As a long time user of the 7mm-08 I can confidently say it has done everything I asked of it with no problems. I first got it because I was impressed with the velocity and energy past 200 yards with the available loads at that time compared to 308 and 30-06. Everything I've killed with it was one shot and that includes two moose with one of them over 200 yards quartering to me (fell right there.) Though I have to admit I reloaded 160 grain bullets for the moose. Don't underscore the importance of reduced recoil. That's what made the 6.5 Creed so popular. Less recoil means it will be easier to shoot accurately and will allow more practice before it becomes unpleasant. The fact is all of the mid-range power cartridges will perform adequately on game today due to the variety of bullets available. There probably isn't 50 yards difference in effectiveness or trajectory between them. Just remember you'll get less meat damage with the lower velocity ones and flatter trajectory with the higher velocity ones. If I can have lower recoil and better efficiency with easier practice and accuracy, why not? It allows me to choose a lighter rifle if I want to and still have tolerable levels of recoil. It also gives me better barrel life. Nothing wrong with middle of the road sometimes.
Love the content on the 7mm-08. I have had one for 5 years now and love it. I got it for my then-15-year-old son for his first centerfire rifle. It shoots 139 gr. Hornady GMX projectiles at slightly less than MOA in my Ruger American with a Leupold VX-Freedom scope. I have found that I end up taking this rifle hunting whenever my son is not using it in lieu of my .30-06. Between my son and I, we have taken 11 whitetails with it. It has performed flawlessly. I have only recovered one bullet, and that was on a nice buck that was facing me. It entered at the base of the neck and traveled 3/4 of the length of the deer. I recovered it in the stomach. I would not hesitate to hunt elk with it within 300-350 yards. Thanks for all of your quality content. Keep up the good work!
I have 270 win, 7mm-08, and 280 rem and I will take the 280 rem every time, after 5 years of experimenting with them all. High BC bullets 140 grain at almost 3200 FPS. Flat shooting power packed, and I can load a 160 accubond that absolutely thumps elk, red deer at distance. My Remington 700 shoots moa with 3 factory loads and two hand loads. A 140 accubond I load is close to 3200 FPS with 1500 energy at almost 600 yards. I grew up hunting and was taught to shoot with a 30-06, by someone who knew what they were doing, and then I bought a 300 wsm used it for 10 years so none of these have recoil I personally notice. BUT My grandsons both shoot the 7mm-08 though and have taken nice animals with. I will always have soft soft for 270 win because I grew up with Jacks stories and have all his books, and let’s face it, it takes game well. As bullet tech get better we will see higher BC bullets come out for 270 without having to re-barrel for better twist rates and that caliber might get a little revamp and maybe a little resurgence of popularity because so many households have one in their gun safe.
Good choice for your boy either way. My dad got me a 270 for my first deer rifle and I love it. Mine is a remington 700 that loves 130 grain accubonds and h4350
Both great cartridges. As a whitetail hunter in the SE USA, the ‘08 is definitely one of the top choices due to efficiency, mild recoil, and bullet choices. I chuckle when I hear uninformed hunters tag the ‘08 as a youth or ladies rifle (excellent choice). It’s extremely difficult to leave behind when I’m headed to deer camp shooting out to 300 yards. If I lived out west than it would be a much more difficult choice. Thanks for another good video!
I’ve been reloading, shooting, and hunting with .270 for a very long time. It’s been good to me and it’s still one of my favorite high velocity rounds. I also love 30-06 and 300 Win Mag. I’ve never tried a 7mm-08. I’ve tried 280 Remington and 7x57 reloaded to full potential though.
If you have a 7mm-08, the .270 doesn't bring anything to the table for you either. I grew up on 270 but really like the 7mm-08 better just in terms of performance. 7mm-08 AI would be fun to load for.
My father owned two hunting rifles, both chambered in .270 Win. I took the Wisconsin Hunter Safety course at 11. At 12 I walked out into the cold morning woods carrying that .270. I cut my teeth shooting that .270 Win. from 11 to 18. When I joined the military and fired my first shot with the 5.56, I laughed due to the light recoil. When I got out of the military, I decided to purchase my own hunting rifle. I wanted something along the lines of what my father shot. I decided to go with a 30-06. Over the years I have gathered a few more, a 7mm-08 is among them and I gotta say, "I love that round."
I hunt with both, and I love them both. I will say I prefer 7mm-08 over .270 Win because of the bullet selection and reduced recoil. In the Midwest the .270 is underutilized most of the time just because we don't have the wide open country to take advantage of the velocities it's capable of. I agree that it's the most capable caliber, and strikes the best median for the parent case.
For all practical hunting needs ( antelope to whitetail or mule deer up to 400 yards , even elk and black bear up to 300 yards ) there is no need for anything more than a 7mm-08 . It’s extremely efficient and effective, more compact package availability and easier to carry in the field , quicker to acquire targets , lower recoil and better SD’s , BC’s , less wind drift , better retained down range energy when using 150 grain bullets and up of the same type , and as you stated , there are far more 7mm projectiles to choose from . The 7mm-08 really starts to out shine past 500 yards , it begins to surpass the 270 in every aspect from energy to trajectory, wind drift and it compounds drastically the further out you go . It’s even a great coyote duster at long distances out to 600-700 yards !
I have both the 270 and the 7mm08. I use a bdc scope on the 7mm08 and have confidence to take the 400 yard shot and I know I will have good shot placement. My 270 requires a hold over at the top of the shoulder and again have good shot placement. I don’t hit deer and have been hunting elk for 32 years. I had the 270 first. I really like both calibers and the results of each.
The 7mm08 seems to be gaining in popularity on UA-cam at least. I think it’s because it checks so many boxes and 7mm seem to be getting more popular as well. Hornady had a 7mm prc coming out as well.
The 7mm-08 is the best do it all round up to dangerous game. Elk under 400 yds it's also fine. The recoil is very nice, which allows better shooting and accuracy!
