If I have a 308 win. is there any reason to get a 7mm-08.

[Oldshooter]

Been thinking of getting a savage axis rifle( a whim). I have a couple of 308's. I like the rifles and the cartridge. Entertaining the thought of the new rifle to be 7mm-08. Looking at the ballistics they seem similar with 125 and 129 gr bullets. If I like the 308 am I gonna like the 7mm-08 and does it make any sense to have both. (besides the obvious cant have too many rifles sickness)

[Ranger99]

i wouldn't, but that's just me.
it does sound like a good excuse
to go shop for a rifle though

[wolverine_1]

I have both and like both. The 7mm-08 duplicates the 7X57 very well and I like that (I also have a 7X57 in a RRB).  Just depends on what you want.  As was mentioned above, any excuse is a good excuse.

[cudatruck]

I would get the marlin x rifle or the ruger over the axis! the bc of the 7mm bullet is a very good reason.... flatter shooting with less recoil. the marlin and the ruger come with very good triggers. the axis needs a 90.00 aftermarket.

[petemi]

I like the whole .308 family.  My wife and I have a .243, two 7mm-08s, two .308s and a .358.  They're easy to re-size brass from one to another.  If I had to stick with just one it would be the .308.  I like the 7mm because I can load it with a lighter and faster bullet than the .308 with less recoil for my wife and grandkids.

Pete

[Oldshooter]

Now Pete, Thats a good idea.  One I can use in my bargaining session with my chief financial officer. "Its for you Honey" 

[Lloyd Smale]

if a guy had to justify all his gun purchases he sure wouldnt have many guns! An 06 and a 12 guage will cover about everything but what fun would that be.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Might be easier to find ammo for that 7-08 in the current climate...Plus, one can never have too many guns, right? 

Sent from my ADR8995 using Tapatalk 2

[SHOOTALL]

I have had both and kept the 308. It will maybe do more. I had a model 7 in 708 , a Encore in 708 , a XP-100 in 708 . I like the 708 a lot but just wanted less mouths to feed. In the bullet weight range the OP mentioned the 708 being smaller in dia. would yield a longer bullet that should have a better BC and penetrate deeper than same bullet in 308 all other factors being equal. But is that noticeable ? doubt a deer would ever know both would most likely be pass thru.
 The 708 came about for places that won't allow citizens to own guns in a police or military cal. A lot of silhouette used it because it has a tad less recoil than a 308. But will still knock over the targets , that longer bullet thing applies here , why I had a 708 XP-100 it works.
 from a practical stand point you don't need both but why should gun buying be practical ? that would seem criminal 

[SHOOTALL]

Oh yea it's maybe the best white tail deer gun going other than the 7X30 Waters     excuse me while I duck.............

[JonnyReb]

 Love those Axis rifles , 

 My Walmart still has em for 257.00, can't beat that. Look forward to seeing what you decide OS, imho you can't go wrong either way you choose.  J

[SHOOTALL]

I like the whole .308 family.  My wife and I have a .243, two 7mm-08s, two .308s and a .358.  They're easy to re-size brass from one to another.  If I had to stick with just one it would be the .308.  I like the 7mm because I can load it with a lighter and faster bullet than the .308 with less recoil for my wife and grandkids.

Pete

Good point about the light bullets , have you tried the 125's or 130's in the 308 ? they are good on deer. Loaded the 130's for DIL and since been using them myself. Hammers them.

[vabeachman]

I had both.  Liked the 7-08 better. Got rid of the 308.  Plus I got worried I might accidently slip a 7-08 into the 308, kinda look the same in dim light.

[SHOOTALL]

It won't hurt a 308 to fire a 708 in it , just fire forms the case to 308. Not the best practice though.

[BBF]

 
 
NO !
But don't let that stop you.

[mcwoodduck]

The 308 is the perfect short action caliber.  It can go from 125 grain in a light recoil loadings to 180 grain bullets.
The 7-08 does exactly what the 308 does. 
Now some will argue this way or that, but you already have a few 308's.  The 7-08 is not going to become something the 308 wil not do and vice versa. and you can argue that 257 Roberts,25-06, 260 Rem,6.5X55, 270, 7-08, 7X57, 300 Sav, 308, 30-06 are all so close as to do what the other does as a general purpose hunting rifle
If you are an organized guy nad can keep the rounds seperate, they look so similar at first glance you could grab one for the other and screw up a hunt.
Not sure what you want the gun for buy maybe a 243 would be another choice for smaller game.
But if 7-08 has your boat floating then get one. 
I hopefully have an Antelope hunting trip to Wy this fall and was thinking my 9.5 pound 308 would be a littel rough to lug around chasing the speed goats ans was looking at other options for a hunting rifle and looking at the available ammo there was a lot of 7-08 on the shelf where I could buy three or four bullet weights and styles to try what would be best and then purchase more for the hunt.  I was looking at different light weight rifles in the 6 poind range that would be about 7.5 pounds with optics and sling.   

[Oldshooter]

The 708 came about for places that won't allow citizens to own guns in a police or military cal.

Thats interesting.
 
 
Yea, weight is a factor and I am getting clumsy in my old age. The synthetic stock might take some abuse. that I wouldn't want on my 700 bdl. The lighter bullet and less recoil sounds good for my grand sons and wife. 
 
