Cartridge Comparison | 7mm and Big Game Hunting

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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion – the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me – from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.

All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

Produced by: @red11media

Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[jorgearmas]

I've hunted large game with all the typical calibers in the U.S.. 30-06, 270, 243, 300wm, 300wsm, 30-30, 7mag. I picked a Kimber84 in 7mm-08 and found it to be perfect for me. Flat shooting, hard hitting round paired with a fairly light, accurate rifle. This has been my go to gun and caliber for over a decade.

[andrefelhauer]

The 7mm cartridges are very common among hunters here in Germany.

The 7x57 and 7x64 in repeating rifles or their rimmed sisters 7x57R and 7x65R in falling blocks and break-action rifles are often found.

For a few years now I have occasionally seen a 7mm-08 or 7mm Rem Mag, but still very rarely.



Greetings to the States

[jessetherrien]

7mm-08 is my go to for whitetail but I am shooting 139/140 grain bullets. Pretty much the ideal load for whitetails in my opinion. Does the job real well.

[gregorymccullough]

I have a .280 Rem. and concur that 7 mm can do the job.

[SanjuroSeaCow]

I love the 7mm stuff! Thanks for doing another one about it. Fully convinced to go for 7mm-08 over .308 at this point!

[sukivel]

Another great comparison! 7mm-08 and 7mm RM are two of my favorite hunting cartridges!

[TakeDeadAim]

I've been using my .280 Rem now for 30 years on everything from Antelope to Moose. Handloaded with a 160gr Nosler Partition and I've never had a complaint. 54gr of IMR 4350 and it'll take anything native to this continent. Took my niece Elk hunting and she used a 7mm-08 to bag a nice young bull at 200 yds.

[jeffandersen]

I've been shooting a Model 70 Win in-06 for most of my life. It was my dad's and just does everything. I don't like the recoil of 300s and didn't feel I needed one. I picked up a 7-08, so my wife and daughter would go shooting with me. I even put a muzzle brake on it. It is phenomenal to shoot! Accurate, easy to shoot, and deadly! I still love my '06, but these days, I carry the 7-08. I strongly recommend this caliber.

[jasonrhodes]

Shot a whitetail buck this November at 325 yards with my 7-08 loaded with 139grain hornady interlocks. Double lunged him and got a complete pass through. Deer went 30 yards and tipped over.

[robbiekoh]

7mm projectiles are Goldilocks for NA: 100 grain hollow points for varmints up to 175 grain partitions; 7mm08 is fantastic with 130-150s and H4350 for non dangerous game; 140 partition at 2850fps from a 22” tube printing 1/2” groups will fill the freezer; brass can be made from 308 or 243 if needed; love my 280ai and 7mag as well, but 7mm08 knocks them down without all the recoil

[samuelkoger]

Great video and subject Ron. I have hunted nearly exclusively with 6.5x55 and 7x57 the last 35 years, no flies on either caliber. I am finishing up two rifle builds for myself, as a retirement present, and they are both 7x57's! One is a classic 98, with a old/new stock stepped FN barrel, brand new and a 98 Czech Mauser action. The other is a Remington Rolling block, a #5 made of real steel for smokeless rounds. It wears a 24" Tapered octagon Green Mtn. barrel, 4xxxx curly tiger stripe maple stocks I made from blanks, a matte blue and a 3x9x40 Leupold Freedom scope for a light, handy and deadly single shot hunting rifle.

[terrymcclendon]

I have been a big advocate of the 7 mm rem mag for years, but truthfully at game distances the 30 06 is the best caliber to this date ! Thank you !

[lowhydrogena]

7mm-08 is better than the 6.5 Creedmoor for what most people buy it for

[SveninColorado]

Ron,
Thank you for the discussion on the 7mm family. About 10 years ago, I picked up a sporterized 7X57 Belgium Mauser for my wife. I equipped it with a 6X Redfield scope. She wanted to try shooting a rifle...something larger than a .22 or 20 ga. shotgun. We took it to the range where she shot about 10 rounds of Remington 130 gr. "Core-Lokt" bullets and did quite well. However, she hasn't showed much interest since. I did work up some hand loads with 130, 145, 150, 160 Sierra "Game King" spire point bullets. After sighting in with 130 gr bullets at 50 yards, I shot groups of 5 bullets of each weight. I was impressed.The target had 4 - 1" or less groups in a vertical line! It was impressive to say the least. I just never thought of it as a long range, big game round....So, I stashed the Mauser in my gun case and there it sat for the last 8 or 9 years.

Like a lot of folks, I am a creature of habit. When hunting season rolls around, I pull out my trusty .270 Win stoked with 150 gr. Speer "Grand Slam" hand loads. Its been my go to rifle for going on 30 years. I hunt the high plains for Pronghorn and Plains Mule deer where we normally shoot 200 /300 yards or longer shots. Until today, the thought never crossed my mind that the 7mm Mauser might work at the distances we normally shoot.

I will turn 75 come November. The recoil from the .270 and its 10+lb weight are beginning to take their toll.
SO...after watching your video, I'm thinking that I can extend my big game hunting for a few more years by changing over to the 7X57 with a composite stock and a 4X12 variable scope.

Thanks again, I do enjoy your You Tube videos.

[keithalbrecht]

There are so many awesome cartridges out there! 7mm-08 is one of my go to ones for white tail deer. Flat shooting & packs a punch!!! Great video Ron!!!

[mrstangthang]

I love the 7mm-08. I’m a fan of the 7s in general, but I have had great success with the 7mm-08 on elk, deer, and antelope.

[johnkaraphillis]

Love my .280AI but my “go to” for whitetails is my ‘08 shooting 140 AB’s out of my X-Bolt. I’m in the SE US and my ‘08 is perfect with my handloads. Thanks Ron

[aubreyholmes]

Took out my Ruger m77 in 7 rem mag this season and dropped my first whitetail! Definitely sold on the 7s. Gonna rechamber my savage for 7mm-08

[tomschumacher]

I have grown to absolutely love the 7 rem mag, got it in a savage 111 and its such a good rifle.

[douglasodom]

Mr. Spomer, I switched to a 7mm-08 as soon as I learned I was needing neck fusion. I was looking at 260 rem or 6.5x55 as well. chose 7=08 as my best fit. never go back to my 30-06 as a full timer rifle. Still use it, but not at full hot specs.