The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - 7-08 for elk

Paul B. · August 11, 2020, 03:02 PM

Over the years I've used the .270, 280, 30-06, .300 Win. Mag. and the .35 Whelen on various elk hunts. Never got one so far with t e .270 or .280 but did just fine with the others. Tae only elk lost was with the .300 Win. Mag., not because of a bad shot but because when I went back to my vehicle about a mile away to get my wife to help me gut the elk, a couple of low lives cut my elk in half and we saw them as they drove off on their ATVs. That elk was a one shot kill BTW. Same with the 30-06. However, when I tried the .35 Whelen, results were awesome. Six elk with six shots over the years I hunted. The few that were not dead were so incapacitated that they were unable to get up.
But we're talking the 7-08 for elk. On January second this year I was in a motor vehicle accident that put me in hospital just four days before I was scheduled to leave for my elk hunt. I was planning to take three rifles for the hunt. A 7x57 with loads equal to the 7-08, a .280 Rem. that hasn't been blooded yet and my ever faithful .35 Whelen. Which was to be used depended on the conditions during the hunt.
The 7x57 ran 150 gr. Nosler Partitions at 2700 FPS, the .280 the 160 gr. Speer Grand Slam (old two core version) at 2910 FPS and the .35 with the 225 gr. TSX at 2710 FPS. I have perfect confidence in all three rifles to at least 300 yards and 350 for sure with the Whelen.
I see no reason why a 7-08 with a top load with the 150 gr. Nosler Accubond or Partiton would not work just fine within it's limitations.
Paul B.

August 11, 2020, 03:02 PM	#69
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Over the years I've used the .270, 280, 30-06, .300 Win. Mag. and the .35 Whelen on various elk hunts. Never got one so far with t e .270 or .280 but did just fine with the others. Tae only elk lost was with the .300 Win. Mag., not because of a bad shot but because when I went back to my vehicle about a mile away to get my wife to help me gut the elk, a couple of low lives cut my elk in half and we saw them as they drove off on their ATVs. That elk was a one shot kill BTW. Same with the 30-06. However, when I tried the .35 Whelen, results were awesome. Six elk with six shots over the years I hunted. The few that were not dead were so incapacitated that they were unable to get up. But we're talking the 7-08 for elk. On January second this year I was in a motor vehicle accident that put me in hospital just four days before I was scheduled to leave for my elk hunt. I was planning to take three rifles for the hunt. A 7x57 with loads equal to the 7-08, a .280 Rem. that hasn't been blooded yet and my ever faithful .35 Whelen. Which was to be used depended on the conditions during the hunt. The 7x57 ran 150 gr. Nosler Partitions at 2700 FPS, the .280 the 160 gr. Speer Grand Slam (old two core version) at 2910 FPS and the .35 with the 225 gr. TSX at 2710 FPS. I have perfect confidence in all three rifles to at least 300 yards and 350 for sure with the Whelen. I see no reason why a 7-08 with a top load with the 150 gr. Nosler Accubond or Partiton would not work just fine within it's limitations. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!