7mm-08 on Elk
- Thread starter OldMan
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
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OldMan
The 7mm-08 would work well on elk with the right bullet and reasonable range.
I would think a 150 gr PT at a MV of 2700-2800 fps would work well out to 300 yds. Shot placement is the key.
You could load up 120 gr BT's for lots of off season practice and then go with the 150 gr PT for elk. I pick the PT over the AB due to its shorter length which will not take up as much case capacity.
JD338
The 7mm-08 would work well on elk with the right bullet and reasonable range.
I would think a 150 gr PT at a MV of 2700-2800 fps would work well out to 300 yds. Shot placement is the key.
You could load up 120 gr BT's for lots of off season practice and then go with the 150 gr PT for elk. I pick the PT over the AB due to its shorter length which will not take up as much case capacity.
JD338
lefty315
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2004
- 933
- 415
I have a friend who has shot 3 elk with his Remington 7mm-08. He is getting pretty good velocity with IMR 4350 and 150 grain Nosler PT's. He has loaded the 140's but he gets the same velocity with both so he stayed with the 150's.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,314
- 5,979
I've never seen an elk taken with a 7mm-08, but I have seen a fair number of moose taken with the cartridge. JD338 is correct in suggesting that the 150 grain PT would be more than adequate for elk in this cartridge. As with every cartridge,
257 Ackley
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2008
- 1,763
- 0
I have harvested two elk with the 7mm-08 (one was a large 5X5 bull) using the 140 grain A-frame bullet from Swift. Both were one shot kills and complete pass throughs of the elk. As others have said, practice and know the maximum range that you can effectively harvest what you are hunting.
Powerstroke
Handloader
- Feb 24, 2006
- 1,799
- 58
The 7-08 is quite the under rated round. Excellent for younger shooters as there is a lot of load data out there for reduced round hand loads for off season practice.
Most all I've seen are very accurate and don't seem to be too finicky with what goes down the tube.
I've taken several elk with mine with the B-tips.... Accuracy is great
Most all I've seen are very accurate and don't seem to be too finicky with what goes down the tube.
I've taken several elk with mine with the B-tips.... Accuracy is great
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,276
- 2,988
One of my favorites. 120 gr ballistic tips at 3100 fps for deer and antelope.
160 AB/Partitions at close to 2700 fps for elk or anything really.
I had a $250 Stevens 200 in one and man did it shoot!
160 AB/Partitions at close to 2700 fps for elk or anything really.
I had a $250 Stevens 200 in one and man did it shoot!
3006savage
Beginner
- Jul 3, 2009
- 85
- 0
The 7mm 08 is only around 150 yards behind the well respected 7mm Rem mag when you compare downrange ballistics. It is a pretty solid 350 yard rifle with the right bullet particulary at the altitude most elk are taken. The average Joe probably should not be shooting any further than that when it comes to hunting in the field.
I would think the 7-08 would be a great elk rifle at 300 yards or under. Good bullets of great SD and BC numbers. If you can push a 140-150 to 2700FPS, that would have plenty of juice for elk. They are tough, but nothing a decently penetrating bullet would handle with ease. Plus, your shooter being a young female would enjoy the recoil reduction of reduced loads. Scotty
Greg Nolan
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2004
- 2,143
- 18
The 7mm-08 is quite capable with the bullets mentioned. You could up the ante with light magnums etc. but that would negate the light recoil you're after. It has plenty of punch within the normal ranges a youngster would want to shoot an elk within. A very good choice indeed!
Greg
Greg
6mm Remington
Ammo Smith
- Feb 27, 2006
- 5,240
- 522
OldMan":34g46kwe said:
The 7mm-08 would work fine for her for everything from antelope to deer, to elk. A 140 gr. AccuBond would work very well for everything on the list I just mentioned. It's a little harder to find, but the 7x57 Mauser would be another good one as well. I'm kind of partial to it, but if you don't reload, the 7mm-08 would be the better choice. They load the 7mm Mauser pretty light because of all the old rifles still out there for it. Balistically, the 7mm-08 compared with the 7x57 is about like comparing the 6mm Remington to the .243 Winchester.
7mm-08 or 7x57! You would not go wrong with either, and they won't beat her up and make her afraid of the rifle. A Remington Model 700 MTN rifle with the laminated stock would be SWEET! 8)
Coyote Hunter
Beginner
- Mar 9, 2009
- 60
- 0
Oldman -
In 1982 I bought my first centerfire, a 7mm RM, for hunting elk in Colorado. It was my only "elk" rifle for the next 20 years. The 7mm RM cartridge worked well for me, my hunting buddy and my mentors.
With the 7mm RM and 160g bullets I would have no concern about a 500-550 yard shot. With the 7mm-08 I would probably limit myself to 400 yards, just as I would with my .308 Win.
Over the last 27 years a 400-yard limit would not have been much of a handicap. My longest shot at elk to date, and I've hunted every year since 1982 with one or two exceptions, is 350 yards.
