7mm08 Happiness

[HuntClub]

So, I load my own rounds and for my 7mm-08 I am using 140TSX and N140. Now, I have never had opportunity to shoot at a 300 yard range until this year. Always just 100 yard range, though i would zero for 200, so I have been really curious to see if my Tikka T3 Stainless would do what I expected it should do. First time to range with it to test the 300 today.

Using Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 plex. Shot round at 200. Made a slight adjustment and hit the Red on second shot! Moved on to 300 yards. There was a 5mph wind - crossing left to right. I am pretty happy with the results. What say you?

First shot at 300 was low/right. Went to target to see that and then compensated aim by using the top of bottom post to aim at center - following the sub-tension projected by Swarovski. 2 & 3... Amazing!

 

[S3silver]

Nice shooting. I have a Tikka 7mm-08 compact and love it. Have you tried the 139 and 145 lrx? Mine shoots great with them.

 

[Murray Brook]

I just love the 7/08's./ I've got two of them. An often overlooked bullet is the 145 Speer SBT with H-100V. Great combo.

 

[HuntClub]

Nice shooting. I have a Tikka 7mm-08 compact and love it. Have you tried the 139 and 145 lrx? Mine shoots great with them.

I tried the 120 TTSX but the gun just would not shoot them. (You just traded with me for some of the leftovers!) I had thought about testing them again with different powder but the gun loves the 140 TSX and the 150 Gamekings.

 

[S3silver]

You have a different username here. Here’s how the 120 ttsx did in mine. I was just testing more for speed and pressure with the little range time I had so I didn’t really take my time shooting. 44.5 gr felt good and I know it can be better because by that time the barrel was warming up and I didn’t let it cool.

 

[misser]

I tried the 120 TTSX but the gun just would not shoot them. (You just traded with me for some of the leftovers!) I had thought about testing them again with different powder but the gun loves the 140 TSX and the 150 Gamekings.

i also tried the 120 TTSX .I have 4 guns in 708 .only the encore likes them

 

[misser]

my LR10 does love the speer 145 sbt with reloader 17 . its not my goto deer load ,I use the Hornady CX 139 for that

 

[JLT]

The Hornady 139 gr. BTSP is a terrific medium game bullet in the 7-08. H4350 behind that bullet will shoot very precisely and it is very reliable deer medicine.

 

[Fuj]

Shooting out to 300/400 yards, give the 140 Berger Hunters with Varget
or Vhitavouri 140 a try.

 

[HuntClub]

You have a different username here. Here’s how the 120 ttsx did in mine. I was just testing more for speed and pressure with the little range time I had so I didn’t really take my time shooting. 44.5 gr felt good and I know it can be better because by that time the barrel was warming up and I didn’t let it cool.

Glad to see they are working for you! The 120 TTSX is a great bullet.

 

[rdremsek]

Try the 120 grn sierra pro hunter spitzer flat base and varget it's a tack driver I've shot many deer and a black bear with them dropped many deer where they stood 175 pound bear went 40 yards guide asked me what I shot it with and it destroyed the vitals my rifle is a rem 700 mountain rifle laminated stainless .

 

[Frankm]

120 s out of a 7-08 press a 270 Win 130 gr. load really hard; especially with most factory 270 loads !!

 

[Bugs]

I've said before that the 7-08 is usually one of the most accommodating cartridges ever to come down the proverbial pike. . . . . . most any mid range powder like Varget or N140 and most any good 140ish grain bullet will work quite well.

 

[Will Henry]

I ordered my 7mm-08 reamer on the day the cartridge was announced. I had my reamer before the first rifles hit the store. It is a great cartridge. By the way, the first rifle to show up, a Remington 700 Varmint, was snapped up by George Farquharson, the originator of "F" class shooting.
The son of an old friend of mine used to come to our place every year to hunt elk. His rifle was a Model Seven in 7mm-08. He was shooting 150 grain Nosler bullets. He killed three bulls with three shots but was talked into switching to a 300 Magnum, by some friends. He shot a bull with that and said it killed just like his 7mm-08 except that it kicked harder and was heavy to carry.
If, God forbid, I was relegated to just one rifle for hunting, a 7mm-08, in a Tikka or a Kimber Montana would suit me just fine. WH

 

[AntietamGW]

I've used the 7x57 for over 50 yrs. My son has used a B series Mountain Rifle for over 25 yrs. I recently gifted my 11 yr old grandson a T3x compact in 7mm-08, a match to his .223, which he shoots very well. He took his first deer with it a week ago with a reduced load, 30gr RL7 and Sierra 120 at 2350fps according to the Garmin. 155 yds, excellent shot placement with both lungs and top of heart pulped. Broke a rib on the far side but didn't exit. Typical 50 yd dash. I'm very proud of him! I'm a bit disappointed that the bullet didn't hold together better and exit at this reduced velocity. But, you sure cant knock the results!

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

The 150 grain, Horn, ELD-X bullet with RL-17 shot, very Well, in my son's Tikka, T-3X Super Lite and he got, GREAT Penetration on, a Nice sized, 5 x 5 Idaho, Bull Elk.
It was, a Quarter Angle, slightly Downhill shot, thru one Shoulder, Lung, into the Rear Ham, breaking the Femur Bone with, 112 grains of, Mushroomed, recovered Bullet, left @ 247 yards.
The 7-08 is, an Amazing Cartridge, Punching Well above, it's Weight Class,.. with Proper, Bullets !
The 140 gr. ELD-X's, have worked very Well in my grandsons 6.5 PRC on 3, DRT, Deer @225, out to, 497 yards !

 

[Murray Brook]

The 7-08 is, an Amazing Cartridge !

Certainly true. I've had 3 different 7/08's now have 2 and 2 different 270 win's now have 1. I believe that there isn't anything that the 270 Win can do that the 7/08 can't do as well or better using less powder and less recoil and throat erosion. JMO

 

[AntietamGW]

The 150 grain, Horn, ELD-X bullet with RL-17 shot, very Well, in my son's Tikka, T-3X Super Lite and he got, GREAT Penetration on, a Nice sized, 5 x 5 Idaho, Bull Elk.
It was, an Quarter Angled shot, thru one Shoulder, Lung, into the Rear Ham, breaking the Femur Bone with, 112 grains of, Mushroomed, recovered Bullet, left @ 247 yards. The 7-08 is, an Amazing Cartridge !
Punching Well above, it's Weight Class,.. with Proper, Bullets !
The 140 gr. ELD-X's, have worked very Well in my grandsons 6.5 PRC on 3, DRT, Deer @225, out to, 497 yard

The 150 grain, Horn, ELD-X bullet with RL-17 shot, very Well, in my son's Tikka, T-3X Super Lite and he got, GREAT Penetration on, a Nice sized, 5 x 5 Idaho, Bull Elk.

That sounds like the perfect bullet for the job! I've pretty much always used the 139 Hornady flatbase in my 7x57 and son's .280. We don't hunt anything tougher than whitetail and the occasional black bear. I expect to work up a load for my grandson's 7mm-08 after the season closes and field work is done. I can't knock the results of the Sierra but I do like to see them leak on both sides.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

The 7-08 is what the 308 should have been. Just like the 276/7mm in the M1 Garand. Underrated.

 

[std7mag]

I agree whole heartedly with @Fuj.

The 140gr Berger VLD is one heck of a deer bullet out through 400 yards.
Although I use a slower burning powder than Varget.
Best powder I've tried is Alliant Power Pro 2000MR.

Another bullet that is a go to is the Nosler Ballistic Tip, either 120 or 140gr.