7mm-08 to .243 or .308?

[Formidilosus]

I know that from experience and 6mm pales in comparison available projectiles are concerned

How so?

 

[deerkiller]

How so?

I was pontificating … give me a break would ya ?

 

[deerkiller]

I was pontificating … give me a break would ya ?

I've expended thousands of 243 AI and 6mm/284 rounds, LOVE them both

 

[LightFoot]

375 Raptor?



Spend your money on experience before you spend it on fancy gear.

 

[rbljack]

I haven't read thru all 4 pages and im not a caliber expert or a handloader....but thought I would mention that when my son and wife started hunting, I had them using a 270 with Remington's Managed recoil loads. They kept the recoil down and the 270 was plenty on deer sized game. Just a thought. After looking at their website again, it appears they make the managed recoil load for the 7mm-08. That might be a good option to keep the recoil down, and continue to use the 7mm-08 for the young daughters without having to mess with different barrels, guns, etc.

Shop 30-30 Managed Recoil Ammo for Improved Hunting | Remington

Managed-Recoil® Centerfire Ammunition delivers trusted Remington® field-proven hunting performance out to 200 yards, with half the recoil.

www.remington.com

 

[Formidilosus]

I was pontificating … give me a break would ya ?

Nope.

 

[desertcj]

I haven't read thru all 4 pages and im not a caliber expert or a handloader....but thought I would mention that when my son and wife started hunting, I had them using a 270 with Remington's Managed recoil loads. They kept the recoil down and the 270 was plenty on deer sized game. Just a thought. After looking at their website again, it appears they make the managed recoil load for the 7mm-08. That might be a good option to keep the recoil down, and continue to use the 7mm-08 for the young daughters without having to mess with different barrels, guns, etc.

Shop 30-30 Managed Recoil Ammo for Improved Hunting | Remington

Managed-Recoil® Centerfire Ammunition delivers trusted Remington® field-proven hunting performance out to 200 yards, with half the recoil.

www.remington.com

This is pretty much the case imo. Top end .243 loads feel about the same as standard 7mm-08 loads. Mild 7mm-08 loads are very soft shooting. Of course mild .243 loads are creampuffs, but they lose quite a bit of killing power at that level.

 

[Bigjohn84]

Keep the 7mm-08

 

[desertcj]

Keep the 7mm-08

I sorta have to agree. 7mm-08 with 120gr bullets is basically a magnum .243, a very well rounded setup unless you are trying to stretch the range past 400yds. Then the .243 with 105gr+ bullets wins hands down.

 

[NCSURodney]

Picked up a 7mm-08 last season, Shot one whitetail with it, never found it. Pretty sure it had to do with the Hornady Super Performance SST bullets. Blood trail was spotty like there wasn't an exit wound.

Have switched to 140g Nosler Accubonds this year. Shoots accurate, lets see how they work on a Whitetail.

Anyone else have problems with SST bullets in 7mm-08?

 

[OXN939]

I sorta have to agree. 7mm-08 with 120gr bullets is basically a magnum .243, a very well rounded setup unless you are trying to stretch the range past 400yds. Then the .243 with 105gr+ bullets wins hands down.

So with the love affair over the past few years for 6.5 Creed... can anyone come up with a reason to choose 6.5 Creed over a 7mm-08 shooting 120 grain pills? Very legitimately interested in the answer to that question.

 

[realunlucky]

So with the love affair over the past few years for 6.5 Creed... can anyone come up with a reason to choose 6.5 Creed over a 7mm-08 shooting 120 grain pills? Very legitimately interested in the answer to that question.

The 6.5 is longer and thinner cuts through the air more efficiently so impact velocity carries longer distances. Also what the 243/6mm shine with it's bigger pills.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

 

[OXN939]

The 6.5 is longer and thinner cuts through the air more efficiently so impact velocity carries longer distances. Also what the 243/6mm shine with it's bigger pills.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Tracking on the theory there... but I'm doing a lot of digging and not finding any substantive advantage to 6.5 over light 7mm-08 loads between 300 and 500 with factory stuff. Like, almost none. Better BC, but...

 

[Formidilosus]

So with the love affair over the past few years for 6.5 Creed... can anyone come up with a reason to choose 6.5 Creed over a 7mm-08 shooting 120 grain pills? Very legitimately interested in the answer to that question.

In factory form- generally more accurate, cheaper, more readily available, and slight BC advantage.


But, why limit it to 120gr bullets?

 

[OXN939]

In factory form- generally more accurate, cheaper, more readily available, and slight BC advantage.


But, why limit it to 120gr bullets?

News to me that 6.5 is cheaper. I see 7mm-08 everywhere from Walmart to Dick's to actual gun stores here, while 6.5 seems only to be in the latter. Can't speak to the holistic accuracy of 6.5 as a cartridge since I don't have enough experience with it.

120s for comparison because I shoot copper monos so want as much velocity as possible.

 

[desertcj]

Personally, I'm not really the kind of guy to follow the crowd. I'm not really interested in the 6.5mm Creedmoor because of that. 7mm-08 with 162gr bullets can cut the wind pretty well if you don't mind dialing your scope. With 120gr bullets, it's pretty flat and you should be able to make hits out to 400yds with some practice holding over at that distance. The 120s aren't going to be so great in the wind though...

 

[Formidilosus]

News to me that 6.5 is cheaper. I see 7mm-08 everywhere from Walmart to Dick's to actual gun stores here, while 6.5 seems only to be in the latter. Can't speak to the holistic accuracy of 6.5 as a cartridge since I don't have enough experience with it.

120s for comparison because I shoot copper monos so want as much velocity as possible.

?

Every walmart I’ve been to in the last year from Washington state to Florida has had 6.5 Creedmoor. Every gun store, every gas station that has sold ammo too. If I were shooting monos exclusively, I wouldn’t choose either the 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

But not really sure what you’re looking for? I don’t think anyone has had said you must buy a 6.5.

 

[brsnow]

I just picked up a 6.5 CM, a whole shelf aisle length of factory ammo. Way more than any other caliber at Cabelas. Way more than 7mm-08, I am keeping the 7mm-08 as well

 

[Newtosavage]

Picked up a 7mm-08 last season, Shot one whitetail with it, never found it. Pretty sure it had to do with the Hornady Super Performance SST bullets. Blood trail was spotty like there wasn't an exit wound.

Have switched to 140g Nosler Accubonds this year. Shoots accurate, lets see how they work on a Whitetail.

Anyone else have problems with SST bullets in 7mm-08?

Quite the contrary. They are my favorite deer bullets. Outstanding terminal performance. Blood trails are short and wide enough for a blind man to follow, if they don't drop in their tracks. The largest deer I've shot with them to date - this (estimated) 250# muley - dropped literally in his tracks. Never took a step and I did not hit him in the shoulders but rather 2" behind the shoulders.

IMO the 7mm 139-grain SST is one of the most effective deer bullets ever designed.

Regarding the 7mm-08, I feel it is the most efficient hunting caliber ever designed. I can shoot 120 grain bullets that kick like a .243 and 162 grainers that kick like a .308, but carry more energy downrange. I am not a long range hunter. 400 yards is my max. And that is my choice of calibers.

 

[MuleyFever]

Picked up a 7mm-08 last season, Shot one whitetail with it, never found it. Pretty sure it had to do with the Hornady Super Performance SST bullets. Blood trail was spotty like there wasn't an exit wound.

Have switched to 140g Nosler Accubonds this year. Shoots accurate, lets see how they work on a Whitetail.

Anyone else have problems with SST bullets in 7mm-08?

If dropping elk is a problem then yes.