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Old 05-14-2011, 08:53 PM
edsonhunter edsonhunter is offline
 
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Default 7mm08 vs 257 wby mag

i am looking into building a new toy and was wondering if anyone has experinces with these two calibers i dont even no anyone with them to try out, what are they like to shoot, ranges basically any info would be good
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Old 05-14-2011, 09:05 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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I have owned both cartridges, and they are very different, and as such, they are suitable for different uses. The 7mm-08 throws a .284" bullet at moderate velocity, and it makes a great all around cartridge for game from deer to elk to moose, at short to medium ranges. The 257wby throws a .257" bullet at high velocity, which makes it ideal for deer sized game out to fairly long ranges, although with proper bullet selection, it will take moose or elk. The 7mm-08 has a much longer accurate barrel life, which makes it much more suitable for target shooting. If you don't handload, 257wby ammunition is very limited in selection, and it is quite expensive to purchase. The 7mm-08, is an ideal gun for a beginning hunter, while the 257wby is much less suitable for a beginner.
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Old 05-14-2011, 09:05 PM
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Arn?Narn should be weighing in here shortly, he shoots both.....

I've got the 7mm08, and I'm really happy with what it will do. Best thing is to go look at ballistic tables, and see how it carries energy downrange. Very accurate with 140 gr bullets, mine likes the TSX and Partitions equally, and with a well placed shot it will get the job done for you on any big game in Alberta.
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Old 05-14-2011, 09:12 PM
edsonhunter edsonhunter is offline
 
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on average my shots are from 60 to 250 so not worried about range i have done a few pokes past 400 but not everyday. im just wanting a smaller exotic caliber you dont see everyone shooting everyday and take hunting the odd time. my main hunting guns are 7mm rem mag and 300 wby mag and i dont use the 3006
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Old 05-14-2011, 09:16 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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Quote:
on average my shots are from 60 to 250 so not worried about range i have done a few pokes past 400 but not everyday. im just wanting a smaller exotic caliber you dont see everyone shooting everyday and take hunting the odd time.
The 7mm-08, which by the way, is the same caliber as your 7mmremmag, would be ideal for that application.
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Old 05-14-2011, 09:29 PM
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IMO...Elkhunter nailed it in post #2

tm
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Old 05-14-2011, 10:20 PM
tchardy1972 tchardy1972 is offline
 
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Apples to apples the 7 08 will be available in cheaper firearms and a better all around caliber.
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Old 05-15-2011, 05:01 AM
timsesink timsesink is offline
 
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Your really comparing apples to oranges, if you want an uber flat, exotic gun go for the 257wby however if you're loking for something a little more all round and shots under 200yards the 7-08 would do great. I think the 7-08 would best complement your current calibers as your 7mm can reach way outt here with the right loads, practice and optice. Don't even consider the 257 if you don't handload imo due to ammo costs however I've ehard they're coming down witht he larger players jumping and making rounds. I think something that woud even better suit you would be a 25-06 or .260 Rem.
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Old 05-15-2011, 08:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timsesink View Post
Your really comparing apples to oranges, if you want an uber flat, exotic gun go for the 257wby however if you're loking for something a little more all round and shots under 200yards the 7-08 would do great. I think the 7-08 would best complement your current calibers as your 7mm can reach way outt here with the right loads, practice and optice. Don't even consider the 257 if you don't handload imo due to ammo costs however I've ehard they're coming down witht he larger players jumping and making rounds. I think something that woud even better suit you would be a 25-06 or .260 Rem.
I'm going to throw this out just because I think there are too many people that underestimate the 7mm08 next to the 7 Remington Mag., specifically your claim that the -08 is only good inside of 200 yrds and the Mag is much flatter shooting.

Comparing apples to apples now, shooting a Hornady 139 gr SST, the 7mm-08 is leaving the muzzle at 3000 fps, at 500 yrds it is going 2087 with 1344 lbs of energy, and a drop of 38.4".

