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My 7mm08 for LR shooting?

TheBigCountry

Green Weenie
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Dec 9, 2013
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    As posted before, and I apologize for the mass posts as of late, but I have a Montana 1999 XWR-SS in 7mm08. She has a beefy stainless barrel, sits in a B&C medalist, and shoots lights out. In my quest to learn LR shooting beyond what the Corps has taught me, I had an epiphany: use what you have! I figure I can put a picatinny rail on her, some sort of scope (NF, Bushnell TAC, or SWFA SS), and shoot either the 162 A-Max or heavy Bergers in her for now.

    Think this would work? I am in the process of finding someone to cerakote the action and barrel right now to help fight the humidity down here in Florida.
     
    Great caliber. I use 7mm-08 for most of my hunting. Sweet spot with barrel life better than 260 but better ballistics than 308. Absolutely love the versatility and great bullet selection.
     
    According to my calc, 168 berger vld's (.617 BC) should go transonic around 1200 yards or so, with a MV of 2625fps. It is a really versatile cartridge for hunting and LR shooting and performs great with the high BC bullets available these days. Still holds around 1000 ftlbs of energy at 750 yards. Nice rifle, btw.

    Get a nice 3-15x or 4-16x type scope and start rocking. Check out Vortex PST,
    Weaver Tactical, or SWFA SS around the $700 price point for excellent bang for the buck. If you can swing it, you'll never to wrong with Nightforce!
     
    You likely won't find any 162gr bullets any time soon. The 168 gr or even 140 gr Bergers are a good option as well. Also don't forget Sierra as they have several 7mm offerings in the MatchKing line of bullets.
     
    Been using mine for couple yrs. now for comps to 1000K. Hornady 162 Amax & BTHP, 46.5g H4350 for 2860 fps. Only thing I give up to the 260's is recoil, lack of availability of 162g bullets right now, and the fact guys that shoot 260's in our club are better shooters......

    Wifey took hers to Africa last year. 6 animals, 6 shots, none ran farther than about 50 yds...(gemsbok,zebra,kudu,blesbok,springbok,impala) all w/ a 140g Accubond at the BLAZING speed of 2640fps! Our friend along on the trip, Tina, also shot several animals (hartebeest, gemsbok, zebra, and others, memory fails) all one shot kills as well. Professional hunter was so impressed he said we was gonna add a 7-08 to his stable of loaner rifles for clients to use on plains game.

    Good luck w/ yours. Kill em all. let God sort em out!
     
    Thanks for the replies. I have used this rifle hunting hogs down here in Florida, and it zapped 'em pretty dang good. Just shooting Federal Fusion ammo the rifle shoots bugholes. I love the rifle to death, so I figured hell lets load her up with some Bergers or A Max's and see what she is capable of. Its not the SPR A1 I want but I figure it'll do for now.
     
    I built a 7-08 Ackley Improved and now cant find another rifle that I need. It shoots a 140 grain Berger at 3050 FPS out of a 22" barrel. This is th most accurate rifle I have ever owned

    I was recently offered a 270WSM and turned it down because it could not offer any more than my Ackley already does. It also runs right along side the 6.5x284. Both of these are running 24" barrels of course.

    The only draw back is fire forming brass, but even my fire forming load is a shooter. I shoot high power silhouette with my fire forming laod.