It's crazy how underestimated the 7mm-08 is. You can compare it to any thing in the same class and do just fine. For long range target shooting, The 7mm-08 will beat the 308 easily. people forget about wind. The 7mm-08 in the 140-160 gr bullet class has a higher bc than any 30 cal bullet by far. The same happens if you compare a 264 cal to the 284 though. It's a diameter to length ratio. For all around, long range, target, med to large game....the 7mm-08 is great, cheap to reload, easy on barrels, and easy on shoulders. A muzzle brake makes one recoil like a 223.
For something less than the .30cal stuff, I'd prefer the .280 Rem more than any other caliber. But it's hard to find chamber offerings for from factory stuff. It offers the excellent .30-06 case in a .284 caliber. As far as killing big and tough stuff, read about W.D.M. Bell and his 7X57 Mauser and all the elephants and big game he killed with it. Sure he was an expert at shot-placement, but he also didn't like the .30 cal stuff because of recoil. You can penetrate very deeply with a ballistic tipped all-copper round.
I enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing with us. I'm 54 yrs old, and I finally got a 7mm-08 last week lol. It was on the bucket list, thx for the info! God bless
I grew up on a farm in South Africa, I do all my hunting with a 7x57 mm Mauser with bullets from 139 gr to 175 gr. In a CZ rifle, model 557 with a custom barrel in 1: 9 twist, 24 inches long, stainless steel.
@@blaynemacpherson8519 Yes, or a 7x64 but, there are no free lunches so you also get greater recoil. And frankly, despite what people often say about the 7x57, as far as I'm concerned, produces more than enough recoil for my taste.
I was "clued in" to the 7mm-08 a couple of years ago. I had been a die hard 30-06 guy for years. Short story...I simply love it. Low recoil, light weight, accurate, fast in hand and with more than adequate punch for most North American game species. A lot of people don't realize that the humble 7mm-08 has been used to hunt animals as large as elk and even moose with great success. With proper loading and good marksmanship skills there isn't much the 7-08 can't handle.
I agree, the 7-08 and the 260 Rem are great calibers. anything in a short action that loads 7mm or 6.5mm bullets is an awesome lightweight hunting rig. I can't decide on my next rifle between a 7-08 or 6.5 creedmore
I think if i were to get another its gonna be the 6.5 creed. I dont think there is anything wrong with 30-06 though. It will do the job and not beat ya up like a magnum.
Most cartridges have the same exact effects and results. There's just a lot of overlap. What's the right cartridge for X game? Most of them. Put the shot where it should go, know the bullet effect at that range, penetrate deep enough, dead game. Same thing can be done with .257, with .264, with .277, with .284, with .308 if these simple rules are followed. For instance, a 30-06 cartridge can be used with very light bullets for varmints. It can also be loaded with 220gr bullets with very high BC and SD.
Everybody falls into that velocity trap, regardless of the cartridge they are loading for, but especially with the 7-08, don't try and turn it into a 7mm Rem mag. It's not, and never will be. Instead, fall into the accuracy trap; You will use less powder {stretch your powder supply}, have less recoil and better accuracy. FORGET MAX LOADS, they are a trip to nowhere. This is especially true in hunting loads. Your still going to put your game down with a little less velocity, and you'll put it where it needs to be put too.
I would totally agree my Tikka T3X in 7mm08 shooting 139g SST's with mag primers and ADI 2208 42.5grn load gets me out to 700 meters no problem working on getting to 914 meters 1000 yards using ELDX 150gr
I never understood why people would buy a smaller round but then try to get it to perform like the larger case. If you need greater speed get a 280 Remington or one of the 7mm magnums. Ps I'm not trading my 06 in for a 7mm\08 anytime soon. Most of the advantages for the 7mm are theoretical at practical hunting distances. With proper shot placement no elk, or anything else is going to know the difference.
Four years later, I find myself reading some wisdom. Thanks for that! Any experience loading the higher BC/heavier bullets (150gr +) in the 7mm-08 that you commonly see 7rem mag shoot?
I have a Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 7MM08 topped with a 2x7 Nikon that I have carried for probably 30 years or so. I have shot many deer-sized game with the Hornady 139 grain BTSP. I love this gun!
I've been shooting a Rem 700 7mm RM and Rem 788 carbine 7mm-08 for nearly 40 yrs. I hunt whitetail, muley and black bear, and occasionally Elk. I've only had to track one bear cause I hit in the shoulder, everything else dropped or went less than 20m. Taught my kids to shoot/hunt with the 7-08. Reload all my own👍👍
I am very intrigued by the prospect of hunting Moose and Elk out to max. 350m with a 7mm-08 pushing a 145gr Barnes LRX bullet to 2850fps MV. The retained velocity and energy and penetration potential on this combination look amazing.
I have a 7mm-08, 280rem and a 7mm Mag. I think I have a 7mm "problem"!lol! LOVE those bullets. I shoot 154 Hornady Interlocks in the -08 with great success on Elk and Mule Deer. 160 Partitions from my .280 and 175 Partitions from my 7mm Mag. All great bullets and accurate. I sling IMR 4350 in both the -08 and 280, and 7828 in the Magnum.
I moved on to 708mm in 2014 and never looked back. I got a weatherby vanguard also. Started handholding about 8 months ago. My gun doesn't seem to like anything hornady. I haven't found the perfect load yet but I getting 2900 fps with 145 gr speer btsp averaging 1". I've got some 140 tipped game king's and some 150 gr bonded siroccos. I've also picked up a savage bear hunter in 338 federal. It's got a bit more punch.
That Lee press looks like it performs great! I've got the old RCBS single-stage Rockchucker press, and their powder measure which I never liked. It didn't like extruded powders at all. Plus now it's rusted and locked solid. (long story) Also have a line on a new in the box Howa, (like the Vanguard) in 7mm-08 for a fantastic price. Been researching the 7mm-08 extensively, and this video just adds to my enthusiasm about the cartridge. And the Lee products!
The point is that as the 7mm08 does, any round that duplicates the 275/ 7x57 performance is a superb round for 99% of North American came, and one I would happily use myself
Everyone has the ability to shoot what they want, truth be told my favorite is 30-06 because all i have to do is switch ammo for what i am shooting/hunting.
Hi Glenn, I found your video a few years late, but good timing for me. I hunt elk with a 30-06 as well along with a 270. I bought a 7mm-08 a month ago, and want to get into reloading. My 7mm will be only for bench shooting. I want to reload so I will have options with bullets. 180 grain shoots well out to 300 yards in the 30-06, but I want to shoot 200 grain pills. For reasons unknown, the 30-06 is more accurate than the 270 at 300 yards, but the 270 is more accurate inside 300 yards. The 270 accuracy at 300 yards may be due to 150 grain bullets? Your 7mm and 30-06 info was great. Thank you.
a 147 gr ELD for 6.5 creedmoor is at about 700 BC. If you want to shoot 180+ gr bullets, then 3006 or the 300 win mag, but if you don't need that kind of mass, a 6.5 creedmoore or 7mm-08 is a lot easier on the shoulder. I've only shot deer and targets with my 7-08, but it's very accurate. I'll take the 7-08 over the 308 any day.
I hunt our Northern Canada Whitetails with my 180gr 300 win mag but this past weekend I just purchased a Browning XBolt Hells Canyon Speed chambered in 7mm-08 and will try Hornady's 139 gr SST's for Ammunition so can't wait to head to the range to try it out and see what it will do to a big Whitetail come November!
Great video. You ever follow Nathan Foster of New Zealand? He's a modern day father to long range hunting. He pulls to .284 cal. The 180 grain eldM would work very well in 7mm-08 for elk (Better in my thoughts) 30-06 w a 208 gr eldM, according to Nathan, is a hammer on elk. He kills a lot of game. No one person, I don't think, compares to him. But I think your load here within 300 yrds is very good.
Glenn the 7mm-08 is a great round for elk. But the comparison with the 30-06 in this video is a bit strange don't you think? You're comparing the bullets you had but it's still quite apples to oranges. You compared a 150 grain older 30-06 bullet with a brand new top of the line 162 grain 7mm-08 bullet. 180 grains is the most common -06 round for elk, and Hornady's ELD-X ones for 178 grains have much higher BCs (newer tech and more grains). Using those 178 grains, the -06 carries more downrange energy than any boxed 7mm-08s on the market according to ballistic calculators. You handload and I'm sure can get your -08 to perform better than boxed ammo, I just wanted to make that distinction in case anyone who doesn't know much watches the video and thinks that generally 7mm-08 packs more punch at 500 yards than 30-06. For the average hunter the -06 boxed ammo ELD-X carries more downrange energy past 500 yards than 7mm-08s. And actually shoots only 2 inches lower at 500 yards if you shoot at the elevation my local range is at (9000) feet. But obviously the 7mm-08 has other things going for it like lower recoil, less powder, short action, etc.Regardless, great video! The 7mm-08 is such an underappreciated round and works on elk fantastically with good shot placement. I would love to get one; their downrange energy compared to recoil is amazing and the ammo is cheaper than I thought it would be even if you stick to boxed ammo. Essentially the same price for ammo as a .308
I agree, it is an apples and oranges comparison. I mention that the 30-06 is a great gun, and great caliber, but I just had a bit of a bad taste in my mouth because of my experiences with the 2 guns I had that broke. But doing more research, you can load the 200gr ELD-X and even the 212gr and 220gr in the 30-06. Those are going to have quite the kick, and won't be traveling as fast, but the 212gr ELD-X has .676 BC, which is insanely high for a 30-06 bullet. Of course, those are handloads. The factory loaded 178gr has a BC of .535. Hornady did just release the 150gr ELD-X factory loads for the 7mm-08 and those have a BC of .575. I checked the ballistics, and the 30-06 still have about 190 ft/lbs more energy at 500 yards than the 150gr ELD-X in the 7mm-08, and only drops 1 inch more. So still a great option for factory ammo. I might pickup another 30-06 some day. But I'm really enjoying my 7MM-08 right now. There are a lot of calibers I would love to have. Its just money. :)
I like the 139 140 150 and 154 gr in my 7mm08 with IMR 4064 it's just a simple all around great powder to use same for the 7x57. if you run short on brass you can size up 243 and down 308 to 7mm08
I shoot the Hornady 139 btsp over 45 gr. of IMR 4350. I have taken several whitetail deer with this load and it is lethal and extremely accurate. I've taken deer with the 270, 30-30, and the -06. The 7-08 is by far my favorite rifle to shoot and hunt with.
What’s the best info to look up to get started on reloading the 7mm08? I have a Bergara 7mm08 for hunting, in California for mule deer and black bear. Also what grain would you suggest for those two big game? We can only use lead free
Have shot a number of calibers. 30-06, 45-70, 270, 6.5 CM and the 7-08. I've not seen anything perform on whitetail like the 139 grain fusion in 7-08. I take shoulder shots because I don't like chasing deer - and every deer I've hit with that round has dropped where it stood and never moved again. As much as I loved the 45-70, even it didn't kill deer as efficiently as the 7-08.
My six lbs. rifle, a Kimber M84 chambered in 7mm-08 loves 47 grains of Winchester W760 and 140 grain Sierra Gameking bullets and also 140 grain Barnes TTSX. Yes, I too was a .30-06 fan as well but switched because I didn’t like the heavy rifle weight as I got older. The shorter action is sweet! I’ve killed elk with the Barnes load, no problem. I also had a rifle chambered in .260 Remington (6.5/08) based on my 7/08 experience. The Swedish 6.5x55 always intrigued me because they shoot stag with it in Scandinavia countries all day. I also won’t take a shot over 300 meters either, so it has all I need to take North American game. This 7/08 isn’t more popular because of the gun writer’s in my humble opinion. Many of them constantly say it’s a great beginner gun for youth and women. I’ve seen lots of manly men in elk camp that couldn’t shoot the .30-06. For me the 7/08 is just fun to shoot, doesn’t beat me up in the process, and shoots lights out. Semper fi! 🇺🇸🫡
I do not own the 7mm-08 . I use a 30-06. As good as the 30-06 is . I would think the 7mm-08 is a better all around cartridge for the lower 48 but would prefer a 30-06 for Alaska . 200 gr partition in 06 would be hard for the 7 mm to beat on brown bears. If I had a 7mm-08 I'd probably shoot more because of less recoil and less cost of reloading.
Just viewed your vid.nice job. Curious, why do you like the 7mm -08 so much? I am designing a rem 700 build and I am stuck on what caliber. Yours have a brake? How's the recoil?
