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7-08 loads for deer hunting

Dimner said:
In all practical senses... it's just nostalgia.
The 7x57 does have 12% or so more case capacity and the standard 7x57 chamber can take the heavy 7mm bullets over the standard 7mm08 chamber.

However, being able to find off the shelf factory 7mm08 ammo is a big plus for the 7mm08. Brass is not a big deal. It's easily formed out of other calibers and ppu does a 7x57 run every couple or three months.

For the casual hunter, 7mm08 is the way to go. Me, I like odd stuff. If I was ever worried about a lack of performance in 7x57, going to would a 7mm08 wouldn't help. You'd want to go with something with more oomph
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I had gotten a Mauser on the cheap.
Barrel & stock were toast.
Drilled & tapped (along with other assorted machining) the action.
Fitted a Dakota 3 position safety.
Timney trigger.
EGW one piece base, Vortex rings, Vortex Crossfire II 4-12X42 BDC scope.
Build was for my daughter.
Her & my wife ordered a Boyds AT-One stock (purple).

She's accounted for a few does with it using the 120gr Ballistic Tip.
 
My wife took a cow elk at 325 yards with a 7-08 (great cartridge). She was shooting a 140 grain Gameking with 37.5 grains of H4895. Didn't run but maybe 25 yards before going down. My daughter hunts with this rifle now and the same load. She has taken 2 mule deer. The first fell within 15 yards. The second ran about 100 yards before piling up.
 
My old 7 mag shoots the 160gr speer grand slam bullet really well. They have performed flawlessly over the years. E.
 
The 145 gr Speer SBT has been a great bullet for me over the years in different 7/08's I've had . I use 50 grs of StaBal 6.5 with a CCI 250 in a Hornady case. Vel is 3003 ft/sec Accuracy is very good in the rifles I have shot this load in.
 
shooter65 said:
anyone ever try these?

www.midwayusa.com

Barnes Tipped Triple-Shock X (TTSX) Bullets 284 Cal, 7mm (284

The Barnes Tipped TSX features a 100-percent copper body with rings cut into the shank. A polymer tip boosts the ballistic coefficient, improves...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
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Widely used on deer here in New Zealand, the 120gr version should be considered equivalent to a 140 cup and core. They kill very well with over 3/4 exiting, even after smashing both shoulders. Rather poor BC so I'd limit range to 250yds. I have shot decent size red deer with them at over 300yds but they didn't open as much. Still killed them but not as spectacularly. My 16" Tikka pumps them out at 2940.
 
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ChrisNZ said:
Widely used on deer here in New Zealand, the 120gr version which should be considered equivalent to a 140 cup and core. They kill very well with over 3/4 exiting, even after smashing both shoulders. Rather poor BC so I'd limit range to 250yds. I have shot decent size red deer with them at over 300yds but they didn't open as much. Still killed them but not as spectacularly. My 16" Tikka pumps them out at 2940.
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Thanks. Have an 18'' 7mm08 was thinking of using them on pigs and coyotes.
 
Love the 7-08 it’s hard to find a load that shoots bad. Been hunting with one for 30years. 140 or 120 ballistic tips are my go to deer bullets. Tried different bullets over the years, but always come back to the noslers. Rem m7 18” 47gr cfe223@2940 w/120nbt. Built a tikka 7-08 for my wife(20” factory barrel) dropped it in a carbon stock.45gr big game @2670 w/140bt. It’s sub 8lb with loaded and now my favorite rifle.
 
Seanshooter said:
Love the 7-08 it’s hard to find a load that shoots bad. Been hunting with one for 30years. 140 or 120 ballistic tips are my go to deer bullets. Tried different bullets over the years, but always come back to the noslers. Rem m7 18” 47gr cfe223@2940 w/120nbt. Built a tikka 7-08 for my wife(20” factory barrel) dropped it in a carbon stock.45gr big game @2670 w/140bt. It’s sub 8lb with loaded and now my favorite rifle.
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Thos 120s are scooting out of the 18'' barrel. Going to try the 110s and 120s when I get healed up. Thanks. Appreciate all the input!
 
Loaded the barnes 120 ttsx in my dads model 7. Pencil thin barrel i think 20”, never really shot factory ammo well. Worked up to 48 gr 2000mr and seated to 2.800” and it printed about a half inch. Its around 2890 fps. 47.5 was 2884 and 2876 i think. I didnt chrono the 48. This is the 4th rifle in a few diff calibers i loaded barnes ttsx in and shot lights out
 
Glad to see this thread. I have 2 7-08s that i need to work loads up for this summer. Curently shooting 140gn factory offerings and they both have done very well. I have a good size pile of 140nbt's and 5 lbs of varget that i hope can produce a solid group for them. Would be awesome if they both like the same load. Likely not my luck though
 
I had a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 for a while. It was accurate and I shot it well, but the 18” barrel seemed like a handicap and the barrel was so light that groups opened if I didn’t let the barrel cool after each shot. It was a sweet little rig but I made enough money on the sale that I don’t miss it.

I'm gathering parts for a build right now. It will probably a 308 but the 7mm-08 is also a contender. That’s mostly due to a poster on another site who uses Ramshot Big Game with 140-grain Partitions and Accubonds just shy of 2,900 fps. We both hunt Pacific Northwest tree farms that are choked with brush. There’s always a chance to meet a black bear up close or get a shot at a 1,000-pound Roosevelt bull across a canyon. He and his buddies have taken enough big bulls with that load that I‘ll definitely start there if I pick the 7mm-08.

I’ll look at the 120 TTSX if 140s don’t work for some reason.

I’ll also use a 22” barrel.


Okie John
 
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