7mm-08 rcoil
 

I cannot find anybody locally that has one of these for my son to try out. Can someone give a comparison of the recoil of a 7mm-08 to a 20 gauge deer slug?

I'm want to get him a a 7mm-08, but don't know if I need to spend the extra $100 for the adjustable muzzle break that they claim reduces recoil by 30%. Any imput would be appreciated.

Thanks!

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I highly doubt that you'll need the muzzle break, but I have never shot 20 gauge slugs before. It is an excellent round, and I'm really happy with mine.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I would not worry about the break, if he can handle a 20 gauge slug. I was out with my nephew this weekend, his first time out. He was shooting a 2506 which should recoil similar to the 7mm08. I shot it a couple of times and it was quite mild. He shot my 300 WSM without a problem. The biggest issue would be to get a gun that fits him well. If he struggles to handle the rifle cause it does not fit him, the recoil will be amplified a bit. Also, buy a bunch of cheap ammo, nail some apples to a board and let him practice.

BTW: I have an 11-87 in a 20 gauge w/ a rifled barrel shooting 273gr. sabots. I think it kicks harder than my 300WSM.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Thanks for theresponses. He has no problem with the 20 ga. slugs, he has killed deer with it since he was 7 and he is 11 now. He is a very good shot, I just didn't want to knock him and have him be afraid of it. I want something he can practice with and be consistant without the worry of developing a flinch.

We were at the gun store today and he handeled three youth guns, remington, savage and weatherby. The remington was the lightest with a shorter barrel. the weatherby was way heavy, the savage priced right. So any imput on the remington 20"vs. the savage 22"?

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

My daughter has gotten every single deer she's shot with a featherweight 7mm08 I built her on a remington action all with 1 shot instant clean kills and has no problem whatsoever and she's now only 14 years old. In my opinion it's possibly THE best deer cartridge ever no matter how big/small or young/old you are. In fact,since then as I cannot pry it away from her,I'm going to build 1 for myself (featherweight) to add to the2 7mm08s I already have.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Any kid that can handle slug recoil ( 20 and 12 aren't that much different) shouldn't have a problem with any high power up to the mags. I live in Iowa where we have to hunt with slugs for the most part, and it's good training for handling recoil. As was mentioned above, get a rifle that fits, chances are you won't be able to keep him away from it.

Good Huntin'

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

If he shoots a 20 gauge slug he can handle the 7mm-08 easy. My buddies son is 11 and shoots every gun we have except a couple and he is not very big. His personal gun is a .308 though he shoots a 7mm mag quite abit as well. As long as you don't start them out on a large caliber right away they handle it pretty well usually. He has been shooting since he was around 5 though.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Also check out the Ruger Compact. Really short easy to handle rifle.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I have eight year old twins, boy & girl. I just bought them the Savage youth W/Muzzle break in 7mm-08. The muzzle break can be switched on or off. Compaired to a 20ga slug gun its like shootinga 22mag. I take them out to the range one at a time. I started them out with a pellet rifle .177, then went to the .22 rifle, now they are using the 7mm-08 w/muzzle break open. When they are a little older I will close it, to reduce the noise. Right now I just want them to become confident in their ability to hit what they aim at.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

If he can handle the 20 ga slug he can easily handle the 7-08. Where are you at? I have the 7-08 both with and without the muzzlebrake. I can tell you that the 7-08 with the muzzlebrake (Savage 11FYCAK, youth model) is a joy to shoot. To me it seems to shoot like a .223. This rifle you can open or close the muzzlebrake.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Sounds like yall are talkin bout the savage model with switchable (on/off) muzzlebreak.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Wow, lots of responses. Thanks everyone. I'm Taking my son this spring to Idaho in the Selway Wilderness where I used to guide. He thinks he is ready for the 10 hr. horse ride in there to hunt spring bear. It is all spot and stalk. This caliber seemed like a good choice for him, but I was unfamiliar with any rifle calibers except the mags.

Would you say it would be a 200 yrd. gun or possibly little farther? Remember these are spring bears and not a big fat one ready to hibernate.

Thanks everyone!

