7mm-08 range

[KaibabMD]

If it was my rifle I would sight it in 2" high at 100 yards and you can aim on hair out to 300 yards.

The 7mm-08 is a great deer cartridge.  I've shot many deer with it and it will put a deer down just as fast as any other cartridge in its class.  The ballistic tips are great deer bullets and I have shot most of my deer with them. 

I have a question, and this thread points directly to it so I am resurrecting it from the morgue. 


I just purchased a Browning X-Bolt in a 20" 7mm-08 (the Micro Midas) configuration.  It was the best option available in my locale, so I jumped on it.  300 yd accuracy and external ballistic performance I fully expect with the 20" barrel.  But what about after that?  How about at 400 to 500 yds?  Does anyone have any experience at a 1/4 mile target with a short barrel in the 7mm-08?  I am not expecting this, but the opportunity arises when I hunt Coues Whitetail here in Arizona - small target, long distance, and patience.


 Greybeard, I would really like your input also. 


Thanks to all who have posted in the past, and that will post on this.


-KaibabMD

[Graybeard]

I've never shot at anything even targets beyond about 300 yards with any of our 7-08 rifles so honestly have no experience base to offer you.

I don't see why it shouldn't be effective at 400 yards if you can hit the critter you're after in the kill zone. When you start talking distances beyond that my experience lies mostly in shooting prairie dogs with super accurate varmint rifles from a rock solid bench. I'd hate to think I had to hit a Coues deer at such range from a field rest. I honestly doubt I'd be able to control the shakes I have these days for such a shot. Were I going to where such a shot might be offered my Remington 700 LSS in .257 Whby  would be what I had along.

It would shoot flatter but in the real world at such ranges knowing the range very precisely and knowing your bullet's trajectory is more important than flatness of trajectory cuz out at 400 and beyond nothing is really very flat.

The longest shot I've made with any of our 7-08s on deer is about 200 yards most have been well under 100 yards. On targets I've shot them out to about 300 years ago when I had access to a range that long.

[dpe.ahoy]

I've had a long love affair with the 7mm's.  Started with the 7X57, progressed up to 7 mags.  Sold all the mags as they didn't do much better than my 280's.  Right now I have three 280's, four 7mm-08's, one 7X57 and three 7-30 waters.  I've taken many mule deer with em and the longest shot was with a 7X57 Ruger, well over 400 yards.  The doe went less than 30 yards after being hit with a 139gr Hornady handload doing about 2800fps, same as you are looking at with the factory 7mm-08.  Waiting for my Marlin XS7 to come back to me as a 7mm-08 AI and some other goodies.  As many have said here, the 7-08 is a great deer cartridge and a darn good elk round with a good bullet.  Lotta great bullets out there to choose from, match the bullet to the game and make room in the freezer.    DP

[nomosendero]

If it was my rifle I would sight it in 2" high at 100 yards and you can aim on hair out to 300 yards.

The 7mm-08 is a great deer cartridge.  I've shot many deer with it and it will put a deer down just as fast as any other cartridge in its class.  The ballistic tips are great deer bullets and I have shot most of my deer with them. 

I have a question, and this thread points directly to it so I am resurrecting it from the morgue. 


I just purchased a Browning X-Bolt in a 20" 7mm-08 (the Micro Midas) configuration.  It was the best option available in my locale, so I jumped on it.  300 yd accuracy and external ballistic performance I fully expect with the 20" barrel.  But what about after that?  How about at 400 to 500 yds?  Does anyone have any experience at a 1/4 mile target with a short barrel in the 7mm-08?  I am not expecting this, but the opportunity arises when I hunt Coues Whitetail here in Arizona - small target, long distance, and patience.


 Greybeard, I would really like your input also. 


Thanks to all who have posted in the past, and that will post on this.


-KaibabMD

Yes, it will work.
 
The 308 with a 20" barrel is used alot by Tact. shooters with good effect at 800 yds.& with the right bullets & loads can be supersonic at 1000yds, though that's a stretch for all but the very best loads. The 7-08 has better BC bullets in the weight range that the 308 case handle well. So to hit a target at 500 yds, the round is up to it, as long as you know the holdover or clicks.
 
The velocity of the 7-08 with good BC bullets has more than enough energy at 500 yds with good loads & good expanding bullets.
 
So, the accuracy of the round is there & so is the terminal performance with the right Bullet, load, rifle, scope & driver.
 
