7mm-08.

Hello folks; who here hunts Whitetail with a 7mm08.
Need some input as my Best-Friend is looking at purchasing
a single-shot H&R; or New-England Arms, Single shot rife combo
in either the 243, or 7mm08.
Thanks Bittercreek.
This will be for his sons, age 12/14; for X-Mas.

I am working on getting a new 7/08 together for my daughter she has hunted with .243 thru this season, but feel the 7/08 with larger bullets is better option and the 7/08 caliber is a great caliber for wt. I just felt the .243 was a better option until she was a little older due to recoil, she is now 12 and the 7/08 recoil should be fine at this point, will shoot 120gr tsx out of hers

There are lots of post in the rifle section but I don't recall any on this particular rifle. My bro in law bought his daughters the H&R in the .243, the 10 year old flinched & would close her eyes expecting the recoil. The 9 year old shot it just fine, so I guess all kids are different with the recoil tolerance. I have a 7-08 Marlin in a 7 1/2 pd (with scope) rifle and I'll say it has plenty of recoil, probably too much for a kiddo. In a heavier rifle it would be fine.

Grout scout what kind of recoil pad is on that 7/08

Remington 7 MM/08 has hardly any kick and can take down most North American animals. Great gun and got one for my boy when he was 11. I know it has taken down Bull Elk in New Mexico because the guy that recommended it took one down with his daughter. Nice gun overall.

It's Marlin's brand (no other markings) but it is very soft, kinda surprising since the guns are so inexpensive. The recoil is very weird on this rifle, the muzzle seems to flip up (kartwheel), not back like all of my other rifles. I actually got scoped by this thing which I have never been able to accomplish before, not even while shooting my .300wsm. Now that Remington has taken over Marlin, they may start using Rem's recoil pads instead, no telling. Great gun for the money.

Thanks UT have never fired a 7/08, know it is great caliber just a little concerned with recoil, but guess to late now to worry bout it, some say there is alot of recoil for kids others say no, will find out after Xmas

From what I have read the recoil in pounds is like 12 ish while a .270 is 14 ish. I really think the rifles weight is the biggest factor. Bullets can be a booger to find around here in San Antonio though.

Just get so many different opinions on the recoil, I just bought an adl, ordered a Ti stock and sent bolt to be fluted and knob change, and will change out bottom metal to bdl. Giving to my daughter for Xmas just hoping recoil is not too much for her. What grain bullets you shooting? How long is barrel?

Going to load 120 tsx, gotta pick up bullets and brass this week.

140 Winchester Ballistic & 22 inch barrel. I thought about trying the Hornady Superformance but I already have 3 boxes of the Wins. Sounds like you have a really nice rifle coming there! 120's should be a little less recoil.

Should be, maybe your feeling some of the muzzle blast with that shorter barrel, hers will have 24" barrel.

if it bites her too hard, put a brake on it.

Could be, I'm not real fond of the shorter barrels on these rifles but the price was too cheap to pass up. Post some pics of that rascal when you get it all set up!

Will do, no break, I am 99% sure she will be able to handle it . She has no clue she is getting new rifle, but will be hunting with it after Xmas, will ler her shoot it some to get use to it and then hopefully she can bloody it before the season is over.

I'm sure she'll get the chance, and I know she'll be excited.

Thanks Rockin, I hope so, can't imagine the recoil is that much more than her .243

I have a .25-06 that is supposed to be comparable to the 7-08...it doesn't bother my son much when he's hunting, but he does flinch a bit on the bench...but then again, I think that's just cause he wants an excuse to put on the PAST recoil pad...he's only 7

I have shot a 25/06 that kicks and another that I felt very little recoil. I imagine she will flinch the first shot or two, and then will be fine, big eye relief on scope so I dont have to worry about her getting scoped, just don't want her to develop a flinch.

Bittercreek with a 12/14 yr old boys I woul recommend the 7/08

The recoil is a little more than a 243 when all else is equal. I have been shooting an 18.5 inch barreled 7mm-07 since 1982. Great round IMO. With the shorter barrel I get about 2650fps with most factory loads and reload to that with 140gr Partitions and Ballistic Tips. Recoil is not bad to me with the factory plastic recoil pad so I have never put a softer one on it. Muzzel blast with that short barrel is stout.

Since she is doing good with her 243 on recoil I doubt she will have any problem with the 7-08. Sounds like she is getting a sweet setup rifle.

Thanks Kmon the Ti stock has a 1" decelerator pad so should be good. 24" barrel so muzzle blast will be no issue and the 120's will also reduce the recoil.
Can't wait to see her face Xmas morning

You will have an excited little redhead Christmas morning. Then you know she will want to take it out shooting, and hunting

Should get in three or four days with her after Xmas.

Had the chance to take a 13 year old friends son hunting and the only rifle I had with me that trip was the 7mm-08, unfortuently we did not get a shot, but he did shoot it well before we went out hunting.

Recoil on the 7-08 is a little more than the .243, but the 7-08 is a lot more effective cartridge. Recoil is not much of a factor with the 7-08. Use enough gun. Between the two, go with the 7-08.