I have the 7-08 for a number of years now and I’ve also had 270. Both are kinda neck and neck except for recoil. I’m going to get another 270 and use both for hunting. I enjoy both calibers
Just built a 280ai on a Tikka action. 145grain LRX going 3014fps, 54 inch drop and generating just over 1500ft/lbs at 500 meters. My 270win 129gr LRX is going 3198fps, 46 inch drop and generating 1540ft/lbs at 500 meters. The 270win is one heck of a cartridge.
This is the perfect analogy. 270Win is so good, it just flat works, and mild recoil, readily available, low cost, it will last beyond anyone reading this.
The .270 Win and the 7mm-08 are the necked down versions of the .30-06 and .308 respectively. The reasons the US military went to the .308 are the same reasons why a shooter might choose the 7mm-08 over the .270. Less recoil, lighter weight cartridges, short action vs regular length, and less powder required to get adequate ballistics at reasonable shooting distances.
The 7mm-08 is what I recommend to new hunters. The performance on game is excellent and it is easy to shoot well, even for novice and small framed shooters. The 6.5 CM is another excellent choice, although I believe the 7mm-08 is somewhat more versatile with the availability of 175 grain bullets.
it should be noted that lots of .270 offerings fired in common rifles will have recoil closer to that of .308 Win than 30-06. still not as light in recoil as 7mm-08 in the same rifle model, but 16-17 ft-lbs isn't as bad as 20 also, Hornady still offers the "Custom Lite" round in 7mm-08 ... I don't know the recoil but it's got to be a pretty light recoiling round, probs perfect for a shooter who might be recoil-sensitive (new, young or otherwise). Custom Lite is offered in a few other chambering but, unfortunately, not in 270 Win 😢. Not sure if any other brands still make low-recoil ammo for either of these cartridges.
The 7-08 also an excellent choice for us old geezers who's bodies have taken a lifetime of beatings. Those higher recoiling cartridges can injure us in the field, which isn't cool. The 243, 6.5CM, and 7-08 become excellent choices. Seems like all the cartridges based off the 308 are great choices. Thanks for the vid.
Obviously, 100 fps doesn't mean squat. A hundred ft. lbs. of energy doesn't mean squat, at over 2500 ft. lbs. I agree, it is not a 400 yard (or less) shot. I have a Browning BLR in 7MM-08 and I love it.
it all comes down to what you are hunting and what your shot will be and what you want to get out of it. (im sure you were not doing this for target shooting at 1000 yards) if you want a great deer round with light recoil then get a 243 if you want 3006 performance but better then go with a 270 win there are lots of in between rounds, between a 270 and 243, such as all the 25's and 26's that will take a deer fantastically the old 257 Roberts is amazing, my grandad had 1 and it was awesome ballistics and performance, light recoil and a beast down range for a 117gr look at the 6.5 needmore is so closely compared to the 243 just w heavier boolits, it will take a deer just fine also. there are too many great rounds that will take a deer to list, it really comes down to what you like and want in terms of rifle, but then ammo availability and ammo cost and if your a reloader then the sky is the limit i am partial to 270 win bc its big enough to take anything and wont destroy your shoulder like all the bigger cals like 300 win mag and above deer are not that hard to kill as long as you do your part with correct caliber, correct shot placement at correct distance for ammo to do its job
I shot a 270 for deer for years. I got a 7mm-08 and sold that 270 a year later. The accuracy difference between my 2 particular rifles was shocking. Both savage 110s. 1 1/4 with reloads in the 270. 1/2 with reloads in the 7mm-08. Its more fun to shoot, barrel life is better, and more loads per pound of powder. Kills deer and pigs with authority.
@Paul I have four Savage Weather Warriors; a 300 Win Mag, two 7MM Rem Mags and a 270 Win and each shoot 3/4” or better groups with 180 Partitions and Accubonds, 160 Accubonds and 130 Accubonds respectively.
Since 1988 I have killed everything from groundhogs to elk with a 7MM-08. I have never felt under gunned and have never had a deer sized animal go more than 50yds as long as I did my job. 7MM-08 is my all time favorite.
I go for the 270, cheaper ammo, better factory ammo choices, 95 to 160 gr bullets. Does have a wide margin of you reload. I'm not recoil shy so that is not a factor for me. Good enough for O'Connor it's more than good enough for me
This is an older post. Had the same consideration, it was during the ammo shortage a few years ago. It was for my adult daughter, there was a choice of a Weatherby Camille in 7mm-08, and a Tikka T3x in 270, there was more 7mm-08 ammo available, and already had 270 plus ability to reload. So choose the 270. I still wonder if it was a better choice, not sure the Tikka fits her the best, at the time I had read Weatherby stock design kicked more. Though decision.
I believe 7mm bullets are probably the most ideal caliber for all around performance in a short action rifle. With modern bullets & twist rates. 30 Cal’s realistically are more optimal for ELR, granted I know this is in a hunting context for the most part. Great coverage!
Been loading the 7 /08 a mwhile 120 s just drop whitetails drt 3 k I also use the 130 speer yellow box spbt and u can go to the 162 eldx and rl 15 on or about 2600 that’s plenty for most applications w a 23” barrel shot I wouldn’t sweat the speed it’s energy delivered
The only thing i like better than a 270WIN pushing a 129gr LRX @3050fps is a 7mm-08REM pushing a 145gr LRX @2810fps. And the only thing I like better than the 708 is the 270. They both can do the same job on the same game at the same ethical distance but the 270 can do it with a flatter trajectory and slightly more retained velocity/energy and longer MPBR, whilst the 708 can do it with way less propellant and less recoil. Difficult choice… I’m going to have to call it a tie. They both are better than each other. I have a 708 for the kids and a 270 for myself. Very versatile cartridges… The efficiency and versatility of the 708 is staggering.
