7mm - 08

[caseymcq]

Doe anyone have any experience with 7mm-08 cartridge? I am thinking about getting a new rifle in either 7mm-08 or .308. Any thoughts on one or the other? Pro's? Con's?

Thanks.

[icehousebob]

For over thirty years, my deer rifle of choice has been a custom built 7x57 Mauser cartridge in a BRNO Mauser action. I've never found a deer or antelope yet that can stand up to that load. The 7-08 has similar ballistics but moves the slug at about 200fps faster. The factory loads are also hotter because they don't have to worry about someone stuffing a hot load into an old 1893 Mauser and blowing it up. If I were building that rifle again today, it would be in a 7-08. If you handload, try some Sierra 139gr. boat-tail spitzers. Great slug for deer.

[ikes71]

Bought a 7mm-08 for the kid a couple of years a go and decided I would use it for a brush gun this year. Dropped my Wisconsin buck on the run with one shot, and not perfect bullet placement. Good load, doesn't kick, gun is small and light, works great for deer, and anything smaller. Would recommend it in a heartbeat, for the right situation.

[Tripleplay]

Both my 12 year daughter and son shot their first deer this fall with a 7mm-08. Sons wasn't the best shot but he got the deer. Daughter hadn't shot all day yet on opening day sitting with me. Deer feeds out of a ravine about 4PM at 370 yards. She's been practicing her sighting on this spot all day including the rest and her breathing and she says she can get it. I decide to let her shoot and I'm watching through my scope in case she needs help. I actually saw the bullet hit behind and in back of the deer and I can't believe she missed that bad when the deer falls over. She got a deflection on the way out which is what I saw!

They are shooting youth models with short barrels and I can tell you that I'm glad I made the decision I made on this cartridge. Limited kick, very good ballistics and paired with the right bullet (140gr Nosler Partition)---a very good choice for our hunting situation which is a 100+ acre hay field surrounded by woods so the shots tend to be 200 yards plus quite often.

I wasn't a huge fan of the .308 but I'm blaming that now more on operator performance than caliber (father-in-law always had swiss cheese shot deer). There are alot of .308 fans on this site. My biggest concern about the 7mm-08 is running out of shells and needing to run into town whether northern MN or Colorado and being able to buy the 7mm-08's which wouldn't be a problem with a standard .308 .

I've only seen the 7mm-08 in action one year but I'm very satisfied with my choice.