I've got a couple of 7-08's and these work well in both:
140 Accubond- 42g Varget, OAL 2.803
45g IMR 4350, OAL 2.803
47g Big Game, OAL 2.803
140 Partition-- 42g RL15, OAL 2.803
120 BT- 45g Varget, OAL 2.803
I owned the Summit for a while. It has the typical S&B stellar optics, and an almost unusable thin wire duplex reticle, at least for my 50+ yr old eyes. I got rid of it pronto.
I've been very fortunate to have spent lots and lots of time hunting free range aoudad sheep here in West Texas, both in the Trans Pecos and caprock escarpment country NE of Midland, TX. I've probably killed/culled over 100 of them, as years ago there were many ranchers out here who hated the...
You did good idaho....really good. I have the same binocs and S2 spotter, only mine has the 70x eyepiece. World class is right. I had a Kowa 884 and the S2 at the same time for a short while, and the S2 is just as sharp at all mags up to 45x, and sharper than the Kowa at mags above that...
I'm all for checking out the used prices on higher end glass, as mentioned. If you decide on new, I'd very much recommend you check out the Vanguard Endeavor EDII series. Fantastic glass, appears to be pretty solid.
My hunting buddy had his Zeiss spotter focus mechanism break a couple or so years ago. He sent it to Zeiss, they sent it to Germany, and he had his repaired spotter back 5 months later. In the meantime, communication was rather poor. He wasn't impressed.
You're in quite the enviable position! I'm a 7mm junkie. When heading out to hunt mule deer, I never leave the house without my Nosler Patriot 7mm08/140 AB combo, or one of my 7RemMag's and 160 AB's. Good luck!
I owned the Kowa 884 and Meopta S2 at the same time, and had them side by side for literally hours at a time. At magnifications of up to 30-35x, I could tell very little difference, both being fantastic. At mags 40x+, the S2 was sharper and colors just popped into view, just noticeably better...
I believe OL attempts to test new model stuff IIRC.
I am also a fan of Meopta, owning the 10x42HD, and the S2 spotter, which is the finest spotting scope I've ever used, and I've had it side by side many times with my guide buddy's Zeiss FL T, Swaro 80HD, and Nikon 82ED. The image clarity at...
Nice pics, and I'm looking forward to the story too! I've killed over 30 head of African plains game with a 7mm 160 Accubond combo. What was your combo? Congrats!
As others have mentioned, and I agree.....every time I try a new load work up in my 7 RM's I grab RL 22 first. I always start at .010 off lands, find pressure, and go from there.