7mm-08 and Africa

[Caretaker95]

For context I recently “won” a 10 day trip to Limpopo delta. Looking at the safaris list of approved calibers. My trusty old Ruger m77 Hawkeye in 7mm-08 fits the bill being specifically listed. I currently shoot hand loads for white tails and wild boar in Mississippi. 140gr nosler BT with 39.5gr HVARGET powder. The hunt I won has plains game listed. Will this rifle leave me wanting more when I get there? I have take wild pigs with it over 300lbs. Pic for attention. Thanks in advance

 

[Tim Blackwell]

It will work. I had a mate take his this year. But I'd prefer a stronger bullet than the BT, a good bonded 140.

 

[Firebird]

A month ago I did a report about my hunt and one of my rifles was a rem 700 in 7mm-08 with 150’gr using handloaded nosler Accubond long range bullets-ABLR.
I was surprised and pleased with its performance on kudu down to duiker and a small warthog and several in between. Please note that I used a bonded bullet and a heavier weight. I also shoot a bit every week most of the year.
You can read the report and judge for yourself, also ask your ph what they think.
My summation-the 7mm-08 is a bit light for Africa and the wide variety of species that are offered there. A heavier caliber will serve you better and I would insist on a bonded construction bullet. That said, mine was great and I was pleased with the results. It is certainly capable of taking cleanly the majority of africas plains game species.

I don’t know how to attach a link, but this is the beginning of my report so you can find it.
Beautiful hog by the way!

 

[skydiver386]

I think on everything from Kudu on down you'll be in great shape. Wouldn't hunt Eland with it, but for most Plains Game the 140grain from a 7-08 should work great if you put it where it needs to go.

The shot placement on some African game can vary from North American game, and the small book "Perfect Shot Africa" is a great way to become familiar with where to put that 140 grain bullet.

In my opinion, after good optics and a good pair of boots, this book is some of the best money you can spend before your trip to Africa.

 

[Caretaker95]

A month ago I did a report about my hunt and one of my rifles was a rem 700 in 7mm-08 with 150’gr using handloaded nosler Accubond long range bullets-ABLR.
I was surprised and pleased with its performance on kudu down to duiker and a small warthog and several in between. Please note that I used a bonded bullet and a heavier weight. I also shoot a bit every week most of the year.
You can read the report and judge for yourself, also ask your ph what they think.
My summation-the 7mm-08 is a bit light for Africa and the wide variety of species that are offered there. A heavier caliber will serve you better and I would insist on a bonded construction bullet. That said, mine was great and I was pleased with the results. It is certainly capable of taking cleanly the majority of africas plains game species. View attachment 710473
I don’t know how to attach a link, but this is the beginning of my report so you can find it.
Beautiful hog by the way!

Thanks! When I had him europenacmounted we found a 22lr bullet lodged under his eye

 

[Caretaker95]

I think on everything from Kudu on down you'll be in great shape. Wouldn't hunt Eland with it, but for most Plains Game the 140grain from a 7-08 should work great if you put it where it needs to go.

The shot placement on some African game can vary from North American game, and the small book "Perfect Shot Africa" is a great way to become familiar with where to put that 140 grain bullet.
View attachment 710474
In my opinion, after good optics and a good pair of boots, this book is some of the best money you can spend before your trip to Africa.

I currently have a weaver grand slam 3x9x40 that I haven’t had to do anything outside of minor 1-2 clicks either way in 10 years or more. I also read where most shots are under 200 yards? When I shot everyday for 2-3 years due to my job as a farm manager. Those were every day ranges. The longest being 375-400 yards with the same bullet

 

[DocHolliday]

Use heaviest (160 or 175 gr) strongest bullet you can get and your gun will work fine up to and including eland

 

[AckleyHunter]

I used my 7mm-08 earlier this year with 156gr norma oryx. Killed everything quickly from bushbuck to blue wildebeast. You will be just fine even with the ballistic tips. I have shot dozens of deer with that load and the damage they do is amazing. Both the PHs at camp preferred hornady SSTs from their own personal rifles. I was there to see evey animal caped, their hides are not that thick. A bull elk has much ticker hide. Also, deer/antelope type animals may get larger in weight, but don't become much wider. We measured the kudu at around 14 inches wide. A ballistic tip will be more than enough to turn lungs to gumbo on broadside shots. But the most important thing is that you have confidence in what you are shooting. Going to the 140 accubond will give you added weight retention and same point of impact (at least in my rifles) and same exact ballistics while still expanding rapidly enough to cause a massive wound channel.

All but one of the shots on 13 different animals were under 250 yards. My recommendation would be to sight you rifle in 2 inches high at 100 yards and hold dead on out to about 250 yards. Make your PH earn his tip and get you inside that range. Don't feel the need to take a shot you are not comfortable taking, either range or angle, or sometimes too much brush.

Hope you have a great trip. Hunting there is an amazing privilege and adventure.

 

[meigsbucks]

The 7mm-08 is one of my favorite rounds. I’ve been using it since it’s intro in 1980. I’ve never used it in Africa but it pretty much duplicates the 7x57 which has taken a boatload of African game.
I’ve had success with the 140gr Barnes TSX which should be good for most African PG. I’d also consider: 150gr Swift Scirocco or any of the following 160gr: Nosler Accubond and Partition, Swift AF, TBBC and some other premium bullets.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

For context I recently “won” a 10 day trip to Limpopo delta. Looking at the safaris list of approved calibers. My trusty old Ruger m77 Hawkeye in 7mm-08 fits the bill being specifically listed. I currently shoot hand loads for white tails and wild boar in Mississippi. 140gr nosler BT with 39.5gr HVARGET powder. The hunt I won has plains game listed. Will this rifle leave me wanting more when I get there? I have take wild pigs with it over 300lbs. Pic for attention. Thanks in advance

I have a 7-08 though I haven't taken it to Africa. The PG over there tends to be bigger band tougher than whitetails here. As much as I like Nosler bullets, I would not use the Nosler BT. I have switched to the 140 grain AccuBond. It"s accurate, penetrates well and doesn't separate the jacket from the core. The last buck that I shot here was with this round. At 196 yards the bullet hit just in front of the last rib on the right, breaking two ribs and exited the side of the neck on the left. In fact I've been using AccuBonds in other rifles and have taken many animals here and Africa without recovering any bullets as they have all exited.

