Sighting in a 7mm-08 for the first time

[TrapperJ]

Alright folks I sighted the rifle in I got 3 shells left which should only take 1 for the deer now it is a little bit right so I adjusted it to the left and I believe we're golden now. So now I'm just getting ready for in the morning (first day of season) thanks everyone that has helped answer my questions

 

[perma]

I'm gonna do it as right as I can

Clearly….

 

[Jbotto]

I can almost see where this is going because I lived it. One year in high school I started the slug season with a box of 5. Not raised in a hunting family so no one set me straight. Opening morning had a buck in front of me at 75 yards. Whistled two under him and rolled him with the third…or so I thought. Was excited and unloaded my gun to climb down and he got up and ran.

Followed a good blood trail for about 75 yards and he got up and jumped into a standing corn field and took off. Those two left in the gun made me feel like crap. Finally got some sense about me and backed out. Gave him a few hours before I was back on his trail. Eventually found him. Mounted the little basket rack alongside the three empties. Won’t ever make that mistake of not having enough ammo again.

 

[TrapperJ]

I can almost see where this is going because I lived it. One year in high school I started the slug season with a box of 5. Not raised in a hunting family so no one set me straight. Opening morning had a buck in front of me at 75 yards. Whistled two under him and rolled him with the third…or so I thought. Was excited and unloaded my gun to climb down and he got up and ran.

Followed a good blood trail for about 75 yards and he got up and jumped into a standing corn field and took off. Those two left in the gun made me feel like crap. Finally got some sense about me and backed out. Gave him a few hours before I was back on his trail. Eventually found him. Mounted the little basket rack alongside the three empties. Won’t ever make that mistake of not having enough ammo again.

Well problem is I ain't shooting anything at 75 yards because I ain't got a spot that's 75 yards. Next I know not to get out of my stand immediately that's like 101 to be honest next if shit does go bad I have a group of hounds i could in theory use to find it may have to see if that's legal? But I believe it is but if not i can still track it. Not a huge problem. Next a deers lung is about 10 inchs long from the middle of my bullseye to where it hit is a inch so not horrible but should be a double lung at 50 feet farthest is 70 feet not horrible if you ask me. I should note that I do have a bolt action 410 with slugs (25 shells) but I don't feel confident with it so not gonna use it but it is there

 

[F250]

Please do not shoot a deer with.410 slugs. I have never seen a good outcome from doing that, and have seen several bad outcomes.

 

[TrapperJ]

Please do not shoot a deer with.410 slugs. I have never seen a good outcome from doing that, and have seen several bad outcomes.

Had a uncle do that once slug went higher then he expected smacked the deer in the spine needless to say took 2 slugs that day for a small spike. Now my grandpa swears up and down a single shot 410 with slugs is all one needs yet he hunts with a 30-30...

 

[std7mag]

@yakimanoob has given you some good advice.

My $200 Stevens 200 with the $129 Vortex Crossfire II is still my main freezer filler.

I didn't have the means for half of the equipment that many people on the forums were suggesting when I got on them.
You have to use what works for you, with the means you have.

Best of luck on your hunt!
Post pictures if you get anything!

 

[Redmt]

This guy seems honestly trying to do it right in less than optimal conditions. If he could maybe find someone close to him just to check out his set-up he would be way ahead of where he is now in confidence and accuracy. I have helped many newbies and it's very rewarding for both you and the newbie. Someone needs to help this guy out.

 

[Forkyfinder]

This guy seems honestly trying to do it right in less than optimal conditions. If he could maybe find someone close to him just to check out his set-up he would be way ahead of where he is now in confidence and accuracy. I have helped many newbies and it's very rewarding for both you and the newbie. Someone needs to help this guy out.

This.

 

[TrapperJ]

@yakimanoob has given you some good advice.

My $200 Stevens 200 with the $129 Vortex Crossfire II is still my main freezer filler.

I didn't have the means for half of the equipment that many people on the forums were suggesting when I got on them.
You have to use what works for you, with the means you have.

Best of luck on your hunt!
Post pictures if you get anything!

Where would you recommend posting pictures at and telling the story?

 

[Dave N]

Where would you recommend posting pictures at and telling the story?

Here, of course!

 

[TrapperJ]

Here, of course!