Velocity quoted of mid 2800 for a 7-08/150 load is extremely optimistic, realistic velocity would be 2750 fps. Nosler barrel test is 26 inch which is a custom proposition only ! The large majority of factory rifle comes in 22 inxh. Loss or gain in that bore size is approximately 35fps per inch.
The 270 vs 7mm-08 . Dang ! That is a toss up. It would be the gun the cartridge is chambered in is what would make the difference for me to choose one over the other.
7mm-08 and the 7x57 are nearly identical cartridges. I’d like to see the 7x57 come back just for nostalgia reasons. Its the grandfather to so many modern cartridges. It’s still very popular in Africa.
I shoot 150 grain hornady eldx and get just over 2900 fps with outstanding accuracy. 150 grain Sierra Match King's are even more accurate, but not a hunting round. Accubond 150 grain don't do well nor do Accubond Long Range. With Sierra and Eldx I can hit a 10 inch gong all day at 600 yrds. For me personally, I limit perfect condition shots to 500 yrds on deer.
@@fuzzy883 I’ve been looking at 7mm SAW for a while as well. 162gr ELD-M at 2889-2937fps is tempting. Uses SRP/Palma brass and they have their own brass with head stamps. A 7mm Creedmoor AI would make sense to for that kind of performance. That’s in 7mm Rem Mag territory.
I agree that the 7mm-08 is an overall better cartridge, but you forgot to mention that the shorter action and generally shorter barrels make for a significantly lighter and more handy rifle. I do still love a 270 don't get me wrong and there are still some cases in which I would choose it but overall I think that the 7mm-08 is a top contender for the best deer cartridge of all time.
The problem with the lighter gun is, that 14 lbs of recoil. If the shorter action gun weighs "possibly" 2 lbs less and recoils at 14 lbs, vs a ,270 weighing almost 8lbs with 20lbs of recoil, the short action 7mm08 might feel snappier.
Thank you for mentioning handiness and lateness. The standard length action of the 270 requires a heavier gun. I know of companies that make 7mm-08 in a rifle that weighs under 5 pounds. Granted that’s an expensive super light rifle but you never get that with a 270.
Both are great, but I want to point out that the loading manual you are using is using a 24" barrel for the 270 data, but a 26" barrel for the 7mm-08. That sort of skews your velocity comparisons for these two cartridges.
I grew up with and have been loading for a 22 inch 270 Winchester for decades. I have also loaded for and shot 22 inch 7 mm-08. They both will push a 140 gr to 2900 feet per second at the upper end. My upper load 135gr in the .270 does 2900-2950fps. BCs are typically better with 7mm, except for the 140gr Hornady SST .277". 7mm-08 basically does the same work as .270 with 14gr less powder, and 4,000psi less chamber pressure. I'm thinking about a 7mm AI wildcat using Palma/SRP brass. Several guys have done that already.
Barrel length is a huge factor.. usually the 270 win. is based on a 24” barrel! Not sure about barrel length for the 7mm-08?! So they may be even closer muzzle velocity based on both @ a 22” barrel length?!
That's a hard one there to decide so I'm going to be the Oddball and I want a 25 308 Ackley improved I don't know if they ever made one but that's what I want.
7mm 08 is harder to find here 270 is abundant and not sure where you got 20lbs of recoil more like 17 and 21 for a 30-06 (big difference)but the 7mm-08 would be a good youth model but with 15lbs of recoil i would just spring for a 6.5 creedmoor with 12 and superior bc which means more energy further and available ammo. i dont own a 7mm-08 as it was too much inbetween for me not saying its not good just didnt stand out amongst the others
@@ReloadingWeatherby i realize that is why i got my info off a chart where all rifles were 8lbs to compare apples to apples ive shot a 270 and 3006 and there is a significant difference i prefer sub 20lb recoil judst my preference. i dont own a light rifle in larger calibers for that very reason. 8lbs is not heavy to me at all my ar 10 is 12lbs and still pretty manageable. Id say most rifles are going to be in the 7-8lb range and 17 lbs is not bad as long as your not a small child. then i would lean more towards 243 or a 22-250 if they are beginners
So I've read into the difference between the regular 6.8x51 (non-steel head) is almost identical to 7mm-08 (being 1/128 smaller). My question is: Can you run regular 6.8x51 through a 7mm-08 rifle? (mfg rounds, not handloaded) It sounds like the tolerances should permit it as they're far closer than .223/5.56 (whether out of a 5.56 or .223 wylde barrel) I'm just wondering as regular 6.8x51 is far more available than 7mm-08.
Just to clarify, 7mm = 0.276” so the 270 Winchester is barely a thousandth off. Unlike all of the .284” “7mm” bullets. 0.277” also just happens to be exactly 90% of 0.308”. I am not knocking the 7mm-08. This video popped up because I am getting ready to build a rifle with that chambering. Heavier available bullets and a wider variety of bullets is one factor. I want a relatively lightweight hunting rifle so recoil also matters, as does the short action (vs. long or standard action the 270 Winchester requires).
Just wondering if you have experienced more then a little difference in fps then what is in the book.(Nosler seem a bit hotter).for example.I always use a chronograph.What’s your thoughts on the difference from book to book recipes?big differences in fps.with hardly any change in power charge.
Each rifle is going to be different, my personal 270 Win has been very close to what the books say for velocity with the Hornady and Barnes book. With Nosler my rifle was slower. And then you have my 300 WBY that is much faster than all the books. I usually get at least 100 FPS faster than the books with the Weatherby. Overall Nosler seems to have the fastest velocities and Barnes has the slowest. But not all of the cartridges in the Nosler book are faster than the other books. Nosler seems to have some bias towards their own cartridges, and they usually down play the velocities in the Weatherby cartridges.