That being said, the big deal in the field is having a good rest, knowing the wind all the way to the target & knowing the yardage. A good rangefinder is very important. Those Deer are small, if you are wrong with the range by a few yards with the 7-08, esp. after 400yds, you have problems.

[rickt300]

If I were to choose a range limit it would consider impact velocity first and energy second. I like 2000 fps as a minimum impact velocity to ensure expansion. The further away you are from the animal the nicer it is for said animal not to travel far after it is hit.

[bubba]

I put 4 Nosler 140 grain BTs from Federal Premium 7mm-08 ammo through the lungs of a small PA whitetail.  The 5th one through his skull finally killed him.  Autopsy showed that they did no damage at all.  Range was 125 yards down to point blank range.  The one through his skull at point blank range did some damage.

my guess poorly built reloads at best.  Skimping on powder is never a good idea.  I have a 7-08 bergara barrel on an encore frame.  Deadly at 300 yards by sighting 2 to 21/2 inches high at 100 yards. 

[jabey9210]

This is something I will never comprehend.  Why people say 7mm sucks while 30 cal is so great.  Do some research people. If you take the same weighted bullet in both calibers load them to the same velocity the 7mm will out perform the 30 cal as soon as they leave the muzzle in both velocity and energy at 200 yrds your talking 80 feet per second and 100 foot pounds of energy and gets drastically worse the farther the bullet travels but if people think they need that extra .028" (which is the thickness of a credit card) in diameter difference to kill an animal more power to them.  As for me I'll be stickin to the 7's if the animal doesn't die I'll blame it on my shot placement or bullet choice(i.e target bullet vs hunting bullet) not the gynormeous .028" diameter difference.

[Rock Home Isle]

I'm a .30 calibre gun nut...I like and appreciate the .30-06 Springfield...the .308 Winchester is definately the cat's meow and the recoil of the .300 WSM is something that I find soothing and satisfying. I don't have a succinct answer as to why...I just enjoy the calibre.
 
Then there's my Dad...He's all about the 7mm x 57. He can't wait to shoot his 7mm '08 and everytime we go hunting big game he always bringing this ancient old Herters Bolt Action 7mm Magnum that to this day will shoot 3/4 inch groups at 200 Yards. I just don't get it...where did he go so wrong...

[jabey9210]

I have nothing bad to say about the .30's I've used an 06' most of my life I really do like them.  And I'm pretty sure that if you went back and counted all the animals killed in this country and categorized them by caliber it would be a complete landslide going to the 30 cal.  And there is a reason for that because it is a great caliber.  It just upsets me when people down the 7's instead of their poor shot.  I find it hard to believe someone could shoot a deer in the vitals several times and not kill it with a 7mm.  If that's the case nobody better shoot a deer with a 6.5, 6mm or 22 cal cause apparently they would just be ineffective.  Sorry it's just one of those subjects that gets under my skin.  Everybody has their preference but I'm positive caliber has nothing to do with shot placement and bullet choices.  Now that being said would I go Moose hunting with a 7mm-08 if I had a 30-06 to use instead absolutely not.  But I wouldn't shoot a 120 or 140 grain bullet at it either.  Given the choice between a 30-06 and my trusty 7mm WSM it's hands down the 7 for me. 

[Rock Home Isle]

..........  Now that being said would I go Moose hunting with a 7mm-08 if I had a 30-06 to use instead absolutely not.  But I wouldn't shoot a 120 or 140 grain bullet at it either.  Given the choice between a 30-06 and my trusty 7mm WSM it's hands down the 7 for me.

Yeah....that makes perfect sense to me.
 
And I'll add that I've taken nice big healthy elk for many years with a .270 Winchester, but it's all about shot placement. And I've been ridiculed and told that I'm under-gunned using that calibre...The .270 is great elk medicine, as long as the shooter understands the limitations of the calibre as it pertains to the quarry that is being hunted.
 
Same thing applies to the family of 7mm's...and loaded with a 130 gr or 140 gr bullet, that 7mm'08 is a very nice reliable hunting round on deer sized game; very accurate and fairly flat...
 
But given a 175 gr bullet, I'd take the 7mm'08 on a moose hunt. And I'll take that moose when the profile of the animal is slightly quartering or broadside at less than 200 yards, or I'll go home empty handed.