Would like to know about some of your accuracy results. ‘08 is a round l love. A great whitetail cartridge. I get great results with 120/140 gr Nosler bullets. Seems like my rifle loves the 140 Accubonds. Fortunately in the southeast, I don’t need a heavier bullet. I have a 280 Ackley for larger applications. Love to hear about your accuracy results. Thanks
I reload for a bunch of different cartridges, about 30 of them at the moment and the 7mm-08 is my second favorite. Great performance on deer/hogs very little recoil or muzzle blast heck the kids shoot it with max loads with no complaint. I am getting consistent 3/4" groups at 100 using Big Game and 140gr Sierra Game Kings, not too shabby for a 6lbs rifle as with ALL of my 7mms it took a bit of load development to get it dialed in but I love it now. The only reason I rank the 6.5x55 higher is how amazingly easy it is to work up a new load for, pick any 140-143gr bullet and place it over RL22 and I guarantee sub 1/2" groups, best group was the SSTs at 1/16th" at 100 yards! A rapid expansion 140gr bullet from either is potent deer medicine, the 6.5mm has better BC while the 7mm-08 gets higher speeds by about 100 fps.
I made the switch from 30-06 to the 7mm-08’s older brother, the 7x57. 150 grain Partition over a stiff charge of IMR 4350 in my 700 Classic handles all my needs in spades.
I picked up some Nosler brass a couple weeks ago and just loaded 40 rounds this last week. I am Very impressed with the Nosler Brass so far. Every cartridge weighs within 0.1grs. Pretty impressed with the consistency and am excited to go shoot it and see how it performs.
Let me start off by stating that the 7MM-08 has certainly proved itself to be a great cartridge. However, I am puzzled by the fact that it seems to be more popular than the 280 Remington. This popularity makes sense when considering recoil sensitive shooters; especially women and youth hunters. As for the rest of the hunting crowd, I just don't get how a cartridge that shoots bullets at lower velocities than a 280 Rem has become so much more popular. I think this is especially puzzling when considering most hunters seem to like more velocity, even if it is only 75-100 fps. Thoughts?
xXRambodianXx1 If I might add to this, my Uncle has a Model 700 with a 24" barrel that shoots 160 Partitions at 2850 and he has killed mature bull elk at distances up to 350 yards. It really is a top all around cartridge.
The big trend nowadays is moving away from long action. The 280 Rem is absolutely one of the best cartridges ever made and it's a shame Remington messed up the marketing so bad. (Changing the name to 7mm rem express and later changing the name BACK to 280 rem) My dad has a Remington 7400 in 280 (yes! An autoloader in 280 😂) and he loves it. He convinced me to get a 7mm-08 when I was buying my first deer rifle at 12 and I will always keep a gun chambered in that caliber! It's just amazing! Definitely two great cartridges for the record books!
.280 was released at a bad time and it didn’t catch on. I bet if Hornady introduced a “7mm PRC” to duplicate the .280 AI, if would sell like hot cakes.
It's nice that lapua now makes 7/08 brass. The bullet selection is outstanding. Factory heavy long range is the only issue if you don't reload and want long range use. 6.5 a better option in that case.
The 6.5 creedmoor has a 1:8 twist which works great with 140 gr bullets. I wanted my 7-08 to shoot the 162 or 154 gr, but it didn't like them. 139 SST is outstanding. The 7mm-08 is a 1000 yard gun though. 284 cal in a 308 case.
7mm-08 is a great gun, I have one in a Ruger American that had a 22" barrel that shoots lights out. I run a heavy dose of IMR-4350 with a 139gr. BTSP Hornady Interlock, I have shot elk with this bullet at about 250+ yards knock 'em down. I am going to try the 150 ELD-X Hornady came out with for the .284 caliber guns, which I will try for the 2017 hunting season on elk and deer, might even try it on a black bear hunt this summer. Good luck with your reloads with the 162's let us know how they grouped and what kind of speeds you got out of them?
7MM-08 at any reasonable distance with solid (copper), or 140 gr Lead core will sufficiently do the job. I've killed many a black bear and can attest they take nowhere near the energy as opposed to even a whitetail. My 7mm-08 is a "Truck Gun", that means always there... Even if I'm hunting with a different round, it's always "THERE". I can get 3/4" inch outside to outside groups with it every day but I also handload. I would advise Hornady Factory Ammo if you do not. 140 preffered for bigger game. Solid copper platforms, 120 is enough below 300 yards. TR
BTW: consider ammo availability in your choice. The ole '06 still performs as well as it ever has and is no slouch. PS I have a .338WinMag named the Hammer and a '06 named ole Betsy. :-)
@@Ebaybow I load them pretty far out in the cartridge. From the lands, ?, not sure as I don't own a Micrometer Adjustment tool for the 7mm-08. Remember this gun of mine is "probably" a fluke cheap gun that goes everywhere and is accurate as all get up. Sorry I couldn't answer your question. I have a Micrometer tool for my .338 but I've been able to tailor loads for the rest of my guns with no need. I absolutely LOVE the 120's... In Barnes TTSX, Accubond, or ballistic tips. I've taken my share so I'm not just qback armchairing. Good luck and try em out! REM7600
I was happy to find this video ( 6 years later lol 😂) I just got a new Tikka T3X Hunter in 7mm-08 , sold all the big magnums and aught six too , and now I am gathering information for some handloading recipes . I bought some Hornady American Whitetail 139 grain Interlocks and few boxes of the Precision Hunter 150 grain ELD-X ( which have a very respectable BC of .589 and MV of 2770 pushing just over 2,600 ft/lbs ME that I’m sure would do the job on elk sized game ) . I’ll see how each performs , but these 162 grain ELD-X loads are exactly what I’m after . Can you share the recipe ? I understand no liability incurred from you just looking for a base recipe to work with . Thanks in advance.
Hey, yeah I'll look up my recipe. Not sure how soon I can as I haven't touched my reloading bench for over a year but I should have them written down. I'll comment with the load data soon. Comment again to remind me if you don't see it in the next day or 2.
@@GlennPearsonDIY Thanks so much for your response ! It’s no big hurry , November is a a ways off yet . I’m new to reloading as well so I have a lot to learn before I trust my hand loads in the field . The factory ammo will get me through the process of sighting in the rifle and those 150 ELD-X loads will work well for now , but as you stated , the 162 grain ELD-X are about as heavy as I’d go with the 7mm-08 ( love that high .630 BC ) that’s the ultimate load I think for this cartridge. Excited to see how this new rifle performs . Thank you again in advance, I appreciate any information to get me going with this load , as it is exactly what I had in mind even prior to purchasing the rifle , I had a pretty good idea that the 162 grain ELD-X was what I wanted for long range hunting .
Funny to hear you mention your problem with Remington. I had a 700 BDL in .308 several (+20?) years ago and it wouldn't group any round worth a crap! No matter who shot it or what ammo was put through it, it wouldn't group. Sent it back to remington, had 2 gunsmiths look at it. Nobody could fix it.
I bought a 7mm-08 for my kid and i find i use it alot but the 30-06 in cz or winchester model 70 or any old mauser 98 action will handle max loads or even a bit over if your crazy
130g Speer btsp in the 7/08 with 42g of IMR 4895, Rem case, Rem 9 1/2 is 3000 fps, flattens deer, sub 1/2" groups in our Rem 700s. Many guys in our deer clubs have switched due to how fast it puts deer on the ground.
Glen, my 5 and 8 year old nephews shoot this load in their model 7's with the addition of a Gentry muzzle break. The 5 year old killed three does this year in SC, don't know what else he killed. The 8 year old is an amazing shot, large for his age. We started them off with bb guns, then single shot 22's.@@GlennPearsonDIY
Very well put together video, good information. Sorry though, I been using 30-06 for over 20 years and I have tried hunting 7-08 but im not sold on it. I will stick to my 30-06 respectfully.
The 30-06 is a great caliber and I've gained some respect and interest in it since I shared this video 2 years ago. I might pick up another 30-06 to reload for. But I do love my 7mm-08 and have had great success with deer and elk with it. The only thing that matters is what works best for the shooter and what they are most accurate with. :)
Dear Glenn.......thank you for posting. You mentioned problems with your Remington's........ Can you elaborate? We have a big deer hunting camp with a ridiculous variety of calibers and makes. Pump and semiautomatic 280 rems to 338 win mags and of course the old timers with their 30\30's and 35 Remington's and everything in between. My son is going through gun safety right now and its not even a debate that I'm buying a 7mm08 for him. Besides uncle Steve that has a 270 short mag Remington 700 and I have a regular 270 win in a rem. 700, we are the only 2 that has slightly newer Remington's (absolutely amazing tack driving rifles at the 400yrd range). I was going to order my son a 7mm08 in the model 700 stainless like mine and uncle Steve's. Has their quality gone downhill? Buying a kid his first rifle is hard enough and then finding out you bought him a piece of junk........I'd like to avoid that sir.
Dick Tracy, I think their model 700 is still very solid. I had the model 710 first, which had several issues, and the n the new model 783, which had one main issue. The main issue with the 783 was the ejector kept breaking. Well technically not breaking, its held in by a spring, and if bumped right it would become dislodged and the spring with flip it way out there, so it was impossible to find. After the second time it happened, I returned the gun. But it was tack driving accurate, like the 700. Just that one flaw. If Remington can redesign that ejector it would be a great value gun. But, as for the 700, I think you will be fine. They haven't made too many changes to the design, which is why its still solid.
Currently doing research on a hunting rifle which will be used mainly for elk and mule deer. Right now I'm between .30-06 and this 7mm Rem Mag. I grew up on an island and not being around guns at all till I came to the mainland for college ha ha. My wife grew up with guns, and I've watched shoot many rifles. Honestly recoil is something I could go without. Call me a sissy if you must lol. This video is awesome, filled with personal experience, and data. I am really leaning towards the 7mm MO8 now. Just afraid to see what they cost lol! What exact rifle do you have? How much difference if any does a 2" difference in barrel length make? For instance 24" vs 26". I live in Idaho and really want to get into elk and muleys. My first archery season (late archery) was a blast! Didn't let an arrow fly, but nocked a few. Saw my first 5x5 bull elk at 326 yards, and watched him for 4 hours. Saw lots of mule deer bucks, but couldn't get inside of 80 yards of them. Any further advice on this gun and am or greatly appreciated. Thanks!
@ezskanken, Thanks for the comment! I was in the a similar situation as you a couple years ago. I had researched the 7MM-08 before and was really interested in it, but was basically given a 30-06 from my brother which is why I started out with one. But for the reasons mnetioned in the video switched to the 7MM-08 and am very happy. You get more out of any caliber if you reload your own ammo, and the 7MM-08 is no different. But there are plenty of factory loads suitable for Elk. The Nosler 140gr partition has a very good reputation for elk hunting, and that is available at most sporting goods stores for the 7MM-08. Hornady also just released their 150gr ELD-X factory ammo. I personally reload, so I reloaded the Hornady 162gr ELD-X for Elk and it worked better than I hoped, with a clean double long and heart shot my elk only made it about 40 yards before it was done. Shot it at about 250-260 yards. The 7mm-08 will cost the same as the other calibers you are interested in, because you buy the rifle and the caliber doesn't change the price much. If you reload, the 7mm-08 will be cheaper to load than the 30-06 and the 7MM rem mag. As far as barrel length goes, I went with the Weatherby Vanguard S2 because it was one of the only rifles that offered a 24" barrel in the 7MM-08 from the factory. The rest are 22" or shorter. My dad owns the Savage 111 in the 7mm-08 caliber with the standard 22" barrel. If we shoot the same bullets, my chronograph shows my gun getting consistently 60-100fps better out of the same ammunition. I'm sure barrel length is where the majority of that comes in. We were both actually pretty surprised mine was so much higher. But his gun weighs about 1lb less overall than mine which might be better for some. I packed my gun around for 30+ miles during the elk hunt though and it was fine for me. Let me know if you have any other questions. I can only give them based off my own experience and research, but I'm happy to help where I can.
Glenn Pearson Thank you for all that information. I truly appreciate it. Now that you threw a wrench in what direction I was thinking about going (LOL, I was looking at the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight) what are your thoughts on a good magnification for a scope? Now to research if I can find anything between the 2 guns. Thanks again. I hope you had/have a wonderful holiday season.