The chrony don't lie.i hunted with rems big seven from 14 to 42.super accurate and powerful cartridge.my new chrony showed it shooting 156 fps less than the book.what a eye-opener. My close friend has a 06 with a 22 in barrel that was only 38 fps slower in a rifle that weighed more than a pound less and shorter. I have a 06 now.i recently bought a win model 70 featherweight in 708 this will be my hunting rifle now.the biggest game I shoot are cow elk within 300 yds.cow elk aren't that big and a nosler partition 160 gr at a chronographed 2680 fps will do the job fine.again with a lighter handier rifle.nice video
There are people that are shooting 165 grain. Bullets with success in 1-10 twist 270. So I do not see a versatility advantage. There are also companies coming out with fast twist 270 Win. The 270 more powerful, faster, flatter shooting cartridge.
I would think a dual system would be better.Say a Ruger American in a 270 and one in a 308 not a 7mm 08.I have brass gor both.I love the magnums but need to get back in the game again.Affordability being the problem
Don't own either. Have always found my 30-06 to be better than both of them. Short of that is my 6.5 calibers. Above that is my 7mag, 28 Nos lineup. All of which in my opinion more than cover the waterfront.
I got cut off, but the above rounds for your son until he grows up. The 270 will be a great round later for him. That way he won't fear pulling the trigger and it'll be more enjoyable.
I’ve owned both these calibers but the 7mm/08 won my heart because it allows a shorter action and thus a lighter rifle. 47 grains of Winchester W760 powder with the 140 grain Sierra Gameking shoots 1/2 groups out of my Kimber Montana M84. The accuracy of any .308 variant is fantastic. It’s kills lots of mule deer and elk using the 140 grain Barnes TTSX bullet. The reason it’s not more popular lies with gun writers in my opinion. They constantly write that it’s a ideal cartridge for youth and woman. Many a “manly” man thinks this cartridge is therefore not worthy of his consideration and they select a beast of a cartridge like the Remington 7mm Magnum instead. …and then are afraid of the recoil of that explosive round. It’s simply too much gun for the average hunter. Guns that hurt the shooter are rarely shot on a regular basis. The 7mm/08 is just fun to shoot and that is “manly” enough for me.
@@ReloadingWeatherby You can do the comparisons, I just think its a waste of time. They are both great cartridges. Depends on whether you want long vs short action. 7mm offers better bullet selection. .270 has more history.
I never bought a 7mm-08 because of it's stupid name. 7mm means 7mm.08 means nothing.It's dumb. Call it 7X51 or 7mm Winchester, even 7mm-308 would be better.
@@todsimpkins8908 7mm08 means nothing, 7mm-308 says it's a 7mm necked down 308 case. In 30-06 the 06 means the cartridge was created in 1906.08 in 7mm08 is not a cartridge created in 1908 or 2008. See my meaning? Weatherby has a 338-378 which is 338 caliber necked down from a 378 case.
As a long time user of the 7mm-08 I can confidently say it has done everything I asked of it with no problems. I first got it because I was impressed with the velocity and energy past 200 yards with the available loads at that time compared to 308 and 30-06. Everything I've killed with it was one shot and that includes two moose with one of them over 200 yards quartering to me (fell right there.) Though I have to admit I reloaded 160 grain bullets for the moose. Don't underscore the importance of reduced recoil. That's what made the 6.5 Creed so popular. Less recoil means it will be easier to shoot accurately and will allow more practice before it becomes unpleasant. The fact is all of the mid-range power cartridges will perform adequately on game today due to the variety of bullets available. There probably isn't 50 yards difference in effectiveness or trajectory between them. Just remember you'll get less meat damage with the lower velocity ones and flatter trajectory with the higher velocity ones. If I can have lower recoil and better efficiency with easier practice and accuracy, why not? It allows me to choose a lighter rifle if I want to and still have tolerable levels of recoil. It also gives me better barrel life. Nothing wrong with middle of the road sometimes.
Amen! 😃👍
That was well put. Great comment. 👍👍
Love the content on the 7mm-08. I have had one for 5 years now and love it. I got it for my then-15-year-old son for his first centerfire rifle. It shoots 139 gr. Hornady GMX projectiles at slightly less than MOA in my Ruger American with a Leupold VX-Freedom scope. I have found that I end up taking this rifle hunting whenever my son is not using it in lieu of my .30-06. Between my son and I, we have taken 11 whitetails with it. It has performed flawlessly. I have only recovered one bullet, and that was on a nice buck that was facing me. It entered at the base of the neck and traveled 3/4 of the length of the deer. I recovered it in the stomach. I would not hesitate to hunt elk with it within 300-350 yards. Thanks for all of your quality content. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Pat! My nephew hunts with a 7mm-08. He has taken a mule deer and he plans to use it for Elk hunting as well.
I have 270 win, 7mm-08, and 280 rem and I will take the 280 rem every time, after 5 years of experimenting with them all. High BC bullets 140 grain at almost 3200 FPS. Flat shooting power packed, and I can load a 160 accubond that absolutely thumps elk, red deer at distance. My Remington 700 shoots moa with 3 factory loads and two hand loads. A 140 accubond I load is close to 3200 FPS with 1500 energy at almost 600 yards. I grew up hunting and was taught to shoot with a 30-06, by someone who knew what they were doing, and then I bought a 300 wsm used it for 10 years so none of these have recoil I personally notice. BUT My grandsons both shoot the 7mm-08 though and have taken nice animals with. I will always have soft soft for 270 win because I grew up with Jacks stories and have all his books, and let’s face it, it takes game well. As bullet tech get better we will see higher BC bullets come out for 270 without having to re-barrel for better twist rates and that caliber might get a little revamp and maybe a little resurgence of popularity because so many households have one in their gun safe.
Thanks for sharing! 280 Remington needs more love.
Ammo availability is not considered here I've never seen 280 AI shells in any stores but I see lots of 270 and 7mm-08
Good choice for your boy either way. My dad got me a 270 for my first deer rifle and I love it. Mine is a remington 700 that loves 130 grain accubonds and h4350
Both great cartridges. As a whitetail hunter in the SE USA, the ‘08 is definitely one of the top choices due to efficiency, mild recoil, and bullet choices. I chuckle when I hear uninformed hunters tag the ‘08 as a youth or ladies rifle (excellent choice). It’s extremely difficult to leave behind when I’m headed to deer camp shooting out to 300 yards. If I lived out west than it would be a much more difficult choice. Thanks for another good video!
