7mm-08 a not so hidden gem

A while back, I was chatting to a mate of mine about 308-derived cartridges and the topic ended on the little and obscure (at least in RSA) 7mm-08. Obviously the 243 win and the 260 were discussed to some extent, but with the proven track record associated with the 243 and the various 6.5's still being all the range in long distance, they need not be discussed here.

He was (is?) of the opinion that the 7mm is the ugly duckling of the family- neither here nor there (I'm paraphrasing). Well, I sort of got what the point his was making, but being an argumentative man, I did some digging and damn, I'm happy I did.

First, let me praise the champion that is the 308 win- short action, a fair bit of oomph and complete lack of originality (read "easy to get ammo and components), the little winnie is the boring cartridge that could. This versatility has been helped, substantially, by the myriad of awesome projectiles now available to us.

Moving on to the 7mm-08, I was playing with Sterlok the other day and the numbers coming out of the 7mil were damn impressive- hand loads with 160gr projectiles showed awesome velocity, retained energy and horizontal drift looked great. I spoke to a guy who had built an AI version for PRS type comps and I was really, really impressed.

All that said, I know practical and theoretical don't always gel, so I would love to here your thoughts and experiences. The man I mention above had some really hot loads (above 2800 ft/s with various 160 grainers) and with that kind of gas and the associated BC and SD values, I think this would make for an AWESOME short action allrounder.

The question is: Is the difference between the 7mm08 and 308 enough to sacrifice the universality of the latter or is this just another case of unnecessary splitting of hairs?

Cheers
Alexandria Far is
The 7mm 08 is an awe some little cartridge, making it an AI is of virtually no value. 2,800 fps with a,160grain is really pushing the envelope.
There are lots of people on this forum that know far more than me about it.
The 08 has been necked to 243, 25 Souper,260, 7mm, 338 and 358.
I've always wondered how the 270 08 would go.
In Australia the 7mm 08 is pretty popular
Cheers mate Bob
 
F596F4ED-A81F-4C57-BF72-B069FA3F6C1B.jpeg

Bought a Ruger Compact in 7 mm 08 a few years back for my son at Christmas and he loves it. Laminated stock and Mate Stainless. Shoots straight and true.
 
(1) a friend of mine says of the 7-08 is a solution looking for a problem.

(2) I bought one for my daughter and it’s still new in box. She’s now a Vegan and no longer hunts. Social media like Twitter and Facebook will be the downfall of civilization.

1) a solution looking for a problem? is he meaning it was built with no problem to fix? redundant ? or a solution to solve a pest problem!

2) I'm sorry your daughter made those choices, i hope she is happy and there is no adverse affect but I'm gonna eat meat and enjoy rifles.

Twitter and facebook , they are here to stay unfortunately . Today i used a new program called workplace. Its Facebook for work! provided by work. Im not into facebook i burn enough time here.

i like the 7mm-08, it is fun to shoot and the factory load Winchester with 139g soft points were effective on pigs on my first impressions of mine in the field.
If you want capability and lighter recoil it does work well. i just thought it was a nice compromise or all rounder for Australia in a short action.

I believe it was a solution to a problem. I have read several sources that cite it as being built for Metallic Silhouette shooters needing more energy downrange to knock over the targets. Im happy they did because with the right bullets it knocks down game with the right projectile.

The .308 is far more popular and may have other benefits but for smaller shooters, recoil sensitive or medium game do not discount the 7mm-08.
 
:S Off Topic:
Bruce
I was,waiting for that or the 280AI, while your at it a 284 in an intermediate action.
Bob

Then what about the 7x64?
The 7mm-08 performs in its class. Thats what this thread is about fellas.
Behave yourselves!:S Hijack:
 
:S Off Topic:

Then what about the 7x64?
The 7mm-08 performs in its class. Thats what this thread is about fellas.
Behave yourselves!:S Hijack:
Chris
The 7mm 08 will do everything inside 250 yards that any other 7mm will do. It's a great little caliber. Best thing they did to the 243 was neck it up to 7mm. Ha ha ha ha ha.
Bob
 
Well if you get hold of my .243 barrel i will still have use for the cases.
 
(1) a friend of mine says of the 7-08 is a solution looking for a problem.

(2) I bought one for my daughter and it’s still new in box. She’s now a Vegan and no longer hunts. Social media like Twitter and Facebook will be the downfall of civilization.

Ugh I hate that for you.
And yes social media is horrible regarding swaying people's opinions on hunting/farming/ranching, but hunters on social media don't help things. Some people post the most gory things they can, which is instantly off-putting to people who don't know anything about hunting.
 
