Why the hate on 7-08?

I've been hearing some rumblings about this cartridge being phased out. I don't get it. It's a great caliber. Thoughts?

Dr. B

Very good caliber..

I hope not. Sweet shooting caliber. My Tikka 7mm-08 is a tack driver.

Very good caliber. Low recoil, good ballistics. if I could only have one caliber for hunting thats probably what I would choose.

Most of the grumbling I hear bout it is people who cant find ammo at wal mart for it when they dont plan ahead.

For better or worse the 6.5Creedmoor is the golden child of the industry.
Love my Tikka in 7MM08 and won't ever get rid of it but if I had to start all over with nothing today, I would buy another Tikka Superlite in 6.5Creedmoor and would glance right over 7MM08.

Same weight bullet(140gr) with effectively identical energy, a hair less recoil, with more availability at usually a few dollars less.
That is why the 7MM08 is falling behind.

Its a great cartridge for any location where shots are 400 yards or less, which is about 99% of deer hunting opportunities. It will get the job done beyond that range but there are better long range options. It is an ideal blend of light recoil and ballistics. I don't have one, I have the original version invented in 1892 - the 7X57.

I guess the expanding popularly of the creed has hurt sales, but I don't think this cartridge is in any danger of being phased out. Its just too good. The 260 Remington will probably cease to exist in factory rifles in the near future though.

Well, at least as long as .308 brass is around, we can still load for it.

Remington is still chambering most of their rifles for it, and have very few in 6.5 Creed. I agree the 260 is pretty much the ballistic twin of the creedmoor, and I can get wanting to push your own creation but dang. If you want to sell guns, chamber them in what people are buying.

I remember when I bought my A-bolt .280 back in 1995, people said, "you'll never find ammo for that thing unless you buy from a gun shop". So I always bought 2 boxes at a time. I've had to plan ahead with this caliber but I've never doubted my decision to buy the gun. Great round. Same with the 7-08. A little fore thought goes a long way. But as long as the internet will connect, I can have ammo delivered to my door.

Dillon makes funny caliber ammo in bulk a reality. Think I read where O'Connor killed several elk with 7x57&160 grain Partitions,Mrs.O'Connor that is.

Yup, if Remington had a decent sales/marketing team the 6.5Creedmoor wouldn't exist or ya and chambering rifles with the wrong twist doesn't help.
Now they're having to chamber for their competition to keep up. Ouch.

The 7mm-08 will not be phased out! It’s one of the most popular rounds nation wide. It’s just doesn’t get “buzz” anymore bc of the creed and the short mags.

I traded for a 7-08 last week. Went to Cabelas in Huntsville to get some ammo and they had NONE, Zero. Not even an empty place on the shelf for it. All kinds of wild and exotic ammo on the shelf but no 7mm-08. Left me thinking have I messed up.

You didn't mess up. ammoseek.com is your friend, as is midwayusa.com

I would LOVE to have on in a 788.

its all over online. If you watch the online sites you can find it for under $15 a couple times a year. iirc PSA has run the fusions on sale for $14.99 the last 2 years.
Academy usually always has fusions in stock in 7mm08 and those and the Barnes Vortx have shot well in all Ive tried them in.

The 7X57 was actually one of Jack's favorites also and he used it about as much as his beloved Al Biesen custom 270. But he made the 270 famous and felt obligated in a way to remain it's champion in his writings.

I'm glad to see this. I stocked up on ammo a while back. My wife shoots a beautiful Browning A-bolt gold medallion in a youth length that is chambered in 7mm-08. Waiting for her to drop one with it!

Dr. B

Yep. Shelf ammo is hard to find cor whatever reason. That is why I got into reloading

23 varieties in stock at MidwayUSA, from 120 grain to 160 grain

I've killed more animals with my sako finnlight 7mm-08 than with all my other guns combined. I've actually been neglecting the ol' gal for a few years now, and that's going to change this season, i miss having my little short barreled killer in the stand with me...

I’ll always have ammo for all my calibers.

I had always wanted a 7-08. Bought a Finnlight about 2 years ago an haven't carried one of my other guns since. Absolutely love it !!!

Well i was wanting a 308, but they had the 7mm in stock so i snagged it, and have been a 7mm fan ever since. Now i still like my 30cals, but the 7mm is my favorite now. Actually traded that gun about 14 years ago (year after i had it) and i went back and got it when i came to my senses a few days later 🤪

Ive always been a 270 fan. Still have a few and a custom 300WM. Just prefer carrying the Finnlight.

