7mm-08
- Thread starter alaska2go
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manitou1
Member
Have killed several whitetails over 400 yds. One at 520 yds. Never lost an animal with this great pill. This caliber kills way bigger than it is. My favorite deer sized game caliber.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
I kind of had the thought recently... what can you do with the 7mm-08 that you can't do with the .243 win??
Of course the 7mm can be loaded heavier for bigger game, but honestly, personally, if I can't get it done well with the 243, I think I'd move to a bigger cartridge like 270, 280, 30-06...
nothing against the 7mm-08 though, or 308,
Of course the 7mm can be loaded heavier for bigger game, but honestly, personally, if I can't get it done well with the 243, I think I'd move to a bigger cartridge like 270, 280, 30-06...
nothing against the 7mm-08 though, or 308,
Catahoula12
Very Active Member
Hilltop
Veteran member
There is a huge difference in killing power between the two. Just a few numbers to consider.
7mm-08 with 139 grain sst per hornady site (energy at);
200 yards - 2040lbs
300 yards - 1768lbs
400 yards - 1524lbs
.243 with 95 grain sst per hornady site (energy at);
200 yards - 1478lbs
300 yards - 1217lbs
400 yards - 992lbs
The simple answer is you can deliver much more energy on target with very similar trajectory allowing you to cleanly take larger game at longer distances. The .243 is just under the recommended foot pounds of energy for an elk at 200 yards while the 7mm-08 is still over the recommended 1500 lbs of energy at 400 yards.
The main advantage to the 7mm-08 vs going to one of the cartridges you mention is felt recoil. From 0-400 yards it is delivering plenty of knock down but easier on the shooters shoulder. Not for everyone but a great choice for many...
Slugz
Veteran member
It favors the smaller stature human beings and can be light loaded for practice with out losing much accuracy also.
WRT to the 243 vs 7mm-08 options.....as an example. We are a Nosler family and shoot Partitions in the shorter range hunting scenarios. We use the 7mm08 due the short barrel and easy swing in thick timber where shots are usually 150 yrards or less. I'll load 140/150 Partitions for that.
The .243 bullet options will mainly be only 100gr and under and when we are hunting bigger game(elk specifically) I want the extra 40-50 grains for knockdown power and energy transfer. Now medium sized game is a whole nother conversation and a better comparison I think between the two.
WRT to the 243 vs 7mm-08 options.....as an example. We are a Nosler family and shoot Partitions in the shorter range hunting scenarios. We use the 7mm08 due the short barrel and easy swing in thick timber where shots are usually 150 yrards or less. I'll load 140/150 Partitions for that.
The .243 bullet options will mainly be only 100gr and under and when we are hunting bigger game(elk specifically) I want the extra 40-50 grains for knockdown power and energy transfer. Now medium sized game is a whole nother conversation and a better comparison I think between the two.
One of my fav's. I shoot it often, along with my personal fav the 280 Rem. Have a Rem Model 7 SS in 7-08, has the lite 20" tube, a joy to carry in tight spaces & brushy places, works well in open spaces too.
As far as the 243 goes, on game up to about deer size, either works. Anything over that and they are two very different calibers IMO, with the 7-08 much more capable of cleanly taking larger game. A better companion caliber comparison to the 7-08 is the 260 Rem, basically interchangeable with 140-150's in the 7-08 and 130-140's in the 260. In other words anything you'd reasonably do with 140-150 grains in a 7-08, a 260 with similarly constructed bullets in 130-140 will do. Not sure I say the same about 243 vs 7-08.
As far as the 243 goes, on game up to about deer size, either works. Anything over that and they are two very different calibers IMO, with the 7-08 much more capable of cleanly taking larger game. A better companion caliber comparison to the 7-08 is the 260 Rem, basically interchangeable with 140-150's in the 7-08 and 130-140's in the 260. In other words anything you'd reasonably do with 140-150 grains in a 7-08, a 260 with similarly constructed bullets in 130-140 will do. Not sure I say the same about 243 vs 7-08.
dan maule
Very Active Member
Terrific round especially for recoil shy shooters. I purchased one for my wife but she moved up to a 280 my son started using it when he was 10 he is now 15 but loves the gun and isn't excited about moving up. He has taken white tail out to 250 yards an antelope at approximately 300, a black bear and a mule deer and to be honest the results were not all that different than my Weatherby mags.
manitou1
Member
My lil 120 gr handloads carry enough energy for whitetail out to 600 yards. Can get about another 100 yards with 140 grains. That is keeping at/over 1000 ft lbs of energy at impact for deer.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
Kinda surprised it's that big of a difference.
I may need one! ha, although I think .280 Rem AI is more likely to come before the 7mm-08.
I may need one! ha, although I think .280 Rem AI is more likely to come before the 7mm-08.
SouthForkguy
Member
I f***** love my 7mm08, it has taken dozens of hefty WI whitetails, WY mule deer, WY antelope and even a crow (yeah that's right). I will be using it when it comes time to hunt elk. Watched friends get that "western" gun, then blow it when it came time to pull the trigger. I felt the same urge to purchase a new gun for hunting Wyoming, but ended up not. Now I realize, its not the gun that needs to be upgraded. On a side note, a shoulder punch typically results in 140grain SST found inside the skin on the opposite shoulder in perfect mushroom condition.
HiMtnHnter
Active Member
I had no experience with the 7mm-08 until I got one for my son. Now I'm finding myself taking it to the range even when he's not going, and I'm biding my time until I can get another one. Great cartridge. I've found good working loads using partitions, gamekings, and ttsx, and good powders for me include varget, h4895, and 4064.