Why does it always seem like there is a conspiracy against the 7mm-08?

[Dirt Wagon]

There isn’t a dimes worth of difference for hunting ranges either should be used at.

This ^

Just because people can thread a bullet into the kill zone at 600-800 yards doesn't mean the 6.5 Creedmoor is an ethical choice for hunting long range. Lower velocity & bullet construction plays a big factor at longer rangers. People will get lucky but there's too much room for error.

 

[Fonkie]

It doesn’t have a cool name like creedmoor

 

[Newtosavage]

They are a nice chambering but kind of fall in no mans land. If you want a light recoiling deer round, 6s and 6.5s will be flatter, lighter recoiling, maybe less wind drift, and kill deer just fine. For critters like elk a lot of folks want a little more ass.

See, I see it as the "every man's land" rifle. I mean, if a fellow just wanted to buy one "do it all" rifle (and let's face it, most hunter have one primary hunting rifle), then the 7mm-08 fills that role better than anything else.

The 6.5 arguments might hold water today, but not 10 years ago, or 20 years ago when nobody was shooting 6.5's. So why did the 7mm-08 languish for all those years? Was it the boomers who were wedded to their old standards, the '06 and .308?

Maybe the 7mm-08 is the perfect caliber for the "forgotten generation" - i.e. us Gen X'ers who fall between the boomers and their "boomers" (the .308 and '06) and the Millennials and their 6.5's.

Actually, that sounds just about right. I think I'm going to declare the 7mm-08 the official caliber of Gen-X, the forgotten caliber for the forgotten generation. LOL

 

[Newtosavage]

7-08 brass is plentiful. Take up reloading, and don't worry about buying factory ammo. I feel the same way about the .260 Rem as you do the 7-08. Thanks to the 6.5 Creedmoor I'll never see another factory rifle in .260 in my lifetime. That's ok, because I have plenty of brass, and I own a .260 chamber reamer. If 7-08 or 260 brass dries up in the future, it can always be made rather easily from the ever plentiful 308.

-- Scott

Wasn't looking for advice ( I already reload) but thanks anyway. And in my disinterested opinion, the 6.5 CM is a more logical round than the .260.

 

[Newtosavage]

I feel like it’s making a resurgence. Randy Newberg talks about them quite a bit and I think some are listening.

That's something I really appreciate about him. Very no-nonsense practical thinking. He's just a hunter, not looking to impress anyone with the caliber of rifle he shoots or how far he kills things. Not sure why he can't say "millimeter" instead of "M.M." but to each their own. LOL

But yea, I love the fact that he speaks highly of his "Seven M.M. oh Eights"

 

[Newtosavage]

If the 6.5 Creedmoor could push a 140-grain hunting bullet at 2850 fps, I'd be a lot more interested in it as a legitimate elk round. The ability to sling 140 grain mono's at 2850+ or 160/162 class lead core bullets at 2700 fps. puts the 7mm-08 a step ahead of the 6.5 CM for elk in my mind. And yet you can still choose a 120 grain bullet going 3000+ fps. for deer or antelope if you want. Most useful range of bullet weights and velocities of all calibers for most N. American game IMHO. I know plenty of objective, well-studied hunters agree with this. It's just frustrating to see lines of rifles that used to be chambered in 7mm-08, get taken out of production. Even more frustrating to see the 7mm-08 still get marketed as a "youth" caliber while the much more delicate 6.5 Creedmoor is somehow a "tactical" round. smh

 

[Goatie]

See, I see it as the "every man's land" rifle. I mean, if a fellow just wanted to buy one "do it all" rifle (and let's face it, most hunter have one primary hunting rifle), then the 7mm-08 fills that role better than anything else.

The 6.5 arguments might hold water today, but not 10 years ago, or 20 years ago when nobody was shooting 6.5's. So why did the 7mm-08 languish for all those years? Was it the boomers who were wedded to their old standards, the '06 and .308?

Maybe the 7mm-08 is the perfect caliber for the "forgotten generation" - i.e. us Gen X'ers who fall between the boomers and their "boomers" (the .308 and '06) and the Millennials and their 6.5's.

Actually, that sounds just about right. I think I'm going to declare the 7mm-08 the official caliber of Gen-X, the forgotten caliber for the forgotten generation. LOL

As a “middle millennial”, can I still use the 7-08? Really concerned because I already have the 9 twist .284 barrel so...
I could give it a sweet nickname, or maybe an 7-08 ackley... that’d probably get it back to the man bun realm of calibers.

 

[wind gypsy]

If the 6.5 Creedmoor could push a 140-grain hunting bullet at 2850 fps, I'd be a lot more interested in it as a legitimate elk round.

https://bergerbullets.com/products/ammunition/

The ability to sling 140 grain mono's at 2850+ or 160/162 class lead core bullets at 2700 fps. puts the 7mm-08 a step ahead of the 6.5 CM for elk in my mind. And yet you can still choose a 120 grain bullet going 3000+ fps. for deer or antelope if you want. Most useful range of bullet weights and velocities of all calibers for most N. American game IMHO. I know plenty of objective, well-studied hunters agree with this. It's just frustrating to see lines of rifles that used to be chambered in 7mm-08, get taken out of production.

I don't disagree that I'd prefer a 7/08 over 6.5 creedmoor / 260 for elk. The thing is most folks who live in elk country want more horsepower and 308 isn't a big recoiler if folks didn't want 270/280/'06. For deer a 243 has less recoil, shoots flatter, and kills deer sized game fine.

