7mm-08 or .284 Win for hunting rifle

[johnfred1965]

Been shooting the 7mm-08 since 1984.I now have 3 and I have never felt undergunned. 139 Hornady sp is the perfect weight and profile for this guy.

+++1 what he said. I started with the 7mm08 in '89 and haven't had to chase one more than about 50 yards. 139btsp hornady is an excellent bullet for this cartridge.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Sometimes you just need to be able to slip the handcuffs and carry on. The 284 is slightly handicapped for sure in a short action but with RL 17 and 162-168s, I can easily achieve 3000 fps without pressure issues and get very good accuracy in a 2.90 oal. Can't do everything but handloaded can and does rival 90% of factory 7mm Rem mag ammo. Again, it's only a .284 caliber but a pretty impressive one for a short cartridge and NOT considered a magnum.

So is the 284 the most performance one can get from a mag fed short action non magnum caliber for moderate big game hunting distances?

 

[6fatrat]

For what you will be hunting, 7/08.

 

[284winner]

So is the 284 the most performance one can get from a mag fed short action non magnum caliber for moderate big game hunting distances?

In a 7mm I'd say yes or real close. The OP was questioning a 7-08 or 284. The 7-08 is certainly a great choice but definitely an inferior performance choice to the 284 in a SA system. It is more practical more or less just because of the factory ammo option. Really boils down to the range and the game being hunted. There's really no best option for whitetails and hogs. Just bullet choice.

 

[Zero333]

Shooting deer within 400 yards ? 7-08 is all you need.

Wanna shoot elk at 400 yards ? 284win.

I hunt deer with a 7mm08, 7 Lb rifle with 22" barrel, and I feel no need for a bigger 7mm cartridge.

Shooting wild pork with either cartridge ? Buller choice matters more.

 

[Brians356]

Sometimes you just need to be able to slip the handcuffs and carry on. The 284 is slightly handicapped for sure in a short action but with RL 17 and 162-168s, I can easily achieve 3000 fps without pressure issues and get very good accuracy in a 2.90 oal.

It all comes down to that subjective "without pressure issues" and your barrel length.

Consider even the lighter 162-gr bullet: With a COAL of .2970", and a 24-in barrel, the fastest max load Hodgdon publishes are compressed loads at 2864 fps (Hybrid 100V) followed by 2852 fps (7828 SSC), both fairly overachieving powders. Unless your results are from a much longer barrel, you're suggesting there's an additional 150 fps out there for the taking, safely, which Hodgdon left on the table.
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[284winner]

It all comes down to that subjective "without pressure issues" and your barrel length.

Consider even the lighter 162-gr bullet: With a COAL of .2970", and a 24-in barrel, the fastest max load Hodgdon publishes are compressed loads at 2864 fps (Hybrid 100V) followed by 2852 fps (7828 SSC), both fairly overachieving powders. Unless your results are from a much longer barrel, you're suggesting there's an additional 150 fps out there for the taking, safely, which Hodgdon left on the table.
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RL 17 is the fastest powder known for the 284 ( to my knowledge) to my finding. Certainly not the most accurate to many but works very well for me. H4831 & H4350 are very good as well. I shoot a 25" barrel on my SA 284 and with RL17, can get 3050 w/54.0 grains and 162 Amax bullets. Those numbers drop with 4831 or 4350. Accuracy is a bit better with the hodgdon powders typically but at much slower velocities. Depending on what I'm doing with the gun depends on the powder I use. I think the 7-08 is the practical choice for the original OP. As stated above however, once the jump to bigger game occurs, the 284 win with heavier bullets shines.

 

[kmon]

I have been shooting a 7mm-08 for over 34 years and it still gets the job done on deer and hogs very well. I usually use 140gr Nosler Ballistic tips these days in it loaded to 2.88 shot from a Remington 788. Over the years I have only bought 2 factory rifles that are as accurate as that gun.

 

[Sniper338]

7mm08.... its a joy to shoot too. Good ballistics, good range..

I have a 284 in an XP100 (short action) and you have to pull the bolt out to eject rounds. Fired brass ejects fine.

Not worth the hassle in a rifle

 

[Brians356]

I have been shooting a 7mm-08 for over 34 years

Do you have to say that? It seems like only yesterday that it was commercialized, making me feel old.
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[normmatzen]

I have never shot a 7mm-08 but I built a nice hunting rifle on a CZ-24 Mauser action that I fitted a shortened surplus 7X57 barrel.
I'm a happy camper, a round that will kill any North American game, has low recoil and mine shoots < 1 MOA with the right loads/bullets.
I would guess the 7mm-08 is very similar.

 

[cjames]

7-08 it is. Dropped it off at the smith 2 days ago. Thanks for all of the input.

 

[CTK]

Good choice. Why complicate things with an excellent but uncommon cartridge? I should follow my own advice.

 

[284winner]

7-08 it is. Dropped it off at the smith 2 days ago. Thanks for all of the input.

Well sounds like the proper choice. You never mentioned range on game but that 7-08 will conquer both deer and hogs at fairly decent ranges. Noslers partition bullets are an ideal choice and the 160 is a great choice for both of those game animals. Another thought is that you can always rechamber to the 284 from the 7-08. Good luck. You'll love the 7-08.

 

[MapleHill]

Good choice. I have both and love my 284, but brass is harder to find and a lot more money. The 7mm08 is an excellent round, you won't be disappointed.

 

[normmatzen]

For my 7X57, I had a hard time making my old WWII German barrel shoot till I tried A-MAX 162gr byllets. But after shooting a black tail deer and a small pig, they do way too much damage.
So, I switched to Barnes TTSX 140 gr and when I finally found out they like to be seated deep into the case, I now have better than 1 MOA! Haven't shot anything with it yet, but all acounts look good.

 

[onelastshot]

I'd consider the 7x57AI. Very close to 284 specs, plenty of brass and I shoot 7x57's to fire form brass. Just a great round.

 

[JBO]

Use what you have.
I have built LOTS of 284's on XP-100 action and never wished it was a longer action....
Throat it for the bullet you want and cut a groove on the side of a SA receiver and never look back..
Plus 1 for the new Norma 284 brass......

Never had a deer go more then a couple yards with my .284

 

[accuracyman]

Good choice. I have both but for whitails and hogs I pick up the 7-08. Awesome accuracy with minimal recoil and excellent terminal performance. You’ll love it!

 

[Beeman]

I’m going to try a 284 in a SA. My gunsmith thinks it should work with 150-160 gr bullets. Hope it does. Not real far shooting at game with this rifle. 500 yds will be about max. Not sure what bullet I will be running. This gun will be used as backup on elk hunts to my 300 Win Mag. Anyone use R26 in the 284? Was hoping it would work as I have a eight pounder.