Choice of 7mm for bull elk

[WhoGarrDen]

If I was going elk hunting with your choices. I’d drag my 7mm-08 ( my fav caliber ) and I’d use a 120 NBT

Do a little research on this bullet and you may find out that it is a real sleeper and perfect for the 7mm-08 casing.

I’ve shot em all and this one is THE bullet in a 7mm-08

My 7-08 loves the 120 NBT and 150eld-x. For whatever reason the 162eld-m didn't do quite as well (didn't want to fuss with all the load dev) and 140 partitions looked like someone patterning a shotgun.

To OP, based on what has been shown across this forum you're best off putting both guns on the floor boards and driving down some country roads between range trips, then check zero and do some positional work. Whichever combo of scope, bullet and gun keeps the bullet in the kill zone through all that is probably the best choice.

 

[Quandary]

I like the 175 Berger Elite Hunter in my 7mm

 

[Chris in TN]

When I was younger a buddy of mine had a 7-08 and I got to help him gut a lot of his deer. Since then my dad has went through a couple of 7mmRMs and I have killed a fair pile of stuff with my .280ai.

My personal opinion is that for the hunting conditions described by the OP, there is no advantage to the 7mmRM over the 7-08, at least not that justifies the extra recoil and blast and cost of shooting it.

Of course either will work, but I'd personally choose the 7-08.

 

[mtg]

You have plenty of good info here, and some you didn’t really ask for!

FWIW, my last elk was a decent sized calf on a depredation hunt, shot with a very “underpowered” 7-08 shooting an “inadequate “ Hornady 139btsp at an “anemic” MV of 2820. My next one will be shooting the 120 BT in the same gym. I’ve got a real nice load with it over SB 6.5….at almost 3200 feet a second.

 

[Gila]

Another vote for the 7mm-08. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? You have confidence in, and know your rifle system. You know where the bullet will go and how it will perform. If you get into inclement weather in country that would make a billy goat puke, you will be glad you brought the lighter rifle.

Having said that, the 162 ELD-x is extremely accurate in my rifle. Handloads are very easy to tune.

Gunwerks likes the 168 VLD hunting for a shoulder shot. I am in the process of working up a load should I be so lucky to draw an elk tag for this fall.

I have a couple of Tenmiles but only a few hours on them. They track well so far. The crosshairs are a bit too fine but not a nuisance.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Shoot the 162 eldm/x in either and have fun.

Agreed. 162 M is a killer. Likely have to handload them. Unknown Munitions can help with that

All of these have been killed with 162M from my 7RM

I

Post in thread '162 ELD-X vs 162 ELD-M in 7mm Rem Mag'

Dec 11, 2025

These have all died with one shot and collectively traveled 80yd after impact from my 7RM 25.6" barrel shooting 162gr ELD-M bullets in ADG and Peterson brass from Unknown Munitions.

100yd shot. Traveled 0 yards. Did a 360 spin and fell over


505yd shot. Ran 20 yards then stumbled and slide another 20yd


505yd shot. Buckled hard and weeble wobbled 10 yards


330yd shot. Buckled hard and managed 30 yards

This was the only one that got gutted as it was my Sister's first elk and she needed to experience it. This video shows the lungs...

• IrkedCitizen

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[Upstatepe]

No doubt, 7 mag.

 

[BigLou]

I knew instantly this thread would devolve into a debate about Barnes bullets vs Hornady frangibles. The fact is, some people love X bullets and everybody else will eventually...

 

[Firehawk]

I have killed a bunch of elk with a 7mm Rem Mag and 160 grain Nosler Accubonds. Those bullets are great and hold together well, expand like they should, and drive deep.

My kids have each killed elk with a 7mm-08 with 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. Hmmm, those bullets are great, hold together well, expanded like they should and drive deep as well.

This should be a question based on which rifle you shoot best from field positions. Personally, with your 400 yard limit, the 7mm-08 would be on the shortest list. Assuming you can shoot it well from the field.

My 7mm Rem Mag was rebarreled to a medium contour, match grade, 26" barrel and restocked in a Boyd Laminated stock. Makes it a hefty rifle and thus one of the myriad of other, lighter weight rifles have had the nod for a while now. My Kimber 7mm-08 is so light and handy. But my main elk rifle is a Kimber Montana 8400 in 325 WSM. Again, Accubonds do a great job, just like the 7mm versions. In my main areas, shots 350-500 are the norm, so a little more oomph, bigger bullet hole make sense. But if all I had was my Kimber Montana 84 in 7mm-08, I would happily go hike and hunt and shoot my elk.

Take the rifle that you shoot best. Kill your elk and enjoy the fine vittles.