7mm-08 REM vs. 44mag for deer?

phil_pick · 10-20-2004, 11:21 PM

Hey. I am relatively new to deer hunting (3rd year) and I am not sure what gun I should use this year. Last year I got my first deer with my dads 30-06 but this year I am hunting in a shotgun/pistol only zone in Wisconsin. I don"™t have a shotgun to use and my dad has a couple of pistols that I can use but I am not sure what the advantages or disadvantages are with each. He"™s got a 7mm-08 Rem as well as a Ruger .44 Magnum. I will be restricted to sitting in an open field so I wont have to worry about shooting through trees or any other cover. I was wondering what gun you guys would recommend for an open shot of somewere in between 25-125 yards. Both have 4X scopes.

8mm/06 · 10-21-2004, 01:27 AM

If the 7mm-08 pistol is legal that would be your more effective round overall. The 44 mag is a fine deer pistol round up to a certain distance limit...and the 7mm-08 will have it's limits too, depending on the the length of it's barrel..........
If legl, I'd practice with and use the 7mm-08

phil_pick · 10-21-2004, 01:50 AM

Hey 8mm/06, thanks for the fast reply. Both are legal to hunt with seeing as older than 18. The 7mm-08 is an encore break action. Its barrel (from end to end when open) is 15 inches long. The .44 is a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Its barrel (from the end to the front of the cylinder) is 10 and Â½ inches. Hope that helps.

BarnesX.308 · 10-21-2004, 03:49 AM

7mm-08 without a doubt.

UncleNorby · 10-21-2004, 07:18 AM

Not even close - 7/08.

PaJack · 10-21-2004, 07:38 AM

The 7mm-08 is a much better deer caliber...

m.t.hands · 10-21-2004, 07:51 AM

welcome phil_pick, ditto on the 7-08, i've got an encore with 15" barrel in 7mm-08 with 4x leupold scope, i have killed several deer using this pistol, and i would take it over a shotgun anyday, good luck

phil_pick · 10-21-2004, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the quick replies you guys. I"™ll definitely be using the 7-08 this year.

zekeskar · 10-21-2004, 08:16 PM

I can't say which pistol is better, but if it were me, I'd shoot them both and decide which I could shoot better, felt most comfortable with, etc. And: what the accurate range (for me) would be.

Another suggestion: since you're obviously now a real hunter, maybe you might consider buying a good used 12 gauge shotgun? Looking at used, I'll bet you could get yourself into one for around $100. Even with a normal barrel and rifled slugs, I'll bet with a little practice you could well outshoot the pistol - AND you would have a gun for deer hunting and duck hunting for far into the future.

Just an idea. Have fun and good luck.

Cloudwalker · 10-22-2004, 01:16 AM

I agree with everyone else, go with the 7mm-08. Be sure to choose a bullet that expands at lower velocities. I ran into a problem with my Remington XP-100. I was using 120 - 140 gr. projectiles and taking deer easily out to 100 yards. I used a heavier bullet (162 gr.) and they were not expanding due to the heavier, thicker jacket. The bullets seemed to just punch through the deer and I ended up tracking the animal 100 - 200 yards with very little blood.

Hope that helps