Now where did I put that empty gun case! See if ya leave with an case everyday, "They" never notice when you come back with it full now and again. Quickdtoo(Tim) taught me that trick!     
 
I'm definitely gonna get the rifle, the verdict is still out on the caliber. I'll try the stock trigger but also have it in my mind to tinker with that to make it "my" rifle.

[Cheesehead]

I would take the larger leap and get a 260. Still in the 308 family. Better suited for big game as com[pared to the 243, yet moderate recoil and flat shooting.

Cheese

[SHOOTALL]

The 708 came about for places that won't allow citizens to own guns in a police or military cal.

Thats interesting. s
Seems in South and Central America that is much the law. Maybe even Mexico.
 
 
Yea, weight is a factor and I am getting clumsy in my old age. The synthetic stock might take some abuse. that I wouldn't want on my 700 bdl. The lighter bullet and less recoil sounds good for my grand sons and wife. 
 
Now where did I put that empty gun case! See if ya leave with an case everyday, "They" never notice when you come back with it full now and again. Quickdtoo(Tim) taught me that trick!     
 
I'm definitely gonna get the rifle, the verdict is still out on the caliber. I'll try the stock trigger but also have it in my mind to tinker with that to make it "my" rifle.

[D Fischer]

I had both.  Liked the 7-08 better. Got rid of the 308.  Plus I got worried I might accidently slip a 7-08 into the 308, kinda look the same in dim light.

You slip a 7-08 into a 308 and not much will happen, lose the pressure around the bullet. You slip a 308 into a 7-08 and I doubt you could close the bolt. If you could, hell of a boom!

[Swampman]

I'd prefer the .243 over the .260.  I'd prefer the .308 over the .7mm-08 or the .260.

[charles p]

I have the 308, 7-08, and 243.  I have a dozen deer rifles from 300WSM to 243.  I'll be 67 this deer season.  I don't  expect to carry anything but a 308 or 280.  Killed my largest of approx 200 whitetails with 7-08, but it was not a DRT.  Ran about 30 yds.  On the other hand, I pulled off a double head shot on two doe deer with my 7-08.  I suppose it is my second favorite behind 308.  I hunt over some big fields and use my 270 and 280 for the longest shots.
 
If I had to pick between the 308 and any other similar caliber, I'd take my 20" Mod 7 Rem in 308 for my one rifle.
 

[mechanic]

7-08 is a great caliber, and the Axis is a great rifle.  Just remove the trigger group and polish it with a Dremel...don't remove metal just polish.  Mine came out 3 1/2 #.
 
7-08 is just a slightly powered down 280, which is just a slightly downsized 7 mag.  All will work well for deer.  And besides, the best reason to get one is because you ain't got one.
 
Ben

[nomosendero]

I would take the larger leap and get a 260. Still in the 308 family. Better suited for big game as com[pared to the 243, yet moderate recoil and flat shooting.

Cheese

Same here!
If a guy was starting out & did not own a 308, the 7-08 is a good choice, for Deer they are great. But when you have a couple of 308's (I do as well), the 7-08 doesn't really give you much. However, the 260/Creedmoor offers Varmit weight bullets with good BC and soft const. that will give you what the 243 will, plus the heavier 6.5 bullets are great for Antelope/Mule Deer & long range target work that still work well in the 308 based case.

[SHOOTALL]

I had both.  Liked the 7-08 better. Got rid of the 308.  Plus I got worried I might accidently slip a 7-08 into the 308, kinda look the same in dim light.

You slip a 7-08 into a 308 and not much will happen, lose the pressure around the bullet. You slip a 308 into a 7-08 and I doubt you could close the bolt. If you could, hell of a boom!

   
 
 
 
Saw a 270 bbl on a gun chambered for 3006 and marked as such. It was fired twice . First bullet did not hit the target  Second shot had brass coming out of the vent hole and around the bolt. The gun did not blow up . There were no lodged bullets in the barrel. It was factory new and it was replaced by the factory.

[charles p]

Would never have expected a 30-06 could be chambered in a 270.  Would think the bullet itself would prevent it.  Must have been a very short bullet seated deeply.

[cudatruck]

Or.. the guy forces it it with the camming action of the bolt crushing the bullet into the lands and seating it deeper into the case. Way high pressure spike results. bullet has no free movement and case capacity is reduced all on top of bullet being swaged down the barrel! wow recipe for a bad day!

[Lloyd Smale]

anyone stupid enough to put the wrong ammo in his gun should be shooting to begin with. I cant believe anyone here would be so stupid. If you cant tell the differnce in a 308 and a 708 youd best get an opointment at your eye doctor!!

[SHOOTALL]

Would never have expected a 30-06 could be chambered in a 270.  Would think the bullet itself would prevent it.  Must have been a very short bullet seated deeply.

The barrel was for a 270 cal. the chamber ands markings were 3006. It came from the factory that way. Browning authorized the store to replace it on the spot and got the gun back. It had to be a honest mistake and no one was hurt so Not cutting Browning down , just noting the strength of modern well build bolt guns.

[SHOOTALL]

anyone stupid enough to put the wrong ammo in his gun should be shooting to begin with. I cant believe anyone here would be so stupid. If you cant tell the differnce in a 308 and a 708 youd best get an opointment at your eye doctor!!

 
I tend to agree but people die often with no warning and others get their stuff often they have little or no knowledge of what they inherit.  And I have loaded many 708's on resized 308 cases. My sons know but others would not.