New (to me) 7mm-08....updated w/pics

[upnut]

Have been cruising the LGS kinda, sorta looking for a good used Handi rifle, almost bought a clean .243 a month ago....Stumbled across a like new one today, 7mm-08 with a 22" barrel. Looked it over, serial # NV***, not a scratch on it, Whitetail Unlimited embossed on the stock...HHMMM. Looks like someone won it in a raffle, put it away and forgot it! Put it back in the rack twice, drove away, not looking for a 7mm-08 I told myself. Didn't make it to the city limits, drove back, looked it over again, I'll take it. Will probably put a simple 4X scope on it and start out with Remington Core-Loct 140gr to get aquainted. Anything else I should I should know about this rifle? Really happy to find one in such nice condition!
 
Scott B.
 

[hoytcanon]

I love my 7mm-08... load it with NBT 120 or SST 139... I bobbed it to 18 inches and it does very well at that length.

[wolverine_1]

I got a 7mm-08 last fall, haven't shot it much because the ammo costs so much, but have loved every shot. 

[OldSchoolRanger]

I got a 7mm-08 last fall, haven't shot it much because the ammo costs so much, but have loved every shot. 

You gotta reload!  Ever since the ammo shortage, and big price increases, I dug out all my reloading stuff, and started reloading again.  Rediscovered how much fun it was to develop new loads.  I like the 139gr SST's for the 7/08.

[petemi]

Both our new 7mm-08s are Superlights.  I didn't get much time to play with them last Fall before Winter set in.  I did find that out of the few loads I got to try, the 115 gr. Hornady HPBT shot MOA over 140 gr. Privi SPBT which wandered everywhere.  The shooting bench is emerging from the snow drift, so I should be able to get back into it soon.  We need these rifles to shoot MOA at 3 - 400 yards.  That's their purpose in life.  My .243 Superlight climbed out of the box shooting sub-MOA at 300 yards with the 85 gr. Sierra Gamekings,

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Congrats on the new to you 7mm-08 Scott, I've had two 7mm-08s, the first was a standard 22" like yours, it shot 140gr Fusion ammo just fine, 1½" at 100yds, it didn't care for 160gr Accubond handlloads tho. A couple years ago I got a 7mm-08 Superlight barrel like Pete & Patty have, it shoots 139gr Hornady and 140gr TTSX handloads great, I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. 

Tim

 

[upnut]

Thanks fellas! After reading your remarks and seeing Tim's targets I may have to rethink the 4X scope and step up the magnification a bit! The hammer shows no indication that a spur was ever attached and no indication of a scope either, so I'm going to approach this as a never fired firearm. The only other new barrel I broke in following directions here on GBO is my .357 Handi, and that shoots like a dream, so I'll try the same with this one. Thanks again!
 
Scott B.

[petemi]

Scott, my 7mm wears a 4x32 and it is not enough scope for the rifle or these old eyes.  I've got to upgrade it.  Wearing a scope that works well at long distance doesn't mean you can't punch a hole in the right place at 25 yards.  A variable, large objective lens will work well close or far, good or bad light.

Pete

[quickdtoo]

My Superlight wears a Leupy VXII 3-9x33 Ultralight I bought on closeout when the VX2 line came out. 

Tim

[44 Man]

I have owned 3 7-08's and all have shot MOA or under!  The first one was just like yours with the Whitetail Int stock and mostly got fed 130 speers and 120 NBT's.  It shot both of those within 1/2" of each other.  I had an accident and couldn't take ANY recoil for a while and let that one go.  I found with more healing time I was able to shoot again and got another 22" standard.  I 'upgraded' that one to a superlite.  I had a frustrating time with it but it was due to a bad scope, not the rifle.  Once the scope problem was solved, it also shoots sub MOA.  Yes, put a good scope on yours and you will have a fine rifle you will enjoy for years.  44 Man

[upnut]

Thanks for the scope advice, the old adage is true.."if you can't see it you can't hit it..." so it's research time! I did run into an issue this afternoon cleaning the bore, using Break-Free then brushing yielded a brownish crud that indicates some oxidation has occured. An hour of alternating patch, brush, and Break-Free improved it. Much scrubbing will ensue, I'm sure. Soaked it good with W-D 40 and left it standing muzzle down like Tim stores his Handis, will tackle it again tomorrow.
 
Scott B.

[44 Man]

Don't forget from the 'FAQ's that Handi's usually shoot best with a 'dirty' bore.  It may shoot a very loose group at first but it will tighten as the bore gets rid of the lube and cleaning products.  Once I get mine shooting well, I only wipe it out with a dry bore snake.  Also make sure the latch and latch shelf are completely dry, no lube at all.  Enjoy that Handi!  44 Man

[quickdtoo]

Barrels are blued inside and out, so the brown could just be the results of bluing which is a form of rust, brown patches are common on new H&Rs for a while.  Here's a section of VP barrel, you can plainly see the blued bore.

Tim

[upnut]

Thanks Tim, I did not know that! And, that was a big sigh of relief you just heard... ...So, to review, wipe it down and shoot the crap out of it as 44 Man suggested. COOL!
 
Scott B.

[336SC]

I've got the H&R Handi in 7mm-08 and a Remington Model 7 Stainless/Synthetic in 7mm-08.  The Handi has a 22" bbl and the Mod 7 has a 20" bbl.  I put a Brunton 1.5x6x40mm on the Handi and a Bushnell Trophy 3x9x40 silver scope on the Mod 7.  Btoh shoot really well when I feed them the Speer 130gr Spitzer Hot Core.  That 130gr Speer Hot Core is a death ray on deer!!!!!  The Handi shoots them @ 2875fps and the Mod 7 does 2764fps when loaded over IMR4064 powder.  I put an "O" ring around the barrel acutrement that accepts the forearm screw.  Really shrank the grouping on the Handi!  I'm also a short stumpy guy and had to remove the obnoxious recoil pad and replaced it with a thin plastic butt plate.  Fits me much better now, expecially when wearing heavy clothing during the cold deer season.
336SC

[redboot612]

Mine is very accurate with the Rem 140gr core...it is a deer getting machine...2 or 3 deer per season the last 5 years...no second shots...

[upnut]

After much consideration, went with a Weaver Classic K 4x38 on Weaver Grand Slam steel rings. Thanks for everyone's input, just decided to go "old school" and follow the KISS principle...   Hit the local stores for ammo, managed to find some dust covered Remington Core-Locts in 140 and 120 grain. Also ordered some Remington Managed Recoil from Natchez along with the scope. Waiting out the nasty weather, itching to get shooting!


 
another view:

 
Kind of a plain jane, but she's MY plain jane!
 
Scott B.

[theratdog]

i have looked at the 7mm 08 but i got a 7mm mauser pretty much the same i shoot 115 grain bt hollow points. shot a lot of dear and two elk many coyotes and rabbits a killing machine it is for sure . that 7mm08 sounds real good.

[Lpete]

I appreciate the reloading comment above, but reloading components are really difficult to find right now. No powder, no bullets, and no primers.  Life is getting tough on a geezer like me.