Another Which Cartridge Poll

[MinnesotaHunter]

Does anyone have concerns about a 7mm 08 retaining enough velocity to reliability expand a 140 grain monolithic bullet at 300 yards and beyond?

Also with a 9.5 twist what would be the most stable range of bullet weight?

If I dropped to a 120 grain TSX for the 7-08 would it still be adequate for elk @400?

A TTSX or E-tip both require 1800 fps. I own both, lots of extra powder and recoil in the mag, 400yds and in no real functional benefit.

 

[Gerald Martin]

For everyone voting 30-06, unfortunately it’s not an option for this particular brand and model. Available calibers are 6.5 Creedmore ( marginal for elk) , 6.5 PRC (minimal selection of factory ammo and availability) , 7mm-08, 7mm Rem Mag, .308 and .300 Win Mag. ( too much recoil in a 7 lb rifle)

I intend to top this off with a 4-12x40 scope. Probably a Leopold Freedom. I am not interested in the CDS with this model since it doesn’t have a lock to keep the dial from spinning. I would consider a ballistic plex style reticle.

To make matters even more complex, I am hoping to upgrade my own rifle after I recover from this hit to my wallet. I have been thinking that a 7 mag was probably going to be my go to cartridge since I am going concentrate on elk with a mountain style rifle.
Decisions. Decisions…. Sweet misery.

 

[Gerald Martin]

A TTSX or E-tip both require 1800 fps. I own both, lots of extra powder and recoil in the mag, 400yds and in no real functional benefit.

I’m trying to anticipate the felt recoil for a 7mag in a 7 lb. rifle.
The comparison they have for experience is my .270 @ 7lbs. and my 30-06 @8 1/2 lbs.
I think my .270 feels like it kicks harder than the 30-06.

I have a feeling this rifle in 7 Mag is going to be pretty stiff.

For all practical purposes, I am probably splitting hairs here.

 

[rmyoung1]

For all practical purposes, I am probably splitting hairs here.

Yeah, but fracturing the follicles is at least 25% of the fun.

 

[brockel]

I’m trying to anticipate the felt recoil for a 7mag in a 7 lb. rifle.
The comparison they have for experience is my .270 @ 7lbs. and my 30-06 @8 1/2 lbs.
I think my .270 feels like it kicks harder than the 30-06.

I have a feeling this rifle in 7 Mag is going to be pretty stiff.

For all practical purposes, I am probably splitting hairs here.

Here’s 270 with 130 grain. 7mm Remington with 140 and a 30-06 with 180 grain. I picked same powder for all three to make comparison as close as possible

 

[Addicting]

I voted 7mm-08. I bought a Rem 700 from PTG for my kid. The plan is to shoot monos out of it as well. I wouldn’t hesitate a 400y shot with a 140g.

 

[brockel]

Here’s 7mm-08

 

[brockel]

Does anyone have concerns about a 7mm 08 retaining enough velocity to reliability expand a 140 grain monolithic bullet at 300 yards and beyond?

Also with a 9.5 twist what would be the most stable range of bullet weight?

If I dropped to a 120 grain TSX for the 7-08 would it still be adequate for elk @400?

Id have no problem shooting an elk with a 120 grain tsx. Seen it done with a 120 grain ballistic tip and there was no drama.

With Monos and a 9.5 twist I’m betting 145 is about as much as you can get away with. I’d lean towards the lighter weight bullets

 

[rtraverdavis]

Personally, if I had to choose one cartridge to hunt with for the rest of my life, it’d probably be a 7mm Rem Mag. I have one that’s pretty light (about 8 pound w/ scope) and to me the recoil isn’t bad at all. However, it seems like the 7mm-08 makes more sense for your boys and the intended application. This is like choosing between peach and apple pie.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Personally, if I had to choose one cartridge to hunt with for the rest of my life, it’d probably be a 7mm Rem Mag. I have one that’s pretty light (about 8 pound w/ scope) and to me the recoil isn’t bad at all. However, it seems like the 7mm-08 makes more sense for your boys and the intended application. This is like choosing between peach and apple pie.

Mmm, pie. With Tillamoook ice cream.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Thinking this through a little further, I have to be honest that I am hoping this could potentially be a legacy gun that they might use to introduce their loved ones to shooting and hunting.
I don’t want to limit their ability to kill elk at their effective range, but the reality is if their range expands to long distances in the future, a lighter weight rifle like this is going to be as much of a limiting factor as the cartridge would be.

The balance has always been weighted towards the 7mm-08 in my mind, but I am appreciative of all the opinions given.

I will probably let them read through this thread and let them pick for themselves.

 

[Wildabeest]

Sorry. I'm a .30 shooter. mtmuley

And not much of an elaborator…

 

[mtmuley]

And not much of an elaborator…

.30's aren't on the menu. mtmuley

 

[Southern Elk]

I started shooting a 7mm mag at 13 years old. It’s still my primary gun. I’ve killed antelope, deer, and elk with it. The recoil never bothered me.

 

[rtraverdavis]

@Gerald Martin do you handload at all? Plan to in the future? I know you wrote that you’d be shooting factory loads, but the 7mm-08 would be wicked with 131 grain Absolute Hammers.

 

[JohnCushman]

Dude... your sons aren't sissy's and you know they can handle a 7 mag. A good cartridge and recoil pad if necessary and you're good to go.

 

[Gerald Martin]

@Gerald Martin do you handload at all? Plan to in the future? I know you wrote that you’d be shooting factory loads, but the 7mm-08 would be wicked with 131 grain Absolute Hammers.

I agree. I am not saying hand loading isn’t an option but I haven’t gotten into it yet and don’t see it as a high probability in the near future.

 

[Mica Man]

You aren't raising a couple of sissy boys Gerald, get em 7 mags! You should approach Dinkshooter for his opinion on the most powerful 7mm known to mankind.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

I started shooting a 7mag as a big 12 year old and developed a bad flinch, disliked shooting that rifle, and it held back my progress as a hunter and shooter for years. Yeah it's a great chambering, everyone is different, and I'm clearly soft, but I betcha I'm raising a few more wimps who'll outshoot 95% of HT by the time they leave my house.
Again, nothing wrong with burning more powder and enjoying the performance benefits, but it got me a sore shoulder and bad shooting habits for most of my teenage years. Sample of one.

 

[Bambistew]

7mag. If you have both in the safe and was going elk hunting, which would you chose?

I got a 7mag when I was 15 and killed a lot of animals with it, including about a dozen elk over the years. I mostly hunted deer and antelope with a 243 though.