I picked up one of these scopes: ads.midwayusa.com/product/974294/vortex-optics-diamondback-hp-rifle-scope-3-12x-42mm-side-focus-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-matte?cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Optics+-+Scopes+-+12X+and+Greater-_-Vortex+Optics-_-974294&gclid=Cj0KEQiAnIPDBRC7t5zJs4uQu5UBEiQA7u5NewKCvyNm5XPyy9pBFq8im8f4rHO-RFczKNt4yoeU1AgaAnqg8P8HAQ Its solid, and just works. Nice, clear glass which is all I wanted. So far, the holiday has been good. I have work the next 3 days but then off again for a few days. Just spending time with some family. Hope yours is going well too.
Glenn Pearson So I've been doing nothing but researching still and came across another question. Your father'a gun vs your gun, same bullet, which one recoils more? If I'm reading the correct specs on your guns their is a .5lb difference in weight with the Vanguard S2 being the heaviest. I'm wondering if that makes a difference as well. When comparing your S2 specs to that of the Model 70 it's a whole lb heavier. If that single pound will further lessen the recoil then I'll have to rethink about the Model 70 and lean towards a Weatherby Vanguard S2 myself. Thanks for the help and your time.
I was shooting my gun and my father was shooting his, so I didn't get the chance to feel any difference. We are going out shooting again this week, and so I'll make sure to try a few back to back out of both guns and see if I can tell a difference. I know heavier usually means less recoil, but the weight is so close that I'm not sure it would be noticeable. I'll let you know though after I give it a try.
I have a Lee Classic Turret Press with the Lee Ultimate Dies set I've been using a couple of years and I have had great results. Those that promote other types of dies "are intellectually challenged or morally handicapped", page 48 of MODERN RELOADING, 2nd edition.
What is the rate of twist in your 7mm08. I wonder because of the bullet weight you are using and really need a swift twist. Remember one of the laws of physics is the faster it goes the faster it slows down so energy at long distance may not be what you really need.
I've been reloading my 7mm-08 with 150 Gr Berger classic hunters and a max load of 45.9 Grains of Reloader 17. Tested two other loads of 42 grains and 44 grains but my rifle which is a Remington Model 700 handles the higher load. The B.C. is from .6 to .5 and the velocity is a little below 2900 FPS. Could try loads such as that.
I’ve shot whitetails with the 708 and the 6.5 creedmoor with 140 grain bullets out of both and never noticed the difference! Every deer at every distance I shot with both calibers died about the same amount of time! I have a brake on my creedmoor so it’s a lot more pleasant to shoot’ that’s about the only difference!
I might have missed it in the video, but what type of case lube did you use, if any? I'm amazed how you can crank them out like straight walled pistol cartridges. I usually have to interrupt my progressive press process to remove the case lube after resizing.
Cristian, I am using a home made case lube I found out about from another youtuber. Its a mix of rubbing alcohol and lanolin. Works great. I have it in a spray bottle, and I had already lubed these cases before I started the video. I spray the lube, and let the alcohol evaporate leaving only the lanolin on for lubrication. I can do 10-20 cases at a time (or more if I had more space). Spray them, roll back and forth to make sure they are completely coated, let the alcohol dry for a couple minutes and then pump them out with the press. I can do a video of it sometime if you're interested.
I only fire 165 gain projectiles out of 30 caliber rifles which is what I shoot out of my 06 Ackley. But, I will be getting a 7mm-08 for my wife. The only time I bring any thing larger out is when targeting large Wapiti or going North of the border for moose or bear then I use my .338 Win Mag. I have found it better and most rifles shoot more accurately with less that max pressure loads ... as well as the brass lasts a lot longer (one of my main reasons to going with the .06 Ackley is the lack of case taper, all I ever do is neck size, it has no brass flow as all tapered cases have).
It's pretty accurate. This video was not long after I got it. When I'm reloading rifle rounds for practice I check it every 3-4 to make sure it's on and it's always been accurate. For hunting loads I now use an automatic powder measure for accuracy.
Glenn, Have you ever experienced any of the eld x bullets blowing up on impact on shoulder shots? I have shot some eld x factory ammo through my 280 remington as well as my wifes 7mm-08 and I am yet to be pleased with the terminal performance on game. I shot two whitetail bucks last season with less than desirable performance. One shot at 120 yards and the other at 265 yards. I lost one of the deer even using a tracking dog and the other deer ran over 200 yards and this was with a shoulder shot that has never failed me with hornady sst and barnes ttsx bullets. The accuracy is amazing in the eld x bullets but i am scared to use eld x for hunting whitetail and hogs now. The deer i did recover the bullet from showed about 3 inches of penetration and the bullet completely broke into numerous pieces of shrapnel. I see people praising this bullet on multiple sites and i agree the accuracy is superb but shooting at non magnum velocities I feel this bullet should have held up much better seeing as Hornady claims it is a short and long range bullet.
I have several diff. calibers including the 7mm-08, 30-06, 325 WSM 270 Win and 243 Win. I have always had a huge preference for the 30-06 but I do love shooting the 7mm-08 the best! All of those cartriges are awesome in there own right but the recoil of the 325 is a bit much it flat has Elk killing power to spare!! But the cost of each round and the punch to the shoulder is significant! The 243 has speed to burn but is a little too light for the large game. The 270 is a great shooter and like the 30-06 will do anything well but has the kick factor that the 7mm-08 does not and it performs as well as the 30-06 in close 300 a little better due to BC and my shoulder loves it and so does my wife and 12 year old grandson they both can shoot it well and fast for follow-ups with no flinch. **7mm-08**
Interesting. I was taught to press a bit slower, use ever such a tiny amount of lube in the neck, to measure and check the cartridge lengths, even when new. Was that bad advice?
No I think that was pretty good advice. When I did this video (nearly 7 years ago now) I was just barely getting into handloading. I had done some research, and my rounds were accurate. But there was a lot I could improve on then and still is today.
@@GlennPearsonDIY sound buddy, thanks. I was taught by an engineer who was at one time the Keeper of the Queens Deer here in England. He sure could shoot and make up a great round.
7mm-08 is surely an excellent cartridge; but for deer, not for elk, in my opinion. Elk are large animals and, like all game animals, they deserve the respect of quick, clean kills. I think 300 Win Mag is the minimum cartridge elk deserve. 338 at a good velocity is better still.
Glenn, how you liking your 7mm-08 so far? I'm thinking of one for all around use up to elk sized game between my .25-06 and .308. .308 isn't really a hunting rifle and I don't know if I want another .30 cal and what you described in the video seems great about 7mm vs 30-06. May just be the round for me.
I love my 7mm-08. I reloaded my 30-06 for about a year, and I'm loving the fact that I use about 10-15% less powder each round for practice with my 7mm-08 over the 30-06 because my powder lasts a lot longer. I'm also enjoying the noticeably less recoil. I got an elk with it this year using my 162gr ELD-X loads. I was 260 yards and it passed through both lungs with a very nice wound channel. So I'm very happy with its performance for hunting as well. I'm about to load up some 120gr loads for coyote hunting. I'm planning on posting another video about why I love the 7mm-08. I'll share it here once I do.
Glenn Pearson I see, what you just said about it and Elk was exactly what I was wondering about. Yes I've also considered the .280 which you probably know about in the 30-06 family, however the 08 seems more practical less powder and within 150-200 fps of the .280 so...Also to consider already have a 25-06 so .280 may not really be very different in all honesty I wouldn't be shooting at any big game animal past 400 yards maybe 500 at an extreme, so energy wise seems to do well. I'll be glad when you post that video! Thinking of a T/C Venture in the 08, I love 700s but not fond of their lower price offerings in comparison. Or a Vanguard like you have , maybe a xbolt composite...
Yeah, I looked at a T/C Venture as well as some 700's, Ruger 77 series and Savage 111's. But the Vanguard had a 24" barrel which I wanted to have to pick up a few more FPS, I think the rest only offer 22" barrels for the 7mm-08 chambered rifles , and I got a great deal on a Vanguard Series 2 from a local dealer. Ended up spending about $500 for it, about 150 bucks off or so. My dad picked up one of the Savage 111's and really likes it. I am seeing about 80-100fps more on my chronograph out of my vanguard using the same ammo over his Savage though, and I'm assuming its the longer barrel. Weatherby has been great to deal with. I was seeing some strange pressure issues, and they help me determine that it was the brass. While I was shooting these rounds that had the pressure issues, the case ejector chipped, and Weatherby replaced it under warranty, no questions asked. So I'm fairly pleased with the Service so far. Of course Remington's service was good as well, though occasionally they were a little slow on responding. My issues with my Remington 783 30-06 are the reasons I decided to go for the Weatherby over another Remington.
Glenn Pearson gotcha Vanguards are a great rifle. My research is that 22" even 20" is very little velocity loss for the 08 so I'm okay with that but the Vanguard having the little bit longer barrel could be a plus a little. That much of a loss unless it's 18 or 20" I wouldn't think typically would happen in a 22" hard to say there. Just seems like a very efficient cartridge. Yeah I love the 700s I have and go for the higher end models but unless buy to upgrade think there's better options in the more budgeted range. Sorry to hear about your 783 they seem like a good rifle for budgeted. T/C and the vanguard in that range hard to beat. I'd say Howa but is same as Vanguard basically ha.
Yeah, Howa makes the Vanguard, but they only offer a 22" barrel. A lot of people have 20" and 22" barreled 7mm-08's and love them for hunting. I love this cartridge so far. I think its probably one of the most efficient cartridges if you look at how much powder it uses, and then the down range energy and velocity. If you look at ballistics between the 7mm Rem Mag and the 7mm-08 for factory ammo, the 7mm-08 is within about 200fps at 500 yards. But the crazy thing is, its using 30-40% less powder.
For the 7mm cartridges look at the *280 Remington Ackley Improved* which is an improved version of the 280 Remington cartridge with a 40 degree shoulder and reloading dies are readily available for it. It duplicates the ballistics of the 7mm Remington Magnum but with 30% less gun powder used and less barrel erosion. Also it is registered with SAAMI by Nosler.
There's quite a range available in 7mm bore. 7mm-08, 7x57 Mauser, .280 Rem, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm STW, 7mm Weatherby mag, 28 Nosler, 7mm Rem Ultra mag. For some, using AI ammo is worth it. For others, simply going up the line to something more powerful is also worth it. Replacing a barrel isn't the end of the world, and probably no more expensive than using AI for the life of a rifle.
I'd switch calibers also, I can tell you why? Less recoil and yet you will get plenty of kill power with the 7mm-08 and flatter trajectory and the 7mm is faster
try reloader 17. with 145g lrx barns 48g reloader 17 I get 2900 fps from a 19inch shilen barrel. no pressure signs loading 5 thou off the lands . 2830 fps with 47g behind 162g hornady eld no pressure... superb long range hunting round
Do you have a real need to kill animals beyond 500 yards? And I agree. Remington is making garbage these days. Go with Sako, Tikka, Weatherby, CZ, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Winchester, Kimber, Browning, Ruger, or Savage.
I think the 7mm-08 is a great round. It's ballistic twin is the 7x57mm Mauser. Both cartridges punch above their weight class. I have a commercial Mauser 98 7x57mm I use 7mm-08 load data with no problem. I think the 7mm-08 and 7x57 smoke the 6.5cm. I think both 7mm-08 and 7x57mm are under rated. If you use the right bullet with high BC I think 7mm-08 even the 7x57mm can out perform 6.5cm even the .270 Win. I was told by my gun smith my 7x57mm can handle hotter loads than the 7mm-08? I don't know if I want to chance that. Great video!
I'm about to buy a browning BAR MK3 because I want a semi-auto rifle. I hunt normally where all shots are inside 500 yards and mostly wooded areas. I want to be able to hunt white tail and hogs. I've really gone back and forth between 6.5 Creedmoore, 25-06, .270, 7mm-08 and last but not least .308. It seems like for quick shots inside 100 yards for hogs and keeping a scope on a moving target (recoil) and being able to get in a stand and hit a standing target at 400 yards across a field the 7mm-08 might be the one. Can anyone confirm this or make an argument for the 25-06 or one of the others? 30-06 just has too much recoil as do the magnums for all around use imho.
Hi Glen, I have both calibers and many orhers. I would not recomend 7-08 for elk, bear or moose. As a retired outfitter i have had the opportunity to be involved in many many kills and I always recomended a 30 caliber. A 30-06 is ideal for average shooter, cheap, available in many ammo brands and low recoil. I have always thought of it as a big push rather than a sharp crack. Federal noslers are very capable even past 500 yrds. I do NOT suggest shooting past 300 yrds. For average shooters/hunters .
