Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: dc on March 27, 2020, 08:28:54 PM

Title: 7mm-08
Post by: dc on March 27, 2020, 08:28:54 PM: Well I sold my 300 wsm due to my shoulders being all but wore out. It didn't hurt to shoot it, but it bothered me. I did some research, and decided to buy a Ruger American 7mm-08. I actually was going to put a plain jane 3x9x40 scope on it, and decided on a Sig Sauer whiskey 3. I got home, not knowing anything more than what the salesman told me and looked at the reviews. Very good reviews, and I'm looking forward to shooting it. Any factory ammo advice out there?
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: jdb on March 27, 2020, 08:34:42 PM: I just picked one up as well. I've been doing a lot of research and ballistic comparisons, the general opinion is pretty much any 140 grain bullet works great. There's interesting thread on 24 hour campfire touting the 120 grain ballistic tip.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: dc on March 27, 2020, 08:43:30 PM: I should add that this is an elk rifle. I have a 25-06 that I shoot for deer and antelope, so favorite elk loads is what I'm interested in.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: huntnphool on March 27, 2020, 08:53:06 PM: Quote from: dc on March 27, 2020, 08:43:30 PM
I should add that this is an elk rifle. I have a 25-06 that I shoot for deer and antelope, so favorite elk loads is what I'm interested in.

140 Partitions work well. ;)
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: jrebel on March 27, 2020, 08:54:39 PM: Quote from: huntnphool on March 27, 2020, 08:53:06 PM
Quote from: dc on March 27, 2020, 08:43:30 PM
I should add that this is an elk rifle. I have a 25-06 that I shoot for deer and antelope, so favorite elk loads is what I'm interested in.

140 Partitions work well. ;)

I reload....but yes the 140 partitions work really well. Wife killed her only elk with this caliber and bullet combo.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Jason on March 27, 2020, 09:11:42 PM: I’ve had very good luck with 140gr Accubonds and Ballistic Tips in my RA 7mm-08. 1/2” groups no problem.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: HAGEMANIAC on March 27, 2020, 09:22:11 PM: Federal Premium 140gr Nosler Accubonds! :tup:
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 27, 2020, 09:35:23 PM: 140 accubonds or nosler partitions :tup:
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Shadrach71 on March 27, 2020, 10:56:38 PM: I have had good luck with the fallowing 120 TTSX, 140 Partitions, 140 AB. Good luck and shoot straight 🍻
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: CaNINE on March 28, 2020, 05:47:05 AM: 7-08 is a great choice for a general purpose hunting rifle and with a well placed 140 accubond or partition will kill elk just fine.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: konradcountry on March 28, 2020, 11:05:43 AM: For a more value priced alternative check out Hornady Whitetail 139.

I bought it for the range but I get about 1" groups with it.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Lumpy Taters on March 29, 2020, 07:43:57 PM: We use the Federal 140gn Accubonds and my Ruger and my wife's Thompson loves them. If you reload the partitions are another good option but they can be hard to find in factory ammo.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Cheif on March 29, 2020, 07:47:40 PM: They're elk, they're not bullet proof. They die like anything else, put a decent bullet where it belongs, stuff happens to die...
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM: Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: ghosthunter on April 27, 2020, 09:31:41 PM: Been reading up on 7 mm 08. Every article seems to promote the 140 grain. I bought a Axsis for my grandson a few years back and started liking the caliber. So bought one.
I got it last week and have it at the shop getting my Leupold HD 5 3-15x44 fire dot installed.
Picked up a chronograph too.
Hope to start shooting and finding a load next week.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2020, 09:36:53 PM: Quote from: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM
Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:

Curious why you went with Savage and not another brand? I'm strongly looking at this caliber for our next youth rifle. Thanks for the feedback!
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: bobcat on April 27, 2020, 10:51:59 PM: 140 grain is good but you might consider going with 120 grain in a Barnes bullet. I'm loading Barnes ttsx 120 grain bullets for my daughter's Savage in 7/08 and they're accurate and best of all very low recoil. No the ballistic coefficient isn't great but if you're not shooting at 500 yards or further it doesn't really matter. She also shoots 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and that's another good bullet but she just uses them for target shooting since they're so cheap.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: C-Money on April 28, 2020, 06:25:26 AM: We haven't taken an elk with the 7mm-08...yet. We have killed a few deer, and the 140gr Partition is lights out. 7mm-08 is an excellent cartridge.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Bwana Bob on April 28, 2020, 07:24:07 AM: I shoot the 120gr Barnes TS bullets in my 7x57 Win featherweight, its a awesome bullet. I even used it in Africa to take some of the smaller antelope and a warthog.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 28, 2020, 07:25:49 AM: Quote from: konradcountry on March 28, 2020, 11:05:43 AM
For a more value priced alternative check out Hornady Whitetail 139.