If the 7mm-08 is a youth or ladies rifle... what does that make the 6.5 Creedmoor?
@@ReloadingWeatherby 😲
I’ve been reloading, shooting, and hunting with .270 for a very long time. It’s been good to me and it’s still one of my favorite high velocity rounds. I also love 30-06 and 300 Win Mag. I’ve never tried a 7mm-08. I’ve tried 280 Remington and 7x57 reloaded to full potential though.
If you have a 270 Win.... you really don't need a 7mm-08.
@@ReloadingWeatherby Precisely
If you have a 7mm-08, the .270 doesn't bring anything to the table for you either. I grew up on 270 but really like the 7mm-08 better just in terms of performance. 7mm-08 AI would be fun to load for.
My father owned two hunting rifles, both chambered in .270 Win. I took the Wisconsin Hunter Safety course at 11. At 12 I walked out into the cold morning woods carrying that .270. I cut my teeth shooting that .270 Win. from 11 to 18. When I joined the military and fired my first shot with the 5.56, I laughed due to the light recoil. When I got out of the military, I decided to purchase my own hunting rifle. I wanted something along the lines of what my father shot. I decided to go with a 30-06. Over the years I have gathered a few more, a 7mm-08 is among them and I gotta say, "I love that round."
Thanks for sharing
I love my Winchester model 70 .270 but the older I get I prefer my 7mm-08
I hunt with both, and I love them both. I will say I prefer 7mm-08 over .270 Win because of the bullet selection and reduced recoil. In the Midwest the .270 is underutilized most of the time just because we don't have the wide open country to take advantage of the velocities it's capable of. I agree that it's the most capable caliber, and strikes the best median for the parent case.
For all practical hunting needs ( antelope to whitetail or mule deer up to 400 yards , even elk and black bear up to 300 yards ) there is no need for anything more than a 7mm-08 . It’s extremely efficient and effective, more compact package availability and easier to carry in the field , quicker to acquire targets , lower recoil and better SD’s , BC’s , less wind drift , better retained down range energy when using 150 grain bullets and up of the same type , and as you stated , there are far more 7mm projectiles to choose from .
The 7mm-08 really starts to out shine past 500 yards , it begins to surpass the 270 in every aspect from energy to trajectory, wind drift and it compounds drastically the further out you go .
It’s even a great coyote duster at long distances out to 600-700 yards !
I have both the 270 and the 7mm08. I use a bdc scope on the 7mm08 and have confidence to take the 400 yard shot and I know I will have good shot placement. My 270 requires a hold over at the top of the shoulder and again have good shot placement. I don’t hit deer and have been hunting elk for 32 years. I had the 270 first. I really like both calibers and the results of each.
Very nice, can't go wrong with either one
The 7mm08 seems to be gaining in popularity on UA-cam at least. I think it’s because it checks so many boxes and 7mm seem to be getting more popular as well. Hornady had a 7mm prc coming out as well.
I think it is becoming more popular
The 7mm RUM beats the 7mm PRC ,like 140gr @ 3400 fps mv
The 7mm-08 is the best do it all round up to dangerous game. Elk under 400 yds it's also fine. The recoil is very nice, which allows better shooting and accuracy!
I have the 7-08 for a number of years now and I’ve also had 270. Both are kinda neck and neck except for recoil. I’m going to get another 270 and use both for hunting. I enjoy both calibers
Thanks for sharing!
There are very few hunting problems that a 270 (or 280AI) isn't a great solution for.
Gotta Love the 7mm-08! Awesome cartridge!
It's a good one!
Just built a 280ai on a Tikka action. 145grain LRX going 3014fps, 54 inch drop and generating just over 1500ft/lbs at 500 meters. My 270win 129gr LRX is going 3198fps, 46 inch drop and generating 1540ft/lbs at 500 meters. The 270win is one heck of a cartridge.
Yes it is
This is the perfect analogy. 270Win is so good, it just flat works, and mild recoil, readily available, low cost, it will last beyond anyone reading this.
The .270 Win and the 7mm-08 are the necked down versions of the .30-06 and .308 respectively. The reasons the US military went to the .308 are the same reasons why a shooter might choose the 7mm-08 over the .270. Less recoil, lighter weight cartridges, short action vs regular length, and less powder required to get adequate ballistics at reasonable shooting distances.
The 7mm-08 is what I recommend to new hunters. The performance on game is excellent and it is easy to shoot well, even for novice and small framed shooters. The 6.5 CM is another excellent choice, although I believe the 7mm-08 is somewhat more versatile with the availability of 175 grain bullets.
If you want to hunt something bigger than deer and antelope and still have light recoil.... this is it.
it should be noted that lots of .270 offerings fired in common rifles will have recoil closer to that of .308 Win than 30-06. still not as light in recoil as 7mm-08 in the same rifle model, but 16-17 ft-lbs isn't as bad as 20
also, Hornady still offers the "Custom Lite" round in 7mm-08 ... I don't know the recoil but it's got to be a pretty light recoiling round, probs perfect for a shooter who might be recoil-sensitive (new, young or otherwise).
Custom Lite is offered in a few other chambering but, unfortunately, not in 270 Win 😢.
Not sure if any other brands still make low-recoil ammo for either of these cartridges.
The 7-08 also an excellent choice for us old geezers who's bodies have taken a lifetime of beatings. Those higher recoiling cartridges can injure us in the field, which isn't cool. The 243, 6.5CM, and 7-08 become excellent choices. Seems like all the cartridges based off the 308 are great choices. Thanks for the vid.
Thanks for commenting Don
Obviously, 100 fps doesn't mean squat. A hundred ft. lbs. of energy doesn't mean squat, at over 2500 ft. lbs. I agree, it is not a 400 yard (or less) shot. I have a Browning BLR in 7MM-08 and I love it.
it all comes down to what you are hunting and what your shot will be and what you want to get out of it.