Mike, my 7MM-08 was more than adequate to take down my elk this year. Didn't go more than few yards after it was shot. Nice, clean ethical kill. Shot it at 250 yards, with my 162gr bullet traveling at 2850fps. The 7mm is only 9% narrower than a .30 cal (7.62mm). Its more than enough for elk. There is nothing magical about a .30. the 7mm is superior in many ways ballistically. There is belief held by older traditional hunters, those who hunted before the 7mm calibers became popular, that believe that only a .30 cal bullet or larger should be used for elk. While I understand the reasoning behind this that they have, it is completely unfounded by the facts and statistics. The most popular hunting rifle right now is the very successful 7MM Rem Mag. And my little 7mm-08 with my handloaded ammo is shooting at very similar velocities as the factory ammo available for the 7mm Rem mag. I have several friends that have taken several elk with their 7mm guns. I agree, .30 caliber rifles are great for hunting the animals you mentioned. But so are the barely 9% smaller, fasting moving 7mm caliber rifles. Even the 6.5 calibers are gaining popularity for elk. Looks that amazing new 6.5X300 Weatherby. Its a 6.5MM bullet, in a 300 weatherby magnum case. 127gr nosler bullet moving at 3600 fps. I personally knew 2 hunters that took an elk each with this new caliber, and it did the job spectacularly. Clean, ethical kills.
As i mentioned before, average hunters. I know of a hunte who has killed many world class elk with a 243. Obviously this hunter is extremely skilled. Not the norm and frankly he is deadly. I simply mentioned the obvious. A bigger hole and more energy in the end is better. Again a 30 caliber is without a doubt better than a 28 caliber period. I have hunted w a 270 for years, taken deer, moose, bear antelope and many elk does it well but I feel a 30-06 is more devastating to a elk than a 270 by far. I would even suggest my 270 will out perform a 7mm-08 everytime. Flater, faster hard hitting. Don't get me wrong -08 is a fine load for deer size animals for average hunters just not for elk for average hunters. Congrats on your bull.
You shouldn't be talking while reloading. It's easy to skip a step or repeat (doubling the charge) a step. Reloading is can be very safe but it is a dangerous activity and carelessnes or negligence can cause serious accident, life altering event. You should at least, do spot checks to make sure the correct amount of powder charge is deposited in the case. I've seen stuck bullets in the barrel due to no powder charge at all in the case, only the primer as a propellant to push the bullet.
Bell called the 7X57 the 275 bore, but it was in fact a 7X57. "The 7×57mm has been described as "a ballistician's delight".[citation needed] Many sporting rifles in this calibre were made by British riflemakers, among whom John Rigby was prominent; and, catering for the British preference for calibres to be designated in inches, Rigby called this chambering the .275 bore after the measurement of a 7 mm rifle's bore across the lands.[2]"
Bales--Actually no they did not the round was referred to as the .275 Rimless Rigby. Almost identical to the 7x57 but with enough difference to make chambering difficult. Its 9.00 AM where I'm sitting and have examined drawings of each cartridge my source of information THE HANDLOADERS MANUAL OF CARTRIDGE CONVERSIONS by John J. Donnelly.
Glenn PEARSON-- The round was and still is the 275 Rimless Rigby, it has minor differences than the 7x57 and chambering could create a problem. As far as I know its obsolete but could be recreated by forming brass with the aid of a die set most likely supplied by R.C.B.S. My source of information on this topic is John J. Donnelly author of The handloaders manual of cartridge conversions.
After watching the video (and it was well done by the way) and reading close to a 100 comments, I have come to the conclusion that the .270 really is the best all round cartridge for just about anything except the largest bears. I have been killing hogs and deer for over 60 years with my .270 and while the 7-08 is undoubtably a fine round, I just don't see it jumping over my .270. One feller wrote, don't try to make the 7-08 in to a 7mag. I would say don't try to make it a .270. If you want all that velocity just get a .270 or 7mag. I seriously doubt a elk, deer, moose or hog for that matter will ever notice that the size of the bullet tearing out their lungs or heart has a .007 difference in diameter.
The .270 is still the best long range high velocity round on the market imo. It has the range that 99% of people can shoot reasonably. It is easily a 400 yard round for most of North America.
The 708 is a low recoil Tack driver .......it's extremely versatile . You can hunt medium game up to elk and and go shoot competition with the same Gun. My hand loads have produced 3/8 "5 shot groups since the early 80's.
Where are you getting load data for Hybrid 100V for the 7mm08? None of my manuals list it and I read the powder is more for magnum calibers and should not be used for 7mm08.
The reloading data is on the imr/Hodgdon load data site. You can see the load data for the 7mm-08 there. They make the powder and tested it with the 7mm-08.
I've made it a habit to check the load data the powder manufacturer lists. They make the powder and know what it can do. I will often cross reference loads when I'm testing new bullets and powders.
If you are using it for white tail, any of them would work. My personal choice would be the 7MM-08. It has as much stopping power as the 30-06 and .308, but kicks a lot less similar to the .243. The .243, .308 and 7mm-08 all use the same case/brass, just different sized bullets. 7MM bullets are more efficient than either of the other 2. But again, any of the calibers you mention will take down a whitetail. If you want less kick and flatter shooting, look at the 7mm-08 or .243.
The 7MM Rem Mag is anywhere from 100-300fps faster depending on the bullet. Both are very accurate. I'm posting a video that compares the ballistics of those 2 this coming Tuesday. So if you want to know more details, look for that video.
I ran a once fired case through my resizer die, and then placed a bullet in it. You want it to be snug enough to not fall out but loose enough to move when pushed. Once the bullet is in the case, I chamber in the gun locking the bolt down if I were going to fire it. Then I carefully eject it, making sure not to bump the bullet. This will give you the total overall case length to the lands. I then backed it off as far as I wanted from there, reducing the over all length. There are youtube videos demonstrating how to do this. I would be happy to post a tutorial if you want.
I use my 45/70 the most for hunting deer moose and elk there nothing in USA that can handle 405 gr hard cast bullet going 1,700 FPS my gel test gave me 54 inch of penetration and 3 inch wide damage full 54 inches long
The .45-70 is a hugely versatile caliber. The only thing it doesn't have going for it is rainbow trajectory, which can be improved marginally with LeverEvolution bullets. If someone gets very familiar with the behavior of drop, they can hunt and kill anything at several hundred yards. Penetration will never ever be an issue. Personally I've pondered some sort of larger caliber: 6.5, 7mm, .30, .338, etc. for bigger game. And I keep coming back to... why not just go with .45-70 and learn to hunt in closer proximity to the game? Deer, moose, elk, bear, sheep, or nasty African game. One caliber to do it all.
30 06 is still an awsome round. 308 was designed to be all but equal but shorter . 270 was designed with better bc in mind. 7mm08 is basically a 270 cal in a 308 case. best of both worlds. uncomplicated comparison.
What's the longest distance you'd shoot an elk with the 7mm so he doesn't bleed for 3 days and leave a 10 mile trail and is there a difference between 7mm and 7mm-08 or just another way to say same - thx
By 7MM I am assuming you are referring to the 7MM Rem Mag? If so, here is a video I did that compared the 7mm Rem Mag to the 7MM-08. There are many other options that shoot a 7MM projectile. ruclips.net/video/FhRlOrS69oE/видео.html The furthest I would personally shoot an elk would be 500 yards, with any gun. But that is because of my skill level and that question is only able to be answered depending on the skill level of the shooter. you can have the biggest caliber you want and shoot an elk in the ear and he isn't going to fall. Shot placement and bullet selection is key. Either of the guns you mentioned would be fine out to 500 yards, IF the shooter could place the bullet in the proper place. If you are chasing an elk all over the mtn after you shoot it, 95% of the time it was poor shot placement, not the gun you are using.
Yeah this wasn't an ideal setup, the desk was too flimsy. I built a solid reloading bench using 2x10s and a sheet of solid plywood and then bolted it to that and it doesn't move. What you're seeing in the video is the desk flexing...
I check the powder every 4-5 usually. I'm always within .1-3 grs. Not enough to worry about it for my plinkers. I have an electric powder dispenser I use now for my hunting rounds. But for loading quickly on the press, this is accurate enough for target practice.
It's crazy how underestimated the 7mm-08 is. You can compare it to any thing in the same class and do just fine. For long range target shooting, The 7mm-08 will beat the 308 easily. people forget about wind. The 7mm-08 in the 140-160 gr bullet class has a higher bc than any 30 cal bullet by far. The same happens if you compare a 264 cal to the 284 though. It's a diameter to length ratio. For all around, long range, target, med to large game....the 7mm-08 is great, cheap to reload, easy on barrels, and easy on shoulders. A muzzle brake makes one recoil like a 223.
TexanUSMC8089 I was thinking about a recoil pad before a muzzle break. Have any experience with a recoil pad?
TexanUSMC8089 win people talk about 7 mm rem mag vs 7 mm-08 all that the 7mm-08 dose better is have less kick
I was thinking the same thing, looks like I'll be switching to the 7mm-08 and this is coming from a 30 caliber guy
For something less than the .30cal stuff, I'd prefer the .280 Rem more than any other caliber. But it's hard to find chamber offerings for from factory stuff. It offers the excellent .30-06 case in a .284 caliber.
As far as killing big and tough stuff, read about W.D.M. Bell and his 7X57 Mauser and all the elephants and big game he killed with it. Sure he was an expert at shot-placement, but he also didn't like the .30 cal stuff because of recoil.
You can penetrate very deeply with a ballistic tipped all-copper round.
EzSkAnKeN have had one for years switch it from my 12 ga to my 20ga it just slips on its great
I enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing with us. I'm 54 yrs old, and I finally got a 7mm-08 last week lol. It was on the bucket list, thx for the info! God bless
I grew up on a farm in South Africa, I do all my hunting with a 7x57 mm Mauser with bullets from 139 gr to 175 gr. In a CZ rifle, model 557 with a custom barrel in 1: 9 twist, 24 inches long, stainless steel.
My dad has a 7x57 in a Remington classic that I want to get my hands on. Very under rated round.
@@blaynemacpherson8519 As a handloading proposition, the 7x57 is actually better than the 7mm-08 due to its somewhat greater powder capacity.
@@haroldgodwinson832 Yup. But then you get up to 280 Remington capacity and speed. It’s a hand loaders cartridge.
@@blaynemacpherson8519 Yes, or a 7x64 but, there are no free lunches so you also get greater recoil. And frankly, despite what people often say about the 7x57, as far as I'm concerned, produces more than enough recoil for my taste.
@@haroldgodwinson832 Yes depends on what bullet you load it with. I have a 7mm08 and shoot a 120 grain and it’s fun to shoot.
I was "clued in" to the 7mm-08 a couple of years ago. I had been a die hard 30-06 guy for years. Short story...I simply love it. Low recoil, light weight, accurate, fast in hand and with more than adequate punch for most North American game species. A lot of people don't realize that the humble 7mm-08 has been used to hunt animals as large as elk and even moose with great success. With proper loading and good marksmanship skills there isn't much the 7-08 can't handle.
I agree, the 7-08 and the 260 Rem are great calibers. anything in a short action that loads 7mm or 6.5mm bullets is an awesome lightweight hunting rig.
I can't decide on my next rifle between a 7-08 or 6.5 creedmore
I think if i were to get another its gonna be the 6.5 creed. I dont think there is anything wrong with 30-06 though. It will do the job and not beat ya up like a magnum.
Most cartridges have the same exact effects and results. There's just a lot of overlap. What's the right cartridge for X game? Most of them. Put the shot where it should go, know the bullet effect at that range, penetrate deep enough, dead game. Same thing can be done with .257, with .264, with .277, with .284, with .308 if these simple rules are followed. For instance, a 30-06 cartridge can be used with very light bullets for varmints. It can also be loaded with 220gr bullets with very high BC and SD.
Everybody falls into that velocity trap, regardless of the cartridge they are loading for, but especially with the 7-08, don't try and turn it into a 7mm Rem mag. It's not, and never will be. Instead, fall into the accuracy trap; You will use less powder {stretch your powder supply}, have less recoil and better accuracy. FORGET MAX LOADS, they are a trip to nowhere. This is especially true in hunting loads. Your still going to put your game down with a little less velocity, and you'll put it where it needs to be put too.