Haha alright

 

[Bambistew]

I would highly recommend bringing more than 3 rounds. Your confidence will evaporate when buck fever sets in or you miss the first one and don't have enough for the second.

I have a story of taking a first timer hunting, a 27yo Marine no less, that was also confidant in his shooting abilities at close range. He said he only needed one and brought 3 total.

We got him on a caribou at 40 yards, and a cluster F ensued, including a miss, a blown off leg and another non fatal shot in the neck... all at less than 50 yards. We were almost 3 miles from the truck at that point. I luckily brought a 22 for grouse. Have you ever seen natives shoot caribou in the head out of a boat? I'll tell you it doesn't that well.

I like your confidence, but experience will trump it 100% of the time. Buy more ammo and sight your rifle in properly. If you're truly a meat hunter, your want to make sure you get your meat. Your attitude is coming off as a hunter that just wants to kill something and doesn't really care. You owe it to the animal you're hunting to be 100% on your game, not half assed.

I'd send you cash for ammo, but I'd probably get thrown in jail. I'd send you some but would also end up in jail. A mentor would go a long ways. I'm glad you're here asking questions

 

[Floridagt500]

Walmart usually has a few flavors of 7mm-08 hunting ammo. At your hunting distances you don’t need anything special or to even find the most accurate ammo in it, even if it’s a 3MOA combo it will work fine.

Don’t be a heathen though and go properly zero the thing at 100 yards. A solid zero is far more critical than what load or bullet you’re shooting.

 

[TrapperJ]

So here's the story. first day of doe season (Friday) I left out around 7 and set all day by a oak tree and didn't see much but squrriels. Then that evening I set and didn't see much but close to dark I heard what sounded like deer but didn't see nothing. So then this morning around 6 or 7 I take off loaded with my trusty 7mm that's barely sighted in and shoots 6 inchs right but anyways I find a good spot sat down and was waiting about 15 minutes a doe walks out of some brush and she's facing exactly infront of me and is moving her head back and forth looking at me and with my heart pumping harder then ever. I wait for her to turn broadside which she did. I then let the hammer smack the shell and out went a 120 gr hornady her back legs went flying(heart shot) and piled up 30 feet from where I shot. I thank all you guys for guidance and I can't wait for November buck season to come around.

 

[TrapperJ]

I would highly recommend bringing more than 3 rounds. Your confidence will evaporate when buck fever sets in or you miss the first one and don't have enough for the second.

I have a story of taking a first timer hunting, a 27yo Marine no less, that was also confidant in his shooting abilities at close range. He said he only needed one and brought 3 total.

We got him on a caribou at 40 yards, and a cluster F ensued, including a miss, a blown off leg and another non fatal shot in the neck... all at less than 50 yards. We were almost 3 miles from the truck at that point. I luckily brought a 22 for grouse. Have you ever seen natives shoot caribou in the head out of a boat? I'll tell you it doesn't that well.

I like your confidence, but experience will trump it 100% of the time. Buy more ammo and sight your rifle in properly. If you're truly a meat hunter, your want to make sure you get your meat. Your attitude is coming off as a hunter that just wants to kill something and doesn't really care. You owe it to the animal you're hunting to be 100% on your game, not half assed.

I'd send you cash for ammo, but I'd probably get thrown in jail. I'd send you some but would also end up in jail. A mentor would go a long ways. I'm glad you're here asking questions

Talking from experience I don't miss much lol also I didn't mean to come off as a serial killer. I meant to come as a new hunter needing a deer and wanting deer meat. Also I pay all respects to the anmials I kill just like my ancestors did(I'm native american) also as far as cash it's fine I got 2 shells left so I doubt I'm gonna be hunting much till November

 

[Dave N]

Congratulations.

 

[TrapperJ]

Congratulations.

Thanks Dave. I do have one last question what's the best way to remove blood from boots?

 

[std7mag]

Congratulations!

 

[kansasdad]

Nice shot placement @TrapperJ , but even better eyebrow game!

May I suggest a good place for meal prep from your harvest? Hank Shaw has a cookbook entitled “Buck Buck Moose” with lots of venison recipes. His website is this:

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook - Hank Shaw's Wild Food Recipes

Hank Shaw's website featuring more than 1200 wild game recipes, fish and seafood recipes, foraging tips, fermentation, preserving, and pasta.

honest-food.net

You can get lots of ideas here for free. You can repay his online generosity one day by buying his book.