 

[Caretaker95]

I have a 7-08 though I haven't taken it to Africa. The PG over there tends to be bigger band tougher than whitetails here. As much as I like Nosler bullets, I would not use the Nosler BT. I have switched to the 140 grain AccuBond. It"s accurate, penetrates well and doesn't separate the jacket from the core. The last buck that I shot here was with this round. At 196 yards the bullet hit just in front of the last rib on the right, breaking two ribs and exited the side of the neck on the left. In fact I've been using AccuBonds in other rifles and have taken many animals here and Africa without recovering any bullets as they have all exited.

Even with great success on big pigs with shoulder shots thru the thick shield. What advantages would I pick up changing from my tried and true? I know it’s all preference to some point.

 

[Rem700stw]

As the 7mm-08 is the ballistic near twin of the 7x57 you will be well served with your rifle. Not so much with Ballistic tips in my opinion.

I would recommend Barnes TSX 160 grain for any plains game that walks.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Even with great success on big pigs with shoulder shots thru the thick shield. What advantages would I pick up changing from my tried and true? I know it’s all preference to some point.

I switched from the BT after two epic bullets failures with my 7 Rem Mag. One was on a small blacktail buck at about 35 yards. The bullet hit the scapula and blew up. The lungs were destroyed but it didn't leave so much as a bruise on the other side of the rib cage. I switched bullets then and have been happy with it.

You will find that the vitals of African game tend to be a little further forward than we are used to here. Your PH will.probably recommend that you shoot on the shoulder instead of behind it. I don't know which animals you will be hunting but kudu, gemsbok, waterbuck and others are way bigger and with much heavier shoulder bones than any wild hog. Of course , if you are only going to shoot an impala and smaller critters you could use just about any bullet, but compared to the cost of a trip to Africa, upgrading your bullets are chump change.

 

[Rem700stw]

What you will gain is near 100% weight retention and penetration. I am a big fan of 2 holes for every shot. One in, one out. Every animal hit counts, recovered or not. Exit wounds improve your chances of recovery in my opinion.

I have witnessed Blue Wildebeest and Gemsbok in particular soak up multiple hits with relatively soft bullets. Shot placement was good but penetration severely lacking making for long tracking or lost animals.

After 47 years of big game hunting I truly believe moderate velocity and deep penetration are your safest bets for a quick kill. I have been a practicing veterinarian for 36 years and I explore every wound tract on every animal harvested in my presence.

I have killed dozens of animals in Africa ranging in size from jackal to Cape Buffalo with Barnes TSX calibers from .284 to .423 with no failures. Not every opportunity came with ideal broadside presentation but every animal shot was recovered in short order and almost every one had an exit wound.

 

[shootist~]

The 7mm08 is good, but the 140 BT might not be tough enough for some PG. Barnes TTSX (or Hornady CX) or one of the premium bonded bullets would be preferred.

BTW, that's one big-ass pig! I'm curious if it was a head shot?

 

[Caretaker95]

The 7mm08 is good, but the 140 BT might not be tough enough for some PG. Barnes TTSX (or Hornady CX) or one of the premium bonded bullets would be preferred.

BTW, that's one big-ass pig! I'm curious if it was a head shot?

No straight thru the shoulder at 40 yards at night with mentioned nosler bullet. 1 shot. Dropped in his tracks

 

[Brian]

I have killed about 40 PG with a 7x64. (Think 30-06 necked down to 7mm.) It worked fine with a premium tough bullet.
It was years ago and I used African PMP Ammo with a very tough bullet. I have not hunted PG for years.
I recommend a tough bullet for 7mm on all PG.
I should mention to you that Accubond is designed to shed up to 40% of it's weight. That is too much as far as I am concerned.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I am a big fan of the 7mm-08 and have four of them. I have also used the 140 ballistic tips in 280 enough to know they worked.

I used it to kill a Tennessee Walking horse with a broken leg, it will shoot through a 4x4 cresote post every time.

I also used the 150 Ballistic Tip to kill a Bull elk and it worked fine, and exited.

I would probably use an all copper bullet because of the better blood trails, but the ballistic tips will work with careful shot placement.

 

[Longwalker]

I like the 7mm08 cartridge. Both my sons shoot 7mm08 rifles and have used them successfully for elk. But I’d advise a heavier, or at least tougher bullet. A bonded core 154-160 grain premium bullet or all-copper 140 grain. They will work just as well as your favourite 140 BT on lighter plains game, and will give much more predictable, sure kills on the larger species. Whitetail deer are not the same as African antelope. I believe most antelope species are tougher and require somewhat stouter bullets.

 

[Caretaker95]

I have killed about 40 PG with a 7x64. (Think 30-06 necked down to 7mm.) It worked fine with a premium tough bullet.
It was years ago and I used African PMP Ammo with a very tough bullet. I have not hunted PG for years.
I recommend a tough bullet for 7mm on all PG.
I should mention to you that Accubond is designed to shed up to 40% of it's weight. That is too much as far as I am concerned.

Any thoughts on sierra game kings or swift A frames?