(im sure you were not doing this for target shooting at 1000 yards)
if you want a great deer round with light recoil then get a 243
if you want 3006 performance but better then go with a 270 win
there are lots of in between rounds, between a 270 and 243, such as all the 25's and 26's that will take a deer fantastically
the old 257 Roberts is amazing, my grandad had 1 and it was awesome ballistics and performance, light recoil and a beast down range for a 117gr
look at the 6.5 needmore is so closely compared to the 243 just w heavier boolits, it will take a deer just fine also.
there are too many great rounds that will take a deer to list, it really comes down to what you like and want in terms of rifle, but then ammo availability and ammo cost
and if your a reloader then the sky is the limit
i am partial to 270 win bc its big enough to take anything and wont destroy your shoulder like all the bigger cals like 300 win mag and above
deer are not that hard to kill as long as you do your part with correct caliber, correct shot placement at correct distance for ammo to do its job
Do a comparison of the .270 win and the .25-06
Thinking of doing a custom 16" bolt action rifle in 7mm-08 with a lightweight chassis. Already reload the 300 blk and 308. Thanks for the video.
Sounds like a fun rifle
I shot a 270 for deer for years. I got a 7mm-08 and sold that 270 a year later. The accuracy difference between my 2 particular rifles was shocking. Both savage 110s. 1 1/4 with reloads in the 270. 1/2 with reloads in the 7mm-08. Its more fun to shoot, barrel life is better, and more loads per pound of powder. Kills deer and pigs with authority.
Interesting.... I had a lot of accuracy issues with my 270 Win. I upgraded the trigger and now the rifle shoots very well.
@Paul I have four Savage Weather Warriors; a 300 Win Mag, two 7MM Rem Mags and a 270 Win and each shoot 3/4” or better groups with 180 Partitions and Accubonds, 160 Accubonds and 130 Accubonds respectively.
Since 1988 I have killed everything from groundhogs to elk with a 7MM-08. I have never felt under gunned and have never had a deer sized animal go more than 50yds as long as I did my job. 7MM-08 is my all time favorite.
Thanks for sharing!
So how far did the elk sized animals go?
I go for the 270, cheaper ammo, better factory ammo choices, 95 to 160 gr bullets. Does have a wide margin of you reload. I'm not recoil shy so that is not a factor for me. Good enough for O'Connor it's more than good enough for me
Good pick
This is an older post. Had the same consideration, it was during the ammo shortage a few years ago. It was for my adult daughter, there was a choice of a Weatherby Camille in 7mm-08, and a Tikka T3x in 270, there was more 7mm-08 ammo available, and already had 270 plus ability to reload. So choose the 270. I still wonder if it was a better choice, not sure the Tikka fits her the best, at the time I had read Weatherby stock design kicked more. Though decision.
I believe 7mm bullets are probably the most ideal caliber for all around performance in a short action rifle. With modern bullets & twist rates. 30 Cal’s realistically are more optimal for ELR, granted I know this is in a hunting context for the most part. Great coverage!
Thanks for commenting
Been loading the 7 /08 a mwhile 120 s just drop whitetails drt 3 k I also use the 130 speer yellow box spbt and u can go to the 162 eldx and rl 15 on or about 2600 that’s plenty for most applications w a 23” barrel shot I wouldn’t sweat the speed it’s energy delivered
Great calibers for sure i will take the 7mm-08 and if i get another 7mm cal i will take the 7mm Weatherby Magnum !
Why do you prefer the .308 over the 7mm-08? I can't think of a single reason.
The only thing i like better than a 270WIN pushing a 129gr LRX @3050fps is a 7mm-08REM pushing a 145gr LRX @2810fps. And the only thing I like better than the 708 is the 270.
They both can do the same job on the same game at the same ethical distance but the 270 can do it with a flatter trajectory and slightly more retained velocity/energy and longer MPBR, whilst the 708 can do it with way less propellant and less recoil.
Difficult choice… I’m going to have to call it a tie. They both are better than each other.
I have a 708 for the kids and a 270 for myself. Very versatile cartridges… The efficiency and versatility of the 708 is staggering.
Velocity quoted of mid 2800 for a 7-08/150 load is extremely optimistic, realistic velocity would be 2750 fps.
Nosler barrel test is 26 inch which is a custom proposition only ! The large majority of factory rifle comes in 22 inxh. Loss or gain in that bore size is approximately 35fps per inch.
22 inch barrel on a 7mm-08 ua-cam.com/users/shorts6KzRA5mnlrA?si=9bQtonDhSzYDWmLG
The 270 vs 7mm-08 . Dang ! That is a toss up. It would be the gun the cartridge is chambered in is what would make the difference for me to choose one over the other.
I've had 4 270 wins hated 1 loved 3 I then upgraded to a 270 weatherby magnum and recoil feels about the same but holy hell is it fast
Is your 270 WBY shooting well?
I have a little custom 7mm-08 built on a stainless Model 7 action. It has a Shilen barrel and trigger. It's a sweet rifle.
Nice
I couldn't decide so i bought both in Tikka T3X rifles
Nice
I ditched my 30-06 and 308 years ago for the 7mm08. Best non dangerous game cartridge there is. Good for any deer.
Bingo
7mm-08 and the 7x57 are nearly identical cartridges. I’d like to see the 7x57 come back just for nostalgia reasons. Its the grandfather to so many modern cartridges. It’s still very popular in Africa.
For reloaders, consider staball 6.5 powder for the 7mm-08... It is magic in that caliber with 140 gr and 150 gr bullets.
What kinds of results are you getting with Staball?
I shoot 150 grain hornady eldx and get just over 2900 fps with outstanding accuracy. 150 grain Sierra Match King's are even more accurate, but not a hunting round. Accubond 150 grain don't do well nor do Accubond Long Range. With Sierra and Eldx I can hit a 10 inch gong all day at 600 yrds. For me personally, I limit perfect condition shots to 500 yrds on deer.