The 7mm Rem Mag with the same load/bullet is leaving the muzzle at 3250 fps, at 500 yrds it is going 2300 with 1633 pds of energy, and a drop of 32.6".

While the Mag clearly comes out ahead of the -08, it isn't by some huge margin, and considering how much tamer the 7mm08 is to shoot, it hangs in their very respectably IMO. You are still well over the 1000 lbs energy mark that seems to be the 'industry standard' for humane kills on deer size animal, so there is no reason one couldn't use it at the 500 yrd mark assuming they are profficient with their shooting. (I wouldn't do it, I know my limits, and my -08 will do more than I will). As far as flat shooting, there is less than 6" of drop difference between the two. Of course, other bullets/loads will give different numbers, but used this comparison because it is one of the hotter factory loads for the 7mm-08.
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Old 05-15-2011, 08:22 AM
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Compare the 7-08 to the 7RM both loaded with 168 Bergers or any of the 175 grainers.

Bobby B.
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Old 05-15-2011, 08:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby B. View Post
Compare the 7-08 to the 7RM both loaded with 168 Bergers or any of the 175 grainers.

Bobby B.
Yes, the -08 will compare badly with that load. But then, nobody shoots a bullet that heavy with the 08.....my point was simply that the 7mm08 is entirely effective on deer sized game at longer ranges, and fairly flat shooting in it's own right. All while being much more shooter friendly. I'm not saying it is 'better' than the Mag. Just that it gets underestimated.
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Old 05-15-2011, 09:08 AM
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My cousin and uncle both have shot 7mm-08s for years and have shot all kinds of game with them. Moose, Elk, deer, bear, and coyotes. Very impressive little gun. I think of it like a 308 with a better bc really. Buddy would never load bullets heavier than 120's in a 257 so the comparison that TC did is a good I think? Energy down range with the 257 to 08 to rm all close enough that a deer won't know the diffrence. I've also seen what the 257wby can do to meat and it's not good with a marginal shot. Shorter action, lighter gun, bigger bullet selection, nice recoil. My pick would be the 7mm-08.
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Old 05-15-2011, 01:15 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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Quote:
Compare the 7-08 to the 7RM both loaded with 168 Bergers or any of the 175 grainers.
I won't bother, since I have no use for bullets that heavy in any 7mm hunting cartridge.
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Old 05-16-2011, 10:16 AM
lclund1946 lclund1946 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twisted canuck View Post
I'm going to throw this out just because I think there are too many people that underestimate the 7mm08 next to the 7 Remington Mag., specifically your claim that the -08 is only good inside of 200 yrds and the Mag is much flatter shooting.

Comparing apples to apples now, shooting a Hornady 139 gr SST, the 7mm-08 is leaving the muzzle at 3000 fps, at 500 yrds it is going 2087 with 1344 lbs of energy, and a drop of 38.4".

The 7mm Rem Mag with the same load/bullet is leaving the muzzle at 3250 fps, at 500 yrds it is going 2300 with 1633 pds of energy, and a drop of 32.6".

While the Mag clearly comes out ahead of the -08, it isn't by some huge margin, and considering how much tamer the 7mm08 is to shoot, it hangs in their very respectably IMO. You are still well over the 1000 lbs energy mark that seems to be the 'industry standard' for humane kills on deer size animal, so there is no reason one couldn't use it at the 500 yrd mark assuming they are profficient with their shooting. (I wouldn't do it, I know my limits, and my -08 will do more than I will). As far as flat shooting, there is less than 6" of drop difference between the two. Of course, other bullets/loads will give different numbers, but used this comparison because it is one of the hotter factory loads for the 7mm-08.
Good post. Great to see the potential of the 7mm08 being recognized. I have been hand loading for 7mm08's for close to 25 years. Longest shot on moose was 600 yards with 140 Nosler Solid base, target pictured below, which took out both lungs and exited after passing through off shoulder blade. Moose took about 10 steps before dropping dead.
[IMG][/IMG]

