Author Topic: Help me decide (Read 804 times)

DAD · « **on:** October 19, 2004, 05:54:23 AM »

7mm-08 or 308, Can't seam to make up my mind. What do you guy and gals think and why. Looking for pros and cons.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2004, 06:18:42 AM »

For what purposes?? And who will be shooting it???

Sigma · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2004, 06:29:29 AM »

You might want to use the search feature and type in "7mm08 AND 308". You'll come up with quite a few threads on that subject. Personally, I would go with the 7mm08. The 7mm bullet seems to make near optimum use of the 308 case - at least when it comes to hunting medium-sized game like deer. Check ballistics tables. Slightly flatter trajectory and low recoil are the benefits, although you might have a problem distinguishing between the recoil of a 7mm08 and a 308 blindfolded. On the other hand, you'll have a broader bullet selection for the 308 if that means anything to you.

Regards

DAD · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2004, 06:35:30 AM »

I would be hunting 500lb animals such as Elk, Black Bear, Dear. Yes I know some of the above do get bigger but this is the average for the ares that I will be hunting in. I did the search and still not sure.

Sigma · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2004, 06:43:54 AM »

If you're going for Elk or Bear I'd go with the 308 due to heavier bullet selection. Deer sized game offers the right amount of resistance to the 7mm08, but for better penetration on Elk and Bear, I'd go with heavier bullets in 308. As to type, Barnes TSX bullets or Nosler partitions.

Regards

PA-Joe · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2004, 07:05:04 AM »

I have three 7mm08

safetysheriff · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2004, 07:31:07 AM »

I would go with the .308 and 165 gr' bullets on large elk or large bear.

The work done on the .308 has made it the most accurate of the .30 caliber cartridges, providing only a little less power than the .30-06. And, with Hornady Light Magnums you can step up the power even more.

The .308 is a cartridge that generally is easy to find in stores, and is much more so easy to find at the gun shows.

Take care.

SS'

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2004, 09:06:42 AM »

Given the game you mention I'd select neither. I'd get a .30-06. Gives you a good 100-150 fps on the .308 and has a wider selection of factory ammo if that matters. With Hornady Light Mag and Federal High Energy rounds you get almost .300 Magnum performance from it.

The supposed advantages of a short action vs. long action are purely fictious and in the head of the writer.

Now I love the 7-08 and wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with one should the opportunity be presented when it was in my hands. But I'd not buy a rifle so chambered for that use. That's what my .30-06 is for.

Donaldo · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2004, 06:16:27 PM »

I am as usual with GB. Sure you can go bigger or smaller, but for my money, the 30-06 shooting 165 grn bullets handloaded near max are just the ticket for big deer and elk. I have personally seen what that load can do and it is awesome. And yes it kicks more than a 308 or 7mm08, but under hunting conditions I seem to never remember a rifle ever kicking me at all.

jvs · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2004, 08:42:55 PM »

I'd also go with a 30-06. The 7mm-08 and .308 are both keepers though.

I suppose if everybody had a .22, a 12 guage and a .30-06, everything would be covered.

But that wouldn't be any fun.

FrankCommes · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2004, 08:12:19 AM »

I have done alot of shooting with 06, 708 and 308. I like the 308 best overall but all I hunt is whitetail and tend to use the 708 for them critters.

DAD · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2004, 04:39:42 PM »

First I want to thank everyone for their replies. The 30-06 and 270 I just flince just to much and I'm not accurate with them. I went and bought a SAVAGE 11GNS in 308. I put my Leupold 3x9x40 and Millet rings and Weaver bases. I went to the range and my last 3 groups of three shot each were 1"1/2average. I did shoot one group that was 1". I feel very comfortable with this rifle, when I settle down I should do better.

THE#1hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2004, 06:26:57 PM »

Ive had the pleasure to shoot both, both are fine calibers, but in my experience i've had better accuracy with the .308
Good luck w/ ur decision

DAD · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2004, 08:12:27 AM »

Once I get over my flinching, I do expect to do better. I found that the recoil of the 7mm-08 and the 308 to be very similar. I really couldn't tell the difference. I might pick up a 223 later on the ammo is less expensive.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2004, 03:19:53 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

...
The supposed advantages of a short action vs. long action are purely fictious and in the head of the writer.
...quote]

While I would agree that some of the "advantages" (such as shorter bolt throw -- who really cares?) touted for short actions are more wishful thinking than practical reality, I have Ruger M77's in 7mm Rem Mag and .257 Roberts. The 7mm Mag is a standard action with a 24" barrel while the .257 Roberts is a short action with 22" barrel. There is a very distinct difference in the handling and carrying qualities of these two rifles. Given a choice, I would rather carry the short action any day.

DAD · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:44:16 PM »

To me the advantage was that I could cycle the bolt without moving from the shooting postition of my head from the stock.