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ruger compact 7mm08

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:20 am
by GlennGTR
Has anyone at this site purchased and hunted with this handy little rifle? I have and am intrested to know if you have hunted elk with it. And what your experiences with the rifle have been.

Re: ruger compact 7mm08

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:55 pm
by Bunnybuster
If you are a good shot, shoot for the heart and lungs, and limit your self to shots of about 250-yds, it will do fine as an elk rifle.

AT 300-yds, the energy is getting marginal, and even at 100-yds, you probably won't get a quick, humane kill with a cross wise rear hip to front shoulder shot.

The 30-30 killed a lot of elk. But those guys new their rifles, and didn't take long stupid shots.

Re: ruger compact 7mm08

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:21 am
by Rick in Oregon
Glenn: My "light" rifle is a custom made rig from Prairie Gun Works in Winnipeg, Canada built on a custom titanium action, 24" Gallaird stainless fluted barrel (Canadian-made), High Tech synthetic stock in 7mm-08 Ackley Improved. The caliber still amazes me, giving performance equal to my pet .270 Winchester but with ten grains less powder! How about a 120 Nosler BT at an honest 3,380 fps?

If you plan to use your new 7-08 for elk, just stoke it with Barnes Tipped Triple Shock's in 120 or 140 grain, and you'll get complete broadside penetration or very good penetration on a raking shot under 250 yards....the range being the limiting factor. As Bunnybuster said, just don't take any stupid shots. The Triple Shock bullet will penetrate better than any other premium bullet I've ever tried, especially on large bull elk. Normally I would not hunt elk with a caliber this light, usually relying on my .338-06 for such duty, but with the Barnes TTX bullet, it's a done deal.

This rifle was built for sheep and goats in BC, but inbetween, it still serves well for the steep mule deer country right here in central and eastern Oregon. Loaded, scoped with sling ready to hunt: 6.9 lbs.

Image

That little "last day of the season buck" was purty tasty too! ;)

Re: ruger compact 7mm08

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:36 am
by ADH
how did you get that deer to sit so still for that picture pops?

glen i have had the honor of fondling rick's 7mm-08 AI and it is one sweet rigs. only problem is he had it build to his LOP and specs and not mine. but in all fairness he didn't know he was going to will that particular gun to me, now did you rick?

andy

Re: ruger compact 7mm08

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:29 pm
by Ahab
Yes, I have. Have not used it on elk as I haven't been drawn yet. It is awesome on deer and one sweet rifle. That new trigger is great also. ;)