First experimented with by Wildcatter’s, the 7mm08 is based simply on the .308 Winchester case necked down to 7mm. The original wildcat was utilized by both hunters and target shooters, gaining greater attention in the target shooting arena. Based on popularity, Remington officially adopted the cartridge in 1980 without any changes to the wildcat name or design.
The 7mm08 is often promoted as having a flatter trajectory than the parent .308 while producing less recoil. Unfortunately it is easy to take the above comment out of context. Like the 7mm08, the .308 can be loaded with a range of high BC projectiles which produce desirable trajectories and both are exceptionally useful cartridges. The .308 is somewhat more flexible where a heavy bullet is needed or wanted for use on large animals. With 140 grain hunting bullets the 7mm08 is flatter shooting than the .308 loaded with 150 grain hunting bullets, showing an advantage as a lighter medium game hunting cartridge when utilizing factory loaded ammunition.
One of the greatest traps regarding the 7mm08 has been a range of lightweight rifle designs that produce often intolerable recoil, recoil similar to that of a standard weight .300 Magnum. A large number of hunters are currently ‘enduring’ the recoil of the 7mm08 without knowing that what they are experiencing is unnecessary.
Generally speaking, most current factory 140 grain 7mm08 loads achieve 2800-2840fps from 22” barrels. Killing performance tends to duplicate the 6.5x55. At close ranges, wounding on medium game is broad and kills are very fast. At ranges beyond 150 yards, as velocity falls below 2600fps, kills can be delayed. On tough animals, kills may be so slow as to allow animals to escape great distances.
Remington introduced the 7mm-08 in 1980 chambered in their Models 788 and 700 BDL. A similar wildcat cartridge was developed in 1958. It was created by necking down a .308 Winchester casing to accept a 7mm (.284”) bullet. The mild recoil makes it a viable option for youth or new shooters.
7mm-08 Remington History
7mm-08 Remington Usage
7mm-08 Remington Usage
The 7mm-08 is used for competition shooters in silhouette and long range competition, along with being a favorable choice for hunters seeking medium-sized big-game and varmints. Recoil falls between a .243 Winchester and a .308 with ballistics comparable to the .270 Winchester depending on load. Specific loads meet the legal requirements for moose hunting in some European countries.
7mm-08 Remington Trivia
While the 7mm-08 is a suitable round for wild hog, deer, elk, and black bear or moose with the proper loads, it is not recommended for dangerous game or as a defensive choice in areas dangerous game can be encountered.
7mm-08 Remington Trivia
7mm-08 Remington Design
7mm-08 Remington Design
The 7mm-08 is a rimless, bottleneck cartridge with an overall length of 2.8” and a case capacity of 52.2 grains (H2O). It fires a .284” diameter bullet using large rifle primers and a maximum pressure of 61,000 PSI. Standard rifling twist rate is 1:9.5”.
7mm-08 Remington Types
7mm-08 bullets are available in full metal jacket, soft point, hollow point, and polymer tipped in weights ranging from 100 grains to 197 grains depending on intended use and need.
