7mm-08

TrxR

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Jan 2, 2010
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New Brunswick, Canada
I am looking at buying or putting together a 7mm-08 for a hunting rifle and am debating on what to do for brass.

Option 1 buy some Hornady or winchester ammo and save the cases.

Option 2 buy some Winchester brass

Option 3 neck down some lapua 308. I understand the necks will be too thick so they will need to be turned. Would it be best to turn them before or after necking down?

Also if I was to do a custom barrel could a person have a reamer made to suit the lapua brass without turning?

Im seriously thinking option 1 if I buy a factory rifle as its just a hunting rifle and wont see many rounds a year. But if I build one with a new barrel I would consider having a reamer made to suit the Lapua brass.

Thanks
 
Always easier not turning.

Yes, just call PTG and tell them you want a reamer for 7-08 using Lapua brass. I like 2-3 thou neck expansion.

I turned my 6.5 Saum brass when it was 300 Saum. I use a K&M carbide mandrel with inside neck reamer. I'll do it again if no factory 6.5 Saum brass becomes available.
 
I would avoid neck turning for sure. I see no reason to not just use win brass. It is pretty consistent, affordable, and usually available. Any of the options you listed are viable IMHO. Take your pick!
 
When you say "hunting rifle" are you talking a 7 pound sporter looking to medium sized game out to 400 yards or so?

If that's the case, any off the shelf brass would be fine. For that type of rifle, sub-1/2 MOA precision is not necessary.

I have a t/c encore in 7-08 that I shoot 140 grain Barnes triple shocks and I use winchester brass - it shoots around 3/4 inch and I've taken game out to 350 yards.

Even if you want to go super precision, I shoot Remington brass in my 260 and Winchester in my 308 and its fine.

Add to the fact that keeping track of your brass in hunting situations is often less than optimum, and the cheaper stuff looks better and better.
 
I have Winchester and Remington brass in 7-08. The Remington shoots better than the Winchester for me. I'd suggest you run whatever you're able to get ahold of. 7-08 brass is pretty sparse in my area.
 
The correct answer, currently, is to use what you can get, be it RP, WW, Nosler, Norma etc etc.

You're probably not going to find any RP or WW for a good while.

For a hunter that won't see lots of rounds, I'd recommend buying some Norma or Nosler.

Necking up RP260 will work fine (any maybe RP243 too), but necking up WW243 will leave you with a donut. Necking down 308 will leave you with cases ~.025-.030" shorter than they oughtta be.