7mm08 or 260 muledeer

[Gary]

Was thinking about down-sizing what caliber for mule deer I use. Was thinking about going to the 260 or 7mm08, for less recoil, but don't want to give up yardage and kill power. I shoot a 7mm and 300 win, can any body give advice. Thanks

 

[deerbedead]

Both are good deer calibers and the recoil is definitely maneageable on either one. The 7mm-08 is a little easier to find factory loads for than the .260.
Have you considered the .270 or the 25-06? They are both better if long range is what you are worried about. They have low recoil and they are fast.
I have dozens of rifles in almost every decent mule deer caliber you can imagine, and I would take a 25-06 hands down if I could only pick from the non magnum cartridges. It kicks very little, and is fast and flat, and I have killed several 30" bucks with it. My dad shoots the 7mm-08 and you couldn't get him to part with it for love nor money.
Take your pick, they're all good!

Deerbedead

 

[Warren]

I started shooting a 270 Weatherby Mag last season, and it was noticably less recoil than the Browning A bolt in 7mm Rem Mag I traded for it. It will reach all the way around the world. I certainly wouldn't go less than the .270 Winchester if you still want a little bit of reach. You can get the 7mm-08 in a nice, compact rifle, but it will not be as accurate as the longer barreled guns. If your 7 or 300 is accurate, I would keep one of those and get a light gun that is fun to shoot a lot. (.223).

 

[RACKMASTER]

look at a .257 Weatherby Mag, the only thing is that you have to fine the round you want to hunt with and stick with it!
I will out shoot most to 500 yrds with an bug in my eye!lol
And have taken many deer out way out their with it!
jack...

 

[MrSafari]

My personal experience with both of your choices have found them lacking as a mule deer cartridge. Although bullet placement is always critcal we all know it doesn't work out that way sometimes.I've oberserved my cousins son harvest 4 deer with a 7mm-08 shooting Rem Cor-Lokt 140 grain bullets. Two were hit back a little to far and required extensive tracking. The other two were hit in the vitals, even these deer traveled over 100 yards. Shots ranged from 50-200 yards

I also had a huge customer base(selling firearms) and the feedback on these calibers were more to the negetive then positive side on there performance in field.

Suggest a 270 or to reduce the recoil, install a muzzle brake on your current deer slayers! Good Luck

 

[Gary]

This is goog stuff, that's why I asked, "Thanks", keep it coming.

 

[archeryelkaholic]

Would you be pushing a 130gr in the .270?

Archer

 

[Buckrub]

I've been using a 7/08 for years and as it is w/ ALL calibers, shot placement is the key. The 7/08 is accurate and a joy to shoot.
A bunch of deer have dropped in their tracks from mine!!
A good friend of mine and fellow MM member, Bambistew shoots the .260 and has nothing but praise for it.
IMHO either will do the job, if the shooter does his !!!

 

[spotnstalkID]

I am a fan of the .260 myself. I have a Remington mountain rifle in that caliber and love it! Every animal in the past 5/6 years I have pulled the trigger on, whether it be bear, muleys, whatever, has ended up in the back of my truck. I handload everything for it so ammo isn't as much of an issue, but I will say that factory ammo is probably not as easy to come by as a 7/08.

On the flip side, my dad just bought a 7/08 in that same rifle as mine and he seems to dig it. The main reason for him purchasing it instead of a .260 was the fact that there were more choices available to him for reloading different loads.

None the less, both rifles seem to be great, from my past experience with mine and what my dad tells me about his.

Hope it helps!
Jaxon

 

[30pointbuck]

There is no better muley weapon than the .270. I did buy a .270 WSM last year and took a nice, big bodied buck with it. I shot him at about 120 yards right through the lungs with 130 grain Nosler ballistic tips. The deer traveled about 3 steps and cratered. The bullet never exited but left the vitals in a state that was less than conducive to good health!!! I also shot a bear with the short-mag and was impressed at its effect. I also shot a coyote with it at about 300-350 yards. It has the power, range, and speed to be the best muley killer around. I'm very impressed with this weapon.