This, a 788 is a tack driver in any caliber. I have a 243 and 6mm. Would love to have a 7mm 08 in a 788.

I have a beautiful Model Seven laminated stock 7mm-08 that me and my daughter have killed several deer with. It’s a fine shooting factory rifle.

It’s a great cartridge! However the Ammo is over priced and scare. Go to Walmart and try to buy a box right before deer season as most hunters do. They “may” have one brand to choose from and it will be 30% more than all the other standard calibers, including the 6.5 creedmoor which they will have multiple brands to choose from.

Unless you are going to hand load there is zero reason to buy a 7-08 over a 6.5 CM. I promise the deer won’t know the difference and neither will the shooter.

yes, the 7-08 is a terrible choice, outdated in every respect.

however, i hunt animals and am not a paper puncher so please PM me if you have these trashy weapons and want to get rid of them while the market still slightly supports.

thanks

what benefits does it have over 308?

Other than slightly less recoil, none. Just something different.

Better ballistics but not by enough to make a significant difference. Other than that not much but my favorite load is a 7-08 140 grain... will kill any whitetail in Alabama. I lean towards 165's in a .308 but you could shoot a 150 there.

Blame the ammo industry,

So for other peoples own lack of preparing and laziness we should condemn a cartridge?
For every 1 caliber that wally world carries there are probably 5 that it doesnt.

People who say that 7mm08 is over priced and scarce just arent looking or preparing ahead.

Winchester super X $14 a box and $13 shipping on any qty. https://grabagun.com/win-sprx-7mm-08-140gr-pp-20-200.html

CoreLoct $16 a box https://carolinamunitions.com/remin...d-soft-point-20-rounds.html?asaid=as0004

Fusions $19.66 a box or $18.68 if order 10 or more boxes. https://www.wholesalehunter.com/Product/Details/59529?source=A10003

Its out there. those took literally 10 seconds to find online. If you are someone who waits till the last minute to go get ammo and complain about its high cost when you do finally find it your paying stupid tax for not preparing. Be responsible. Find what your gun likes to shoot and stock up a couple or five boxes of it.

Its laughable the amount many on here spend on worthless crap for hunting deer but will bitch about ammo for one gun costing a few CENTS per round more than ammo for another gun.

308 Blue Box Federal, $15 at Walmart

PM inbound.

If XVII runs out of storage space, I will help reduce the amount of evil, outdated, 7mm-08 rifles, as well as other dead calibers so that the triumphant 6.5 creedless can continue to expand.

Lapua makes brass for it. It ain’t going anywhere

I own both the 7mm-08 and a Creedmoor too. I'll take the 7mm-08 every time. The only reason I have a Creedmoor right now is because at the time Bergara wasn't making 7mm-08's. Now that they are thats what I will be toting and the 6.5 will go to one of the kids or become a coyote/loaner rifle. The ammo availability argument is nonsense. It takes some kinda dumbass to wait til opening week to grab a box or two of ammo. Its available at most walmarts and every half decent sporting goods store. Plus you can order it online any time and it'll be at your doorstep in a couple days

I have a 788 rebarreled in 7mm08.

It's a great caliber. I usually reserve all my hate for the overrated YETI of a caliber, the 6.5 creedmore. I think you have to prove you own a yeti and costas before they let you buy one. haha

No surprise that they didn’t have .7-08 at Cabelas in Huntsville. My beloved Cabelas will be ruined by Bass Pro Shops! I already see the change. Bet if you asked the guys in the gun counter they probably didn’t know what a .7-08 even was!

Doubt .7-08 is going anywhere.

Don’t own a 6.5 creed but still like industry bringing new calibers to market. Keeps things interesting! Also like to here you boys give each other crap about your choice of weapons and calibers!

I bet it is accurate. I have all kinds of rifles in different calibers and the 788 I have in .243 will almost shoot thru the same hole at 100 yds.
With reloads I use which is 100 gr. Hornady boattails, and 43 grs of IMR 4350 powder.It is my favorite rifle.

Kimber Montana and Winchester 70 Ultimate Shadow SS both in 7mm-08; my go to guns each season. Great round. Load 140g ABs and 120g TTSX in them.

Ive got a Rem. 700, and Win. Model 70 Featherweight, both in 7-08. Both are tack drivers. Great guns, great chambering. With the good Lord willing I’ll be killing deer for years to come with these two.