Chris
The 7mm 08 will do everything inside 250 yards that any other 7mm will do. It's a great little caliber. Best thing they did to the 243 was neck it up to 7mm. Ha ha ha ha ha.
Bob

Bob,

Maybe you might get a chance to shoot a 7mm vhse or a 28 Nosler some day. Big, long bullet screaming out the end of the barrel that mashes anything it hits. It also kicks pretty good with that snow shovel of slow burning powder out of a real long barrel.

I look at the 7mm08 as a pleasant round to shoot at moderate distance into the vitals of smallish game like white tailed east coast USA deer. I have sold many remington 7's and the like when loaded with middle of the road weight bullets.

Many years ago I plastered a almost 600 lb bear who was running for for his life as a father and son team were blasting at him with twin 7-08's and they did hit hom a few times. I hit him with a 350 rnjsp out of my 458 which made him go to sleep.
 
Like others I've had 7mm-08s and decided I prefer 7x57. Ballistically they're almost identical. I just think the 7x57 has more history and therefore more panache. My former 7mm-08s were a Ruger #1 and a Kimber Hunter. The Ruger in particular was an excellent rifle. I had some issues with the Kimber but that didn't detract from the caliber.

Even though I prefer 7x57 if someone was looking for a 7mm caliber I'd probably steer them towards a 7mm-08. Several companies make 7mm-08 rifles and all the major ammo companies make ammo for it too. I'm not aware of any current production factory 7x57 rifles but PPU and Federal make 7x57 ammo. There may be a one or two others. Still, there's no denying that rifle and ammo availability definitely favors 7mm-08 over 7x57 in the U.S..
 
Ugh I hate that for you.
And yes social media is horrible regarding swaying people's opinions on hunting/farming/ranching, but hunters on social media don't help things. Some people post the most gory things they can, which is instantly off-putting to people who don't know anything about hunting.

Ohh, yes the great Unwashed, the Do Gooders, the Politically correct and the Ferals that post feral photos,

leave us be , hunting has been a sport of royalty and Noblemen for centuries. I still consider a rich persons sport. No disrespect to the forum members who have been successful in managing their financial affairs.

Put respectable pics online and keep our sport respectable . Now to get on with some work so i can afford hunting within my realm and within my means.
 
Ohh, yes the great Unwashed, the Do Gooders, the Politically correct and the Ferals that post feral photos,

leave us be , hunting has been a sport of royalty and Noblemen for centuries. I still consider a rich persons sport. No disrespect to the forum members who have been successful in managing their financial affairs.

Put respectable pics online and keep our sport respectable . Now to get on with some work so i can afford hunting within my realm and within my means.
In my family history it was the opposite with both my mother's and father's families depending on hunting as well as raising and managing livestock during The Great Depression that got them through those times. My father's family had been successful merchants before that crash and moved to the rural area as a matter of family survival. My mother's family were already rural but were strong participants in keeping the school system going in their area during that period.
 
Alexandria Far is
The 7mm 08 is an awe some little cartridge, making it an AI is of virtually no value. 2,800 fps with a,160grain is really pushing the envelope.
There are lots of people on this forum that know far more than me about it.
The 08 has been necked to 243, 25 Souper,260, 7mm, 338 and 358.
I've always wondered how the 270 08 would go.
In Australia the 7mm 08 is pretty popular
Cheers mate Bob

Winchester lists a top muzzle velocity of 2825 fps with a 160 grain projectile in 7mm-08 is possible with the StaBALL 6.5 powder.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
 
Ohh, yes the great Unwashed, the Do Gooders, the Politically correct and the Ferals that post feral photos,

leave us be , hunting has been a sport of royalty and Noblemen for centuries. I still consider a rich persons sport. No disrespect to the forum members who have been successful in managing their financial affairs.

Put respectable pics online and keep our sport respectable . Now to get on with some work so i can afford hunting within my realm and within my means.
CBH
Chris
My daughter is a strange one mate. At her house she is a vegetarian but doesn't push it in others . Strange part is when she comes home to see Dad the first question she asks is have you got any venison, goat or wild pork. She turns carnivore when she comes home. She also likes shooting.
If you or any one on this forum can figure out the female psyche please let me know.
Cheers mate Bob
 
No offense but my mate says "They are not like us humans"
No offense ladies but he is a funny bastard,
I have inlaws over your way coastal folk who partly on religious grounds choose vegetarian among their peers but still dont like to miss out on anything if they are in the company of others with no imposed restrictions on anything legal or morally acceptable.
 

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