7mm-08 Rem success on big game

[Bubbadoyle]

Someone correct me if Im wrong, but I thought I read, heard on here or from one of hornadys pod cast, that the sst bullet was the same as either the ELDX or ELDM? Ive been searching for sst's in the 308 superformance around home, and if I heard wrong please let me know, thanks!

From everything I’ve seen the eld-x is the new version of the SST and the eld-m is the new version of the amax. I’ve seen many reports of the eld-x failing like the SST.


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[OXN939]

thought I’d show some love to oft forgotten 7mm-08.

If anyone is forgetting 7-08, they are wrong. There is honestly very little in the lower 48 a 7-08 pushing copper 120s can't do. My current load uses Hammer Hunters because they're easy to load, but Barnes TTSXs will kill a mature elk all day long too. Also it's kind of nice not having to carry a 14 pound rifle around or get your labrum and ears blown out by a belted magnum that costs five dollars every time you pull the trigger.

 

[MarkOrtiz]

I understand impact velocity is very important for bullet performance. My failures were with a 180 gr SST out of a 300 RUM. Impact velocity should have been around 2900 fps. For the bullet to fail the way it did on a small whitetail doe makes my decision to never use a SST again for hunting. 2900 is a fairly high impact velocity but it’s certainly far from an extremely high impact velocity. I know there’s an impact velocity threshold at where the SST would not completely fragment but it seems exceptionally low in my opinion but might work ok for a 7-08.


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As The Guide pointed out this was Hornady custom lite reduced recoil. I just calculated the velocity and at 250 yards it was right about 2200 fps. I could see how faster cartridges could cause issues and change the performance.
My kids really don’t need the reduced recoil loads anymore, so the rest of what is left after our TX hunt will be used for practice and I will probably load 120 ttsx, 120 NBT, or step up to 140 accubond.

 

[Fogger]

That’s some real success with that old round.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

As The Guide pointed out this was Hornady custom lite reduced recoil. I just calculated the velocity and at 250 yards it was right about 2200 fps. I could see how faster cartridges could cause issues and change the performance.
My kids really don’t need the reduced recoil loads anymore, so the rest of what is left after our TX hunt will be used for practice and I will probably load 120 ttsx, 120 NBT, or step up to 140 accubond.

The 120 NBT shoots very well out of my Tikka over 44 grains of Varget.

 

[Oregonmuley]

Oregon bull from a little over a week ago. My first shot was less than perfect so had to follow up but the 120 grain BT's did their job.

 

[KHNC]

Anyone use Federal Fusion 120gr in this one? I have a couple boxes. Killed a few WT with them at less than 100yds. Was considering shooting them this weekend and then using them next week on my muley hunt in CO. Otherwise, Ive probably killed over 75 WT with a 120gr Rem HP up to 250yds with great results. I only have about 10 rds of those left and was considering a change. Ammo is fkn hard to get still in some sizes. Im not a reloader.

 

[Ishootgunssometimes]

Sitka blacktail deer at about 30yds
Handload
120gn Barnes TTSX
3005 fps with Ramshot Big Game

 

[Pharmseller]

Anyone use Federal Fusion 120gr in this one? I have a couple boxes. Killed a few WT with them at less than 100yds. Was considering shooting them this weekend and then using them next week on my muley hunt in CO. Otherwise, Ive probably killed over 75 WT with a 120gr Rem HP up to 250yds with great results. I only have about 10 rds of those left and was considering a change. Ammo is fkn hard to get still in some sizes. Im not a reloader.

No personal experience with the 120 Fusion but I’ve read really good things about this load.




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[KHNC]

No personal experience with the 120 Fusion but I’ve read really good things about this load.




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It is very accurate to 100 yds. I will most likely use it next week. I also have a box of 120gr Barnes TTSX. It is pretty much one hole accurate at 100 off a bench. I really havent shot anything i can remember with the 120. The 168 TTSX does good from my 300WSM though. I plan to shoot to 500 if i have the opportunity, as I pretty confident with the right conditions. If I can get to under 300, that will be ideal.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Anyone use Federal Fusion 120gr in this one? I have a couple boxes. Killed a few WT with them at less than 100yds. Was considering shooting them this weekend and then using them next week on my muley hunt in CO. Otherwise, Ive probably killed over 75 WT with a 120gr Rem HP up to 250yds with great results. I only have about 10 rds of those left and was considering a change. Ammo is fkn hard to get still in some sizes. Im not a reloader.