In 1982 I bought my first centerfire, a 7mm RM, for hunting elk in Colorado. It was my only "elk" rifle for the next 20 years. The 7mm RM cartridge worked well for me, my hunting buddy and my mentors.
With the 7mm RM and 160g bullets I would have no concern about a 500-550 yard shot. With the 7mm-08 I would probably limit myself to 400 yards, just as I would with my .308 Win.
Over the last 27 years a 400-yard limit would not have been much of a handicap. My longest shot at elk to date, and I've hunted every year since 1982 with one or two exceptions, is 350 yards.
I am a new guy to the forum but a very old guy when it comes to elk, I was standing next to my dad when he shot his first one in 1958 and have hunted every year pretty much since then. Have been fairly successfull also. Now having all of that field time and fairly large sample of dead elk to judge by I don'tconsider the 7mm-08 in any way a 400 yard elk cartirdge. At best with carefully aimed shots we are looking at a 200-250 yard elk gun. Now I am not talking about just killing the animal I am talking about cleanly and ethically time after time. If you have the patience to wait for the standing broad side shot, and pass up the quartering away, or running, or walking away animal then you are all right, but most hunters don't. Even then the Partition, A Frame or something similar should be used so that a leak hole is available on the other side. PO Ackley (many of you probably don't know that name) was a fairly popular author, gun guy in the late 50"s and 60"s recommended that the"minimum"cartridge for elk must develop 1500 lbs of energy at the striking point and stated the 2500ft lbs was even better. I don't believe the 7mm-08 will either at the ranges being talked about here. very far.
My Hodgons manual shows that the 08 can push a 150gr. bullet to 2800Fps the 7mag pushes that same bullet to 3100 and the 160gr. to 2900 there is a huge difference in energy developed between these cartridges. The 7mm-80 is great for deer but must be considered as minimual for elk. :grin:
My Hodgons manual shows that the 08 can push a 150gr. bullet to 2800Fps the 7mag pushes that same bullet to 3100 and the 160gr. to 2900 there is a huge difference in energy developed between these cartridges. The 7mm-80 is great for deer but must be considered as minimual for elk. :grin:
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,314
- 5,979
+1
Good to have you with us, Elkman.
Dr. Mike
Thank you for the welcome. I am hopeing to meet and chat (so to speak) with many like me with a love for guns, hunting and reloading. I am primarily a elk hunter I spend 25+ days of the year in several states (tags permitting) with so far at almost 65 an excellent record. I do hunt deer in my back yard but from the time I saw my first elk that was what I wanted to hunt and have pretty much done that for 50 years now. Haven't got many more left in me but will go as hard as I can as long as I can then look for easier hunting ground. Have used a variety of calibers with the .300 Win Mag the most effective for the past 38 years. I will look at my editing closer the next time, my brain seems to get ahead of my fingers now days. Again thanks for the welcome!!!!!!! :grin:
Thank you for the welcome. I am hopeing to meet and chat (so to speak) with many like me with a love for guns, hunting and reloading. I am primarily a elk hunter I spend 25+ days of the year in several states (tags permitting) with so far at almost 65 an excellent record. I do hunt deer in my back yard but from the time I saw my first elk that was what I wanted to hunt and have pretty much done that for 50 years now. Haven't got many more left in me but will go as hard as I can as long as I can then look for easier hunting ground. Have used a variety of calibers with the .300 Win Mag the most effective for the past 38 years. I will look at my editing closer the next time, my brain seems to get ahead of my fingers now days. Again thanks for the welcome!!!!!!! :grin:
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,314
- 5,979
Elkman,
Nothing wrong with your editing. Your experience will undoubtedly be valuable to each of us.
Nothing wrong with your editing. Your experience will undoubtedly be valuable to each of us.
elkeater2
Handloader
- Jan 5, 2009
- 761
- 85
Welcome Elkman! You sound scarily like me in many ways. My Dad and the NRA taught me how to shoot, getting up to 'Distinguished Marksman' I think they called it.
A neighbor gun nut had more time than Dad, and helped me put together a 98 Mauser, Douglas barrel in 7x57, with a K3 Weaver. Got reloading start with all Herter's gear.
I got 10 boxes of the old Hornady 139 gr. spirepoints, and also got tired of making 7x57 brass from National Guard surplus '06 stuff. Had the local smith ream it out to 7mm/06.
I'm going to get to the 7mm-08 topic, promise :grin:
Shot my first elk at 17 and don't think I'm done yet. Living in Wyo. has been a blessing. I cooked up a load with those 139's that worked for me in terms of groups, trajectory, pressure signs, etc. Those bullets took everything I shot down, no problems ever. 35+ elk, and deer and antelope. Maybe 6 animals at more than 325 yards.