@@fuzzy883 What barrel length? That’s 200fps faster than I expected.
@@fuzzy883 I’ve been looking at 7mm SAW for a while as well. 162gr ELD-M at 2889-2937fps is tempting. Uses SRP/Palma brass and they have their own brass with head stamps. A 7mm Creedmoor AI would make sense to for that kind of performance. That’s in 7mm Rem Mag territory.
I have a 24 inch Rem 700 fluted stainless rifle.
I agree that the 7mm-08 is an overall better cartridge, but you forgot to mention that the shorter action and generally shorter barrels make for a significantly lighter and more handy rifle. I do still love a 270 don't get me wrong and there are still some cases in which I would choose it but overall I think that the 7mm-08 is a top contender for the best deer cartridge of all time.
The problem with the lighter gun is, that 14 lbs of recoil.
If the shorter action gun weighs "possibly" 2 lbs less and recoils at 14 lbs, vs a ,270 weighing almost 8lbs with 20lbs of recoil, the short action 7mm08 might feel snappier.
Thank you for mentioning handiness and lateness. The standard length action of the 270 requires a heavier gun. I know of companies that make 7mm-08 in a rifle that weighs under 5 pounds. Granted that’s an expensive super light rifle but you never get that with a 270.
Both are great, but I want to point out that the loading manual you are using is using a 24" barrel for the 270 data, but a 26" barrel for the 7mm-08. That sort of skews your velocity comparisons for these two cartridges.
I grew up with and have been loading for a 22 inch 270 Winchester for decades. I have also loaded for and shot 22 inch 7 mm-08. They both will push a 140 gr to 2900 feet per second at the upper end. My upper load 135gr in the .270 does 2900-2950fps.
BCs are typically better with 7mm, except for the 140gr Hornady SST .277".
7mm-08 basically does the same work as .270 with 14gr less powder, and 4,000psi less chamber pressure.
I'm thinking about a 7mm AI wildcat using Palma/SRP brass. Several guys have done that already.
No, sticking with 270... 7mm is more expencive harder to train with, harder to find, and less firearms are built for it... so 270 for me.
7mm-08 all the way!
I'm shocked you would say that....
Barrel length is a huge factor.. usually the 270 win. is based on a 24” barrel! Not sure about barrel length for the 7mm-08?! So they may be even closer muzzle velocity based on both @ a 22” barrel length?!
That's a hard one there to decide so I'm going to be the Oddball and I want a 25 308 Ackley improved I don't know if they ever made one but that's what I want.
The 25 Souper. I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a factory cartridge
the lrx will still open up at 459 yards, ask me how I know 🤪 though that was a 7mm Rem Mag at 4400ft elevation
How fast do you think the bullet was going at 459 yards?
@@ReloadingWeatherby 2300 to 2450
I want a 7mm-08 so bad. I have some 160 and 162 grain bullets I want to load with staball 6.5. Some day soon I will have it.
Do it!
Good video. 🎥🎬 Thanks
Thank you!
7x57 mauser?
7mm 08 is harder to find here 270 is abundant and not sure where you got 20lbs of recoil more like 17 and 21 for a 30-06 (big difference)but the 7mm-08 would be a good youth model but with 15lbs of recoil i would just spring for a 6.5 creedmoor with 12 and superior bc which means more energy further and available ammo. i dont own a 7mm-08 as it was too much inbetween for me not saying its not good just didnt stand out amongst the others
Recoil really depends on the weight of the rifle. I shoot a 165 gr bullet in my 270 and it has around 22lbs of recoil because it's a light rifle.
@@ReloadingWeatherby i realize that is why i got my info off a chart where all rifles were 8lbs to compare apples to apples ive shot a 270 and 3006 and there is a significant difference i prefer sub 20lb recoil judst my preference. i dont own a light rifle in larger calibers for that very reason. 8lbs is not heavy to me at all my ar 10 is 12lbs and still pretty manageable. Id say most rifles are going to be in the 7-8lb range and 17 lbs is not bad as long as your not a small child. then i would lean more towards 243 or a 22-250 if they are beginners
Forget the punky 270 Winchester. The 270 Weatherby Magnum is one of the greatest cartridges of all time.
It really is
270 is way easier to find at stores! And cheaper too.
7mm-08Remy!😃🎯
What about .260 rem vs 7-08??
I could do a video on that
So I've read into the difference between the regular 6.8x51 (non-steel head) is almost identical to 7mm-08 (being 1/128 smaller).
My question is: Can you run regular 6.8x51 through a 7mm-08 rifle? (mfg rounds, not handloaded) It sounds like the tolerances should permit it as they're far closer than .223/5.56 (whether out of a 5.56 or .223 wylde barrel)
I'm just wondering as regular 6.8x51 is far more available than 7mm-08.
Technically... probably. I wouldn't do it.
Just to clarify, 7mm = 0.276” so the 270 Winchester is barely a thousandth off. Unlike all of the .284” “7mm” bullets. 0.277” also just happens to be exactly 90% of 0.308”.
I am not knocking the 7mm-08. This video popped up because I am getting ready to build a rifle with that chambering. Heavier available bullets and a wider variety of bullets is one factor. I want a relatively lightweight hunting rifle so recoil also matters, as does the short action (vs. long or standard action the 270 Winchester requires).
Enjoy your 7mm-08
Just wondering if you have experienced more then a little difference in fps then what is in the book.(Nosler seem a bit hotter).for example.I always use a chronograph.What’s your thoughts on the difference from book to book recipes?big differences in fps.with hardly any change in power charge.