Very well said sir on all accounts.
@@boweavil1063 ........ Ditto ! : )
I would totally agree my Tikka T3X in 7mm08 shooting 139g SST's with mag primers and ADI 2208 42.5grn load gets me out to 700 meters no problem working on getting to 914 meters 1000 yards using ELDX 150gr
I never understood why people would buy a smaller round but then try to get it to perform like the larger case. If you need greater speed get a 280 Remington or one of the 7mm magnums. Ps I'm not trading my 06 in for a 7mm\08 anytime soon. Most of the advantages for the 7mm are theoretical at practical hunting distances. With proper shot placement no elk, or anything else is going to know the difference.
Four years later, I find myself reading some wisdom. Thanks for that!
Any experience loading the higher BC/heavier bullets (150gr +) in the 7mm-08 that you commonly see 7rem mag shoot?
I switched from my 7mm WSM to a 7mm-08 a few years ago. After one season with the 7mm-08, I sold the 7mm WSM. No regrets.
Yes 7mm 08 !!?
I have a Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 7MM08 topped with a 2x7 Nikon that I have carried for probably 30 years or so. I have shot many deer-sized game with the Hornady 139 grain BTSP. I love this gun!
I've been shooting a Rem 700 7mm RM and Rem 788 carbine 7mm-08 for nearly 40 yrs. I hunt whitetail, muley and black bear, and occasionally Elk. I've only had to track one bear cause I hit in the shoulder, everything else dropped or went less than 20m. Taught my kids to shoot/hunt with the 7-08. Reload all my own👍👍
I am very intrigued by the prospect of hunting Moose and Elk out to max. 350m with a 7mm-08 pushing a 145gr Barnes LRX bullet to 2850fps MV.
The retained velocity and energy and penetration potential on this combination look amazing.
I have a 7mm-08, 280rem and a 7mm Mag. I think I have a 7mm "problem"!lol! LOVE those bullets. I shoot 154 Hornady Interlocks in the -08 with great success on Elk and Mule Deer. 160 Partitions from my .280 and 175 Partitions from my 7mm Mag. All great bullets and accurate. I sling IMR 4350 in both the -08 and 280, and 7828 in the Magnum.
I moved on to 708mm in 2014 and never looked back. I got a weatherby vanguard also. Started handholding about 8 months ago. My gun doesn't seem to like anything hornady. I haven't found the perfect load yet but I getting 2900 fps with 145 gr speer btsp averaging 1". I've got some 140 tipped game king's and some 150 gr bonded siroccos. I've also picked up a savage bear hunter in 338 federal. It's got a bit more punch.
That Lee press looks like it performs great! I've got the old RCBS single-stage Rockchucker press, and their powder measure which I never liked. It didn't like extruded powders at all. Plus now it's rusted and locked solid. (long story)
Also have a line on a new in the box Howa, (like the Vanguard) in 7mm-08 for a fantastic price. Been researching the 7mm-08 extensively, and this video just adds to my enthusiasm about the cartridge. And the Lee products!
For rabbits and foxes my tikka 7-08 loves the sierra 100gr hp, groups are amazing and the end results are even more so. Great video.
The point is that as the 7mm08 does, any round that duplicates the 275/ 7x57 performance is a superb round for 99% of North American came, and one I would happily use myself
Yes the 7mm 08 is ideal indeed
Everyone has the ability to shoot what they want, truth be told my favorite is 30-06 because all i have to do is switch ammo for what i am shooting/hunting.
And re-zeroing.
Hi Glenn, I found your video a few years late, but good timing for me. I hunt elk with a 30-06 as well along with a 270. I bought a 7mm-08 a month ago, and want to get into reloading. My 7mm will be only for bench shooting. I want to reload so I will have options with bullets. 180 grain shoots well out to 300 yards in the 30-06, but I want to shoot 200 grain pills. For reasons unknown, the 30-06 is more accurate than the 270 at 300 yards, but the 270 is more accurate inside 300 yards. The 270 accuracy at 300 yards may be due to 150 grain bullets? Your 7mm and 30-06 info was great. Thank you.
a 147 gr ELD for 6.5 creedmoor is at about 700 BC. If you want to shoot 180+ gr bullets, then 3006 or the 300 win mag, but if you don't need that kind of mass, a 6.5 creedmoore or 7mm-08 is a lot easier on the shoulder. I've only shot deer and targets with my 7-08, but it's very accurate. I'll take the 7-08 over the 308 any day.
I hunt our Northern Canada Whitetails with my 180gr 300 win mag but this past weekend I just purchased a Browning XBolt Hells Canyon Speed chambered in 7mm-08 and will try Hornady's 139 gr SST's for Ammunition so can't wait to head to the range to try it out and see what it will do to a big Whitetail come November!
Mike I just bought xbolt HCS in 7 mag. Highly recommend a Yodave trigger spring. Canadian company , cheap mod, really nice trigger pull now
Great video. You ever follow Nathan Foster of New Zealand? He's a modern day father to long range hunting. He pulls to .284 cal. The 180 grain eldM would work very well in 7mm-08 for elk (Better in my thoughts)
30-06 w a 208 gr eldM, according to Nathan, is a hammer on elk. He kills a lot of game. No one person, I don't think, compares to him.
But I think your load here within 300 yrds is very good.
Glenn the 7mm-08 is a great round for elk. But the comparison with the 30-06 in this video is a bit strange don't you think? You're comparing the bullets you had but it's still quite apples to oranges. You compared a 150 grain older 30-06 bullet with a brand new top of the line 162 grain 7mm-08 bullet. 180 grains is the most common -06 round for elk, and Hornady's ELD-X ones for 178 grains have much higher BCs (newer tech and more grains). Using those 178 grains, the -06 carries more downrange energy than any boxed 7mm-08s on the market according to ballistic calculators. You handload and I'm sure can get your -08 to perform better than boxed ammo, I just wanted to make that distinction in case anyone who doesn't know much watches the video and thinks that generally 7mm-08 packs more punch at 500 yards than 30-06. For the average hunter the -06 boxed ammo ELD-X carries more downrange energy past 500 yards than 7mm-08s. And actually shoots only 2 inches lower at 500 yards if you shoot at the elevation my local range is at (9000) feet. But obviously the 7mm-08 has other things going for it like lower recoil, less powder, short action, etc.Regardless, great video! The 7mm-08 is such an underappreciated round and works on elk fantastically with good shot placement. I would love to get one; their downrange energy compared to recoil is amazing and the ammo is cheaper than I thought it would be even if you stick to boxed ammo. Essentially the same price for ammo as a .308
Agreed. I was thinking the same thing myself. 150 grain 30-06 bullets won't perform as well as 180 grain in the energy department
I agree, it is an apples and oranges comparison. I mention that the 30-06 is a great gun, and great caliber, but I just had a bit of a bad taste in my mouth because of my experiences with the 2 guns I had that broke. But doing more research, you can load the 200gr ELD-X and even the 212gr and 220gr in the 30-06. Those are going to have quite the kick, and won't be traveling as fast, but the 212gr ELD-X has .676 BC, which is insanely high for a 30-06 bullet. Of course, those are handloads. The factory loaded 178gr has a BC of .535. Hornady did just release the 150gr ELD-X factory loads for the 7mm-08 and those have a BC of .575. I checked the ballistics, and the 30-06 still have about 190 ft/lbs more energy at 500 yards than the 150gr ELD-X in the 7mm-08, and only drops 1 inch more. So still a great option for factory ammo.
I might pickup another 30-06 some day. But I'm really enjoying my 7MM-08 right now. There are a lot of calibers I would love to have. Its just money. :)
Too bad someone doesn't make a 6.5-06 or maybe a 7-06 - those would be great.
GeorgiaBoy1961 Georgia boy there is already a 6.5-06.Started as a wildcat .Your 7-06 Has been around for years.Known as the .280 Remington.
Knew about the 6.5-06, but did not know that the .280 was the same as 7-06 - thanks for the tip.
I like the 139 140 150 and 154 gr in my 7mm08 with IMR 4064 it's just a simple all around great powder to use same for the 7x57. if you run short on brass you can size up 243 and down 308 to 7mm08
Mine really likes the 139 sst.
I shoot the Hornady 139 btsp over 45 gr. of IMR 4350. I have taken several whitetail deer with this load and it is lethal and extremely accurate. I've taken deer with the 270, 30-30, and the -06. The 7-08 is by far my favorite rifle to shoot and hunt with.
What’s the best info to look up to get started on reloading the 7mm08? I have a Bergara 7mm08 for hunting, in California for mule deer and black bear. Also what grain would you suggest for those two big game? We can only use lead free
Have shot a number of calibers. 30-06, 45-70, 270, 6.5 CM and the 7-08. I've not seen anything perform on whitetail like the 139 grain fusion in 7-08. I take shoulder shots because I don't like chasing deer - and every deer I've hit with that round has dropped where it stood and never moved again. As much as I loved the 45-70, even it didn't kill deer as efficiently as the 7-08.
I know this is 3 years old, but have you tried Varget? Very consistent with Hornady 154 grn. SST.
love my 7mm-08 .. deer n black bear n elk..!!!!!
What projectile you use for elk in 7mm-08?
140gr. Accubonds are what I load for my little custom Model Seven in 7mm-08.
21" Shilan barrel.
Love your video! I am looking at a 7mm-08 as well; but wondering how it compares to the 6.5mm Creedmore. Thoughts?
7mm-08 hits harder at longer ranges.
6.5 should only be used for target shooting and for small game animals. It's not a ethical round.
Hands down 7mm-08.
I was going to build a 30-06 but decided on 7-08 instead. The ballistics are outstanding ......
My two favourite calibres are 270 and 7mm08
Well half of you has great taste. Lol.
Love shooting the 139gr. 7mms.
Very accurate with low recoil!
My six lbs. rifle, a Kimber M84 chambered in 7mm-08 loves 47 grains of Winchester W760 and 140 grain Sierra Gameking bullets and also 140 grain Barnes TTSX. Yes, I too was a .30-06 fan as well but switched because I didn’t like the heavy rifle weight as I got older. The shorter action is sweet! I’ve killed elk with the Barnes load, no problem. I also had a rifle chambered in .260 Remington (6.5/08) based on my 7/08 experience. The Swedish 6.5x55 always intrigued me because they shoot stag with it in Scandinavia countries all day. I also won’t take a shot over 300 meters either, so it has all I need to take North American game. This 7/08 isn’t more popular because of the gun writer’s in my humble opinion. Many of them constantly say it’s a great beginner gun for youth and women. I’ve seen lots of manly men in elk camp that couldn’t shoot the .30-06. For me the 7/08 is just fun to shoot, doesn’t beat me up in the process, and shoots lights out. Semper fi! 🇺🇸🫡
I like all of the 7mm cartridges. 7mm-08 280 and 7mm remington magnum
I like the 7mm rounds as well but I got rid of the 7 mag and bought a 280. Less powder recoil and shoots darn near the same.
I do not own the 7mm-08 . I use a 30-06. As good as the 30-06 is . I would think the 7mm-08 is a better all around cartridge for the lower 48 but would prefer a 30-06 for Alaska . 200 gr partition in 06 would be hard for the 7 mm to beat on brown bears. If I had a 7mm-08 I'd probably shoot more because of less recoil and less cost of reloading.
Just viewed your vid.nice job. Curious, why do you like the 7mm -08 so much? I am designing a rem 700 build and I am stuck on what caliber. Yours have a brake? How's the recoil?
Would like to know about some of your accuracy results. ‘08 is a round l love. A great whitetail cartridge. I get great results with 120/140 gr Nosler bullets. Seems like my rifle loves the 140 Accubonds. Fortunately in the southeast, I don’t need a heavier bullet. I have a 280 Ackley for larger applications. Love to hear about your accuracy results. Thanks
I reload for a bunch of different cartridges, about 30 of them at the moment and the 7mm-08 is my second favorite. Great performance on deer/hogs very little recoil or muzzle blast heck the kids shoot it with max loads with no complaint. I am getting consistent 3/4" groups at 100 using Big Game and 140gr Sierra Game Kings, not too shabby for a 6lbs rifle as with ALL of my 7mms it took a bit of load development to get it dialed in but I love it now. The only reason I rank the 6.5x55 higher is how amazingly easy it is to work up a new load for, pick any 140-143gr bullet and place it over RL22 and I guarantee sub 1/2" groups, best group was the SSTs at 1/16th" at 100 yards! A rapid expansion 140gr bullet from either is potent deer medicine, the 6.5mm has better BC while the 7mm-08 gets higher speeds by about 100 fps.