Got a chronograph a couple years ago, and chronyed a few of those old loads and guess what? 2850 - 2875 fps MAX!!! I guess you could say I've been shooting a 7mm-08 a long time! What's that all mean in relation to this topic? I think that the 7mm-08 has to be considered a decent elk round, and more than 'minimal' or marginal. Decently constructed cup & core bullets launched at these non-magnum velocities get to perform the way they were designed to - they expand without flying apart and penetrate well, too. They also arrive at 350 yds. with 1500 ft-lbs of energy. The energy at all distances to 350 yds. is a match for .308 150 gr. bullets started at 2900 fps.
Counter to some of the advice then, I'd say don't use those premium super tough penetrating bullets which require higher velocity to really expand and penetrate. You're only shooting one elk at a time, right?
I suggest you will get better expansion with standard bullets at 7mm-08 velocities. Fold the mirrors in, don't look back, pick a good shooting load and go for it!!
Elkeater2
A neighbor gun nut had more time than Dad, and helped me put together a 98 Mauser, Douglas barrel in 7x57, with a K3 Weaver. Got reloading start with all Herter's gear.
I got 10 boxes of the old Hornady 139 gr. spirepoints, and also got tired of making 7x57 brass from National Guard surplus '06 stuff. Had the local smith ream it out to 7mm/06.
I'm going to get to the 7mm-08 topic, promise :grin:
Shot my first elk at 17 and don't think I'm done yet. Living in Wyo. has been a blessing. I cooked up a load with those 139's that worked for me in terms of groups, trajectory, pressure signs, etc. Those bullets took everything I shot down, no problems ever. 35+ elk, and deer and antelope. Maybe 6 animals at more than 325 yards.
Got a chronograph a couple years ago, and chronyed a few of those old loads and guess what? 2850 - 2875 fps MAX!!! I guess you could say I've been shooting a 7mm-08 a long time! What's that all mean in relation to this topic? I think that the 7mm-08 has to be considered a decent elk round, and more than 'minimal' or marginal. Decently constructed cup & core bullets launched at these non-magnum velocities get to perform the way they were designed to - they expand without flying apart and penetrate well, too. They also arrive at 350 yds. with 1500 ft-lbs of energy. The energy at all distances to 350 yds. is a match for .308 150 gr. bullets started at 2900 fps.
Counter to some of the advice then, I'd say don't use those premium super tough penetrating bullets which require higher velocity to really expand and penetrate. You're only shooting one elk at a time, right?
I suggest you will get better expansion with standard bullets at 7mm-08 velocities. Fold the mirrors in, don't look back, pick a good shooting load and go for it!!
Elkeater2
Elkeater
As yet I have not killed more than one per shot. My dad did thou a couple of times in dark timber (he was in the sun on opposite ridge) both pass thru's.
I killed my first 13 elk with a 30:06 then decided after a particularly dismal shooting of a cow elk across a canyon that something more potent was in order. I do realize that in the hands of a cool, careful, marksman that will pick his or her shots that even smaller cartridges will fill the freezer with elk. But those people are limited and most are better served with a larger more powerful caliber that they can shoot well. Shooting well is also a problem because overgunned is probably worse than not quite enough because of a false sense of confidence. No matter what one uses he/she must be competent with the rifle. But when the shot is a little far back, or long, or going away, a caliber on the high end of the spectrum is more likely to have made a clean, ethical kill than the one on the lower end.
I have an elk tag for Wyoming unit 29 this fall, and I will be taking two guns my post 64, .300 Win mag and a newer Rem 700, in 7mm STW, both proven elk rifles. Both develop more than 2300 ft lbs at 400 yards.
I also am not done hunting yet, I am in pretty good shape for 64 have backpacked out my last 4 elk (5 years) 3 without help and am looking forward to several more season's in the mountains. Then I am going to have to start looking for flat ground.
Wish you many more season's also, us old guys have to push togeather.
As yet I have not killed more than one per shot. My dad did thou a couple of times in dark timber (he was in the sun on opposite ridge) both pass thru's.
I killed my first 13 elk with a 30:06 then decided after a particularly dismal shooting of a cow elk across a canyon that something more potent was in order. I do realize that in the hands of a cool, careful, marksman that will pick his or her shots that even smaller cartridges will fill the freezer with elk. But those people are limited and most are better served with a larger more powerful caliber that they can shoot well. Shooting well is also a problem because overgunned is probably worse than not quite enough because of a false sense of confidence. No matter what one uses he/she must be competent with the rifle. But when the shot is a little far back, or long, or going away, a caliber on the high end of the spectrum is more likely to have made a clean, ethical kill than the one on the lower end.
I have an elk tag for Wyoming unit 29 this fall, and I will be taking two guns my post 64, .300 Win mag and a newer Rem 700, in 7mm STW, both proven elk rifles. Both develop more than 2300 ft lbs at 400 yards.
I also am not done hunting yet, I am in pretty good shape for 64 have backpacked out my last 4 elk (5 years) 3 without help and am looking forward to several more season's in the mountains. Then I am going to have to start looking for flat ground.
Wish you many more season's also, us old guys have to push togeather.
