My first New hunting rifle, thanks to the wife

[osteodoc08]

Well, I've been hunting with my Ruger 243 Win for as long as I can remember. It's accounted for numerous deer including my first and my wife's first two deer (on the same day and first time deer hunting, ever!) It's been a great gun, but I've been yearning for something a bit newer.

I told my wife I've been wanting to get a new rifle. I was not set on any one caliber and my wife then gets me a Remmy 700 in 7mm-08. I'm stoked. Oh, she also tops it with a Leupold VX-II 2x7. Damn I love my wife. It is going to be a wonderful deer gun for here in GA. The only caveat is that I'd have to take her hunting next season. Oh yeah, did I mention that she also got me a Lyman Turret press with dies to go along with the above mentioned gun....

Just wanted to share my little bit of happiness with everyone.

 

[Wolfgang2000]

COOL. I hate to rain on your parade, but I think your wife just wanted the 243 for herself!!!


Just joking, Sounds like you have a great gal there.

 

[tblt]

I don't know much about 7mm-08 but I have a 7x 57 and a 7 mm mag. My 7x57 was no good with factory loads I had a bullet just bend when I shot a deer once but once I started reloading it,it now packs a punch.I shoot 120 grain ballistic tip bullets with a compresed load.These are the best bullets I have ever used.I shoot the 140 gr.in my 7 mm mag they shoot great.I love the 7 mm cal.

 

[osteodoc08]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to do some load development with 120 and 140 grain bullets.

The 7mm-08 is not a velocity hot rod by any stretch of the imagination. A 140gr at about 2850fps is about max. If I want something faster I can reach for my dad's 7mm STW which was built long before the factory offerings. It'll throw a 140 grainer at about 3350fps max. Anyhow, I've got some stuff coming from MidwayUSA as we speak. I'm looking for about 2700fps with a 140 grainer to be my deer medicine.

When I was talking with the guys down at the gunshop at the beginning of the year, I basically wanted a good deer gun that wasn't going to punish me at the bench and be very accurate. Hunting is about bullet placement anyhow. They recommended the 7mm-08. My wife remembered that! The guys up there are very knowledgeable and always very curteous.

So now I'm just waiting to load some ammo and wait for mother nature to cooperate inorder to send some lead and copper downrange.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Osteo...

"The only caveat is that I'd have to take her hunting next season."

Dude, all I can tell you is you had better take her hunting with you because if you don't I'll go by the house and steal her !

Lawd ha' Mercy !! If I had a wife like that I'd take her anywhere she wanted to go anytime she wanted to go there!

You'll love the 7mm/08 !

 

[Reyn]

Great caliber. Great gun. Super great wife.

 

[rangerruck]

wow, dude that is just sick, really. That is a big chunk to layout, especially for an indulgence, you should be double proud of her...

 

[birdbustr]

I've had a 7mm-08 in Remington 700 LVSF for about a year and a half now. Due to my reloading, I've only shot 1 type of factory loads in mine. I used Federal Fusion 140 grain bullets for the initial barrel break in and sighting in.
Fusions gave me right at 1" groups at 100 yards at about 2850fps.

For reloads I've been able to get 4 other loads less than 1" @100yds.
Speer 130gr Hot core 46gr Varget for velocity of 3050fps
Hornady Interbond 139gr 45gr Varget for velocity of 3030fps
Barnes TSX 120gr 46gr Varget for velocity of 3070fps
Remington Corelokt 140gr 45gr Varget for velocity of 3005fps
CCI 200 primers

I took 2 deer this year with my rifle. One was with the Barnes and one was with the Corelokt. Both were DRT. Great rifle and caliber. They can be loaded to be not much slower (<200fps) than a 7mm Rem Mag. These loads are max for me. More powder was giving pressure signs, so I would start a grain or two under what I used to see what you get.

 

[Rokman]

It sounds like you got a nice deer rifle and and awesome wife to boot. I hope you enjoy your rifle. It should be a good combo for deer hunting.

 

[osteodoc08]

Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted once I get a chance to take it out. I'll write up an 'official' range report.