I set my bullets close to the lans which in some cases it isn't compressed anymore with the bullet sticking out further.
I made the switch from 30-06 to the 7mm-08’s older brother, the 7x57. 150 grain Partition over a stiff charge of IMR 4350 in my 700 Classic handles all my needs in spades.
I like 7mm-08 with nosler using their bullet and their load data that they show for their most accurate in the book works great for me
I picked up some Nosler brass a couple weeks ago and just loaded 40 rounds this last week. I am Very impressed with the Nosler Brass so far. Every cartridge weighs within 0.1grs. Pretty impressed with the consistency and am excited to go shoot it and see how it performs.
Great deal my man but I also set my bullets to the lans of my rifle after I first shoot the brass makes the groups soooo tight that way
Trent Slay c
Mine really likes 139 gr Hornady SST and RE17. Sub MOA all day.
Let me start off by stating that the 7MM-08 has certainly proved itself to be a great cartridge. However, I am puzzled by the fact that it seems to be more popular than the 280 Remington. This popularity makes sense when considering recoil sensitive shooters; especially women and youth hunters. As for the rest of the hunting crowd, I just don't get how a cartridge that shoots bullets at lower velocities than a 280 Rem has become so much more popular. I think this is especially puzzling when considering most hunters seem to like more velocity, even if it is only 75-100 fps. Thoughts?
xXRambodianXx1 If I might add to this, my Uncle has a Model 700 with a 24" barrel that shoots 160 Partitions at 2850 and he has killed mature bull elk at distances up to 350 yards. It really is a top all around cartridge.
The big trend nowadays is moving away from long action. The 280 Rem is absolutely one of the best cartridges ever made and it's a shame Remington messed up the marketing so bad. (Changing the name to 7mm rem express and later changing the name BACK to 280 rem) My dad has a Remington 7400 in 280 (yes! An autoloader in 280 😂) and he loves it. He convinced me to get a 7mm-08 when I was buying my first deer rifle at 12 and I will always keep a gun chambered in that caliber! It's just amazing! Definitely two great cartridges for the record books!
.280 was released at a bad time and it didn’t catch on. I bet if Hornady introduced a “7mm PRC” to duplicate the .280 AI, if would sell like hot cakes.
It's nice that lapua now makes 7/08 brass. The bullet selection is outstanding. Factory heavy long range is the only issue if you don't reload and want long range use. 6.5 a better option in that case.
The 6.5 creedmoor has a 1:8 twist which works great with 140 gr bullets. I wanted my 7-08 to shoot the 162 or 154 gr, but it didn't like them. 139 SST is outstanding. The 7mm-08 is a 1000 yard gun though. 284 cal in a 308 case.
7mm-08 is a great gun, I have one in a Ruger American that had a 22" barrel that shoots lights out. I run a heavy dose of IMR-4350 with a 139gr. BTSP Hornady Interlock, I have shot elk with this bullet at about 250+ yards knock 'em down. I am going to try the 150 ELD-X Hornady came out with for the .284 caliber guns, which I will try for the 2017 hunting season on elk and deer, might even try it on a black bear hunt this summer. Good luck with your reloads with the 162's let us know how they grouped and what kind of speeds you got out of them?
7MM-08 at any reasonable distance with solid (copper), or 140 gr Lead core will sufficiently do the job.
I've killed many a black bear and can attest they take nowhere near the energy as opposed to even a whitetail.
My 7mm-08 is a "Truck Gun", that means always there... Even if I'm hunting with a different round, it's always "THERE".
I can get 3/4" inch outside to outside groups with it every day but I also handload. I would advise Hornady Factory Ammo if you do not. 140 preffered for bigger game. Solid copper platforms, 120 is enough below 300 yards.
TR
BTW: consider ammo availability in your choice. The ole '06 still performs as well as it ever has and is no slouch. PS I have a .338WinMag named the Hammer and a '06 named ole Betsy. :-)
I have a .30-06, 270 WSM, 26 Nosler and my mack daddy .338 RUM. But I like this 7-08 it is a fun gun to shoot. Happy Shooting and hunting....
@@travisrushton7966 The 120's, how far are they off the lands? Is there a minimum weight bullet you need to have to get close to the lands?
@@Ebaybow I load them pretty far out in the cartridge. From the lands, ?, not sure as I don't own a Micrometer Adjustment tool for the 7mm-08. Remember this gun of mine is "probably" a fluke cheap gun that goes everywhere and is accurate as all get up. Sorry I couldn't answer your question. I have a Micrometer tool for my .338 but I've been able to tailor loads for the rest of my guns with no need. I absolutely LOVE the 120's... In Barnes TTSX, Accubond, or ballistic tips. I've taken my share so I'm not just qback armchairing. Good luck and try em out! REM7600
I was happy to find this video ( 6 years later lol 😂)
I just got a new Tikka T3X Hunter in 7mm-08 , sold all the big magnums and aught six too , and now I am gathering information for some handloading recipes . I bought some Hornady American Whitetail 139 grain Interlocks and few boxes of the Precision Hunter 150 grain ELD-X ( which have a very respectable BC of .589 and MV of 2770 pushing just over 2,600 ft/lbs ME that I’m sure would do the job on elk sized game ) . I’ll see how each performs , but these 162 grain ELD-X loads are exactly what I’m after .
Can you share the recipe ? I understand no liability incurred from you just looking for a base recipe to work with .
Thanks in advance.
Hey, yeah I'll look up my recipe. Not sure how soon I can as I haven't touched my reloading bench for over a year but I should have them written down. I'll comment with the load data soon. Comment again to remind me if you don't see it in the next day or 2.
@@GlennPearsonDIY Thanks so much for your response ! It’s no big hurry , November is a a ways off yet . I’m new to reloading as well so I have a lot to learn before I trust my hand loads in the field . The factory ammo will get me through the process of sighting in the rifle and those 150 ELD-X loads will work well for now , but as you stated , the 162 grain ELD-X are about as heavy as I’d go with the 7mm-08 ( love that high .630 BC ) that’s the ultimate load I think for this cartridge. Excited to see how this new rifle performs .
Thank you again in advance, I appreciate any information to get me going with this load , as it is exactly what I had in mind even prior to purchasing the rifle , I had a pretty good idea that the 162 grain ELD-X was what I wanted for long range hunting .
@@GlennPearsonDIY Hey just wondering if you had a chance to gather up any load data yet ?
Funny to hear you mention your problem with Remington. I had a 700 BDL in .308 several (+20?) years ago and it wouldn't group any round worth a crap! No matter who shot it or what ammo was put through it, it wouldn't group. Sent it back to remington, had 2 gunsmiths look at it. Nobody could fix it.
I bought a 7mm-08 for my kid and i find i use it alot but the 30-06 in cz or winchester model 70 or any old mauser 98 action will handle max loads or even a bit over if your crazy
130g Speer btsp in the 7/08 with 42g of IMR 4895, Rem case, Rem 9 1/2 is 3000 fps, flattens deer, sub 1/2" groups in our Rem 700s. Many guys in our deer clubs have switched due to how fast it puts deer on the ground.
That sounds like a good deer round. How's the recoil? Would that be good for a youth gun?
Glen, my 5 and 8 year old nephews shoot this load in their model 7's with the addition of a Gentry muzzle break. The 5 year old killed three does this year in SC, don't know what else he killed. The 8 year old is an amazing shot, large for his age. We started them off with bb guns, then single shot 22's.@@GlennPearsonDIY
Nice video and discussion, what powder thrower are you using on the press ?
Very well put together video, good information. Sorry though, I been using 30-06 for over 20 years and I have tried hunting 7-08 but im not sold on it. I will stick to my 30-06 respectfully.
The 30-06 is a great caliber and I've gained some respect and interest in it since I shared this video 2 years ago. I might pick up another 30-06 to reload for. But I do love my 7mm-08 and have had great success with deer and elk with it. The only thing that matters is what works best for the shooter and what they are most accurate with. :)
A7 mm08 is a fine caliber but, when I go elk hunting. I take my 7 mm mag, so I know I'm putting them down on the first shot at long range!
I switched to 7x57 (cause I love old cartridges) and I don't think I'll ever go back to .30 cal for general hunting.
Hard to find the 7x57. What did you buy?
Dear Glenn.......thank you for posting. You mentioned problems with your Remington's........ Can you elaborate? We have a big deer hunting camp with a ridiculous variety of calibers and makes. Pump and semiautomatic 280 rems to 338 win mags and of course the old timers with their 30\30's and 35 Remington's and everything in between. My son is going through gun safety right now and its not even a debate that I'm buying a 7mm08 for him. Besides uncle Steve that has a 270 short mag Remington 700 and I have a regular 270 win in a rem. 700, we are the only 2 that has slightly newer Remington's (absolutely amazing tack driving rifles at the 400yrd range). I was going to order my son a 7mm08 in the model 700 stainless like mine and uncle Steve's. Has their quality gone downhill? Buying a kid his first rifle is hard enough and then finding out you bought him a piece of junk........I'd like to avoid that sir.
Dick Tracy, I think their model 700 is still very solid. I had the model 710 first, which had several issues, and the n the new model 783, which had one main issue. The main issue with the 783 was the ejector kept breaking. Well technically not breaking, its held in by a spring, and if bumped right it would become dislodged and the spring with flip it way out there, so it was impossible to find. After the second time it happened, I returned the gun. But it was tack driving accurate, like the 700. Just that one flaw. If Remington can redesign that ejector it would be a great value gun.
But, as for the 700, I think you will be fine. They haven't made too many changes to the design, which is why its still solid.
Currently doing research on a hunting rifle which will be used mainly for elk and mule deer. Right now I'm between .30-06 and this 7mm Rem Mag. I grew up on an island and not being around guns at all till I came to the mainland for college ha ha. My wife grew up with guns, and I've watched shoot many rifles. Honestly recoil is something I could go without. Call me a sissy if you must lol. This video is awesome, filled with personal experience, and data. I am really leaning towards the 7mm MO8 now. Just afraid to see what they cost lol! What exact rifle do you have? How much difference if any does a 2" difference in barrel length make? For instance 24" vs 26". I live in Idaho and really want to get into elk and muleys. My first archery season (late archery) was a blast! Didn't let an arrow fly, but nocked a few. Saw my first 5x5 bull elk at 326 yards, and watched him for 4 hours. Saw lots of mule deer bucks, but couldn't get inside of 80 yards of them.
Any further advice on this gun and am or greatly appreciated. Thanks!
@ezskanken, Thanks for the comment! I was in the a similar situation as you a couple years ago. I had researched the 7MM-08 before and was really interested in it, but was basically given a 30-06 from my brother which is why I started out with one. But for the reasons mnetioned in the video switched to the 7MM-08 and am very happy.
You get more out of any caliber if you reload your own ammo, and the 7MM-08 is no different. But there are plenty of factory loads suitable for Elk. The Nosler 140gr partition has a very good reputation for elk hunting, and that is available at most sporting goods stores for the 7MM-08. Hornady also just released their 150gr ELD-X factory ammo. I personally reload, so I reloaded the Hornady 162gr ELD-X for Elk and it worked better than I hoped, with a clean double long and heart shot my elk only made it about 40 yards before it was done. Shot it at about 250-260 yards.
The 7mm-08 will cost the same as the other calibers you are interested in, because you buy the rifle and the caliber doesn't change the price much. If you reload, the 7mm-08 will be cheaper to load than the 30-06 and the 7MM rem mag. As far as barrel length goes, I went with the Weatherby Vanguard S2 because it was one of the only rifles that offered a 24" barrel in the 7MM-08 from the factory. The rest are 22" or shorter. My dad owns the Savage 111 in the 7mm-08 caliber with the standard 22" barrel. If we shoot the same bullets, my chronograph shows my gun getting consistently 60-100fps better out of the same ammunition. I'm sure barrel length is where the majority of that comes in. We were both actually pretty surprised mine was so much higher. But his gun weighs about 1lb less overall than mine which might be better for some. I packed my gun around for 30+ miles during the elk hunt though and it was fine for me.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I can only give them based off my own experience and research, but I'm happy to help where I can.
Glenn Pearson Thank you for all that information. I truly appreciate it. Now that you threw a wrench in what direction I was thinking about going (LOL, I was looking at the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight) what are your thoughts on a good magnification for a scope? Now to research if I can find anything between the 2 guns.
