7mm-08 -- the forgotten caliber

[Flbt]

Yes probably a decade or a few years more.
Back then when trying something new if I didn’t like the way it worked I went on to something else.

 

[Elkeater]

I checked today and, alas, there wasn’t a 7mm-08 in the safe.

I think you should change that. But I’m also great at helping other people spend money on guns and hunting.

 

[CBH Australia]

I checked today and, alas, there wasn’t a 7mm-08 in the safe.

Perhaps you can rectify that

 

[MS 9x56]

How do you come to this optical elusion??

Usually by comparing 100 year old 7x57 load data to new 7-08 data. The 7mm Mauser loaded to modern pressures will clearly best the 7-08.

 

[IvW]

Usually by comparing 100 year old 7x57 load data to new 7-08 data. The 7mm Mauser loaded to modern pressures will clearly best the 7-08.

Exactly....and due to the twist rate 7x57 will shoot heavier bullets better suited to african hunting.....
If someone wants too shoot 140gr step down in caliber....7x57 does its best work with 170-175 grn bullets.....
I think I know I have killed cape buffalo and eland with mine....
It is not a girly caliber......

 

[Smokewagonokc]

I have a Howa lightning rifle in 7-08. Love it. I bought it from my buddy. He said the blueing sucked and he literally sat in his blind and watched the barrel rust before his eyes. I took it and had the barrel and action redone in some sort of aircraft grade coating, similar to ceracote. Cant remember the name of the product. Regardless, it works and no rust ever again.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It will mimic my 270 winchester with 120 grain Barnes TTSX bullets. 48 grains of Ramshot Big Game with a 120 grain TTSX gets me ~ 3100 fps, in my Tikka its a 5 shot, 1 moa to 300 yards. outside of dangerous game there isn't anything this wont kill. Mild recoil, plentiful factory ammo, easily made brass from 308 Win., super accurate. What's not to love ??

@30-06Ken
Better to make it out of 243 brass. The more of that you use the less available to 243 owners so they may have to sell them and get a 7mm-08
Bob

 

[TXTad]

I have a Howa lightning rifle in 7-08. Love it. I bought it from my buddy. He said the blueing sucked and he literally sat in his blind and watched the barrel rust before his eyes. I took it and had the barrel and action redone in some sort of aircraft grade coating, similar to ceracote. Cant remember the name of the product. Regardless, it works and no rust ever again.

My 7mm-08 is also a Howa, in the form of a Weatherby Vanguard. I've had it since the late 90s. I've only ever used it on Texas whitetails, and it's never failed me. I probably should be using 120 gr bullets, but I worked up some Varget loads with Hornady 139s and haven't ever bothered to try anything else. I'm getting close to the end the cartridges I loaded years ago, so maybe I'll try 120s next. Or, maybe I'll just keep the same formula that has worked.

One time I used it, I had been dropped off at a blind and was told they'd come get me after dark unless they heard me shoot. I shot, and waited until dark. When my ride arrived, he was surprised, saying, "I heard a shot, but it was so quiet I thought it was on the neighbor's property."

The 7mm-08 works on deer-sized game without any dramatics. Maybe that's why it's easy to forget.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wait, what?

I mean, I thought the whole point of the 7mm-08 was exactly that it was designed as a substitute for the .308 Win for those places that could not use the .308 Win, because a .308 Win is basically a 7.62X51mm, which is the 7.62 NATO. Neck the 7.62X51 down to 7X51, and there's your 7mm-08. If it weren't for the restriction, there would never have been a reason to develop the round.

I don't think is has a "bad rep", as much as I don't see it doing anything a .308 Winchester can't do, so to me it's more of a "why bother?" I mean, I like the .30-06 over the .308 Win, but mostly for the history, as I know the two a very ballistically similar. I also know that anywhere I go in the world (unless they actually forbid .308 Win), I will probably find .308 Winchester on the shelf.

Oh, and let's be honest. Those places that forbid the .308 Winchester because it's a "Military Round" (which was the reason France used) also forbid the 7X57, 8X57, .30-06, et al, for exactly the same reason. So to compare it to the 7X57 is really a non-sequitur, because the 7X57 couldn't be used anyway. And the 7X64? Herr Brenneke developed it as an improvement on the 7X57, but the 8X57 was used instead. I guess someone thought re-barreling AND re-chambering was easier than simply re-chambering. But that's a different story, for a different time.

@SaintPanzer
From memory the 7-08 was designed as a metallic silhouette cartridge for use in the Remington XP 100 bolt action pistol.
Remington made this pistol and it went on to become the model 600 rifle. The reason behind the pistol coming out first was to do with the law.
You can lengthen a pistol to make it into a rifle. But it's a big no no to shorten a rifle to a pistol.
Hence the chicken and egg scenario.
Hopefully my memory has served me correctly
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Time to chime in.

Many years ago when money was tight and I was keen I wanted a deer legal calibre in a short action. I was a long way short of chasing deer at that point but I wanted something to grow into.
This is based on the one states requirement of a minimum of .270 calibre for certain species.
I formed the opinion that a 7mm-08 would be a great all rounder for Australia. A Remington Model 7 Kevlar stock was out of reach
In short I found a Zastave .308, later changed to a Parker Hale .308 and the a brand new Tikka T3 in .308 in about 2012 all were used on pest animals.
A few years later I found a Tikka CTR on clearance in 7mm-08 put a Meopta scope on it and bought 400 rounds of Factory Winchester am on 139gn dog point and shot pigs and foxes weekly. I started loading Nosler 120gn BT and it still stopped every thing that I hit properly.

I think it punches above its weight and delivers results.

