with my .22 that's pretty good isn't it? So perhaps it's the gun and not me?

[todbartell]

a Ruger 30-06 should shoot a heck of alot better than that, although it would kick a bit more than a 22.. But thats for another topic :D

[arcadia]

Well if you think that these modern rifles can shoot 1" group bench rest at 100m then that is good to know. I will get some friends to shoot my Ruger and see if it's me or the gun. Perhaps I flinch with bigger guns.

Thanks for the feedback again. If you see a nice used light .270 let me know thanx again.

[steelheadSABO]

A 270win a 308 or possibly a 25 06 but you cant go wrong with a 7mm 08 id get the 25 06 for what your looking to do

[killman]

A bit of a side issue and not trying to steal this thread but an aspect I find curious concerning the 7mm-08 in comparison to the 7x57. While many of the case dimensions are very close and actually the 7x57 being slightly bigger, why then are many of the loads listed for the 7mm-08 hotter than those listed for the 7x57??:confused:

I would think probably the same reason the 260 rem loads are hotter than the 6.5X55 these older calibers are found on many older actions that may not be safe to handle the pressures. (just a guess :p)

Bartell will correct me if I'm wrong.

[todbartell]

Killman is right, he gets a gold star! :p :D loaded to equal pressures a 7x57 will slightly beat out a 7-08 for speed, as it holds more powder. Same can be said for 6.5x55 vs 260, and 300 Win Mag vs 300WSM