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7mm-08 Vs 25-06 ?

HUNTER30HUNTER30 Member Posts: 116 ✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have a chance to trade a 25-06 for a new 7mm-08.Is the 7mm-08 better than the 25-06?Also what is the recoil like on the 7mm-08? Thanks everybody! Hunter30
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Comments

  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 7mm-08 is a short action cartridge, whereas the 25-06 is a long action cartridge. The 25-06 has more powder capacity in the case. The 7mm-08 is a great cartridge for Deer, and for varmints. I don't know if the trade would be worth it, that depends on what your trading, the actual guns value, not the cartridge.

    Here's some specs.

    The 7mm-08 is a .308win case necked down to a 7mm bullet. Its a bigger diameter bullet than the .25-06. The 7mm bullet itself is supposed to have a ballistic advantage over really any other dia. bullet for is ballistic coef. is supposed to be really good. At 500yds the 7mm-08 has an advantage over the .308win by 238fps and 750ft lbs of energy, though they use the same case.

    120gr SP 3000fps/2398e
    140gr SP 2860fps/2542e
    There are also some really great handloads for this cartridge that far exceed capabilities over factory loads.


    The 25-06rem 120gr SP 2940fps/2382e, 87gr SP 3500fps/2370e

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,088 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mostly,it depends on what youwant to do with the rifle. The 25/06 is better for long range varmints up to medium size deer. The 7-08 is better for game from large deer up to elk at short to medium range. If I were hunting mostly deer and such size animals, I would go with the 7-08. I have used both and the 25/06 is excellent if you can use it to it's long range potential, but the 7-08 is a better killer at average ranges and you don't have to pick your shots like you do with the 25/06.

    Mobuck
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually unless you handload, the 7mm-08 would be better than the .25-06 for long range varmint blasting. According to my data charts anyway.

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 25-06 would be a better varmint cartridge in general though, because of its smaller diameter bullet, but I'd think you'd be better off with a .22-250 than a .25-06.

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • PiadeaPiadea Member Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The other advantage of the 7-08 is that it is avalible in light compact rifles like the rem mod. 7 and you don't need a 24" barrel to get max performance. It is an excellent deer and black bear cartridge.
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  • 25-0625-06 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can probably guess for my user name that I am a 25-06 fan. I have not killed any deer with a 7-08, but have killed several with a 7x57 Mauser, which is about the same ballistically. Of the deer I shot with the mauser, I used 140 gr. Nosler Solid Base bullets which were the forerunner of the Ballistic Tip with as hot a handload of H-414 as the gun would take. Velocity was around 2950 fps. None of the six I killed with this combo dropped in their tracks. All either walked off or ran before expiring. All were shot behind the shoulder thru the lungs. Ranges were from about 100 yards to about 250 yards. Of the 35-40 deer and 11 antelope I have killed with the 25-06, only one deer and one antelope did not drop in their tracks, at ranges out to around 450 yards. I use 100 grain bullets at a little over 3300 fps, and will not shoot unless I can shoot them thru the lungs. In my opinion, I have never seen a deer that I would not hesitate to use this combo on. I am from SW Kansas, and we do have some fairly large deer out here that get good feed and mild winters. Especially, if you want to shoot varmints as well as deer, I would stick with the 25-06. use the 100 grain bullets for everything and you will truely learn where the gun shoots over all ranges. If you study the ballistic tables much, you will see that in a non-belted case, there is not much of anything that shoots any flatter. If you go elk hunting get something bigger than a 7-08.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, my experience with the 7mm-08 differs somewhat. I have only had one deer go approx. 10yds from the 7mm-08 shot. All others dropped. It was developed with great amounts of research involved. The 7mm-08, I was told, was developed originaly for 400yd silouette shooting due to it's balistic coefficient at that distance. It is wonderfully accurate and recoil is mild. I use the factory 140gr federal premium nosler balistic tipped rounds and can get 1 hole at 100yds with an a-bolt browning. I beleive the barrel is only 22" long. Not bad for a pencil barrel and a factory load, just imagine the possibilities with handloading. As for the BETTER round, I would have to agree that if you are shooting whitetails and mule deer etc, the 7mm is the way to go, but if you are only shooting varmints up to whitetail, the 25-06 would be better for the varmint end of the equation and still plenty for whitetail. Consider your purpose and purchase accordingly.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    Don't give up on your 25-06!!!! The single most useful cartridge out there today!! Light bullets for the varmints and the 117's and 120's for the everything else you want to shoot!!! As far as the 7mm-08 it's a great round too!! But I don't think it will measure up in the varmint fields and I don't think it will surpass a 7mmBR if you build the rifle for it!! GHD
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  • HUNTER30HUNTER30 Member Posts: 116 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks everybody!I have decided to keep my 25-06.The trade was just a thought.I think i will be more happy with the 25-06. Hunter
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    just out of curiosity, what brand/model 7mm-08 was it?

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • HUNTER30HUNTER30 Member Posts: 116 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It was a Remington Classic in a 7mm-08. Hunter
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hunter30, e-mail me. I would like to know what your acquaintance is looking for in trade/otherwise for the 7mm-08. I am a fan of the 700 series, I assume you meant a 700 classic? Many thanks.

    JustinCollis@pobox.com

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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