7mm-08?

[MTLabrador]

One of the topics I have discussed at length with the ballisticians at Barnes are the velocities required for excellent bullet expansion.

I will call them soon and get back to you about this bullet at the velocity of 2650, which is just under max. The Barnes MAX Range X bullet with a BC of .439 should be just fine at 400 yards plus.

But I will go right to the horse's mouth about this.



Thank you for your post

It all depends on what Barnes considers to be “expansion”. But a 160 tsx out of a 7-08 isn’t giving anything near what I consider to be enough expansion compared to say a partition or ballistic tip.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

It all depends on what Barnes considers to be “expansion”. But a 160 tsx out of a 7-08 isn’t giving anything near what I consider to be enough expansion compared to say a partition or ballistic tip.

I emailed one of ballisticians at Barnes. They near always get back to me in a few days. And the better 160 grain bullet would be TTSXBT. The extra "T" stands for Plastic tipped which facilitates full expansion at lower velocity, plus the BT means boattail which increases BC and helps maintain velocity for full expansion at longer range and lower velocity.

After Hear back I will get back to you.

 

[Hammerxc]

Big fan of the 7mm-08, used in MN/ND for white-tail and MT for white-tail and mule deer.

140 gr Accubond, have also used 139 gr SST. Plenty of deer taken around 200-335 yards with my group.

I've also hunted with 30-06, 308 Win, 300 Win mag, and recommend the 7mm-08 for new hunters. I believe it's the best of the cartridges based on the 308 Win case.

jmho

 

[Brad]

I find it amusing that somehow the the 7-08 is "a whole bigger and better step up" to the 6.5 CM. The 6.5 CM runs faster than the 6.5.54 MS in its day with all bullet weights - a big game cartridges on par with the 7x57's reputation (which is the 7mm-08's slightly bigger brother). Hell, Charles Sheldon used the 6.5x54 to take 100's of head of Alaskan game, including dozens of grizzlies, but somehow the 7mm-08 is "a whole bigger and better step up."

When anyone starts quoting energy tables, I know they don't have much experience, or are lost in the mists of time. Anyone with a bit of experience knows energy doesn't kill animals... enough velocity to open an expanding bullet put in the right place is what kills game.

While mono's have the edge on penetration, I've found that lead core bullets that shrapnel (which penetrate less) do a quicker job of killing. I'll take that over pure penetration. IF that were the ultimate, we'd shoot FMJ's.

I've taken elk with all sorts of cartridges, from the 7mm-08 and 270 up through the 300 Mag's and 338 WM. Based on this conversation the 338 WM should be "a whole bigger and better step up" over the 7mm-08. But I've not found that to be the case. So how can that be true of the 6.5 CM?

Experience can be long, but narrow, and the understanding of that experience can be colored by our preconceived ideas and prejudices.

Here's a bull I took with a 7mm-08 and one 150 Ballistic Tip. It died faster than any elk I've ever shot.



Here's a bull I shot with a 338 WM and a 210 NP... it took a finisher:



The 7-08 is "a whole bigger and better step up" than the 338 WM, right?