I bought it for the range but I get about 1" groups with it.
my sako shoot this stuff really well.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 28, 2020, 07:33:24 AM: My 12 year daugher killed her only elk with a 120 grain reduced recoil load from hornady. 130 yard up hill quatering away daughter placed shot perfect left to right for the angle got liver and offside lung elk made it about 40 yards.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: ghosthunter on August 02, 2020, 07:21:45 PM: Finally got out to the range for some quality time With the Savage 110 Storm.
Once I got it dialed in ,it was shooting sub moa at 200 yards with Remington Express core loc 140 PSP.

Going to try some others mentioned here. Got about 100 rounds through it now.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: sjhgraysage on August 04, 2020, 09:40:22 AM: I set up a Tikka T3 7mm/08 for a young just starting out hunter a few years ago.
He has killed i think three deer with it and used the Hornady 139 grain Whitetail factory load. One shot kills on all three deer. (He did miss the first one he got a shot at ;) ).
That rifle really shoots well. If I was taking him elk hunting I think I would try a little tougher bullet to see if they group as well.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: jrebel on August 04, 2020, 09:53:00 AM: Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2020, 09:36:53 PM
Quote from: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM
Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:

Curious why you went with Savage and not another brand? I'm strongly looking at this caliber for our next youth rifle. Thanks for the feedback!

Besides the accuracy out of the box, which most factory mass produced rifles have now days, the Savage has an adjustable trigger which is excellent. The new savages have fully adjustable stocks which will grow with a youth shooter aslo. I will be buying my son the Ultralite for this very reason. Light rifle, excellent shooters out of the box, Adjustable stocks and an accu trigger. What's not to like?? I have shot savages for many many years and they are fantastic rifles. :tup:
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on August 04, 2020, 04:18:01 PM: My kids have shot 140 grain Ballistic Tips out of ours and have had great success.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: magnanimous_j on August 04, 2020, 04:52:16 PM: Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2020, 09:36:53 PM
Quote from: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM
Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:

Curious why you went with Savage and not another brand? I'm strongly looking at this caliber for our next youth rifle. Thanks for the feedback!

I can't speak for the OP, but as far as bolt-guns go, I think Savage is the perfect intersection of value and quality.

Plus, they have so many configurations, you can pretty much get one set up any way you could imagine, straight from the factory.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: Dan-o on August 04, 2020, 05:24:28 PM: Quote from: magnanimous_j on August 04, 2020, 04:52:16 PM
Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2020, 09:36:53 PM
Quote from: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM
Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:

Curious why you went with Savage and not another brand? I'm strongly looking at this caliber for our next youth rifle. Thanks for the feedback!

I can't speak for the OP, but as far as bolt-guns go, I think Savage is the perfect intersection of value and quality.

Plus, they have so many configurations, you can pretty much get one set up any way you could imagine, straight from the factory.

Agreed.

When I finally wore out my Browning I needed to buy an emergency rifle to bridge one season. That was 10 years ago. That rifle is more accurate than my Browning ever dreamed of.

All 4 of my kids that hunt got savage rifles.
Title: Re: 7mm-08
Post by: PA BEN on August 05, 2020, 03:47:43 PM: Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2020, 09:36:53 PM
Quote from: ghosthunter on April 23, 2020, 11:34:59 AM
Taking notes, as my new Savage 110 Storm will arrive next week. :tup:

Curious why you went with Savage and not another brand? I'm strongly looking at this caliber for our next youth rifle. Thanks for the feedback!
Here's my new Savage 110 Storm. 150 gr Nosler Accubond LR. 5 shot group, 4 on top of each other, 5th was to good to be true. I have the Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50 on it.