 

[sndmn11]

This is what I see when comparing the two. Matching SD or BC you can choose between two fingers worth of drop or a little more energy.


My wife looked at these numbers and chose 7-08. I will have one of my own when I find the right rifle and price.

 

[BRTreedogs]

If the 6.5 Creedmoor could push a 140-grain hunting bullet at 2850 fps, I'd be a lot more interested in it as a legitimate elk round. The ability to sling 140 grain mono's at 2850+ or 160/162 class lead core bullets at 2700 fps. puts the 7mm-08 a step ahead of the 6.5 CM for elk in my mind. And yet you can still choose a 120 grain bullet going 3000+ fps. for deer or antelope if you want. Most useful range of bullet weights and velocities of all calibers for most N. American game IMHO. I know plenty of objective, well-studied hunters agree with this. It's just frustrating to see lines of rifles that used to be chambered in 7mm-08, get taken out of production. Even more frustrating to see the 7mm-08 still get marketed as a "youth" caliber while the much more delicate 6.5 Creedmoor is somehow a "tactical" round. smh

Your not taking into account the higher bc even if it leaves 150fps less I bet at 500 it's the same or higher.
I dont have time to look up the ballistics rite now.

 

[MuleyFever]

My first interaction with the 7mm-08 was when I bought one for my wife based on research for a capable mild recoil round. After the first day at the range I bought my self one too. Sold that to get a 280ai though.

Still love the ‘08 though

 

[Newtosavage]

Your not taking into account the higher bc even if it leaves 150fps less I bet at 500 it's the same or higher.
I dont have time to look up the ballistics rite now.

140 6.5's and 160 7's are about the same BC.

 

[Newtosavage]

My first interaction with the 7mm-08 was when I bought one for my wife based on research for a capable mild recoil round. After the first day at the range I bought my self one too. Sold that to get a 280ai though.

Still love the ‘08 though

I love 7mm bullets for hunting. Perfect blend of efficiency and energy.

 

[Newtosavage]

https://bergerbullets.com/products/ammunition/



I don't disagree that I'd prefer a 7/08 over 6.5 creedmoor / 260 for elk. The thing is most folks who live in elk country want more horsepower and 308 isn't a big recoiler if folks didn't want 270/280/'06. For deer a 243 has less recoil, shoots flatter, and kills deer sized game fine.

But what I was saying about if you only had one gun... which is actually pretty common with the typical hunter. That's where I think the 7mm-08 would have shined. The "one gun for everything" crowd.

 

[coyotecreek]

See, I see it as the "every man's land" rifle. I mean, if a fellow just wanted to buy one "do it all" rifle (and let's face it, most hunter have one primary hunting rifle), then the 7mm-08 fills that role better than anything else.

The 6.5 arguments might hold water today, but not 10 years ago, or 20 years ago when nobody was shooting 6.5's. So why did the 7mm-08 languish for all those years? Was it the boomers who were wedded to their old standards, the '06 and .308?

Maybe the 7mm-08 is the perfect caliber for the "forgotten generation" - i.e. us Gen X'ers who fall between the boomers and their "boomers" (the .308 and '06) and the Millennials and their 6.5's.

Actually, that sounds just about right. I think I'm going to declare the 7mm-08 the official caliber of Gen-X, the forgotten caliber for the forgotten generation. LOL

It's funny you say that, my Bergara B14 Hunter in 7mm-08 is my do it all rifle. I was born in the 70's so I think I'm a Gen Xer, and my boys who are Millenials have the 6.5 CM. I'll second your motion as the 7mm-08 being the official caliber of Gen-X! LOL

 

[Oregonmuley]

My first interaction with the 7mm-08 was when I bought one for my wife based on research for a capable mild recoil round. After the first day at the range I bought my self one too. Sold that to get a 280ai though.

Still love the ‘08 though

That's how I ended up with my 1st one as well. No longer have that Remington Mtn rifle - or the wife for that matter But that turned me into a huge fan of the 7MM-08, I usually have 4-5 in the safe. Currently down to only 3 but will change that in the new year. At least here where I live ammo is easy to find - I also don't reload and shoot mostly Nosler 120 grain Ballistic tips. Works just fine for the stuff I hunt so no complaints at all.

 

[CJF]

I've seen a lot of deer fall to a 120gr ballistic tip coming from a 7mm-08. Never lost one. They all died just as dead as a deer shot with anything from a 6.5 whizbanger to a 338 mega velocity mag

 

[Newtosavage]

It's funny you say that, my Bergara B14 Hunter in 7mm-08 is my do it all rifle. I was born in the 70's so I think I'm a Gen Xer, and my boys who are Millenials have the 6.5 CM. I'll second your motion as the 7mm-08 being the official caliber of Gen-X! LOL

I think you just provided a couple important data points. LOL

 

[Newtosavage]

That 120 NBT out of a 7mm-08 is well documented as a killing combination. Some guys even use it on elk with great success. Personally I wouldn't but if it works for them, who am I to say?

 

[danarnold]

But what I was saying about if you only had one gun... which is actually pretty common with the typical hunter. That's where I think the 7mm-08 would have shined. The "one gun for everything" crowd.

love my 08, killed a massive mulie @210yards with it this season/ 30 yard recovery.
being a GenX gut I dont know anyone who has only one hunting rifle LOL, strictly blue collar round here