A few years back I wrote an article "Why We Chose a 7mm08 over a 257 Weatherby". Here is a chart I put together, for that article, comparing some of my 7mm08 hand loads to 270 Win Factory loads and loads for the 257 Weatherby taken from an article by Layne Simpson, “In Praise of the .257 Weatherby Magnum”, in the April 2006 issue of Shooting Times. The accompanying chart shows a number of loads for the 7mm08 that shoot almost the same trajectory at the Speer 145 Spitz BT that I chose for my Remington SPS. I topped this rifle with a Burris Euro Diamond 3x12x50, Ballistic Plex reticle. Sighted 3” high at 100 yards allows me to shoot point blank to 303 yards, on a 7” target, which is perfect for deer or moose. The first hatch puts me +1.5” @ 300 yd, the second +2.43” @ 400 yd, the third +2.17” @ 500 yd and the post is +2.18” @ 600 yd. I can consistently shoot groups less than 4” into the bear silhouettes at 500 meters but have to compensate 9.5”. Groups at 400 meters can be held to less than 3” and strike 4” low. I have not had a chance to try this rig in the field but with Harris bipod attached it weighs about 9 pounds and will punch a bullet through the lungs and probably out the other side of a moose. “No other rifle in any caliber will kill the moose any deader”.
[IMG][/IMG]

I have many loads that develop more the 1000 ft/lbs energy, that Layne Simpson eludes to as the energy needed to kill a deer size animal, at 600 yards. You will note that most of them have much less recoil and groups are much smaller than what Layne experienced in his rifles.

While I concede to the fact that the .257 Wby shoots much flatter than the 7mm08 Rem I find that this is not really much of an advantage to an experienced hunter if he uses the scopes, reticles and range finders available today. The following chart illustrates how I set up for gophers with my Rem 700V. A maximum ordinance of 2.87” allows you to shoot point blank on a 5 ¾” target which gets a standing gopher. In this example the 7mm08 shoots point blank to about 305 yards which is only about 40 yards less than the .257 . Aiming at the head will get a gopher to 350 yards with either caliber. The US army mil dot reticle gives you 3.6 MOA at 100 yards so moving up one dot puts you 1.55” high at 400 yards with the Speer 110 TNT. The second dot will do a number on a gopher at 550 yards and the bullet is accurate enough to place groups just over an inch, at that range, if conditions are right and I am having a good day. The 87 grain factory load in the .257 Weatherby rifles that Layne used would be hard pressed to do 6” groups, at 550 yards, on the best of days. While quite adequate for deer or moose I think that you will find groups like that quite disappointing if you want to have a dual purpose rifle.
Bullet----------Velocity Max Ord --100yd 200yd 300yd 340 yd 350 yd
Speer 110 TNT --3300 - 2.87” --- +2.35” +2.33” -2.38” -3.31” -4.25”
Wby 87 Factory -3825- 2.87” ---- +2.10” +2.73 -0.10” -2.43” -3.12”

The following target shows how my Rem 700V shoots the Speer 110 TNT at 100 yards and 600 yards, from bipod. It also has a 600 yard target shot with the Hornady 162 V-Max at 2750 fps from the same rifle.
[IMG][/IMG]
This target was shot, by me and a friend, in the field at 500 yards. Although I had never shot this load past 300 yards, at the range, it came very close to the bulls eye when dialed up according to my ballistics program. My old legs twitched, causing the high right shot, but still 6 bullets that would have killed the elk that never walked in front of the target as I was hoping.
[IMG][/IMG]

Would I choose a powder burning 257 Weatherby over a 7mm08? The short answer is NO!
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Old 05-16-2011, 05:38 PM
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Lots of good info there, and a strong defense of a great calibre! Thanks for taking the time to post that up. TC
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Old 05-16-2011, 07:24 PM
LongBomber LongBomber is offline
 
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I would go 257, for the simple reason that you have a 7mm already. As was pointed out very well above the 7-08 is a very capable hunting cartridge, but it is fairly close to your 7mag.

