There's really no reason to chose the 7-08 over the 308 for whitetail, other than its 140 gr bullet will kick slightly less, and penetrate more than the 150 gr bullet from the 308 at the same velocity. To get a similar SD/BC in a 30 cal, you really need to jump up to a 165 grainer, and more recoil. But any 150 grain bullet from a 308 will give you all the penetration you can use on any whitetail that walks.

The truth is, neither kick much, and a deer won't know if it was killed with the "ideal" whitetail cartridge circa 1980, or the ideal whitetail cartridge circa 1952.

I like them both, but over the years I've found the 308 a little more eager to please handloading. I could be happy with either for all my elk hunting here in MT, and have taken good sized bulls with each. I'm pretty sure whitetail are easier to kill laugh




“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery