7mm-08 with 175 gr bullet

[bingo]

I have never hunted Elk and planning a 2026 cow elk hunt. I see where 308 win fans shoot 180 gr most often. But 7mm-08 fans go 140 150 gr.. If 180gr is good for 308 why isn't 175 gr in 7mm-08 used more often . My range max 300 yards . maybe 160 gr would be a better fit for 7mm-08 ?

I will sit back and see what the experts have to say . Thank you

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I think every bullet (& caliber) you mentioned will deal with an elk, the important thing is shot placement. I shot my first elk with my handloads using a 150 gr bullet in my 30-06 nearly 60 years ago. I use a .300 Wby (again my handloads) with a 180 gr bullet. I did shoot a cow elk with my 25-06 using a 117g bullet but it was not a true test of the bullet & caliber as I broke it's neck with my shot.

I would shoot the most "comfortable to shoot" and the most accurate rifle.

 

[JimP]

Unless you are a hand loader I doubt that you will find any loaded ammo for the 7mm-08 with a 175 grain bullet. 165 grain may be the heaviest that you'll find, if you can find that.

I have a nephew who's sons shoot a 7mm-08 and they have taken a number of cow elk with the 140 grain bullets.

 

[Hilltop]

150 grain in 7mm-08 is very effective on elk. Don't over think it. Out to 300 yards, virtually any factory load will work fine.

 

[bingo]

I do handload. Just wonder why 308 win goes 180 gr and 7mm-08 mostly to 150 gr. I have some 160 gr and 175 gr on order I guess I will start there. and see what it looks like. And crunch some more numbers.

 

[JimP]

Most of the time manufacturers will stop with bullet weight with what works. A 180 grain 308 bullet will be shorter than a 7mm 175. Plus rifle manufactures set the rifling in the barrel to stabilize the more common bullets, that 175 may not stabilize out of your rifle, where a 308 may handle the 180 quite well.

Then you need to find out if you can get enough velocity with the 175 so that the bullets performance doesn't suffer where a lighter bullet going faster will perform better.

 

[bingo]

Have a 1 and 8 twist . but will see where seating depth is. this could be interesting.

 

[bingo]

139 barnes lrx is my favorite for deer. longest shot 210 yards . worked great. All other deer 100 yards or less.

 

[dan maule]

I have three 7mm-08s bought the first one for my son, he's killed numerous whitetail and a black bear all with 140 grn bullets. I purchased one for my daughter, last year she killed a bull elk at 362 yards with a 140 grn TSX bullet (one shot kill), she killed an antelope at 415 yards with the same bullet. I then purchased one for my wife. Long story short, watching them kill everything they shoot at with their 7mm-08s makes me think that I am over gunned with my 300 wby. I will not be putting it down anytime soon, but I have been extremely impressed with the 7mm-08.

 

[bingo]

Lucky guy Dan, ! I have only shot whitetail with it so far. Wife has done well with re-barreled Ruger #1b in 25-06. Daughter with 243 win. Daughter wants to step up to 7mm-08 for cow elk so Weatherby camilla on its way. Should be here in 2 weeks. My 7mm-08 is a semi custom 700 rem. 23" barrel Bench Mark. A good friend Had it built and stepped up to 280 AI . so i bought it. I did touch off a 340wby once at gun range . Weatherby mark 5. I thought i was going to punched hard . It wasn't bad . Gentleman said it was how Weatherby stocks are designed that helps the recoil feel.

 

[dan maule]

Lucky guy Dan, ! I have only shot whitetail with it so far. Wife has done well with re-barreled Ruger #1b in 25-06. Daughter with 243 win. Daughter wants to step up to 7mm-08 for cow elk so Weatherby camilla on its way. Should be here in 2 weeks. My 7mm-08 is a semi custom 700 rem. 23" barrel Bench Mark. A good friend Had it built and stepped up to 280 AI . so i bought it. I did touch off a 340wby once at gun range . Weatherby mark 5. I thought i was going to punched hard . It wasn't bad . Gentleman said it was how Weatherby stocks are designed that helps the recoil feel.

Both my wife and daughter's 7mm-08 are in the Camilia, they love them. I have 2 340wbys, it used to be my go to gun but 15 years ago or so I started using my 300wby more so it's been a while since I've killed anything with a 340. The recoil isn't as bad as most people think, but it's not as fun to shoot as the 7mm-08 LOL.

 

[bingo]

I wood love for wife and daughter to get a cow elk. I have just as much fun when They take game. At home here we have some private ground we hunt but the genetics are poor in that area. We work hard and canoe in on some public ground and rough it for 6 days. We work at it but not always successful but fun. Thanks you for sharing your experiences.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My .300 Wby is a #1 Ruger that I just love. Never taken more than one shot any anything I've shot with it.

 

[dan maule]

That's a beautiful gun!

 

[bingo]

Nice ruger ! Great wood ! Those #1 are special. My fathers only rifle he owned. Hold a special place in my heart. He wanted my wife to have it before he passed on. She is keeping the 1 shot and done going .

 

[idcwby]

I do handload. Just wonder why 308 win goes 180 gr and 7mm-08 mostly to 150 gr. I have some 160 gr and 175 gr on order I guess I will start there. and see what it looks like. And crunch some more numbers.

Lots of 7mm-08 don’t have a fast enough twist to stabilize the heavier bullets, that’s why 160 is usually on the higher side for the cartridge. What bullets are you starting with?

 

[bingo]

Speer 160 bt and 175 gr grand slam At 7-08 velocity speer bullets should be ok

 

[idcwby]

Speer 160 bt and 175 gr grand slam At 7-08 velocity speer bullets should be ok

You may not be able to push the 175 grandslam fast enough to have consistent expansion at 300yds. If your wanting to use a heavy constructed bullet like that, I would definitely step down to a 160 or 140 class bullet. The 160 would be my choice out the two because it’ll be flatter and have more velocity at 300yds.

 

[bingo]

After doing more research I will be using 160 and 162 and 154

Thank you