According to Form, the Fusion is an excellent killing bullet. I picked up a couple hundred 150 Fusion overruns from Midway for my 7-08. It has been a really accurate load over SB 6.5.

I believe Federal still sells a 150 Fusion load in 7mag too that is very popular. Not sure why the Fusion component bullets are so hard to find. I've been trying to locate some 120 Fusions for my .25-284, and they're pretty much unobtainium.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

My daughter killed her first elk on Saturday with her suppressed 18” Tikka in 7-08. She was a big old magnum cow with worn out ivories and a huge body.

The load was a single 162 ELDX over 46.5 grains of SB 6.5. The shot was 185 yards quartering away, and impact velocity was around 2420. I dialed .4 mils and she placed it perfectly in the crease behind the right front shoulder. Upon impact, the cow jumped up, took a couple steps downhill, staggered on stiff legs, and fell over up hill.

The entry was caliber sized and she pulverized the heart, both lungs, and far humerus. The exit from the chest was roughly a quarter to half dollar in size. We recovered the bullet and lead core under the far hide.

I want to give a HUGE shout out to @wymtnpounder for his guiding and hospitality. He is a tremendous horseman and extremely personable and talented guide. He also has a wonderful family.

It was a special hunt that I got to share with my daughter, and a trip we’ll never forget.

 

[Kimber7man]

My daughter killed her first elk on Saturday with her suppressed 18” Tikka in 7-08. She was a big old magnum cow with worn out ivories and a huge body.

The load was a single 162 ELDX over 46.5 grains of SB 6.5. The shot was 185 yards quartering away, and impact velocity was around 2420. I dialed .4 mils and she placed it perfectly in the crease behind the right front shoulder. Upon impact, the cow jumped up, took a couple steps downhill, staggered on stiff legs, and fell over up hill.

The entry was caliber sized and she pulverized the heart, both lungs, and far humerus. The exit from the chest was roughly a quarter to half dollar in size. We recovered the bullet and lead core under the far hide.

I want to give a HUGE shout out to @wymtnpounder for his guiding and hospitality. He is a tremendous horseman and extremely personable and talented guide. He also has a wonderful family.

It was a special hunt that I got to share with my daughter, and a trip we’ll never forget.

Congrats!!!

I succumbed and bought a T3X lite in 7mm08. Now to debate which bullets to buy (still have some Alpha brass hidden back in the brass cabinet) and how short to chop and thread it.

 

[Pharmseller]

Outstanding!




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[krisschmied]

My son has killed several deer around 100 yards with 120 nosler ballistic tips. Hand loaded light (he’s 9). Impact velocity around 2800fps. All shots have been double Lungs, and virtually destroyed lungs. 3/3 bullets recovered in off side hides. Seems like great performance since they’re recovered from dead whitetails.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Congrats!!!

I succumbed and bought a T3X lite in 7mm08. Now to debate which bullets to buy (still have some Alpha brass hidden back in the brass cabinet) and how short to chop and thread it.

Thank you and have fun man, not many cartridges have a larger selection of bullet offerings. From this thread, the 120 NBT, 140 AB, 140 VLD, 150 ELDX, and 162 ELDX among others have proven successful on critters from WT to bull elk. Grab some Varget, Big Game, and SB 6.5 and you should be covered!

 

[Kimber7man]

Yeah, I’ve got a large supply of all three, used to shoot 7mm08 quite a bit and kept some stuff. Excited to get one back in the gun rack!

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Yeah, I’ve got a large supply of all three, used to shoot 7mm08 quite a bit and kept some stuff. Excited to get one back in the gun rack!

One thing I'd recommend is swapping to a LA bolt stop and LA mags. This provides more than enough room to seat the heavier bullets where you want them.

 

[Kimber7man]

Thanks, I’ve got some extra M+ mags but will look for longs and a bolt stop

 

[Pharmseller]

Thanks, I’ve got some extra M+ mags but will look for longs and a bolt stop

M+ will probably be fine. Measure distance to the lands before you spend $ on long mags, the M+ might be as long as you can load.




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