 

[Bambistew]

If you'er recoil conscience then either would be a huge change from your 7mag or 300...

Inside normal shooting distances say 400 yards and closer, the diffrence in trajectory be it the 25-06, 260, 270, 7-08, 280, 300WM, etc, etc is negligable with optimum bullet for case capacity... 150fps diffrence between the lott, doesn't really ammount to much inside that, and if you think there's a huge diffrence you're kidding yourself, 2-4" is nothing, when most every one would be guessing hold over anyway... Intamately knowing the trajectory of your weapon/projectile is key...

As far as power goes, the 300WM and other mags are in a whole diffrence class than the little 260 or 7-08, you will diffenately be giving up "punch" on the receiving end... But knowing where you bullet will strike on the outter ranges of your ability will make up for "punch"...

Although not my personal prefrence for chasing after big mule deer, I wouldn't feel underguned with a 260 loaded with 120gr Barnes TSX or 125gr partition going after big muleys. Both can be loaded up around 2900fps... Which BTW is right on par with a 25-06 of like weight, and on the heals of the 270 too... And in reality, there is little diffrence!

IMO what it really boils down to is personal prefrence. They are so close in performance its really to close to call... I have a 260, and went that route because I wanted something diffrent, I've killed a few deer with it and had no problems... No moster muledeer bucks, but a good sized whitetail buck hit from about 250 yards... down like someone pulled the rug out from under him... He's was as big of bodied as most of the mule deer that are posted on here...

Good luck with what ever you decide!

 

[nochawk]

They use the 6.5mm all over europe hunting moose and red deer with 140gr. Shot placement is the key. Jim Carmichle is a big pusher for it in the target compititions, so it must be accurate enough. My wife loves her 260 and has taken several deer and antelope with it. The only thing I have against it is that she got it in the Ruger compact. 18" barrel and short stock fit's her fine but I can not borrow it because its too small for this long armed ape to shoot.

 

[oregonmuley]

Gary,
About 3 or 4 months ago I bought the new Remington Model 700 CDL in 7mm08. You might want to look at this gun, they did a really good job on it, 24 inch barrel, not a bad piece of wood on mine for a off the shelf gun. As far as the 7mm08 versus 260Rem I don't know, never shot/killed anything with the 260 but have killed several eastern oregon muleys with the 7mm08 I used to have- it went with the exwife since it was her gun. Anyway,decided to replace it when I saw the new CDL, even though I shoot a 280Rem most all the time, can't wait to take the new gun out this season, shoots really well out of the box with 140 ammo, only had the trigger done to make it like all my other guns. Like some others said, ammo is easy to find, not much recoil and with well placed shots its kills stuff - it would not be a bad choice. Good luck with your search.
Frank

 

[nbjbhunterman]

7mm not the 08 just 7mm.

NBJB

 

[Fire_Hawk]

Gary,

I have a 7mm-08 and a 7mm Rem Mag. I like both. I always thought that the 7mm Rem Mag shot soooo flat and there would be a huge difference in trajectory. I am here to tell you that within 300 yards you will never be able to tell the difference. At 400 yards, the difference is negligable. If you were planning to shoot that far away, the 7mm Mag will do better. But... the 7mm-08 is very accurate, light recoiling and has nearly the exact same trajectory as the ole .30-06. If it doesn't shoot flat enough, neither will the 7mm-08.

I LOVE my 7mm-08. By far it is my favorite rifle to shoot. It is very light in the recoil department. I honestly notice little more recoil than when this rifle used to be a .243 Win. I finally hunted with it last fall and had no problem connecting at 265 and 285 yards. Both shots were at does as I drew a double doe tag. I hunted the bucks and bulls with my ML.

Those who say the 7mm-08 is not enough gun, have little or no experience with them. If the rifle is shot well (as with any rifle) it will kill all game cleanly. Good Luck.

FH