I'm wondering what i should get for hunting deer and black bear. i was thinking 7mm-08. i'm hunting in the thick maine wood so the shots will be pritty close. i'm only 15 so i'm somewhat recoil sensative. thats why i was going to get the 7mm-08 insted of the .308. what do you guys think. insted of a bolt could i get a beak action? it's much cheaper. is the accuracy greatly lost tho?
7mm-08
243
308
any other passabilites?
Location: NW Ohio , 5 min from Ottawa National / Magee Marsh
Posts: 2,049
RE: 7mm-08 my first gun?
The 7-08 cal is great for deer and bear . I have a 47/70 H&R handy rifle and love it they chamber the 308 and 7-08 along with lots of other cal in the handy rifle.
The handy rifle is lighted than a bolt gun so it will kick a little more , but it will cost you lots less than a bolt.
A great choise IMO.
At 15 your parents will have to sign for it are they ok with it ?
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I have no idea on the 7mm-08 caliber being a good choice for bears especially the bigger ones, but as for the difference between it and the .308 I wouldn't worry too much about recoil. I've got a Model 7 SS in 7mm-08, it's compact and lightweight and I don't notice much if any difference in the recoil between it and the .308 my uncle has in an older gun. Not how the weight differs between the two, but the recoil is pretty close and is close enough that as long as you pad yourself and get you practice in with it shooting good then your set. Of all the kills I've ever made with the bigger calibers I've hardly ever noticed much of a recoil in the field.
If you want a break action, I would go with a Thompson Center Encore; you can buy different barrels as you grow to handle recoil better. I don't think I would hunt bear with a 7mm-08 Rem. you might run into a big one. Good luck.
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Can't beat the NEF H&R rifles for cost. Great caliber selection for a new hunter, as well. In the "medium" calibers you'd have your choice of .243. 25-06, 7-08, .308, and others. Take a look at hr1871.com. Have fun and good luck.
the 7mm-08 is a great caliber. I have one and love it. it's now my go to from the 30.06. It doesn't recoil all that much which is a bonus but either does a 30.06 to me. I would just make sure you use the right bullet for the job. Deer and not hard to kill but it may be a little more important with bear.
alot of people say the recoil of one gun and caliber is not much but it differs from person to person. you need to buy what you feel comfortable with since YOU will have to be accurate. And recoil in the field is never a concern but when on the bench, learning and sighting it can become an issue. And it's important to spend that time so you know where your safety is, and know your rifle.
7mm-08 my first gun?
