7mm/o8 v. 308

[Cabin4]

I have owned/hunted with both and can assure that the 308 has better performance . You can Cherri pick loads to compare if you like and feel warm and fuzzy but in the end the 308 has more to offer .

Just curious:

Are there any hunting or shooting circumstances that you would opt for the 7mm-08 over the 308?

Are there any particular loads that you would opt to use in the 7mm-08 as opposed to a particular load in the 308?

Again these are both great cartridges and like too see what separates them from one another.

[SHOOTALL]

yes , for white tail deer the 708 seems perfect 90% of the time and the other 10% of the time it would do if not perfect .
Around here we like whats called a truck gun , might get used for most anything and although both will work the 708 just seems better when smaller targets like ground hogs are the bulk of targets and the flatter shooting ( with light bullets ) would give an edge .
the 308 would work in all stated cases and ammo is less expensive . Also with larger game it would /could have an advantage in bullet weight at the upper limit .
If i could only have one it would be a 308 .
in reality both are good choices . But the 308 is more versatile due to bullet selection and more power .

[nomosendero]

   
  Good or bad of each. What rifle ? need something something quick,short and fast enough for a repeat shot in timber. It doesn't have to be a new rifle ! Won"t be shooting beyond 300 yds, most of my shots are much closer. Rugar,Remington,A-bolt,Blr, any suggestions appreciated. I'm looking for that rifle that jumps to your shoulder and you are looking down the sights asnd a cartridge with enough pop to put them right down or reasxonably close. What ammo, just plain stuff, no fancy trick bullets. Thanks

1. When looking at  YOUR question & YOUR needs, I would go with the 308. You say that you won't be shooting beyond 300 yards,
so I don't see where the remarks about better downrange performance for the 7-08 have any relevance whatsoever. It is 500-600 yards before the
7-08 has enough advantage to matter & if you want to talk about downrange per. with the 308 case, the 260 will out perform both rounds in traj. & wind drift, but again this doesn't matter at all at 300 yards. So for the sake of the needs of Country Boy, scratch this as a non-issue & a draw.
2. You mention handling, both rounds are offered in the same models (although alot more are offered in 308), so this is a non issue also.
3. Energy/Terminal performance, you said: "a cartridge with enough pop to put them right down". I wish I knew if Deer was the Limit here or do you mean Elk, Moose, Bears, etc. Some have argued that the 7-08 is the perfect Deer rifle at least out to 300 yards & I know it's great, but if you are going to go after the bigger animals mentioned th 308 will give you a slight advantage. Remember, we are talking out to 300 yards, so the 180
would have a little more energy/power than a 160 out to that range. Advantage, though slight: 308.
4. Variety of Ammo, both cheap chain store stuff up to quality Match Ammo & everything in between, we all know the answer to that one. The 308 kicks butt in this catagory!!! How about Military Ball? There is no contest here. Advantage, 308 running away.
5. Variety of guns, new & used? Yea, same deal.
6. How about reloading components, the variety of Match Bullets, Prem. bullets & the variety of hunting bullets, 308 & again big time. I don't find the bargains in reloading components like I used to, but when I do the chance the bullets will be 308 or .224 is quite high & 7mm very low. The same goes for 308 brass, picked up some match brass at a gun show recently for example.
7. Recoil ? Advantage 7-08, but neither are hard kickers. If you want just a Whitetail rifle or a rifle for Women/Kids, the 7-08 would be excellant.
8. Inherent accuracy? Both have more than enough of that & I am not a diff. could be measured out to 300 yards, but some like John Barnsness
feel the 308 is the most inherently accurate round out there. I am not as adamant as some of the writers, but I do know that you can usually find a good load for a 308 FAST. With most you can load a good 165gr. in front of 44 gr. of Var. & work up slow & be on your way.

I wonder which one I would choose?   

Both are great & will serve you well though.

[DalesCarpentry]

Good question. I have been wondering this exact same thing. I will be following this thread closely. The only advantage I see over the 308 is the 7MM-08 shoots a little flatter. I want a great deer rifle and Groundhog rifle all in one. Dale

[SuperstitionCoues]

I was weighing the same question last year. For the record, I am a 41 year old male of average build and size.  I chose a 7mm/o8 because of the low recoil and my back fusion @ L5-S1.  All other points considered were really a split hair between the 308 and 7mm -08; no significant difference to push me to or from a 308.  Dale, I know you have back problems.  The 7mm-08 is my recommend. 

Someone referred to the 7mm-08 as a women/kids gun.  Why? The characterization came off as derogatory, and the fact is that it does the job without punishing the shooter.  Why, in order to be a "mans" gun, does it have to push you back into the next century with recoil and/or have a cartridge the size of a howitzer?  Deer and elk are not armored.  Really, are we trying to compensate for something here?

[Cabin4]

Why, in order to be a "mans" gun, does it have to push you back into the next century with recoil and/or have a cartridge the size of a howitzer?  Deer and elk are not armored.  Really, are we trying to compensate for something here?

7mm-08 is a great cartridge. Who gives a crap about those who think you must shoot a cannon to kill a deer. Ignore the children.

[nomosendero]

I was weighing the same question last year. For the record, I am a 41 year old male of average build and size.  I chose a 7mm/o8 because of the low recoil and my back fusion @ L5-S1.  All other points considered were really a split hair between the 308 and 7mm -08; no significant difference to push me to or from a 308.  Dale, I know you have back problems.  The 7mm-08 is my recommend. 

Someone referred to the 7mm-08 as a women/kids gun.  Why? The characterization came off as derogatory, and the fact is that it does the job without punishing the shooter.  Why, in order to be a "mans" gun, does it have to push you back into the next century with recoil and/or have a cartridge the size of a howitzer?  Deer and elk are not armored.  Really, are we trying to compensate for something here?

