Second year now in a row, with my Savage 7mm-08 at about 100 yards, I drilled deer right through the heart. Both times the heart was actually in half when the animal was field dressed.

I love this round, it's nowhere near as popular in Pennsylvania as the venerable old 30-06 but it really does a great job on whitetail deer.

Anyone else like it?

Behind the Bullet: 7mm-08 Remington

I tried to buy one when I got my “Obama gun” in 2008. They were sold out so I got an AR in 308.
Everyone I know that has one says the accuracy is outstanding.

I hunt with a 308 but my next bus ting rifle will be 7mm or 6.5 CM.

Yep, I have a re-barreled Mauser 98 in 7mm-08. I agree, it is a near perfect cartridge for deer sized game.

If I had I to do over again, I would go with a 7mm-08 over a 270 for a deer rifle. The ballistics are very similar and the 7-08 is more comfortable to shoot.

+

7-08 is one of the best kept open secrets in the rifle world.

Everybody loves the short action of the .308, and everybody loves the bc of the 7mm bullet. It's a hand-loader's dream, with brass common and bullet choices plentiful, but very few realize the full potential of the round.

Thanks to a saturated market with the classic choice of 30-06, the military choice of .308, the hunting choice of 30-30, and the new shooting choice of 6.5C, it is definitely under-appreciated.

Except by those that shoot it.

There is something about the terminal impact of that round on deer. Super effective round. I own a 30.06. but prefer 300 Savage, 7mm-08, and 30-30 for the average Whitetail hunt, which for me means << 150 yards.

Of course, all the "cool kids" are running 6.5C, but I would bet it is no more and probably a less effective deer round at typical hunting ranges.

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
There is something about the terminal impact of that round on deer. Super effective round. I own a 30.06. but prefer 300 Savage, 7mm-08, and 30-30 for the average Whitetail hunt, which for me means << 150 yards.

Of course, all the "cool kids" are running 6.5C, but I would bet it is no more and probably a less effective deer round at typical hunting ranges.

I doubt a deer can tell the difference.


All of the calibers you listed are ballistically similar except for the 30-30, which, while slower, is still plenty for whitetails out to 200 at least.

I finally got a chance to take a deer with my 8mm Mauser this year.


It worked.


Milsurp ammo is loaded hotter than crap. My handloads with good quality bullets (196gr Norma Oryx) are less severe but recoil is still noticeable. Steel butt plate on the Yugo M48.

Your post reminds me that years ago Remington produced the XP 100 bolt action pistol in 7mm-08. IIRC, they were for silhouette steel matches. Touted for their accuracy at that time.

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
There is something about the terminal impact of that round on deer. Super effective round. I own a 30.06. but prefer 300 Savage, 7mm-08, and 30-30 for the average Whitetail hunt, which for me means << 150 yards.

Of course, all the "cool kids" are running 6.5C, but I would bet it is no more and probably a less effective deer round at typical hunting ranges.

I doubt a deer can tell the difference.


All of the calibers you listed are ballistically similar except for the 30-30, which, while slower, is still plenty for whitetails out to 200 at least.

I agree. The deer might not know the difference, but the carcass tells a story of energy transfer. How much energy is enough for a humane kill while minimizing damage to usable meat will always be debated. It is my opinion that there is a sweet spot somewhere around 300 Savage/7mm-08 or lower energy levels and 30.06 is just a bit more than necessary for shorter ranges. Just my observations. I do not believe more is always better. My 2 cents.

People have all kinds of ideas what hunting entails. I have family that swear by 7 Rem Mag, but my cousin is shooting from a stand out to 600 yards, which is a different challenge on an often breezy winter hilltop in northern PA. Whereas i stalk deer in the wood lot in NY & PA. Hence the reason why I qualified my response with distance and choose a different round and gun/optic set-up optimized for my hunt.

Yes,as you indicated all the calibers mentioned have demonstrated to be effective to longer ranges (200+). Some just offer different advantages at even longer ranges. That said, I think 7mm-08 is still as good of a choice for Whitetail as 30.06 at longer ranges (maybe 500 yards), Although admittedly I never have taken, nor will I likely ever take that shot, so I should defer.

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
Of course, all the "cool kids" are running 6.5C, but I would bet it is no more and probably a less effective deer round at typical hunting ranges.

You're right , all the "cool kids" are running 6.5 Creedmore but really....how much difference can there be , between the two ?? Same case and bullet diameter differs by 0.5 mm....can the deer really feel the difference ?? I vote for the 7-08 !

quote:

Originally posted by mike28w:

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
Of course, all the "cool kids" are running 6.5C, but I would bet it is no more and probably a less effective deer round at typical hunting ranges.

You're right , all the "cool kids" are running 6.5 Creedmore but really....how much difference can there be , between the two ?? Same case and bullet diameter differs by 0.5 mm....can the deer really feel the difference ?? I vote for the 7-08 !

You are right. The velocity & energy is virtually identical for 6.5 & 7mm-08. For some reason, I thought the 6.5C ran at a much higher velocity (magnum range).

My apologies for my ignorance of this round.

When I was buying a rifle for my daughter a couple of years ago it came down to 7mm-08 or 25-06.

I ended up going with a Savage 111 in 25-06. Smooth shooting rifle, so far she is 2 for 3 with it (small tree got in the way that she did not see in the scope) and both those were over 125 yards.

My son decided to get back into hunting this year and now he's asking where is his rifle, so I was thinking probably a Savage 11/111 in 7mm-08 or a 30-06 for him (he's currently using one of his grandfather's 30-06's). We'll see after this season if he's still interested.

I have 1 7mm-08, but usually use one of my 284 Winchesters.

Yeah, the 7mm-08 is a great deer round, as are about 30 other cartridges. Shot placement is paramount also of course.

I took two deer with my Knight muzzle-loader this year, 8 point & an adult doe. Both ended up inside 30 feet once hit.

We've got a couple at our ranch that hunt pretty successfully with 7-08 & 25-06.

I am reminded of Jack O'Connor's 7mm praise.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/7mm-08_zinn.html

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
I am reminded of Jack O'Connor's 7mm praise.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/7mm-08_zinn.html

Jack O’Connor and a girlfriends dad were the reason my first high power rifle was a .270.

I’m very fond of my Win M70 in 7mm/08.

Very good cartridge, Savage made their scout rifle in it but have since ceased....should have bought one when I could.

I have been eyeing a Ruger mk77 compact in 7mm-08 for years.....only thing stopping me is the lack of iron sights.

Not a deer gun but rock river arms was selling ARs in 7mm ought 8. I wanted one. Still want one really but no gunds right now.