Ok, so I need some help as I have no real ballistic sense... I am going to be getting a new rifle, and plan on getting a 7mm08. I have been exclusively bow hunting the last 3 years, and made the mistake of climbing in a rifle blind this season at the lease, and it help me remember how fun it is to be able to move while hunting and not be detected! Most of my shots will be somewhat close range, 100 yds, but I have a few spots I hunt that would be longer. The longest I would shoot is what I believe to be medium range, out to 500 yds. From my personal research the 7mm08 is a reasonable low recoil rifle for whitetail that can be effective out to medium range yardages... Looking for the THF opinions on this caliber, as well as what "over the counter" ammo to go with to achieve the best results between 100-500 yds...

I also would like info on what optics you would recommend in the under $700 price point. Wanting to know brand, magnification, reticle, etc...

I will post the optics question in optics thread if it is misplaced...

Thanks

Great caliber, pretty well all I hunt with now. Shot Remington Core-Lokt 140 grain for years until I started loading my own a couple of years ago. Caliber never failed me. Fireman and Chad will probably expound on this caliber.

On a side note I still bow hunt a lot, it is nice to be able to move around sometimes in a blind but you will never lose the feeling getting them up close and personal.

My Foster Son uses a Remington 700 in 7mm08 topped w/ Nikon Buck Master 3x9-40. He feeds it Hornady SST 139 gr. He has had a lot of success w/ the round. I use it whenever I'm hunting without him (which ISN'T often).GREAT ROUND!!!!!!!

7-08 is a great round. There are many good bullet choices for the longer range shots. If you want something specific or some custom ammo for the project, let me know. I can load up any bullet you want.

Great cartridge, in my top five favorite short action cartridges. My 20" 7mm-08 runs 162 A-maxes at 2635 fps MV.

You could buy 20 different boxes of mass produced ammo to test fire, or shorten the whole process and hire Chad to do what he do. And he'll wring every bit of accuracy out of the rifle.

I've been very happy with my 7mm-08. It's a Remington 700 with a stock replacement. Very light and compact which is perfect for hunting rifle. Shoots sub MOA with 140gr Noslers. I've DRTed every whitetail I've shot with it but 1, and that was my fault. I recently bought a Tikka in 7mm-08 that I'm told is a .5 MOA gun with reloads, but I haven't shot it yet. Can't speak to the Tikka's, but I've yet to hear someone who's bought one and hasn't liked it.


200 yards 3 shot group after fouling round with 140gr Noslers thru the Remington 700.

Nice group there Barney... I havent locked in on which brand of rifle I am going with yet. I will check on the Tikka's for sure. Thanks for all the input guys!

Tikka 7mm-08, I know I fired 5 rounds. The other two hits were a different powder charge.

great all around caliber

Got a Savage axis youth pink camo 7mm-08 that I havnt even shot yet. It's my wifes deer rifle, and we have a newborn so she didn't get to hunt this year. I'm looking forward to her getting to use it.

Got a Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 w/a Nikon 4-12 SF for my wife's rifle, but I like it just as much if not more than she does. VERY accurate and consistent with my handloads (sub 3/4" @100 yds. with 140 grain SGK's). It's a fun, very effective rifle and cartridge combo.


I know I shoot it more.

My son has a Ruger American in 7mm-08. I have RA Predator in .223 as well.

140g Sierra HPBT is deadly and accurate in the 7mm-08. I also use this bullet in 165gr in my .30-06.

My son ( 12yrs ) goes between a 7mm-08 and 6mm Rem. He prefers the 6mm but I am a big 7mm-08 fan. It does an awesome job taking down whitetail. The longest shot either of us have taken with it is about 150. I have always shot the 140gr Core-lokt rounds. You made a great choice in caliber. Good luck !!!

I own 3 of them and my favorite for hunting is my wife's T3 with a leupold VX-R 4-12 sitting on it. The scope has some nice options and will get you on either side of legal light. The firedot duplex reticle will turn down very low and is the best I have saw for low light hunting.

Federal fusion 140 grain is an affordable bonded bullet that's readily available in most places. It will shoot 3/4" five shot groups in her tikka. It has also exited every animal she has shot with the exception of a large hog and it was found in the off side skin after taking out both shoulders. I've lost count but every deer or pig she has shot with this bullet has been dead within feet of being shot.

You have no real ballistic sense, but you intend to hunt out to 500 yards?

Call me crazy Mr. Sneaky, but you have to start somewhere. It seems feasible to obtain some ballistic sense between now and next deer season, but only time will tell. Ill keep you updated!

I would like to know the percentage of men on this forum that have actually shot a deer over 500 yards. I would wager most haven't killed a deer over 200.

I never have, but I'm currently in country where it is very possible.

edit: I think Chad has, Derrick has, and Tony (trigger time) all have. All guys that shoot constantly through the year.

So there's three...

I haven't, but I practice further than I play. Meaning if you shoot at 500 then plus 200 is a chip shot. I've killed two deer over 200 yards this year. I'd shoot one at 500 in a heartbeat if I had a solid rest and the right conditions ie deer not moving/light winds/etc.

like most here, until I learned more about rifles than just knocking the dust off once a year and picking up a handful of mixed production ammo 250 yards was a long way. When I dove off into reloading and custom rifles, I do my load testing at 500. Now that seems like a 100 yard shot to me. It's all about how you practice/play.

I have a similar set up. Rem 700 in 7-08, with Hornady SST 139. Love it!

I have a Vortex diamondback 4x14x40 on mine and like it, but if you have up to $700 for optics (think i read that right), I'd suggest a 5x24x44 Nikon Monarch....being able to get the 24 zoom to really be able to identify your target is worth it in my opinion, especially if you push those further distances.

Add me to the list. 7mm-08 Ackley and 162gr Amax did the trick.

Nothing wrong with that. Just be realistic with your progress. Hitting game consistently at 500 yards isn't easy.

I recommend you read Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics books. If you are unsure about ballistics, this is a great place to start. FiremanJG also teaches a class on long range shooting with actual shooting a part of it. Both will help make sense of things and vastly improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence.

You'd be hard pressed to find one better than this one, and I already have the load figured out.....(my shameless pitch)

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6049210/1

Add another to the list. 2 deer, a pronghorn, a hog and a coyote.

So we're up to five. And of the five, every one are extremely competent shooters that have thousands of rounds of practice under their belt.