20” barrel 7mm-08?

[country_20boy]

I just picked up my 2nd can and immediately have the itch for a dedicated short barrel rifle to pair it with. I’ll be sharing it with my daughters and primarily hunting whitetails, but it could make a trip out west for antelope, elk, or mule deer.

I’m 99% I want a 20” barrel 7mm08.

Suggestions? Factory or semi custom are both options.

 

[steelheadmike]

As the owner of 7-08, I will say this: if you reload, go with the 7-08. If not, there may be better cartridges out there with factory ammo available that don’t limit it.

The factory ammo options for the 7-08 really hamstring it. But, being able to reload really expands what the cartridge can do.

That being said, get a tikka and have the barrel chopped to 20” (the newer ones may be 20”). If you reload and want to use the longer bullets, get some M+ mags; they work just fine.

 

[sndmn11]

https://www.eurooptic.com/jrtxe352c-tikka-tikka-t3x-lite-compact-7mm-08-rem-syn200--b

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/weatherby-vanguard-compact-hunter-tungsten-cerakote-bolt-action-rifle-7mm-08-remington-20in/p/1799522

Plus a VG stock

Stocks by Brand - Stocky's Stocks - AccuBlock® Stocks - Accublock® NextGen™ Carbon Fiber Stocks - Page 1 - Stocky's Stocks

stockysstocks.com

We have 20" 7-08s on both actions and they are fine.

 

[4570neal]

I have the rifle your look8n for. Weatherby vanguard with 2 stocks, one youth and one std size stocks. Selling it for a friend of mine. I am a dealer. Pics are available.

 

[Long84]

I put together a 7mm-08 last year. Bought a take off factory Tikka barrel. Had it cut to 18" and threaded. Toted it for most of deer season and really enjoyed it's handiness.

 

[Feral Jared]

That's what I'm putting together right now, for pretty much the same reasons. I've got a take off 7-08 barrel on the way that I'll have cut to 20" and threaded. I'll put some shape of CF stock on it (I'm leaning towards the standard sporter shape). I went back and forth on cartridges, but what won out for me is the efficency of the 7-08 in shorter barrels. Down the road, I may convert it to 284win, but for my preferred hunting range inside 400, the 7-08 has enough energy for what I want to do. I've pretty much settled on a swfa 3-9 Can you tell the influence of rokslide has struck me?! haha

 

[country_20boy]

As the owner of 7-08, I will say this: if you reload, go with the 7-08. If not, there may be better cartridges out there with factory ammo available that don’t limit it.

The factory ammo options for the 7-08 really hamstring it. But, being able to reload really expands what the cartridge can do.

That being said, get a tikka and have the barrel chopped to 20” (the newer ones may be 20”). If you reload and want to use the longer bullets, get some M+ mags; they work just fine.

I will be reloading. I’ve had 5 different 7-08s over the last 20 years and I’m a big fan. My current favorite rifle is a CA ridgeline 7-08 but it has a 24” barrel and the 6” can makes it entirely too long.

 

[country_20boy]

One option I’ve considered is re-barreling a model seven .243 that is collecting dust in my safe.

But I’m thinking if I put a decent quality barrel on it, and it’s heavier than the factory pencil barrel , then I’ll have to replace the wood stock to accommodate the heavier barrel, and at that point I’m $1500 bucks into it and I could have just bought another rifle…….

 

[N2TRKYS]

I have a Remington Model Seven SS in 7-08 with a factory 20” barrel. Those are great little rifles. I kill whitetails, mainly with it, but have taken a mule deer buck and a bull elk with it. I shoot 140 grain Accubond handloads.

 

[WhoGarrDen]

I went 18" and no regrets. Still keeps 1,800fps+ out past 400yds.

 

[KY_coop]

If you reload 7-08 is a pretty good performer. My buddy is pushing 160-168 class bullets around 2600fps from his 20" 7mm08 with varget. More speed is available but he only has the one powder right now.

 

[deserthunter2016]

What twist rate is everyone running?


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[MT762]

Get that 7-08 but twist it the same as a Creedmoor (1:8) and the world will be your oyster.

I went through a long affair with the Model 7. I would not do it again: def not for a catridge I wanted to reload. Mag box is limited to 2.80 and in my experience owning many of them, very few Model 7's feed well even at that fairly modest (2.80). Most of them feed well at 2.75. On paper, it's the same mag box as the 700 but it's positioned farther forward--jammed right against the feed ramp. On top of that, aftermarket stock selection is way more limited and you can't decide to run DBM down the line (you might not want to now, but who knows).

 

[Ringbill27]

Many on this site wouldn’t consider a 20” a short barrel. I chopped my wife’s 243 and 308 down to 16.25” a plan to take her 7mm08 too. Forth ranges she hunts/shoots 16” velocities are more then capable.

 

[Judd]

I had a 16" 7-08 ackley encore that was a handy little rifle. I typically will lighten up the bullet to make up for any velocity loss. A 120 ballistic tip is nasty on stuff and pretty tough if you like exits.

 

[HandgunHTR]

One option I’ve considered is re-barreling a model seven .243 that is collecting dust in my safe.

But I’m thinking if I put a decent quality barrel on it, and it’s heavier than the factory pencil barrel , then I’ll have to replace the wood stock to accommodate the heavier barrel, and at that point I’m $1500 bucks into it and I could have just bought another rifle…….

Opening up the barrel channel on a wood stock is pretty easy, and most barrel makers will do a custom profile that allows you to have a sporter contour with extra meat at the end for threading 5/8-24 with a shoulder for use with a can.
The Model 7 action is perfect for 308-based cartridges with the exception of the trigger group, but for a "once in while" rifle, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[teflonhunter]

I agree with other poster about model 7 magazine being short and other limitations. M700 can be altered with longer mag box and run cartridges out to at least 2.900. I run a longer box in a 7 SAUM to get the most out of it and get best accuracy. IIRC the mag box and follower are called Wyatt box. Receiver will need some fitting done and the gun can no longer be an adl. I even run a long mag and long bolt stop in a Tikka to load 160's out to 2.900.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve never once found the Model Seven to be limited by the magazine or have any difficulties with feeding.

 

[teflonhunter]

I’ve never once found the Model Seven to be limited by the magazine or have any difficulties with feeding.

Have you ever had one in 7 SAUM and tried to run the heavies ? Less than 2.840" in a M7 mag.

 

[Tedhunts]

Here's a tikka semi custom 7-08 I built last year to hunt whitetail. This is my woods gun.

Tikka Action with a McGowen 18" barrel 1:8 twist.

It shoots factory Nosler BT @ 2,800fps with MOA accuracy. I am very happy with the build.