I've had:

243
25-06
270
30-30
7mm STW
44 Mag lever gun
30-06

and finally

a 7mm-08. Mine is a Savage bolt gun, but I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Recoil is very mild and everything I shoot with it drops quickly. It shoots very well.

My only frustration is that its hard to justify buying something else now! This darned thing is perfect... (I hope my wife doesnt see this post...)

THe only fault of the 7mm-08 is ammo availability. This isnt a problem at all for me since I reload and have several hundred rounds ready at any time. Once you find ammo it likes, buy a hundred rounds or so and that'll last most folks a lifetime.

shane

7mm08 is a great gun for a kiddo or adult. I take my sons if I can get away with it when he's not hunting with me. Remington also makes managed recoil ammo for it. Wasn't an issue with my son though. He is a small framed little guy and he shoots Remington 140 grain core locs.

7mm-08 in those light single shots will have a little bite to them...only concern is out of all the ones I have attempted to sight in for folks, there were way more that wouldn't shoot a 4" group at 100 than those that would shoot close to 1". IT will be luck of the draw on what you get out of them. To a 12-14yr old they may have a little bite to them, but it really depends on the kid.... some I know were uncomfortable shooting a 25-06 at that age, but I was already on a 300wm CDL and I loved it. My wife's remmy kicks very little and out of personal preference I have her pushing the 140gr Accubonds out of it now.

The accubonds are great bullets, no doubt.

My son who is 12 now has shot one of the light weight single shot .243's for several years now and has taken several deer with it. I picked up a youth Mossberg 7mm-08 with the LBA trigger system this year. He and my wife both love it and I would hunt with it if I needed to. For the price you will be hard pressed to find a more accurate rifle right out of the box. I wasn't real cracked on a Mossberg rifle but had a gun dealer friend talk me into trying it. Figured I could sell it or he could if I was not happy with it. I will be keeping it though.

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=8&section=products

I like them a lot and haven't had any issues out of them. I have a cpl rifles that just don't like them and a 257wby I'm running 100gr TSX in, but because the FIL reloads 110s in his and my wife's 25-06s, I'm just going to get him to reload the 110s in the wby as well as brass becomes available.

Shot my first deer when I was 11 with a rem 700BDL in 270win. Make sure they get plenty of range time and practice in, that is what I think maters most. I would think that at 12 or 14 they should definately be able to handle it.

matt

My wife got me a 7mm/08 for Christmas and gave it to me early so I could take it to Junction last weekend. It is a CVA Stalker Elite single shot from Academy. After getting used to the muzzle blast on that short barrel I got it dialed in at 1" high at 100yrds. Shooting 1" or better groups. I paired it with a BSA 3-9x40mm scope with a lighted reticule. Shot a BIG bodied 8pt and a doe with it on Monday and made both of them DRT. It's about 8 1/2 pounds with scope and sling. Kicked more than my .243, but not much. Seems to be a great round and couldn't beat the $159 price tag they had on it last week at academy.

BTW, bullets are hard to find here in houston too. All Academy had were Hornady 160gr for about $38 a box, but BPS had the 160gr Winchester Super-X for $21.99. The gun really seems to like them.

stop by Carter's there off 10, they should have plenty.

Rifle weight and recoil pad thickness have a tremendous effect on felt recoil. Look at the accompanying chart at different rifle weights and you'll see. I would avoid a light rifle for a youngster unless in a caliber like the .243 WCF.

Recoil Chart

I didn't see a youth 7mm08 Mossberg on the link or any Mossberg 7mm08 for that matter. What model is it? I've been looking for a youth 7mm08 for a friend and no luck. I got the Ruger compact for my son and love it but it's more $$ than my buddy wants to spend

I have found that when youngsters, or wifes shoot, good hearing protection cuts down "felt" recoil by a significant amount. The lack of muzzle blast plays an important part in stopping flinching.

I agree muzzle blast can create issues with youngsters, daughter always wears hearing protection.

The adl 7/08 at academy for 349.00 is a great buy as well.

Bought a Model 7 KS Custom in 1997 in 7mm-08. Shot Hornady Light Magnum 140 gr. from when new until I traded it to Roman ( Viper 99 ) on the forum a year ago ( shoulda kept it LOL ). Never lost an animal. Great round, low recoil and fun to shoot. Should be a near perfect choice for your kids.

Thank you folks for all the great input.
HOpe all of you have a great hunting season and Christmas!
Thanks Bittercreek

Click on the right arrow under the gun to view more models. It's the 100ATR Super Bantam. They may not list it in 7mm-08 but you can get them.

cool, thanks

aquired 7mm-08 in remington 788 w/ 24" barrel, loves anything in .139 grain hornady. excelent caliber, 14 year y/o son shoots it well.. I want one in semi-auto.

he started off with the NE handy rifle youth model .243 at 8, he handled it well but it has a little bite due to its size.

He will be hunting with his "new to him" hand me down remington 721 in .257 roberts w/ burris 2 x 7, next weekend. 117g hornady @ just under 2800 fps.

the .257 roberts is getting popular again and has several brands of both guns and ammo to choose from.

my opinion and .02, the key for youths shooting well is lower powered scopes 2 x 7's and 1.5 x 4's (longer eye relief) & shorter shots.

