For whitetails out to 400 yards the 7mm-08 is perfect. There are many good bullet choices from the Nosler 120 Ballistic tip to the Speer 130s to a whole bunch of 140-150 grainers. If you wanted to stretch it out to 600-700 yards on deer I'd say try to wring some more velocity out of it but not for 400. Going to the AI will get you another 50 fps and extend case life. Using srp "palma" brass will allow you to bump up pressures a bit for increased velocity as well. I think that's only available in 260 or 308 right now so you'd have to neck up or down.
284 vs 7-08 in 700 sa
- Thread starter john 800
- Start date
Toolbreaker
Gold $$ Contributor
In that case, 7mm-08 is the easy button. I do understand going after something different, though. I think the better question is, which one sounds more interesting to you to build?
The rifle will have a varmint contour barrel, so recoil with either will be pretty tolerable so although i have nothing against a 7-08 i have no reason not to go with a 284 other than the limitations on oal. 7-08 ai might be a good practical compromise.
From an “interesting point of veiw, i have always looked at both as being a pretty good all around deer calibers, but especially the 284, it is just amatter of how many quirks I want to work around.
Zero quirks with a 284 win. Recoil is fairly mild with bullets up to 168 and a 10lb rifle. You'll be fine with 2.95 length rounds in a SA package without going into a modified action. Feeding and ejecting will be easy. It's really a matter of preference of cartridge. Both will get the same jobs done in a SA platform.
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
When I built my 7-08 I considered a 284, hard. For me the decision came down to the fact that I already had a 7mmRM so the 284 didn't get me anything it wouldn't do better. The 284 is kind of a lite short mag, so I went with the 7-08 and have never regretted it. I agree that I 284 can run it out there a little faster, but for hunting deer the difference isn't of any value.
My deer loads are 140 class bullets. It does the job with no drama and less recoil. The 7mmRM hasn't been in the woods since i built the 7-08.
My deer loads are 140 class bullets. It does the job with no drama and less recoil. The 7mmRM hasn't been in the woods since i built the 7-08.
My sons shooting, the New StaBall 65 Powder, in his 7 mm-08 and getting almost, Ackley Velocities !
AND,.. a 150 ELD-X in his 7-08, HOT Load of, StaBall,.. stomped, a nice Bull Elk, at over, 250 Yards.
Don't under estimate,.. the 7-08 !
AND,.. a 150 ELD-X in his 7-08, HOT Load of, StaBall,.. stomped, a nice Bull Elk, at over, 250 Yards.
Don't under estimate,.. the 7-08 !
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The 7mm -08 is, MORE than enough for,.. Deer !
WHY,.. over think this ???
Just choose, a good, accurate,.. EXPANDING,.. 140 gr. Bullet !
crystalgayleguy
Gold $$ Contributor
in your quote you said that you don't want to alter the action see if the action will feed a 708 case first or a 284 case you might have to open the rails
7-08 is the way to go for hunting. Don't discount the 150 scenar. Very accurate with many different powders. If I ever build another one it will be improved version. Great caliber for whitetail.
I would use the Lee's standard 7-08 collet die. I use their 260 dies with my 260 AI and it works great without any type of modifications.
Interesting on the staball 6.5 powder, but i dont have any. Who know when things will be normal again... i do however have quite afew powders commonly used for 308win and 270, as well as a pile of 150 grain balistic tips in 7mm, and a few others that n 150/154 between those i am sure i can come up with something that will work
The 150 Bal Tips should work just,,.. FINE for killing expansion and accuracy !
The Jacket, sometimes, "separate" from, the Lead cores but, usually, AFTER finishing,.. it's, "Job" !
I shot, the 154 gr InterBond's and regular, BTSP Hornady's, in my 7 mm Rem Mag they were great, too !
The 140 Bal Tip's, were accurate in, my .270 WSM but, I went with, the tougher, 140 AccuBonds for when, Elk were on, the Menu and my scopes "Dial" is set for them, to 750 yards (tougher bullet, NEEDED at, 3,140 FPS ).
MOST, 4350 "Burn Rate", Powders will work, in the 7mm -08 !
RL-17 ( like 4350 ) was one that, my son shot, before going to, StaBall.
Stay SAFE and,.. Have Fun !
The Jacket, sometimes, "separate" from, the Lead cores but, usually, AFTER finishing,.. it's, "Job" !
I shot, the 154 gr InterBond's and regular, BTSP Hornady's, in my 7 mm Rem Mag they were great, too !
The 140 Bal Tip's, were accurate in, my .270 WSM but, I went with, the tougher, 140 AccuBonds for when, Elk were on, the Menu and my scopes "Dial" is set for them, to 750 yards (tougher bullet, NEEDED at, 3,140 FPS ).
MOST, 4350 "Burn Rate", Powders will work, in the 7mm -08 !
RL-17 ( like 4350 ) was one that, my son shot, before going to, StaBall.
Stay SAFE and,.. Have Fun !
centerlineseal
Gold $$ Contributor
That!
My 7 rem mag really likes the 150 ballistic tips, but at the faster speeds of the 7 mag i shoot partitions for closer shots.
I would loove to go out west on an elk hunt someday, i do have other rifles for that but like you said a 7-08 should do the job within reasonable limitations.
Correct, IME 200 fps, I load both calibers to 2.800" OAL with Hornady 139 Interlock BTSP (different powders) Labradar records the MV of the 7-08 at 3013-3019 fps and the 284 @ 3200 fps
At 3000ish the 7-08 bolt puts on weight, 2950-2980 fps is a good place to consider max.
What I don't like is the OAL imposed by the short action limits bullet profile for a given weight and ham strings the 284's velocity potential. The other thing I don't like is mag capacity is reduced by one with the 284's diameter.
There are alot of people that don't like the .284 in a short action. I get that as the full benefit of it's case capacity cannot be utilized. For me I decided I was building mine for the 162 ELD only for deer. Using RL17 gave me 3000 fps @ 2.975 which easily fit in my (non-binder plate) Accurate mags. I have a LA 284 and also get 3000 fps with 180s and RL17. That's the difference from the SA to the LA. 20 grain heavier bullet and same velocities. The LA has a 29" barrel vs a 25" barrel in the SA. Really only about a 100fps +/- difference.
What make of actions are your rifles?
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