I watched a YouTube comparison on 6.5 Creedmoor., 7mm-08 and .308. Using comparable factory ammo from memory. The presenter kept showing results, specs or ballistics and showing every time he favoured the 6.5Creedmoor saying when you look at it it’s pretty close even where the others had a better point.

Times change and I have a few rifle options and still think the 7mm-08 CTR 20” is a great truck rifle that I have made memories with.

.308 popularity overshadows 7mm-08 in Australia by miles. I would not even guess a ratio because it could be grossly understated.

Obviously 6.5Creedmoor also outnumbers 7mm-08 popularity by tons in Australia so no argument there

I do believe the 7mm-08 is a good allrounder and worthy consideration for a hunting rifle and it just happens to be low recoil making a good choice for youth and lady shooters.

@CBH Australia
Chris the reason the 308 is so popular is you can buy ammo anywhere for a reasonable price compared to the 7mm.
Lat I looked 7-08 ammo was up over $60 per box compared to the 97 a 40/ box
Some of the ELDM Creedemore ammo is up at $147/ box of 20.
Economics plays a big part but the 7-08 is a great cartridge but I would take the 7x57 over it just for the history of it. That's me tho. Both are good.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Contrary to the positive sentiments that are popular in this thread, the 7mm-08 (much like the 30-06 cartridge discussed in an adjacent thread) is a wholly outdated and inadequate cartridge for field use in any current day hunting scenario; and as a result, any unwanted vintage walnut and blue steel rifles chambered in this formerly viable cartridge can now be dropped off anonymously at my newly established 7mm-08 rescue shelter in North Texas.

@cash_tx
Do you accept 243s at your rescue centre to be euthanized as well.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Like this?

View attachment 735556

If so, and your experience with it was a decade or two ago, it was almost certainly the ammo. Those older Ballistic Silvertips were very frangible.

I put four rounds from that box of .300WSM in to a busted up buck the last few minutes of light on the final day of our 2010 deer season. Every single shot was a kill shot and not one bullet penetrated even remotely intact into the chest. Shock killed that deer.

@BonUm16
I use the 115 gn version of that in my 25 @3,300+ fps. Drops deer in their tracks. Problem is a lot of meat damage in the way out but it destroys everything in the chest cavity as well.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My 7mm-08 is also a Howa, in the form of a Weatherby Vanguard. I've had it since the late 90s. I've only ever used it on Texas whitetails, and it's never failed me. I probably should be using 120 gr bullets, but I worked up some Varget loads with Hornady 139s and haven't ever bothered to try anything else. I'm getting close to the end the cartridges I loaded years ago, so maybe I'll try 120s next. Or, maybe I'll just keep the same formula that has worked.

One time I used it, I had been dropped off at a blind and was told they'd come get me after dark unless they heard me shoot. I shot, and waited until dark. When my ride arrived, he was surprised, saying, "I heard a shot, but it was so quiet I thought it was on the neighbor's property."

The 7mm-08 works on deer-sized game without any dramatics. Maybe that's why it's easy to forget.

@TXTad
If'n it ain't broke don't fix it.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

My son has a 7-08 in a Browning lever action that he absolutely loves. He shoots 140 grain SSTs in his.

 

[MS 9x56]

It is only forgotten by those who don’t use it.

 

[cash_tx]

@cash_tx
Do you accept 243s at your rescue centre to be euthanized as well.
Bob

No, @Bob Nelson 35Whelen , I just take those straight out back to the tomato garden.

 

[CBH Australia]

@CBH Australia
Chris the reason the 308 is so popular is you can buy ammo anywhere for a reasonable price compared to the 7mm.
Lat I looked 7-08 ammo was up over $60 per box compared to the 97 a 40/ box
Some of the ELDM Creedemore ammo is up at $147/ box of 20.
Economics plays a big part but the 7-08 is a great cartridge but I would take the 7x57 over it just for the history of it. That's me tho. Both are good.
Bob

Agreed, but I reload.

I wanted a 7x57 or 7mm-08 for the wife but I got a good deal on a 7x64 so she has that.

It agree on the ammo pricing but it seems the 7mm-08 must have never really taken off in Australia. Yes, scale of economy etc but even my Tikka CTR was purchased on clearance . It seems they were not popular but I was looking for a 7-08 and I like specials.

My mate had a little Ruger 7-08 and sold it due to ammo cost. I get a bit precious about dropping my brass but I will take another pig over worrying about a bit of brass.

I know of one other 7-08 among friends but that’s OK I’m still impressed by its performance

 

[Sideshow]

Usually by comparing 100 year old 7x57 load data to new 7-08 data. The 7mm Mauser loaded to modern pressures will clearly best the 7-08.

Thanks for posting that. I’ve a BSA CF2 that I re barrelled in a 1-9 twist 7x57 (@Bob Nelson 35Whelen will be happy it used to be a .243 ) and found the factory ammo lacking so under some good advice started low and building up useing 7-08 data. Love it trouble is I’ve found a load that works and have stopped looking for others. I wanted the nostalgia of 7x57 and yet have the performance of the 7-08. You need a modern action for this though.

 

[leslie hetrick]

hunting in near zero weather proved imr 4350 and varget were the right powders for the 7mm08.

 

[Old3Toe]

Thanks for posting that. I’ve a BSA CF2 that I re barrelled in a 1-9 twist 7x57 (@Bob Nelson 35Whelen will be happy it used to be a .243 ) and found the factory ammo lacking so under some good advice started low and building up useing 7-08 data. Love it trouble is I’ve found a load that works and have stopped looking for others. I wanted the nostalgia of 7x57 and yet have the performance of the 7-08. You need a modern action for this though.
View attachment 735901

Would you please explain what manner of sorcery is exhibited at the front end of your optic?