What are your thoughts on the 7mm-08 for a south Texas deer/hog rifle for a youth? I had that caliber recommended to me as an option and I'm simply not familiar with it. Apparently there are low recoil loads available to make it more manageable for young shooters. How does it stack up against the more common .243 and .270's? Would be shot by ten year old. Same kid shoots .223 AR with no problems. Any comments appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Ballistics are really good, and it could be used for a lot of different purposes.

Bought a 7mm08 Remington mountain rifle probably 20 years ago. It is the "go to" gun I use the most. Necked down 308. Very recoil to the 243 or 6mm. Excellent youth gun.

Bought my 11 year old this caliber last year for Christmas. I too was fairly unfamiliar with the caliber, but it seems to be a very good round. Son says he doesn't notice the recoil any more than the .222 he was shooting before or the 20 gauge he uses for dove hunting.

The two deer he has shot with it dropped in their tracks.

Excellent choice! I shoot mine exclusively for WT deer and love it!

DVM

love mine. Never had anything shot get up. ballistics are similar to .270.

I have used the 7mm-08 for more than 20 yrs, and consider it ideal for TX. That said, you're launching a 140gr (very common) pill at 2700+fps...recoil is not as light as a 243W (same parent case), or other lighter cartridges.
If a "reduced recoil" load is used, or a reload recipe of more more modest ballistics (bullet weight and/or velocity), then it could be easily used by youth w/o issue. IMO.

It's not just a youth caliber - it's a damned good caliber all around.

It will be somewhere between the .243 and .270. Not as flat shooting as the .243, but more punch. Not as much punch as the .270, but easier on the shoulder.

It's a great round.

That is what I normally carry to south Texas. I'm shooting a pretty darn hot hand load and recoil is squat.

I'll add to the positive pile-on. I have been shooting a 7mm-08 since I was about 12 and love it. The recoil was never a problem, and should be very manageable for most any kid.

If you or you know someone who reloads, get the 120 Nosler Ballistic tip loaded for that 7-08. Very tough bullet, and kinder on the recoil.

Pricey, but over the counter

Nosler Custom Ammunition 7mm-08 Remington 120 Grain Ballistic Tip Hunting Spitzer Box of 20

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/415744/nosler-custom-ammunition-7mm-08-remington-120-grain-ballistic-tip-hunting-spitzer-box-of-20

i shot my first buck (11 y.o) with a Remington 788 7mm-08 and still love the ballistics of it

Great gun for any age. Almost the perfect all around Texas load

Absolute great gun! I would highly recommend! Low recoil.

My son who was 13 at the time, killed his first deer, an 8 point trophy buck in Florence, TX (45 miles north of Austin) with one.

You won't be disappointed.

[This message has been edited by crag (edited 8/16/2012 8:41p).]

Thanks for the great feedback. I appreciate it all.

To elaborate... I found a Weatherby Vanguard in the 7mm-08 this afternoon at CF. It was a compact model that fit very well. What's your opinion of the Weatherby versus other makes?

Thanks again for the comments.

I bought that gun for my kids in 243.

it's a howa action, not the same as on the Weatherby Mark V. It's a solid gun, though.

I haven't tried hard and got it shooting a little over 1" at 100 yards. I only tried one load. I suppose if I tried more brands/loads, I could do better. But I doubt much better. And at the distances I'll let them shoot right now, it is plenty accurate.

Mine came with a youth stock and full size stock.

Pops gave me a Remington 700 7mm-08 for Christmas when I was 14. I think someone already made the comment, but to this day, it's still my "go to" gun.

Vanguard is a fine line. They shoot lights out...just a solid, albeit plain rifle with a simple molded stock.

Not knocking that calibera at all, as I unfortuately have that on my "untried" list.

However, I grew up with the 6mm Remmington. Which is the gun my great uncle taught my Dad, who taught me, to hunt with for Whitetails with.

I have my 6mm I used for the first time, however I will let my son use my great uncle's 6mm to kill his first deer with. It has more history than mine in my eyes. Mine was purchsed by my Dad, which I appreciate, however my great uncle taught dad....

Gun history and stories are under appreciated.....

[This message has been edited by Old Sarge (edited 8/17/2012 12:33a).]

NM, as I don't want to bore the OB.

[This message has been edited by Old Sarge (edited 8/17/2012 12:47a).]

Excellent choice sort of a secret for kids I think.
Got my son one when he was 10. Weatherby makes one with two stocks includes the youth stock.

The low recoil ammo is nice.

As far as power. He shot an Axis at 140 yards and it dropped in 15 yards. Has shot a nice whitetail buck and ram with it also.

I like it and it's a lot lighter than my 30-06 Weatherby. I have thought about using it instead of mine

The four brothers 243/260/7-08/308 will all perform great on deer and hogs, even the baby brother will drop elk with an 85gr TSX and a competent shooter at reasonable ranges.

The 7-08 and 308 can be loaded with 110 TTSX's and have no more recoil that a 243 and young shooters can grow into the rifle.

The 260 and 7-08 trump the 243 and 308 for high BC long range bullets, even the 155 Scenar 308 that is about the best you can find. I have not had a chance to run the 208 AMax through my 308 but I will for fun, poking along at 2400 +/-.

It really boils down to what rifle you want, is the cartridge you want to shoot available in that rifle; and, do you reload.

The twins, the 260 and 7-08 are more versatile in my opinion than either the 243 or 308 and I have had several of each and reloaded for all. Of the twins, the 7-08 will trump the 260 in off-the-shelf ammo.



[This message has been edited by TXNative (edited 8/20/2012 10:48a).]

TXNative can shoot. Can tell that by your post. Don't hear many folks that know about the 155 Scenar...

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Excellent choice! I shoot mine exclusively for WT deer and love it!

DVM

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Given that DVM97 is the size of most normal children, I would say his approval is all you needed.