[yooper77]

I really like the 308 Winchester and I reload it for my friend's Remington 788. I also really like how it saves me money since I re-size it for my 7mm-08 Remington out of my Weatherby Mark V Sporter. This rifle really shoots nice and carries a 24" barrel. I have tried Nosler 120 grain solid base bullets with a reduced load of H-4895 for my daughter in the future and Herters 140 grain hollow pointed bullets with IMR-4350.
 
I sight in at 3" high at 100 yards with all my highpowered rifle cartridges and hold on hair out too 300 yards without a single worry about bullet drop. Plus I also target shoot at that distance since we owe it too the animals to know our level of accuracy when the time comes.
 
yooper77

[jabey9210]

My wife shoots a 7mm-08 in a savage youth with a 20" barrel.  I load 140gr Bergers VLD's they fly at 2900 fps and she loves the 4.5-14 Nikon coyote special because of the circles instead of the crosshairs.  It works out pretty good sighted in dead on at 200yrds the second circle works out at 300 yrds and the bottom circle works out at 400 yrds so it works really well for her.

[Rock Home Isle]

My wife shoots a 7mm-08 in a savage youth with a 20" barrel.  I load 140gr Bergers VLD's they fly at 2900 fps and she loves the 4.5-14 Nikon coyote special because of the circles instead of the crosshairs.  It works out pretty good sighted in dead on at 200yrds the second circle works out at 300 yrds and the bottom circle works out at 400 yrds so it works really well for her.

Thank you for this post. We are planning a family hunt to South Dakotah next fall and I am thinking of getting a 7mm'08 for my Daughter.
 
My Son will be shooting his .270, and my wife will be shooting my .270. I'll be shooting my .30'06 or a .300WSM. But for daughter, I think that the 7mm'08 would be a great selection. Thank you again for this post. 

[Hooker]

The 7-08 is definitely a fine deer cartridge.
In fact I'm looking for one for my grand daughter.
Folks who know me know that I'm a big fan of the .308 Win , but outside of the 32 short and the 25acp I have enjoyed every cartridge I've ever shot.
The 7-08 with 140 gr bullets makes a fine 400 yard deer cartridge.

Pat

[Rock Home Isle]

Went out to get a few reloading supplies and on the way home stopped by a Pawn Shop. We're planning a family deer hunt next fall and my daughter doe not have her own rifle. Major over site on my part, I just didn't know that she was interested. While at the pawn shop, I found a beautifull little Remington 700 BDL in 7mm'08...But then I found a beatiful Remington 700 BDL in .270 Winchester...I am torn.
 
My Dad has a 7mm'08 and before I started taking an extra gun with me as a back up...I've taken deer with that gun a time or two. He always brings a backup...just incase.
 
Dad sites his 7mm'08 in at 200 yards, and uses 140 gr BT for his reloads. The rifle will hit ~2.5 inches high at 100 yards and a little above the 7.0 inches lowmark at 300 yards. So on deer sized game, all you have to do is put the crosshairs center mass for a broad side lung shot and you are good out to 300 yards. For a novice shooter, 300 yards is pretty dang good and the 7mm'08 will do the job.
 
The 7mm'08 is great deer medicine and I would use it on elk as well. But don't forget that it's all about bullet placement. This calibre is not a belted magnum, so take shots where you have a good broadside presentation or a slight quartering shot. The hard quartering or even worse presentations, pass on those. Besides who wants their steak to taste like gut-shot anyways.

[rickt300]

The only bore diameter between .224 and .429 I havent killed deer with is the .257. If I used a proper bullet and hit the animal well I had no issues with any of them. I have three 7mm's, a 7x57, a 280 Remington improved and a 7mm Remington Magnum. Hit well all three kill deer with authority and other than noise and recoil I can't tell that any of the three kills deer "best". I like the 7x57 best loaded a bit under what is possible in the 7-08, my favorite deer bullet has become the 140 gr. Nosler Partition.  this combination has killed many a big feral hog too. Maximum range for me is around 300 yards with this rifle but those long shots are rare in my country.

[Rock Home Isle]

As a late Christmas present...I'm going to go by the Pawn Shop and see if they still have the Remington BDL in .270 Win.
 
For as long as I can remember we have had a tradition in my family that as each of the boys reaches hunting age they get a .270 Winchester. I have mine, my brother has his....all my cousins have theirs and a few years ago my son got his.
 
I just love the .270 Winchester; looks like my daughter is going to get hers (course she's 20 now)...The tradition continues.