New Mountain Rifle...Is there better than 7mm-08?

[buckgrunter]

Looking at a new mountain rifle/project. Requirements are:

1. Lightweight - loaded, hunting weight of less than 6.75#
2. Accurate
3. Manageable Recoil - no magnum recommendations please
4. Target Animals - 90% antelope, deer, sheep, 10 % elk
5. Range - 400y hunting rifle only. Only target shooting I do is practicing for hunting.
6. 22" barrel max

My dilemma is given requirement #1, I'm almost set on a short action (almost). 7mm-08 is the leading candidate. I have a donor 700 BDL SA action with a 308 bolt face, but am also contemplating a Kimber Montana. The Kimber accuracy has me worried. I figure I can build for just a little more $ and achieve far better accuracy than the Kimber with similar weight.

So is 7mm-08 the best choice? I've thought .284 and 7x57 but can't see any benefits in the Remmie short action. If I were to go with a LA, then I might as well go 280 or 280ai. And I'm concerned about that recoil in a lightweight rifle. I reload. Is there a better choice than the 7mm-08?

 

[clambdin]

Depends on who you ask, My vote is for the 280 AI.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I don't own on but one of our group has a 7-08 and he like it. It's light and he claims it's a nice shooter. I know it's taken elk.

 

[varmintH8R]

I am a 7-08 fan for the animals and ranges you list, especially on a light short-action.

There is a but: With possibly the exception of elk. I don't live in elk country, but am planning a trip out next fall - if I take a 7 it will be 280AI. I think the 7-08 is optimized for 140gr pills, and for elk I want 160gr minimum. Not enough "oomph" out of heavier bullets in 7-08 for my tastes. That is only my opinion...

 

[HARPERC]

Sounds nicely thought out. You don't say if you have a bullet preference. Short action or not I'd prefer the 7x57, or .284 Winchester. However, thats my quirk, and I wouldn't say objectively it would be better.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Depends on who you ask, My vote is for the 280 AI.

My vote is the same as clambdin.....280 A.I.

 

[roninflag]

for me the rifle is more important than the caliber. I like the nula and I like rem 700 titanium. 30-06, 7mmsaum , or 300 saum.

 

[TJAY]

This
Forbes Rifle Online Catalog 2013

 

[Booney]

280AI the recoil is not bad at all.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

6.5x47 lapua will do everything you ask, I see it as a better choice but its just a personal choice.

 

[benchracer]

7-08 is a good cartridge that will do what you are asking of it. As previously mentioned, you could go with a titanium long action and meet your goal for weight. That would broaden your choices a bit and leave you more room for sullet seating/mag feeding. If you went that route, I would recommend that you go with a 7x57AI, 280AI, or 284 Win.

 

[25 Otter]

How about the 308?

 

[SidecarFlip]

6.5x47 lapua will do everything you ask, I see it as a better choice but its just a personal choice.

Things ok up your way in commie New York???

 

[SidecarFlip]

How about the 308?

The ballistics on a 308 versus a 7-08 are quite different. The 7-08 is a flatter shooting round and the pills usually have a better BC.

However, 308 is available everywhere (factory rounds). 7-08 isn't. I always look at the 'what if' so my go-to rifle is a 308.....

Don't want to be in bum-fart Eqypt and somehow not have any 7-08's and not be able to get any. A rifle with no rounds is a good walking stick, thats it.