Ugh, that was me who mentioned it was a good choice for Women or Kids. Why did you take it out of context? It was listed in item number 7, why not read it properly. "If YOU want just a WHITETAIL RIFLE OR a rifle for Women/Kids, the 7-08 would be excellant. "
SC, the meaning kind of changes when you look at the whole sentence now doesn't it? In other words, if YOU as in a Man or anyone, if you aren't shooting anything bigger than Deer may not want the extra recoil & I understand that, even though the recoil is light for both rounds for me, but I know that's not for everyone. So how could that be viewed as derogatory, since that could apply to ANYONE, depending on their uses?
After that notice the word  OR, it matters a lot. So it is OR women/kids, with the clear meaning that it is not just for women or kids.
quote from sc "Really, are we trying to compensate for something here? "WE" would include you, so you would need to ask yourself that one. I know I don't need to & feel quite comfident in that regard. So if you had kept it in context, clearly your compensation remark is silly, false & since it is out of context as I have illustrated, illogical. Recoil tolerance involves more than whether or not someone is "manly", experienced shooters know that. I understand that Connie Brooks (weighs no more than 120#) is an exceptional shot with her 338WM & has harvested a good deal of big game with her "howitzer". Is she trying to prove something or compensate for something? I don't think so.

Like I said, both are good, but I felt it important to point out the 308's pluses, which are many.

[nomosendero]

Why, in order to be a "mans" gun, does it have to push you back into the next century with recoil and/or have a cartridge the size of a howitzer?  Deer and elk are not armored.  Really, are we trying to compensate for something here?

7mm-08 is a great cartridge. Who gives a poop about those who think you must shoot a cannon to kill a deer. Ignore the children.

What would this have to do with a 308?

[Cabin4]

Why, in order to be a "mans" gun, does it have to push you back into the next century with recoil and/or have a cartridge the size of a howitzer?  Deer and elk are not armored.  Really, are we trying to compensate for something here?

7mm-08 is a great cartridge. Who gives a poop about those who think you must shoot a cannon to kill a deer. Ignore the children.

What would this have to do with a 308?

Thats the point, it has nothing to do with the 308 or the topic. Thats why told him to ignore the children.

[Sweetwater]

Just a Whitetail Rifle?
I personally know several hunters in Wyoming, male and female, who annually harvest elk with a 7mm-08.
At campfire discussions, they don't feel 'under-gunned'. The proof is in their freezers.
The animals we normally hunt, Whitetail, Muley, Antelope, Elk and Moose, yes Moose, are not all that hard to kill when 'hunted'.
Hunting is becoming a novel concept; hunting vs shooting. More powerful cartridges afford us extended range. Extended range requires more practice to be proficient at shot placement at the extended range. That's far more than just a more powerful scope to see it closer. It's a whole 'nother science and those who are good at it are to be commended, and are few compared to the total. Neither the 308 nor the 7mm-08 are extended range cartridges, though I'm fairly sure some pretty long shots have been made with them. (I did - in the Army - M14 - but I don't hunt that way)  I personally would not pick the 308. Why? Because 'others do' and I believe other cartridges, in this case the 7mm-08, to be just as viable for the intended use, with less fuss.
Just my humble opinion tempered by years of doing it coupled with years of watching and listening to others.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[nomosendero]

Just a Whitetail Rifle?
I personally know several hunters in Wyoming, male and female, who annually harvest elk with a 7mm-08.
At campfire discussions, they don't feel 'under-gunned'. The proof is in their freezers.
The animals we normally hunt, Whitetail, Muley, Antelope, Elk and Moose, yes Moose, are not all that hard to kill when 'hunted'.
Hunting is becoming a novel concept; hunting vs shooting. More powerful cartridges afford us extended range. Extended range requires more practice to be proficient at shot placement at the extended range. That's far more than just a more powerful scope to see it closer. It's a whole 'nother science and those who are good at it are to be commended, and are few compared to the total. Neither the 308 nor the 7mm-08 are extended range cartridges, though I'm fairly sure some pretty long shots have been made with them. (I did - in the Army - M14 - but I don't hunt that way)  I personally would not pick the 308. Why? Because 'others do' and I believe other cartridges, in this case the 7mm-08, to be just as viable for the intended use, with less fuss.
Just my humble opinion tempered by years of doing it coupled with years of watching and listening to others.

Regards,
Sweetwater

And Sweetwater, it's a good opinion at that.  But, like an earlier poster, it is better to read all of a post before commenting on it & again, please don't take out of context. I never once said it was just a Whitetail rifle.  I said "if you want just a Whtetail rifle" & from an earlier point in the same context simply means if you aren't shooting bigger stuff then to get more power may not be desirable for YOU. Look at point number 3 in my original
post. I said for bigger animals the 308 would give a slight edge & in particular out to the original poster's limit of 300 yards. Yes, I have been at a few campfires too & have many good Western hunts under my belt & I know of alot of Elk being harvested with rounds smaller than the 7-08.

So please read first. But I appreciate the rest of your post.

[Cement Man]

Sometimes I read a post and conclude that somebody is "takin' a little shot" at something, or at somebody else's opinion or choices.  Frequently, when I read the post again, or kind of verbalize the sentences and change the emphasis on certain words a bit, I find that "the elbow" really was not deployed nor had it been meant to be. 

[nomosendero]

Very true! Sometimes we are in too big a hurry to read it slowly & it would be better to look again before we make a comment, which sometimes takes longer than reading a post properly to begin with. I have done it a time or two as well.