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April 20, 2010
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I am looking at buying a used deer rifle, in 7mm-08. What do you guys think about this cartridge? I have always read favorable reviews on them, but ammo selection seems limited. Would I be getting a caliber that's going to be more or less obsolete someday?
The rifle will be for my 18 yr old daughter, she shoots a .30-30 now very well, I was thinking the 7mm-08 would be good as she is a bit recoil sensitive and would not like anything heavier than .30-30. The old model 94 has seen better days and I'd like to get a magazine fed rifle as we are both tired of thumbing shells in and out of the tube anyway.
Thanks,
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
May 17, 2010
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My daughter is using a Remington 7mm08, and has been for about 3 years. She is now 20. She is also sharing it with my 13yo son. it has been and continues to be a good little gun for both of them.. and i suspect will be for a long time.
PS; I do not hunt and can't speak to ballistics of the caliber. It will kill a deer, now does it drop in 5 seconds or 5 minutes I think is more on the place struck than anything.
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in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
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1 CZ 75B
July 7, 2011
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I've had several 7mm 08 rifles in the past and I have now have a Lone eagle single shot pistol in 7mm 08. Its a very good caliber in my opinion. I don't think it will be obsolete soon. It has good ballistics, based on the 308 case so cases will always be available. Recoil in quite manageable even in the pistol. For deer you really only need the 140 grain bullet which I think is the most common loading. I reload and its one of those few calibers where you can't seem to find a bad load. I was trying to get my wife interested in the caliber when we were looking for a deer rifle for her, she settled for a Browning A-bolt hunter in 260 Rem which is about the same cartridge with a 6.5 mm bullet instead.
April 8, 2011
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7mm-08 is fine caliber and I 'm sure it will be around for a long time. Its got nice ballistics, recoil and is great for deer and other critters. I have a savage american I think with the accutrigger, fine shootin iron.. would reccomend to others
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Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Lonwolf,
My son has a 7MM-08 in a Kimber 84 and it shoots very well. In my opinion, in that rifle the recoil is "above average" for a deer gun. It is actually more brutal than my wife's Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06. The loads we use are 140 grain loads and we have several very successful recipes that have taken numerous deer and one southern hog to date. I also believe it will be around for the long haul as most of the 7MM offerings are very popular for handloaders.
SMF
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July 2, 2011
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Progressing from .30-30 to the 7mm-08 should be a good move for her. I had a Savage with the accu-trigger awhile back and really liked. Only thing I didn't like was no iron sights. I probably would have kept it, but find myself more drawn classic military rifles. Only so many slots in the case.
DOH! 
Should have bought a bigger case!
I don't think it will be obsoleted anytime soon. I can tell you first hand that it will dispatch any whitetail very nicely. I took out a big boar with mine with a shot right in the shoulder armor at about 80 yards. He took about 5 steps. It's a very nice all around hunter.
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if you find one...what's your plan?
October 8, 2011
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We have one in the family, a Remington Model 7 Youth in 7mm-08. We have owned it for about 8 yrs. It is my son's rifle now but I have used it along with my daughter. In my opinion, it is just about the perfect deer caliber as far as performance vs recoil. I wouldn't worry about ammo availabilty, all major manufactures make ammo for it. 139/140 grain is ideal so why change anything?
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Thanks guys for the input, seems every review of this cartridge is similar, an excellent whitetail round that seems to have never quite gotten as popular as it should. Not a wide selection of factory ammo but looks like every manufacturer still offers a good hunting round. I am going next week to look at a rifle, appreciate your opinions.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
September 16, 2020
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Dans Club
January 17, 2015
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Old thread, but interesting reply. Once you get into the ultra light weight rifles, then recoil is going straight back into your shoulder. I use a 10lbs scoped Steyr 7mm RM and carrying the extra weight is worth it for less recoil. In the heat of the moment, I don't feel recoil and the sound doesn't bother me.
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