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I’m looking to pick up another rifle. I’m thinking either 7mm-08 or 308. Mostly for deer, maybe moose or bear too. My question is, will it be difficult to source 7mm-08 factory ammo? Is this a caliber that will last? From my reading it appears that the 308 isn’t going anywhere and is a solid choice. On the other hand the 7mm-08 has a better bc, flies faster and has less felt recoil. Maybe I’m over thinking it, but thought I’d ask everyone’s opinion.
thanks
The 7MM-08 is next on my list, but then I have my 308 or a few of them.
Ammo is getting easier to find now, its just finding the gun I want has been tough. That said 308 ammo is everywhere.
When it comes to animals, nothings going to notice the difference between the two.
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Both rounds basically fill the same slot.
Factory rounds in different bullet weights and brands, the 308 will be the best in most places.
But you can just carry some extra ammo to deal with that.
Just purchased one. Was concerned about ammo supply, but looking around different gun selling sites etc have found lots at a reasonable price. 308 case necked down. If you have a reloader buddy, he can make you some. lots of 308 cases for sale out there. All you would need is a set of dies. Gentleman I purchased my gun from has 4 boxes of 140 gr fusion for sale at $30 each plus shipping. Pretty reasonable. Don't let ammo access deter you.
The 7mm-08 has been around 40 years and is still growing in popularity. Ammo is pretty easy to find nearly everywhere. About 30 years ago I bought a .280 Remington as my "do-all rifle."
I am sure I'd have been just as well served by a 7mm-08. And they really are very pleasant to shoot. I had a 700 BDL in 7mm-08 that is one of very few rifles I regret selling.
With the good bullets available in factory ammo now, you can't really go wrong.
As Old-timer mentioned, the 7mm-08 is also easy to load and I got .308 cases for mine free at the local range. I just ran them through a sizing die and they were ready to shoot, which they will be for pretty much any hunting rifle.
Buy one and enjoy! I shoot a 7 Mauser in a win featherweight. Basically a ballistic twin to the 7-08. I have owned a couple of 7-08’s over the years. Never hard to find ammunition, easy to load for, overall a great cartridge. I wouldn’t hesitate.
I’m going ahead with the caliber. Now my next quandary is BLR or T3X. I know they’re different actions but they’re both on my list of must own.
The Tikka would be an ideal choice despite the fact that it is offered only with a long action receiver - a bolt action rifle that is already accurate straight out of the box complemented by an excellent cartridge like the 7mm-08 ....
While I absolutely love BLR’s I’d have to agree with a bolt in the 7-08. I can’t really get behind the Tikka, I don’t much like tupperware. I do love wood and blued guns. I did own the sweetest Winchester featherweight in 7-08 in a fancy Maple stock. It was a thing of beauty to behold. Shouldn’t have sold that one. Hard to find though. So my vote with your money is a 7-08 bolt gun in wood with blueing.
Personally I would go with the tikka. We just had this discussion last week with a few guys that had 7-08's. The 2 guys that couldn't get them to shoot had a win xpr and a browning bolt. Both reloader's and no semblance of grouping well. The 3rd guy has the tikka and it shoots lights out. The one with the xpr is still not giving up, is going to try some more loads and an older scope that he knows works as its a new gun. He's just miffed because he won this gun in a draw so he sold his old savage 7-08 that shot well, said he didn't need 2 of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdbuff
308 remains the answer to everything.
I dont really see the point in the 7-08. The better BC and trajectory is inconsequential in the end, and doesnt make up for the smaller shell selection or price difference.
Well I came across a blr at Epps and couldn’t resist. I’m not ruling out a tikka in the future. Maybe even in another caliber. I’ve read many great posts about its smooth action. Thanks to everyone for your input.
I agree, after trying numerous odd ball calibers, I decided to stick with .308, .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. I have lots of ammo to choose from.Quote:
Originally Posted by blasted_saber
I'm happy with the 30-06 & 25-06.
Congrats on the new gun!Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdbuff
You could do everything related to big game with a .308. To be sure it’s aAn excellent cartridge. But unless your a one gun hunter, where’s the fun in that!Quote:
Originally Posted by blasted_saber
That's fair. I have just prioritized guns that I dont have to think long and hard or go out of my way to get ammo for.Quote:
Originally Posted by diverduck
It's also about worrying about minute difference in performance and overthinking it.
I do tend to buy my rifles with availability/price of ammo, which is the reason I don't a 22-250 despite wanting one. I can reload for it, 338 lapua is the same, but I reload for that and started reloading the day I bought it. As someone else has stated, the game won't know the difference. If you plan on using specialty calibers for long distance game (unless Dahl sheep), then most game is taken under 200M. Retrieving game after long shots is the issue for me. I have seen 500yrd shots across a mountain valley, with gulley's so steep I have no idea how they retrieve the animal.
But then who am I to tell you what fits best for you. Live the dream get what you want - then reload for it.
Luckily in Ontario we lack those giant mountains and gulleys. Most hunting for me is under 300yds. I’m just starting to do my research on reloading rifle rounds. Could be a fun hobby for the winter months.Quote:
Originally Posted by line052
I agree with you guys on the .308, its about as perfect as it gets for my area. I'm still a sucker for the stuff everyone else doesn't have. Factory ammo isn't a big deal as sooner or later you will see some, I grab a bunch when I do and I'm good to go for many years. I love the idea of having a 7mm-08 or 260 Rem over the guys floundering over the 6.5CM which is not magical in any way shape or form just brilliantly advertised.