Merry Christmas!

I do not think you can go wrong with either a 243 or a 7-08 but would recommend looking into a 6.5X55 Swede. I have used it for the last 4 years and can tell you it is simply the best cartridge I have used in 30 years of deer hunting. It hits the deer REAL hard yet me? Just a little.

recoil chart is good info. thanks

very good resource...thanks!

You can not go wrong with the 7-08. I got my wife one for her TC encore and now it is my favorite barrel. This year I have shot a pronghorn, a mature panhandle 8 pt, a 250+lb pig, and she shot her first buck and I have not tracked a single animal shot with it. Were shooting 120gr handloads and getting 3000 ft/sec. Recoil is light and did not phase my small framed wife. Good luck with your purchase

Just picked up brass and 120gr Tsx for Daughters 7/08 she is gonna be surprised Xmas morning

very NICE!!!!!!!!!

You need to go a head and also get a 25-06 and 257wby die : )


My next gun safe purchase is going to be a 7-08 browning BLR in the 81 configuration

Lol, how is that .257roy anyway?

Rocks

Haven't found any thing that it will shot over MOA

100 Gr TSX's 3/4
80 gr TTSX 3/4
100gr spitzers are about as close to 1/2 as I have ever seen in a three shot group
110 accu bonds are just a hair under an inch.

I will say the 80 grain TTSX kicks about like my 25-06 with hot 100grain patitions.

Had the cross hairs on a big upper 160's ten up north but he was on the wrong side of the Fence/Road... got to just watch him at 60 yards for a good 45 seconds

the Swaro AV is good but doesn't blow me away over my viper or conquest... think the only thing it really needs is a new Z6

might be one of those guns that likes them seated either a little longer or short. AWR likes them shorter...XCR tends to like them longer.

OVER

Gun is a true sub moa beast. Now if I can just find something living that is $4 dollars a bullet worthy to kill with it

referring to those sweet 110gr ABs you mentioned


you know, for a reasonable price of +50%, I might could get you the hookup since I got my dies picked up today!

Sweet I figured it would be a shooter!

Its way better then me, X-mark trigger on it is ok probley change it out after season and when I flute the bolt

Sent lkc's bolt for Ti flutes and knob should be back in few days

Donkey

Very very nice!! on the 7-08?

Yeah converted it to bdl, Ti stock green with black webbing, bedded, Ti fluted bolt with campfire knob like on my rifles, she will be happy . Then sending long action to Kampfeld to build her custom .280

Nice did you change your mind on the 25-06 and jump up to the 280?

Yep since I got her 7/08 it will work a couple years then .280

I got a 7mm-08 yesterday in a trade, took it home sighted it in than went to the lease. Friday night I shot 2 hogs and got anther one this morning. All three were DRT, I'm really liking this round

Love the 7mm-08, I shoot 120gr Nosler Balastic Tip with Winchester 760, bench rest primers out of a Remmy 788 with a 181/2" barrel. It will do neck shots at 200yds with a Burris mounted on it. The recoil is almost none existent and my son has killed several deer and hogs with it and never said a word about recoil.

Good choice in calibers, I am in the market for another one with a varmit barrel.

I didn't think the 788 in 7mm-08 was ever made in anything but the carbine (18-1/2" barrel). If you have a factory 24" barrel, that's a collector's item!

Txbowhunter1 has a weatherby accumark in 7/08 with heavy barrel I bet u could buy right.

Mounted zeiss conquest 3x9x40 with talley's to the action, Bolt should be back by Thursday from Kampfeld, stock to be delivered Monday. Have it bedded, trigger adjusted and bullets ready by Friday and be at range Saturday morning, so when she gets it Xmas ready to hunt the week after. The 7/08 one of the guys wife shoots on our ranch has done great job on wt and md. Can't wait to shoot it.

Hey BMD, what is the bolt fluting for? Looks or does it have a purpose? Did you get a new trigger or have the orig. adjusted? Can't wait for pics, I always like to see new ideas.

Bolt Fluting cuts little weight but mainly for cool factor. . The knobs I like alot better than factory. No will adjust the factory trigger to 3.5 for her, no reason for any lighter with kid.

I have had 7mm-08 in a Rem 700 Mountain topped with a compact Leupold 2X7 for 15 years or so. Killed many deer with it. Haley has used it for last 5 years or so. I love the 7mm-08. Great hunting round for anybody, not just smaller folks.

May have to get one for myself

It would make sense, but guys like us aint laying down to 300.

Exactly.

The 7-08 can be downloaded to very manageable levels if there is a problem with recoil. Hodgdon's website lists some good youth hunting loads. However, I do not think you will have a problem with it. My 8 year old son shoots one in a model 7, it is a great round.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdrV3wAWwhA

Not cutting the load on TSX they need speed to open up

not factory, purchased the rifle from my brother, he had a shilen barrel put on it several years after he purchased. The gun was very accurate with the original. I replaced the heavy (ugly) wood stock with a Ram-line synthetic. Have since retired the .30-06.