Each rifle is going to be different, my personal 270 Win has been very close to what the books say for velocity with the Hornady and Barnes book. With Nosler my rifle was slower. And then you have my 300 WBY that is much faster than all the books. I usually get at least 100 FPS faster than the books with the Weatherby. Overall Nosler seems to have the fastest velocities and Barnes has the slowest. But not all of the cartridges in the Nosler book are faster than the other books. Nosler seems to have some bias towards their own cartridges, and they usually down play the velocities in the Weatherby cartridges.
The chrony don't lie.i hunted with rems big seven from 14 to 42.super accurate and powerful cartridge.my new chrony showed it shooting 156 fps less than the book.what a eye-opener. My close friend has a 06 with a 22 in barrel that was only 38 fps slower in a rifle that weighed more than a pound less and shorter. I have a 06 now.i recently bought a win model 70 featherweight in 708 this will be my hunting rifle now.the biggest game I shoot are cow elk within 300 yds.cow elk aren't that big and a nosler partition 160 gr at a chronographed 2680 fps will do the job fine.again with a lighter handier rifle.nice video
I have had 3 different 7mm-08s and they varied by up to 150 fps for the same loads. So, velocity is very rifle specific.
Surprisingly, I personally don't own both of them. Maybe I'm missing out. I've been eyeing 7mm-08, but I am more of a magnum type of a guy🙄🤣
There are people that are shooting 165 grain. Bullets with success in 1-10 twist 270. So I do not see a versatility advantage. There are also companies coming out with fast twist 270 Win. The 270 more powerful, faster, flatter shooting cartridge.
Since this video I have shot the 165 ABLR with much success with my 270 Win. ua-cam.com/video/FL9B2o8wWsA/v-deo.htmlsi=XZgu7JsxZRd1IG6I
The guy didn’t even mention that the7mm-08 is short action so the rifles available are much handier and lighter
Load them 140’s on the 7mm-08, with 6.5 Staball it matches 270 velocities.
I bet
I love the Staball powder in the 7mm-08 as well. My Tikka with 140gr TTSX will shoot 3/4" moa and I'm by no means a great shot. Average at best.
I've seem 7mm up to 190 gr and asmlowmas 100 gr. Pretty broad range.
Yep, a bit more versatile than 270
I would think a dual system would be better.Say a Ruger American in a 270 and one in a 308 not a 7mm 08.I have brass gor both.I love the magnums but need to get back in the game again.Affordability being the problem
which loading manual are you using?
Nosler
At 300 yards, what is the best for moose ?
Either cartridge would be light for Moose. They are about the same... Just use a 150 gr or bigger for it.
@@ReloadingWeatherby Does a 130 gr copper bullet will act like a 150 gr because it won't loose it's weight ?
@@jean-paulbourbonnais6682 If you're going to go light do a all copper bullet.
270, 150 grain would be my choice
I have a 7mm-08 the recoil on the gun itself has a lot of kick
Is it a light weight gun?
Had one in a model 7 Remington and it kicked like a mule
NOT! The 270 shoots just like the 7mm. The 7mm-08 is nothing like the 270 which was built from the 30-06.
7mm-08 has a much longer barrel life
I’ll vote for the 308 shooting a 130 ttsx at over 3100 fps
There you go
Don't own either. Have always found my 30-06 to be better than both of them. Short of that is my 6.5 calibers. Above that is my 7mag, 28 Nos lineup. All of which in my opinion more than cover the waterfront.
Does this really matter?
No
.277 inches is 7.035mm
Maybe you could get a 243 or 6.5cr
I got cut off, but the above rounds for your son until he grows up. The 270 will be a great round later for him. That way he won't fear pulling the trigger and it'll be more enjoyable.
I have a 243 Win. I need him to try that rifle
He is a lucky boy 😊
I’ve owned both these calibers but the 7mm/08 won my heart because it allows a shorter action and thus a lighter rifle. 47 grains of Winchester W760 powder with the 140 grain Sierra Gameking shoots 1/2 groups out of my Kimber Montana M84. The accuracy of any .308 variant is fantastic. It’s kills lots of mule deer and elk using the 140 grain Barnes TTSX bullet. The reason it’s not more popular lies with gun writers in my opinion. They constantly write that it’s a ideal cartridge for youth and woman. Many a “manly” man thinks this cartridge is therefore not worthy of his consideration and they select a beast of a cartridge like the Remington 7mm Magnum instead. …and then are afraid of the recoil of that explosive round. It’s simply too much gun for the average hunter. Guns that hurt the shooter are rarely shot on a regular basis. The 7mm/08 is just fun to shoot and that is “manly” enough for me.
Thanks for sharing
The .277 is a true 7mm. The 7mm are 7.2. Something I learned recently.
Funny how that is....
What exactly are you saying here? "The .277 is a true 7mm. The 7mm are 7.2"?
@@bustabass9025 the literal conversion from inches to MM.
@@bustabass9025 It's true.... just like how a 257 cartridge actually is a 6.5mm
@@Matt-ef1yx
Thanks Matt. All these years I never bothered to measure or convert, just load and shoot! 💥
Growing a little tired of "vs" comparisons. I have a 7X57 and a 270 and have most everything covered for the game around my location.
What content would you like to see?
@@ReloadingWeatherby You can do the comparisons, I just think its a waste of time. They are both great cartridges. Depends on whether you want long vs short action. 7mm offers better bullet selection. .270 has more history.
7mm-08 doesn't measure up
270 does have it beat
Similar but not the same! Lol
Yep
I never bought a 7mm-08 because of it's stupid name. 7mm means 7mm.08 means nothing.It's dumb. Call it 7X51 or 7mm Winchester, even 7mm-308 would be better.
Haha
Really? 7mm08 is stupid, but 7mm-308 is ok? Mmmmmkay. Of course you are adding periods on you own. There is no 7mm.08.
@@todsimpkins8908 7mm08 means nothing, 7mm-308 says it's a 7mm necked down 308 case. In 30-06 the 06 means the cartridge was created in 1906.08 in 7mm08 is not a cartridge created in 1908 or 2008. See my meaning? Weatherby has a 338-378 which is 338 caliber necked down from a 378 case.