Thanks again. I hope you had/have a wonderful holiday season.
I picked up one of these scopes: ads.midwayusa.com/product/974294/vortex-optics-diamondback-hp-rifle-scope-3-12x-42mm-side-focus-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-matte?cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Optics+-+Scopes+-+12X+and+Greater-_-Vortex+Optics-_-974294&gclid=Cj0KEQiAnIPDBRC7t5zJs4uQu5UBEiQA7u5NewKCvyNm5XPyy9pBFq8im8f4rHO-RFczKNt4yoeU1AgaAnqg8P8HAQ
Its solid, and just works. Nice, clear glass which is all I wanted.
So far, the holiday has been good. I have work the next 3 days but then off again for a few days. Just spending time with some family. Hope yours is going well too.
Glenn Pearson So I've been doing nothing but researching still and came across another question. Your father'a gun vs your gun, same bullet, which one recoils more? If I'm reading the correct specs on your guns their is a .5lb difference in weight with the Vanguard S2 being the heaviest. I'm wondering if that makes a difference as well. When comparing your S2 specs to that of the Model 70 it's a whole lb heavier. If that single pound will further lessen the recoil then I'll have to rethink about the Model 70 and lean towards a Weatherby Vanguard S2 myself.
Thanks for the help and your time.
I was shooting my gun and my father was shooting his, so I didn't get the chance to feel any difference. We are going out shooting again this week, and so I'll make sure to try a few back to back out of both guns and see if I can tell a difference. I know heavier usually means less recoil, but the weight is so close that I'm not sure it would be noticeable. I'll let you know though after I give it a try.
I have a Lee Classic Turret Press with the Lee Ultimate Dies set I've been using a couple of years and I have had great results. Those that promote other types of dies "are intellectually challenged or morally handicapped", page 48 of MODERN RELOADING, 2nd edition.
What is the rate of twist in your 7mm08. I wonder because of the bullet weight you are using and really need a swift twist. Remember one of the laws of physics is the faster it goes the faster it slows down so energy at long distance may not be what you really need.
What production ammo would you recommend for elk in 7mm08 (not long range hunting)?
Anything with a nosler accubond or barnes tripple shock. I also like the ELD-X 150gr rounds but I think the other 2 perform a bit better.
I've been reloading my 7mm-08 with 150 Gr Berger classic hunters and a max load of 45.9 Grains of Reloader 17. Tested two other loads of 42 grains and 44 grains but my rifle which is a Remington Model 700 handles the higher load. The B.C. is from .6 to .5 and the velocity is a little below 2900 FPS. Could try loads such as that.
Nosler load data shows RL19 with the 150 gr bullet, using 48.5 max yields 2862. It us 110% full, compressed load. Is your max load of RL17 compressed?
I’ve shot whitetails with the 708 and the 6.5 creedmoor with 140 grain bullets out of both and never noticed the difference! Every deer at every distance I shot with both calibers died about the same amount of time! I have a brake on my creedmoor so it’s a lot more pleasant to shoot’ that’s about the only difference!
I use imr 4350 at 46.5 grs with Hornady 139 gr btsp in my 7mm-08 .I have not had to chase anything in 5 years.
I might have missed it in the video, but what type of case lube did you use, if any? I'm amazed how you can crank them out like straight walled pistol cartridges. I usually have to interrupt my progressive press process to remove the case lube after resizing.
Cristian, I am using a home made case lube I found out about from another youtuber. Its a mix of rubbing alcohol and lanolin. Works great. I have it in a spray bottle, and I had already lubed these cases before I started the video. I spray the lube, and let the alcohol evaporate leaving only the lanolin on for lubrication. I can do 10-20 cases at a time (or more if I had more space). Spray them, roll back and forth to make sure they are completely coated, let the alcohol dry for a couple minutes and then pump them out with the press. I can do a video of it sometime if you're interested.
Sierra 140 gr game king spitzer boatail and IMR 4350 worked great in my 280. Rem and my 7mm08. Very accurate in both rifles.Sub moa in both.
I'll have to give those a try this year. I'm getting ready to start working up some loads for the spring.
I only fire 165 gain projectiles out of 30 caliber rifles which is what I shoot out of my 06 Ackley. But, I will be getting a 7mm-08 for my wife. The only time I bring any thing larger out is when targeting large Wapiti or going North of the border for moose or bear then I use my .338 Win Mag. I have found it better and most rifles shoot more accurately with less that max pressure loads ... as well as the brass lasts a lot longer (one of my main reasons to going with the .06 Ackley is the lack of case taper, all I ever do is neck size, it has no brass flow as all tapered cases have).
The 30/06 is a supersized 7x57mm Mauser. The 7mm-08 is 7x57 performance in a shorter case.
The 165-170gr. In 06 will out preform the 7mm08 with 162s. A good quality 140-150gr in the 7mm08 are plenty for elk.
How accurate is your powder dispenser?? Do you check loads every now and then to make sure your throwing the correct amount..
It's pretty accurate. This video was not long after I got it. When I'm reloading rifle rounds for practice I check it every 3-4 to make sure it's on and it's always been accurate. For hunting loads I now use an automatic powder measure for accuracy.
@@GlennPearsonDIY Thanks for the response. Good to hear on the powder measure..
Glenn, Have you ever experienced any of the eld x bullets blowing up on impact on shoulder shots? I have shot some eld x factory ammo through my 280 remington as well as my wifes 7mm-08 and I am yet to be pleased with the terminal performance on game. I shot two whitetail bucks last season with less than desirable performance. One shot at 120 yards and the other at 265 yards. I lost one of the deer even using a tracking dog and the other deer ran over 200 yards and this was with a shoulder shot that has never failed me with hornady sst and barnes ttsx bullets. The accuracy is amazing in the eld x bullets but i am scared to use eld x for hunting whitetail and hogs now. The deer i did recover the bullet from showed about 3 inches of penetration and the bullet completely broke into numerous pieces of shrapnel. I see people praising this bullet on multiple sites and i agree the accuracy is superb but shooting at non magnum velocities I feel this bullet should have held up much better seeing as Hornady claims it is a short and long range bullet.
I have a 7mm08 .and 25 06 .
I have several diff. calibers including the 7mm-08, 30-06, 325 WSM 270 Win and 243 Win. I have always had a huge preference for the 30-06 but I do love shooting the 7mm-08 the best! All of those cartriges are awesome in there own right but the recoil of the 325 is a bit much it flat has Elk killing power to spare!! But the cost of each round and the punch to the shoulder is significant! The 243 has speed to burn but is a little too light for the large game. The 270 is a great shooter and like the 30-06 will do anything well but has the kick factor that the 7mm-08 does not and it performs as well as the 30-06 in close 300 a little better due to BC and my shoulder loves it and so does my wife and 12 year old grandson they both can shoot it well and fast for follow-ups with no flinch. **7mm-08**
Interesting.
I was taught to press a bit slower, use ever such a tiny amount of lube in the neck, to measure and check the cartridge lengths, even when new.
Was that bad advice?
No I think that was pretty good advice. When I did this video (nearly 7 years ago now) I was just barely getting into handloading. I had done some research, and my rounds were accurate. But there was a lot I could improve on then and still is today.
@@GlennPearsonDIY sound buddy, thanks.
I was taught by an engineer who was at one time the Keeper of the Queens Deer here in England.
He sure could shoot and make up a great round.
7mm-08 is surely an excellent cartridge; but for deer, not for elk, in my opinion. Elk are large animals and, like all game animals, they deserve the respect of quick, clean kills. I think 300 Win Mag is the minimum cartridge elk deserve. 338 at a good velocity is better still.
Glenn, how you liking your 7mm-08 so far? I'm thinking of one for all around use up to elk sized game between my .25-06 and .308. .308 isn't really a hunting rifle and I don't know if I want another .30 cal and what you described in the video seems great about 7mm vs 30-06.
May just be the round for me.
I love my 7mm-08. I reloaded my 30-06 for about a year, and I'm loving the fact that I use about 10-15% less powder each round for practice with my 7mm-08 over the 30-06 because my powder lasts a lot longer. I'm also enjoying the noticeably less recoil.
I got an elk with it this year using my 162gr ELD-X loads. I was 260 yards and it passed through both lungs with a very nice wound channel. So I'm very happy with its performance for hunting as well. I'm about to load up some 120gr loads for coyote hunting. I'm planning on posting another video about why I love the 7mm-08. I'll share it here once I do.
Glenn Pearson I see, what you just said about it and Elk was exactly what I was wondering about. Yes I've also considered the .280 which you probably know about in the 30-06 family, however the 08 seems more practical less powder and within 150-200 fps of the .280 so...Also to consider already have a 25-06 so .280 may not really be very different in all honesty
I wouldn't be shooting at any big game animal past 400 yards maybe 500 at an extreme, so energy wise seems to do well. I'll be glad when you post that video!
Thinking of a T/C Venture in the 08, I love 700s but not fond of their lower price offerings in comparison. Or a Vanguard like you have , maybe a xbolt composite...
Yeah, I looked at a T/C Venture as well as some 700's, Ruger 77 series and Savage 111's. But the Vanguard had a 24" barrel which I wanted to have to pick up a few more FPS, I think the rest only offer 22" barrels for the 7mm-08 chambered rifles , and I got a great deal on a Vanguard Series 2 from a local dealer. Ended up spending about $500 for it, about 150 bucks off or so. My dad picked up one of the Savage 111's and really likes it. I am seeing about 80-100fps more on my chronograph out of my vanguard using the same ammo over his Savage though, and I'm assuming its the longer barrel.
Weatherby has been great to deal with. I was seeing some strange pressure issues, and they help me determine that it was the brass. While I was shooting these rounds that had the pressure issues, the case ejector chipped, and Weatherby replaced it under warranty, no questions asked. So I'm fairly pleased with the Service so far. Of course Remington's service was good as well, though occasionally they were a little slow on responding. My issues with my Remington 783 30-06 are the reasons I decided to go for the Weatherby over another Remington.
Glenn Pearson gotcha Vanguards are a great rifle. My research is that 22" even 20" is very little velocity loss for the 08 so I'm okay with that but the Vanguard having the little bit longer barrel could be a plus a little. That much of a loss unless it's 18 or 20" I wouldn't think typically would happen in a 22" hard to say there. Just seems like a very efficient cartridge.
Yeah I love the 700s I have and go for the higher end models but unless buy to upgrade think there's better options in the more budgeted range. Sorry to hear about your 783 they seem like a good rifle for budgeted. T/C and the vanguard in that range hard to beat. I'd say Howa but is same as Vanguard basically ha.
Yeah, Howa makes the Vanguard, but they only offer a 22" barrel. A lot of people have 20" and 22" barreled 7mm-08's and love them for hunting.
I love this cartridge so far. I think its probably one of the most efficient cartridges if you look at how much powder it uses, and then the down range energy and velocity. If you look at ballistics between the 7mm Rem Mag and the 7mm-08 for factory ammo, the 7mm-08 is within about 200fps at 500 yards. But the crazy thing is, its using 30-40% less powder.
For the 7mm cartridges look at the *280 Remington Ackley Improved* which is an improved version of the 280 Remington cartridge with a 40 degree shoulder and reloading dies are readily available for it. It duplicates the ballistics of the 7mm Remington Magnum but with 30% less gun powder used and less barrel erosion. Also it is registered with SAAMI by Nosler.
There's quite a range available in 7mm bore.
7mm-08, 7x57 Mauser, .280 Rem, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm STW, 7mm Weatherby mag, 28 Nosler, 7mm Rem Ultra mag.
For some, using AI ammo is worth it. For others, simply going up the line to something more powerful is also worth it. Replacing a barrel isn't the end of the world, and probably no more expensive than using AI for the life of a rifle.
I'd switch calibers also, I can tell you why? Less recoil and yet you will get plenty of kill power with the 7mm-08 and flatter trajectory and the 7mm is faster
try reloader 17. with 145g lrx barns 48g reloader 17 I get 2900 fps from a 19inch shilen barrel. no pressure signs loading 5 thou off the lands . 2830 fps with 47g behind 162g hornady eld no pressure... superb long range hunting round
Mine likes the 139 sst with 43.5 gr re17. Not fast but every bullet hole touches each other at 100. I've only shot it out to 500.
This may have already been asked but if so I missed it. How does the 7mm 08 compare to the 6.5 creedmoor?
