7/08 Capabilities

[alecvg]

I am not new to hunting, but relatively new to being interested in ballistics and longer range shooting. I have a 7/08 that I seldom use, and feel limited with, with the limited off the shelf availability of ammo.

What are the capabilities of the 7/08? Are there load options for long range shooting (700-800+) on elk-sized game with these? I see so many people saying it is a 400yd and in gone, but some of what I have read from Form and others on here make me wonder what options there are.

 

[TxLite]

You can stretch it out with handloads.

162 eld out of a 7-08 will reach out pretty far and still be over 1800fps, though the eld will still expand if it’s running slower.

I think @Pharmseller is shooting 150 eldx and likes them

 

[KyleR1985]

How long is your barrel?

If less than 24”, you’re probably going to be limited to 4-600 max for most bullets’ recommended minimum velocity for expansion.

 

[fmyth]

Depends on the bullet, it's min velocity to expand and its actual muzzle velocity when shot from your specific rifle. Ammoseek.com has 5 pages of vendors with 7mm-08 ammo.

For example: According to Hornady you need 1600fps for an ELD-X bullet to fully expand. This ballistics chart shows that the 7mm-08 150G ELD-X is still going 2,000fps at 500 yards. You'll need to buy the ammo, shoot through a chrono and get your actual fps and then enter all the data into a ballistics calculator to get the exact yards that the bullet shot from your rifle drops to 1,600fps. That would be your max effective range.

 

[steelheadmike]

For me, it's a 600yd rifle. This is based on ballistics and not my shooting ability (that is limited to waaayyy less than 600 currently).

I don't reload so I am limited, somewhat, by the current factory options. But, I found a factory load that shoots a ~1-1.2" 10 shot group @ 100yds going 2800 out of my 19" barrel. Ballistically, that pencils out to somewhere around 650-700 to stay above 1800. Pretty much any of the factory loads started at above 2650 will get me to 600.

If you want a dedicated 700+yd rifle, there are better options out there but any closer and it's a solid choice.

 

[eric1115]

What rifle?

What scope are you using/planning to use?

What does your ammo budget look like?

Do you have a different rifle that you can practice with? Or is this a "one rifle" deal? You'll be shooting many hundreds, preferably into the thousands of rounds a year to be able to reliably make effective 800 yard shots in field conditions from field positions on vital size targets. That's a lot of money at $50/box. Like new trainer .223 rifle money.

If the rifle is great, 7mm-08 chambering will take you a long way. That said, you'll learn marksmanship fundamentals faster with a lighter recoiling rifle.

 

[alecvg]

Thanks for all the input!

Rifle is a Kimber, 22" barrel. I understand that there are better options for long range, I already have a Gunwerks in 6.5 PRC that is better suited for the purpose. More interested in what is possible with this gun as well.