7mm-08

[the blur]

I've shot a few cows with 7mm-08. All under a 100 yards, and they crash within 30 yards. What is the max range you would shoot a 7mm-08 for a nice bull? I know the bullet works well, but I know it has it's limitations. I just need to know the range limits, as it's an -08, and not a magnum case.
It will be either an accubond, or partition. Whatever shoots better from my new rifle.

 

[LVJ76]

Depends what weight you want to use. a 140gr Partition or Accubond will be good out to 350 to 400 yds max. I do consider this too light of a bullet for elk though. With the 160gr versions 400 to 450 yds would be your max.

By max I mean you still have 1,500 ft/lbs of energy to inflict some good damage on the animal.

I'd shoot a 168gr VLDH or 162gr SST. With both bullets @ 500+ yds I'm still carrying 1,500 ft/lbs of energy and well over 1,800 fps. The 162gr SST would be my choice though, it's violent and tough at the same time.

Sorry, I'm not a fan of the Accubond, especially at non magnum speeds. I don't like the small holes and little damage it does to lungs at 7mm-08 speeds. I've witnessed two kills, two very slow kills with them.

I cant apeak for the 150gr and 168gr Accubond LR, I have not tried them or seen them at work.

 

[xsn10s]

Hmm I found a QL load for the Berger 180 Target Hybrid going 2680-2700 fps with 26" barrel. https://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?t=34959

 

[hunter67wa]

Whatever the velocity threshold of the bullet. I have piled a few elk up with it. You just need to know at what distance the velocity drops and bullet expansion stops. Good luck

 

[Peddler 76]

Quite possibly the best Whitetail cartridge. Needs no help, nothing!

 

[tgonza]

My grandson shot a big bull in NM with a 7-08. It was 100 yards quartering towards us. He hit it perfectly right where I told him to, went about 50 yards & collapsed. Only reason I put together a 7-08 is he was only 10 years old & that was caliber I figured he could handle & still take down bull. .

 

[RED MIST]

Bull my Grandson killed with his 7-08 last year in Utah.

 

[crashlanding]

Nice bull

 

[the blur]

Where did he shoot ? Behind the shoulder, or in front of the shoulder towards the neck area ?

 

[Liberator]

Shoot as far as you can reliably hit a ten inch circle under any conditions. Goes for guns up to and including 375 H&H . Don't worry about the 7-08, worry about putting the slug where you want it. My .02 cents.

 

[BillLarson]

View attachment 278093
Bull my Grandson killed with his 7-08 last year in Utah.

WOW....!!!!

 

[RED MIST]

Behind the shoulder. My grandkids shoot 3 different 7-08 and killed many elk and deer.

 

[Battering Ram]

The 7-08 will work on elk, but as it's been said before. Make sure you can hit a 10 inch circle consistently. Elk are tough and I've witnessed bulls soak up 300 am' sand 7mm's like nothing. I would shoot farther than 400 yards with a 7-08 personally because elk flat cover ground even wounded.

 

[entoptics]

Use a ballistics calculator (Click here for JBM's online one), and figure out where your bullet of choice drops below ~2000 fps, or ~1500 ftlbs of energy, at the elevations/temps/pressures you're likely to be hunting in.

For example, 160 Accubond, MV = 2650 fps, 6500 ft elevation, 50° F, 50% humidity, 29.9 inHg (corrected), will hit that threshold at ~450 yds. 2070 fps, 1521 ftlbs. Running the same conditions with 160 partition gives about 400 yds.

Then figure out what distance you can hit a paper plate, in field conditions, 9 outa 10 times. Whichever distance is the shorter of the two, should be your maximum hunting range.