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Do you reload? If so, I would load up some light rounds and get him started on those. You will probably need a good sized bullet for even the spring bears and I think it would be very beneficial to work him up to those harder kick heavy rounds.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

No, I do not reload. I'm still torn between the brake/ no brake deal & the savage I was looking at is a 11FYCAK, but the remington with the 20" barrel sure fit him good and was light. I'm not to worried about high power rounds while hunting as he never fells it anyway, but I want him to be able to shoot it a lot to be very comfortable with it.I don't want it to be likemy .338, I hate to shoot it, But when I'm shooting at an animal I don't fell it a bit.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I've got the 111fycak in 270win and i love it. Feels like shooting a 223 to me. If you get the savage i wouldnt worry about light loads. Go full power loads. You'll never even feel it.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

FWIW, I just saw on Remington's ballistics page that they offer a 140 grain Managed Recoil load in 7mm-08. The normal load is so mild that I don't really see the point, but at least it'd give you one more option.

FC

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

The 7mm08 with a good 140 gr bullet is a solid 300-350 yard cartridge.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

If you think he can take more recoil than the 7mm-08, then I would recommend the .308 Win, obviously, judging by my name, I use one, and I love it, I am, however, 14 years, and a somewhat thin guy, so I can move with the recoil a bit, but in case you do decide to go with the 7mm-08 rather than the .308, I would make just one recommendation for anyone who's starting their kid out on rifles, get some shooting bags that are specially made for the purpose of being a rest for shooting off the bench at the rifle range, so that they can shoot their gun, and know that it isn't going to hit them, it isn't going to hurt, and there's no rush, and no trying to aim the crosshairs so much as to put the crosshairs on the bullseye, which they'll stay on, and it all becomes about just pulling the trigger.

The purpose of this isn't really to improve their aim so much as it is to let them trust their gun, and not worry about the gun, so that that fear factor is significantly reduced of the gun causing harm to the shooter, which it doesn't.
In this way, it'll help the kid in having that rifle be an "extention of his arm", because he's going to respect it, but not fear it more than he should, which ultimately, results in greater confidence, and better marksmanship.
There's no such thing as taming a gun, it's the shooter that must be tamed.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

The 11FYCAK is the same rifle I have. IMO, get it and never look back. The 140 or 154 gr bullets should perform well on you and your son's spring bear hunt.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I have little use for the .308 anymore since I quit shooting the m40 that was issued to me. The way I look at it,if a 7mm diameter bullet won't handle it,I step up to a .33-.35 diameter bullet. Sure it's a great civilan cartridge,but I have a bit of "stigma" asso. with it.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I got my first deer rifle when I was 10 years old - a Remington Model 7 Youth chambered in 7mm-08. Killed my first deer the following year at age 11. I still have it, and love to shoot it, to this day 12 years after I got it. It was definitely not too much gun for me at that young of an age, and didn't hurt at all - and I wasn't a big/strong kid by any means.

A 7mm-08 is definitely a good gun for a young shooter.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I guess I'm just a wee bit of a 7mm fan....started with a 30-30 for acouple of years, then bought a .280 Rem. in "63. Hunted wuth that until '84 and went with a 7Mag until two years ago, when I got my 7-08. I absolutely love it, and have no intention of using anything else for deer from now on. I would have no qualms about using it for black bear at reasonable ranges or elk to 300 yds. with the right bullets.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

Gee,I thought I was bout only one that feels so passionate about 7mm08 and it's efficency. :)It seems I have company in my lunacy.:D

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

I bought a Remington Model 7 when they first came out with them in the late 80's. It has the fiberglass stock and the 18.5" barrel. Weighs a little over 5 pounds. This model is now sold only through the custom shop. I have shot several deer with it and also a couple of ek. One of those elk (cow) was 426 yards, one shot...dead elk. I was using 140gr. Nosler Partition.
I ended up buying my son a Model 7 also when he turned 10 and think it is as close to a perfect rifle you can get for a young person or an adult for that matter.
Presonally though I would stay away from the muzzlebrake. They are very hard on the ears if one doesn't wear hearing protection.

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

If you get a chance to look in a barnes relaoding manual check out what a gunsmith has to say about the 7mm-08. I have one my son will shoot his first deer and elk with one day. it has a 20 inch barrel very versitle

RE: 7mm-08 rcoil
 

if shot my friends 7mm-08 before and it dont kick anywhere near as hard as a 20 guage slug. its a sweet shooting accurate gun.