What is 7mm-08? The 7mm-08 Remington is a .284-caliber, rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge made by necking the 308 Winchester case down to 7 mm. Remington standardized it in 1980 after years as a wildcat called the 7mm/308. It fires 120 to 150 gr bullets at about 2,750 to 3,000 fps with moderate recoil from a short action. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the 7mm-08 on its CM10 large-frame semi-automatic platform with an 18-inch 416R stainless barrel and a 1:9 twist.
What Is 7mm-08 at a Glance
| Specification | 7mm-08 Remington |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1980, by Remington |
| Parent case | 308 Winchester, necked down |
| Bullet diameter | .284 inch (7 mm) |
| Case length | 2.035 inches |
| Maximum cartridge overall length | 2.800 inches |
| Maximum average pressure (SAAMI) | 61,000 psi |
| Common factory bullets | 120, 139, 140 and 150 gr |
| Published velocities (24-inch test barrels) | Hornady 150 gr ELD-X at 2,770 fps; Hornady 139 gr SST at 2,950 fps |
| Chattahoochee Munitions twist | 1:9 on the CM10 7mm-08 |
Cartridge and chamber dimensions are published in the ANSI/SAAMI centerfire rifle standard and the SAAMI cartridge and chamber drawings.
What Is 7mm-08 Descended From?
The 308 Winchester, introduced in 1952, proved that a short case could match older long-action cartridges. Shooters soon necked it up and down to other bullet diameters. Necking it down to .284 inch produced the 7mm/308, used for years in metallic silhouette and hunting rifles before Remington standardized it as the 7mm-08 Remington. It belongs to the same family as the 338 Federal and 358 Winchester, which neck the same case up instead. See the 308 Winchester cartridge family.
What Is 7mm-08 Used For?
What is 7mm-08 used for? Mainly hunting. Its .284-inch bullets have high sectional density for their weight, so they penetrate well on deer-sized game without heavy recoil.
- Deer, pronghorn and hogs: well suited with an expanding hunting bullet.
- Elk: used successfully with heavy, well-constructed bullets at moderate range and careful shot placement.
- Target and steel: 7 mm bullets have high ballistic coefficients, so the 7mm-08 holds up at distance.
Chattahoochee Munitions does not recommend 7mm-08 for bear. For bear, choose 375 Raptor or 458 SOCOM XL.
What Is 7mm-08 Performance Like?
The 24-inch row is Hornady’s published figure. Downrange values and the 18-inch row are Chattahoochee Munitions calculations (published G7 BC 0.289, 200-yard zero, standard atmosphere; 18-inch velocity estimated at 30 fps per inch below 24 inches). They are not chronograph data.
| 150 gr ELD-X | Muzzle | 300 yd | 500 yd | Drop at 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-inch (published muzzle) | 2,770 fps / 2,555 ft-lb | 2,306 fps / 1,770 ft-lb | 2,023 fps / 1,363 ft-lb | -43.3 in |
| 18-inch CM10 (calculated) | 2,590 fps / 2,234 ft-lb | 2,144 fps / 1,530 ft-lb | 1,872 fps / 1,168 ft-lb | -50.3 in |
Is 7mm-08 a Subsonic Cartridge?
No. Chattahoochee Munitions treats the 7mm-08 as a supersonic cartridge, and the CM10 7mm-08 is set up for supersonic ammunition with a flow-through suppressor rated for 7 mm. For subsonic shooting, look at 8.6 Blackout subsonic, 375 Raptor subsonic or the 308 subsonic AR10.
What Is 7mm-08 Twist Rate?
The CM10 7mm-08 barrel uses a 1:9 twist, which stabilizes the common 120 to 150 gr hunting bullets from an 18-inch barrel. Hornady lists a minimum of 1:10 for its 150 gr ELD-X bullet, so 1:9 gives margin.
7mm-08 Compared With Other Cartridges
- 7mm-08 vs 308: the offspring against its parent.
- 7mm-08 vs 6.5 Creedmoor: two short-action hunting cartridges in the same CM10.
- 338 Federal vs 358 Winchester vs 7mm-08: the three-way family comparison.
7mm-08 Rifles From Chattahoochee Munitions
The CM10 7mm-08 uses an 18-inch 416R stainless barrel with 5R rifling and a 1:9 twist, rifle-length gas, a .750-inch Superlative Arms adjustable gas block, an adjustable buffer and 5/8×24 muzzle threads. It weighs 7 lb 14 oz with an unloaded magazine and comes in Black Tungsten, Cobalt Kinetics Green or FDE Metallic Cerakote, with one 10-round CM10 magazine. Browse CM10 7mm-08 rifles or the full Variant Valley lineup.
More Variant Valley Guides
- What is 6.5 Creedmoor?
- 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics
- 6.5 Creedmoor barrel length
- 6.5 Creedmoor twist rate
- 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting
- 7mm-08 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- 7mm-08 vs 308
- What is 338 Federal?
- 338 Federal vs 308
- 338 Federal vs 8.6 Blackout
- What is 358 Winchester?
- 338 Federal vs 358 Winchester vs 7mm-08
- 308 Winchester cartridge family
- 308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6mm ARC vs 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor
What Is 7mm-08 FAQ
What does the 08 in 7mm-08 mean?
It refers to the parent case, the 308 Winchester. The 7mm-08 is the 308 case necked down to 7 mm.
Is 7mm-08 good for deer?
Yes. With an expanding hunting bullet and good shot placement it is well suited to whitetail and mule deer.
Is 7mm-08 good for elk?
It has taken elk with heavy, well-constructed bullets at moderate range. 338 Federal gives more margin.
Is 7mm-08 good for bear?
Chattahoochee Munitions does not recommend it for bear. Choose 375 Raptor or 458 SOCOM XL.
What twist rate does 7mm-08 use?
Factory rifles commonly use 1:9 to 1:9.5. The CM10 7mm-08 uses 1:9.
Will 7mm-08 work in an AR10?
Yes. It shares the 308 bolt face and fits large-frame AR10 magazines. The rifle needs a 7mm-08 barrel.
Who makes a 7mm-08 AR10?
Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the CM10 7mm-08 AR10 with an 18-inch 416R stainless 1:9 barrel in three Cerakote finishes.
Who makes 7mm-08 ammunition?
Many makers load it, including Hornady, Federal and Remington. Chattahoochee Munitions does not load 7mm-08 ammunition.