Ricky Brister I did a comparison video between the two. Go take a look: ruclips.net/video/iLiEPzHDbzA/видео.html
Glenn Pearson thanks so much
I’ll check it out 😀
Are you able to load those 162 eldx in a factory short action?
Yes, that's all over done so far. I'm building a custom rifle now that I'll do a custom load in but these work great in factory short round rifles.
Do you have a real need to kill animals beyond 500 yards?
And I agree. Remington is making garbage these days. Go with Sako, Tikka, Weatherby, CZ, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Winchester, Kimber, Browning, Ruger, or Savage.
I think the 7mm-08 is a great round. It's ballistic twin is the 7x57mm Mauser. Both cartridges punch above their weight class. I have a commercial Mauser 98 7x57mm I use 7mm-08 load data with no problem. I think the 7mm-08 and 7x57 smoke the 6.5cm. I think both 7mm-08 and 7x57mm are under rated. If you use the right bullet with high BC I think 7mm-08 even the 7x57mm can out perform 6.5cm even the .270 Win. I was told by my gun smith my 7x57mm can handle hotter loads than the 7mm-08? I don't know if I want to chance that. Great video!
I load the Hrd. 139 SST with 40gr. of 4895 powder. Works well for my Savage 7mm08.
I'm about to buy a browning BAR MK3 because I want a semi-auto rifle. I hunt normally where all shots are inside 500 yards and mostly wooded areas. I want to be able to hunt white tail and hogs. I've really gone back and forth between 6.5 Creedmoore, 25-06, .270, 7mm-08 and last but not least .308. It seems like for quick shots inside 100 yards for hogs and keeping a scope on a moving target (recoil) and being able to get in a stand and hit a standing target at 400 yards across a field the 7mm-08 might be the one. Can anyone confirm this or make an argument for the 25-06 or one of the others? 30-06 just has too much recoil as do the magnums for all around use imho.
Hi Glen, I have both calibers and many orhers. I would not recomend 7-08 for elk, bear or moose. As a retired outfitter i have had the opportunity to be involved in many many kills and I always recomended a 30 caliber. A 30-06 is ideal for average shooter, cheap, available in many ammo brands and low recoil. I have always thought of it as a big push rather than a sharp crack. Federal noslers are very capable even past 500 yrds. I do NOT suggest shooting past 300 yrds. For average shooters/hunters .
Mike, my 7MM-08 was more than adequate to take down my elk this year. Didn't go more than few yards after it was shot. Nice, clean ethical kill. Shot it at 250 yards, with my 162gr bullet traveling at 2850fps. The 7mm is only 9% narrower than a .30 cal (7.62mm). Its more than enough for elk. There is nothing magical about a .30. the 7mm is superior in many ways ballistically.
There is belief held by older traditional hunters, those who hunted before the 7mm calibers became popular, that believe that only a .30 cal bullet or larger should be used for elk. While I understand the reasoning behind this that they have, it is completely unfounded by the facts and statistics. The most popular hunting rifle right now is the very successful 7MM Rem Mag. And my little 7mm-08 with my handloaded ammo is shooting at very similar velocities as the factory ammo available for the 7mm Rem mag. I have several friends that have taken several elk with their 7mm guns.
I agree, .30 caliber rifles are great for hunting the animals you mentioned. But so are the barely 9% smaller, fasting moving 7mm caliber rifles. Even the 6.5 calibers are gaining popularity for elk. Looks that amazing new 6.5X300 Weatherby. Its a 6.5MM bullet, in a 300 weatherby magnum case. 127gr nosler bullet moving at 3600 fps. I personally knew 2 hunters that took an elk each with this new caliber, and it did the job spectacularly. Clean, ethical kills.
As i mentioned before, average hunters. I know of a hunte who has killed many world class elk with a 243. Obviously this hunter is extremely skilled. Not the norm and frankly he is deadly. I simply mentioned the obvious. A bigger hole and more energy in the end is better. Again a 30 caliber is without a doubt better than a 28 caliber period. I have hunted w a 270 for years, taken deer, moose, bear antelope and many elk does it well but I feel a 30-06 is more devastating to a elk than a 270 by far. I would even suggest my 270 will out perform a 7mm-08 everytime. Flater, faster hard hitting. Don't get me wrong -08 is a fine load for deer size animals for average hunters just not for elk for average hunters. Congrats on your bull.
a 162 going 2850 in a 7mm-08 is pretty hot. I always load light though.
270 vs 7MM-08. Ballistically they are very similar, but the 7MM-08 uses less powder. ruclips.net/video/NwDZm0ZjI6c/видео.html
what bullet do you shoot from your 270? at what speed? whats your hitting power at 600yrd?
You shouldn't be talking while reloading. It's easy to skip a step or repeat (doubling the charge) a step. Reloading is can be very safe but it is a dangerous activity and carelessnes or negligence can cause serious accident, life altering event. You should at least, do spot checks to make sure the correct amount of powder charge is deposited in the case. I've seen stuck bullets in the barrel due to no powder charge at all in the case, only the primer as a propellant to push the bullet.
Should try Varget 40 gr with a 130 gr BTHP's getting 1" at a 100 yds on sand bags
Why not the 708 virtually duplicates one of the best the 7x57 Mauser WDM Bell used his 7x57to take literally 100's of Elephants
Bell used a 275 Rigby.
Which of course is what the Brits called the 7x57.
Bell called the 7X57 the 275 bore, but it was in fact a 7X57.
"The 7×57mm has been described as "a ballistician's delight".[citation needed] Many sporting rifles in this calibre were made by British riflemakers, among whom John Rigby was prominent; and, catering for the British preference for calibres to be designated in inches, Rigby called this chambering the .275 bore after the measurement of a 7 mm rifle's bore across the lands.[2]"
Bales--Actually no they did not the round was referred to as the .275 Rimless Rigby. Almost identical to the 7x57 but with enough difference to make chambering difficult. Its 9.00 AM where I'm sitting and have examined drawings of each cartridge my source of information THE HANDLOADERS MANUAL OF CARTRIDGE CONVERSIONS by John J. Donnelly.
Glenn PEARSON-- The round was and still is the 275 Rimless Rigby, it has minor differences than the 7x57 and chambering could create a problem. As far as I know its obsolete but could be recreated by forming brass with the aid of a die set most likely supplied by R.C.B.S. My source of information on this topic is John J. Donnelly author of The handloaders manual of cartridge conversions.
After watching the video (and it was well done by the way) and reading close to a 100 comments, I have come to the conclusion that the .270 really is the best all round cartridge for just about anything except the largest bears. I have been killing hogs and deer for over 60 years with my .270 and while the 7-08 is undoubtably a fine round, I just don't see it jumping over my .270. One feller wrote, don't try to make the 7-08 in to a 7mag. I would say don't try to make it a .270. If you want all that velocity just get a .270 or 7mag. I seriously doubt a elk, deer, moose or hog for that matter will ever notice that the size of the bullet tearing out their lungs or heart has a .007 difference in diameter.
The 7mm08 can not and will never out shoot the .270. The .270 will match a standard 7mm round. They are almost the very same round.
The .270 is still the best long range high velocity round on the market imo. It has the range that 99% of people can shoot reasonably. It is easily a 400 yard round for most of North America.
The 708 is a low recoil Tack driver .......it's extremely versatile . You can hunt medium game up to elk and and go shoot competition with the same Gun. My hand loads have produced 3/8 "5 shot groups since the early 80's.
Berger 140s with 42.7 of varget in sako a7 works well for me
Where are you getting load data for Hybrid 100V for the 7mm08? None of my manuals list it and I read the powder is more for magnum calibers and should not be used for 7mm08.
The reloading data is on the imr/Hodgdon load data site. You can see the load data for the 7mm-08 there. They make the powder and tested it with the 7mm-08.
I've made it a habit to check the load data the powder manufacturer lists. They make the powder and know what it can do. I will often cross reference loads when I'm testing new bullets and powders.
Have you weigh each of those powder drop to check for accurate powder measure
I'm going to ask that same question!! I weigh each power load for all my reloading..
Hi Glen what company makes that reloading equipment.
Mostly Lee. It's a Lee turret press.
I don't know anything about elk or long-range shooting. I know about hunting whitetails in Appalachia. For my purposes 7mm-08 is perfect.
Im thinking about getting a rifle soon, im thinking abouta 30-06, 308, 7mm-08 or a 243 what would you prefer?
What are planning on using the gun for? That will narrow down the list.
Glenn Pearson Probably just white tail deer
If you are using it for white tail, any of them would work. My personal choice would be the 7MM-08. It has as much stopping power as the 30-06 and .308, but kicks a lot less similar to the .243. The .243, .308 and 7mm-08 all use the same case/brass, just different sized bullets. 7MM bullets are more efficient than either of the other 2. But again, any of the calibers you mention will take down a whitetail. If you want less kick and flatter shooting, look at the 7mm-08 or .243.
Is there a big difference in 7MM-08 and 7MM Rem Mag in terms of velocity and accuracy?
The 7MM Rem Mag is anywhere from 100-300fps faster depending on the bullet. Both are very accurate. I'm posting a video that compares the ballistics of those 2 this coming Tuesday. So if you want to know more details, look for that video.
What primers are you useing?
I honestly don't remember. This was 8 years ago...
What do you use to measure the bullet distance from the lands of your rifle?
I ran a once fired case through my resizer die, and then placed a bullet in it. You want it to be snug enough to not fall out but loose enough to move when pushed. Once the bullet is in the case, I chamber in the gun locking the bolt down if I were going to fire it. Then I carefully eject it, making sure not to bump the bullet. This will give you the total overall case length to the lands. I then backed it off as far as I wanted from there, reducing the over all length.
There are youtube videos demonstrating how to do this. I would be happy to post a tutorial if you want.
Sounds good! I'll try that, thanks!
I use my 45/70 the most for hunting deer moose and elk there nothing in USA that can handle 405 gr hard cast bullet going 1,700 FPS my gel test gave me 54 inch of penetration and 3 inch wide damage full 54 inches long
The .45-70 is a hugely versatile caliber. The only thing it doesn't have going for it is rainbow trajectory, which can be improved marginally with LeverEvolution bullets. If someone gets very familiar with the behavior of drop, they can hunt and kill anything at several hundred yards. Penetration will never ever be an issue.
Personally I've pondered some sort of larger caliber: 6.5, 7mm, .30, .338, etc. for bigger game. And I keep coming back to... why not just go with .45-70 and learn to hunt in closer proximity to the game? Deer, moose, elk, bear, sheep, or nasty African game. One caliber to do it all.
7mm08 doesn’t get the credit it deserves
30 06 is still an awsome round. 308 was designed to be all but equal but shorter . 270 was designed with better bc in mind.
7mm08 is basically a 270 cal in a 308 case. best of both worlds.
uncomplicated comparison.
What's the longest distance you'd shoot an elk with the 7mm so he doesn't bleed for 3 days and leave a 10 mile trail and is there a difference between 7mm and 7mm-08 or just another way to say same - thx
By 7MM I am assuming you are referring to the 7MM Rem Mag? If so, here is a video I did that compared the 7mm Rem Mag to the 7MM-08. There are many other options that shoot a 7MM projectile.
ruclips.net/video/FhRlOrS69oE/видео.html
The furthest I would personally shoot an elk would be 500 yards, with any gun. But that is because of my skill level and that question is only able to be answered depending on the skill level of the shooter. you can have the biggest caliber you want and shoot an elk in the ear and he isn't going to fall. Shot placement and bullet selection is key. Either of the guns you mentioned would be fine out to 500 yards, IF the shooter could place the bullet in the proper place. If you are chasing an elk all over the mtn after you shoot it, 95% of the time it was poor shot placement, not the gun you are using.
A lot of movement on the press I bolt mine down with 4" bolts and nuts solid
Yeah this wasn't an ideal setup, the desk was too flimsy. I built a solid reloading bench using 2x10s and a sheet of solid plywood and then bolted it to that and it doesn't move. What you're seeing in the video is the desk flexing...
7mm-08 is good for elk out to 400 yrds with a hornady Sst 162 grain bullet.
😁👍👍👍
Really you don’t check how much power is going in? I found out of 50 loads 4 will be right on
I check the powder every 4-5 usually. I'm always within .1-3 grs. Not enough to worry about it for my plinkers. I have an electric powder dispenser I use now for my hunting rounds. But for loading quickly on the press, this is accurate enough for target practice.
220gr eld-x out of a Mossberg at 2600fps just enough recoil to feel them.