If you are a hand-loader 257 brass can easily be formed from 7 rem mag brass and the costs become reasonable. Have you given any thought to a 260 rem? Another great chambering that should be more popular than it is.
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Old 05-16-2011, 09:52 PM
cmahussier cmahussier is offline
 
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That is a great deal of info but according to your own info on the ballistics its like fighting with one hand tied behind your back comparing the 7mm08 to the 257 wby.
Bullet drop, energy,speed it is not even close...
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Old 05-16-2011, 10:15 PM
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I think most of the comparing was between the 7mm Rem Mag and the 7mm08....the .257 is a different animal entirely, and comparing it with the 08 is kinda like comparing apples and pineapples.
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Old 05-17-2011, 08:12 PM
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edson hunter you have a 7mm rem mag and a 300 wthby then you've got the mag's covered. You don't shoot past 400 yards. Based on this and if you want something that you can use for range shooting that is easy on the shoulder then hands down the 7mm-08.
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Old 05-17-2011, 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elkhunter11 View Post
I won't bother, since I have no use for bullets that heavy in any 7mm hunting cartridge.
someone who knows of what they speak...
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Old 05-17-2011, 11:58 PM
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The 7mm-08 and 257 Wby Magnum are not calbres of contrast, not comparison...

very different beasts
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Old 05-19-2011, 07:17 AM
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wholly crap theree iclund good info good grouping and good shooting.Mr 708.

edsonhunter go with the 7 08. my opinion, anything necked down or up from the 308 is gonna be a great cartridge.
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  #23  
Old 05-20-2011, 02:02 PM
edsonhunter edsonhunter is offline
 
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well im lookin at the 7mm08 now and cant decide if i want the browning blr or browning xbolt hunter
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Old 05-20-2011, 06:57 PM
tyson22250 tyson22250 is offline
 
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I just received my .257 weatherby magnum in a Weatherby Accumark... It sure does feel good. Cant wait to shoot it
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Old 05-20-2011, 07:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edsonhunter View Post
well im lookin at the 7mm08 now and cant decide if i want the browning blr or browning xbolt hunter
Don't forget about the Remington SPS http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=92662
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Old 05-20-2011, 07:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tyson22250 View Post
I just received my .257 weatherby magnum in a Weatherby Accumark... It sure does feel good. Cant wait to shoot it
What kind of glass are ya gonna put on her Tyson??

Enjoy it man.....it's a fun round

tm
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Old 05-20-2011, 07:49 PM
tyson22250 tyson22250 is offline
 
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O i will, been reading up on this cal for a while now.... I could use some input here on glass, im from south west sask so we have some flat land where long shots are made. Im thinking maybe Elite 6500 4.5X30x50, i have a nikon buckmaster 4.5x14 thats just hanging around kinda been reading up on vortex.
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Old 05-20-2011, 08:04 PM
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I'd buy what ya can afford bud.....and lots of magnification. That thing is gonna sit flat for a long time. Zeroed at 300m's pretty much means ya can keep it on hair forever!!!!

I'm runnin' a 4-12 swaro on mine.....LH Ultralite

tm
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Old 05-20-2011, 08:14 PM
tyson22250 tyson22250 is offline
 
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Nice set up Tm... What kinda of bullets are you using in yours??? I would really like to use some accubonds, not sure how they will hold at 3500 Fps
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Old 05-20-2011, 08:36 PM
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I've been using 115gr tsx's in it as I was shooting everything with it (taken sheep, caribou, moose, wolf and bear). I'm going to play with 100gr ttsx's in it this summer and make it a dedicated wolf gun. After talking a bit with Roger on here, he kinda got me interested in burning the barrel out He's a good resource for this cal.

The 115's were a lot slower than 3500 (can't remember exactly where they grouped nicely at) but I'm hoping the 100's find their groove around that number

RL-22 is a good powder for this one.

tm
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