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That right there is boring, period.Quote:
Originally Posted by blasted_saber
The argument of cartridge availability is moot, guess what is one of the hardest cartridges to get right now in the US with all the hoarding going on? That's right, 308. If you shot something weird you would probably be able to find it down there.
We have farmers fields up here where you could shoot a deer at 1000 yards, I know that if you could hunt with a centerfire rifle in SW Ontario there are lots of places you could take a deer at 1000 yards as well, with the right equipment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdbuff
And tell me what generally used rounds (or even legal ones) would have the required energy left at "1000 yards.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
That does not matter, the point was that you could shoot a deer out to 1000 yards in this part of Ontario.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsman
It would not be tough to find a spot around here where you could easily setup to shoot 500 yards on a deer, which would allow for many cartridges to be used with the proper setup and practice.
What facts don't matter?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Your statement was BS when you can't name a legal cartridge to back up your statement.
A thousand yards for deer?
Wind drift alone would make it not a ethical situation.
Add the trajectory like a rainbow making distance estimation critical.
God, you really have to actually read the context. The statement was that there is no need for anything over 300 yards as you cannot have any chance to shoot a deer in Ontario at over that range. Well, around here you could shoot at 1000 yards on a farm I have permission to hunt, that was it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsman
I don't know what your problem is but if I have to spell it out for you, here you go.
Cartridges that are legal in Canada that you can shoot deer at 1000 yards
338 Lapua
6.5-300 Weatherby and up
300 Win Mag
7mm Remington Mag
Etc, etc, etc
Google is a great tool
I never said I would be shooting them at 1000 yards, I never said you should shoot them at 1000 yards but 300 yards as the max range for hunting deer in Ontario is only for a specific area and not others, we have massive farmers fields the same as SW Ontario and can legally use rifles. If you are proficient you could shoot a deer a 1000 yards on a farm I have permission on and 5-700 yards on many of the fields around here, period.
Back to the OP, 7mm-08 is just a necked down 308 that will never disappear and the 7mm bullet will never disappear, a set of dies to go along with a press and you can neck down 308 in the far reaching outside chance that the 7mm-08 goes the way of the dodo.
I want to get my wife in to a compact gun that bumps up the energy a bit from what she has now, many of the youth guns are in 243 and I don't want something with such a small bullet as she wants to be able to hunt moose. The 7mm-08 is chambered in a lot of these youth guns due to its very mild recoil, I have not shot one but read a lot about them.
The only thing I would suggest is that if you do get one buy ammo along with it, and not 1 box, all ammo is scarce right now so get 100rds or more so that you are covered with your sighting in, practice with the gun and have lots for hunting for a couple years.
My buddy's wife has a Savage (?) 7mm-08 if you ever want to see if your wife likes the feel of it before you buy, let me know and I can set it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Youth or compact model? You know my wife, she needs a short length of pull and light rifle.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
She is also height challenged so I'm assuming it's the compact model. I only saw it briefly, she got it to replace her BLR.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Don't always count them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
https://www.outdoorlife.com/top-moos...s-and-bullets/
I read that but I don't want to have something that pokes such a small hole in something notorious for taking off after the shot. Take a nice fat healthy animal and poke a tiny hole through it, the fat can clog up that hole in no time and now I have way too much work ahead of me.Quote:
Originally Posted by canadaman30
I know that they can kill them, just don't want to use such a small bullet. She shoots a 30-30 now and we would have no problem taking it moose hunting but the bullet choices for a tougher bullet and pointed for flatter trajectory do not really work in a 30-30, even her bolt action. The best I can do is a 150gr spitzer point partition, that will cycle and should work well but a 7mm gives so many more bullet options.
Fox makes sense.
To my surprise they can make big exit hole through ribs
7mm sure does have alot of choice. I must admit to be a fan
Attachment 41346
Oh, I can hear that 270 crying from the vault.Quote:
Originally Posted by canadaman30
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Again as you stated "If you are proficient you could shoot a deer a 1000 yards on a farm I have permission on and 5-700 yards on many of the fields around here, period".Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Which cartridge you listed has the retained energy at 1000 yards for an ethical deer round?
What kind of bullet expansion would there be at 1000 yards? Reduced velocity would limit it severely.
It was you that brought up that distance for shooting deer.
And not one of them will not have a rainbow trajectory.
How much experience do you have shooting at targets at 1000 yards?
I do and lots of it.
Glad the Federal government paid for my practice because I would never been able to afford the cost of the rounds I fired down range.
And that was on a range with completely known distances, level ground and wind indicators every 100 yards.
Hunting situations don't present the same conditions.
Hitting is only one thing.
Having the bullet do the proper job also plays a part.
Indeed, he's cry baby when he doesn't get out..lolQuote:
Originally Posted by oaknut
I never stated that 300 yards would be maximum but when you brought up 1000 yards for hunting purposes that was at best an exaggeration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
If you would have said 500 yards, yes there is many rounds capable at that distance under the proper circumstances. Ridgeline to ridgeline comes to mind. But it's hard to judge the winds over valleys.
At a 1000 yards with a rifle capable of 1 MOA (pretty good for most hunting rifles) that would leave a 10" group at best.
Add in wind drift and accuracy of range estimation and the grouping will grow. Ground levels will also effect the accuracy.
Far too many variables to hunt at 1000 yards but you threw this into the thread.