7mm/08 help

[mtmedic]

Hi all.  I am a newbie here and have some questions.   I would like info on the 7mm/08 caliber.  My brother in law has turned me onto these NEF rifles and my wife has started to take an interest in hunting.  I would like to get her a gun both for deer and potentially elk.  I have read a little about these 7mm/08's and it seems that the 140gr bullet presents as the most popular size in this caliber.  What I have read so far that with good shot placement (isn't that the name of the game anyway?!?!) there have been many elk taken with these guns.  Next...  How is the recoil on these?  My wife is a smaller gal and I was looking into the youth model for her.  I was considering a sims recoil pad and was hoping this would keep things manageable for her.  She has shot my .243 and my fathers .250 savage with success.  Well I think thats all I have for now.  Please let the opinions flow freely...

[cwlongshot]

The 7/08 is a very nicely balanced cartridge. In a 7-8lb bolt gun they are mild mannered and a good choice for younger/slighter shooters. The Handi's tend to be lighter, esp the youths, so even though the stock may fit her the gun is goanna kick her more. I would definitely go with a good pad. Like the sims you mentioned, also Kickeez and pachmayer decelerators are very good and as soft as the sims.

I bought a 7mm/08 in 1984 right after they became available. I shot quit a few whitetails with it. It was a nice gun. My favorite load was a handload because there was few choices in ammo then. It was a 154RN Hornady and IMR 4064 powder. Most of my deer are shot under 75yards. Many hunters wont use RN's for longer shots, truth be told for under 200 the RN profile really shines! There is VERY little difference in energy and trajectory between the RN and the Spitzer at 200 yrds.

Back to the caliber selection, do you handload? If so you could load some lighter loads and work up to the heavier stuff gradually so se cane become accustomed to it slower. If no, I have two suggestions the first is the 270 shooting Remingtons newer Reduced Recoil loads. I think it is a 115 gr bullet at less than 243 recoil. The second would be a 243.

Good luck,
 CW

[mtmedic]

No I don't handload but my brother in law does.  I would call him somewhat of a fanatic and I bet if I bought the dies I could convince him to help me out with this.  I hunt and live here in Montana and our shots can vary from 50-75 yard coulee shots clear out to 300 yard open country shots. We hunt deer predominantly but I would like to get the wife on an elk to see how she likes that, hence the need for a do-all caliber.  I plan on ordering her something this week as her birthday is the first week of October.  I appreciate the feedback and will put the squeeze on the brother in law about the reloading.

[poncaguy]

Recoil is mild in the 7-08 Handi..........

[MtJerry]

If you're gonna make your brother-in-law work so hard, maybe you should buy him a new gun too  

He sure sounds like a nice guy ....

[Datil]

Mt medic, If you buy the rifle for the wife, she will work on Bro in Law to
 get ammo loaded.  I know how wifes work on Bro, and Bro. in la.
 I think 7-08 is good med low recoil round for a beginner.
 Welcome GBO forums Come often, stay late.
 Marv.

[MtJerry]

BTW - Welcome to Graybeard's brother-in-law  

[mt3030]

Welcome to another Montana GBO member. What part?

Wally

[Datil]

This forum is getting a bunch people from Montana.
 That's good! the more the merry! Marv.

[bluebayou]

Hodgdon has some reduced recoil handload formulas on their website:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
7MM-08 REMINGTON
 CASE: REMINGTON
 
BBL: 24"
 PR: REMINGTON 9 1/2
 

 
120 GR. HDY SP
 DIA. .284"
 COL: 2.800"
 
 H4895 35.6 2605 f/s 34,700 CUP
 

 
130 GR. SIE SPT
 DIA. .284"
 COL: 2.800"
 
 H4895 35.2 2503 f/s 32,500 CUP

[mtmedic]

I reside here in Great Falls.  I hope none of you will think bad of me if I tell ya MTJerry is my brother in law.   :wink:   He has been telling me for months to log on here but there is only 24 hours in a day....

[Datil]

We are glad to have you here,  I don't think there is any thing
 wrong with living in Great Falls or any of Montana. My old Son was in
 Service at Great Falls in the early 80'sa I was never able to go see
 him while he was there. Wanted to bad. Marv.

[mtmedic]

Well thanks all for your help with this.  I am going to get this ordered and we will let the experimentation begin.  If anyone else has anything helpful to add...   then lets have .  Thanks again.

[slug shooter]

they 7mm/08 is a awesome round! i got a handithat is very light recoiling. can be used from varmints to elk. bullets 100-175 gr. very accurate and is great for smaller shooters and recoil sensitive shooters.

[mtmedic]

Thanks for the input slug shooter.  I am trying to get one ordered but Wal-Mart says their warehouse is out and Scheels is being a terd about price matching.  They want $280 vs Wal-Mart's $200.  They mark everything up 150%.  They are and always have been half con artist.  Well thanks again for the input.

[mt3030]

Wow! I never found Great Falls Scheels to be even 1/8th con artist. They are a member of a chain and locked into Corp policy on how to do business. Sxxxx, the gun manager, has always seems willing to reserach what is available, special order items, ship guns to other stores (like used 280 Handis to N.D.), mount scopes, give discounts on large purchases, provide advice on gun and scope problems and even swap shooting/hunting tales and tips. And he knows he can not compete on a price for price with Wal-Mart. (And we all know what kind of experience we usually find behind the Wal-Mart gun counter.) This just goes back to the old debate about should we support our local gun stores or all go to the Chin..Wal-Mart. I personnaly support both, but I don't think we should come down on the gun/sporting shops because they can not match Wal-Mart prices.
 :money:
Wally

[218Bee]

I hope none of you will think bad of me if I tell ya MTJerry is my brother in law.

We won't hold that against you :-D

Welcome,

Rick

[mtmedic]

mt3030

I know a few of the guys there and they have always treated me kindly.  To me it seems as if it is the corporate office as usual that causes the grief.  The local guys usually have there hands tied.  I have heard stories from some of the guys there that there is some price gouging but usually on the used guns and bows.  I was also told that they could come close to the Wal-Mart price but won't because they don't have too.  This was "off the record" by one of the salesmen I know so how much is true I don't know.  This is what rekindled my tantrum as I have had some past dealings with them that were sour.