I have and regularly use both a 7mm-08 and a .30-06. Have taken several whitetails and hogs with both. The 7mm-08 is pleasant to shoot and in my experience, all the gun you need for deer and hogs. I've never hunted one, but I am told by many that they also use 7mm-08s for elk, but that seems a bit on the light side to me. YMMV. A .308 is a little bit of a step up from a 7mm-08, but not a big step. IMHO, if you think you might want something big enough for deer, hogs, and elk, consider a .30-06 as you can get heavier loads than with a .308 if you need it. If I was wanting something no bigger than for deer and hogs, I would lean towards the 7mm-08. 7mm-08 is also great for coyotes. Having said that you will not go wrong with the .308, either. I am a firm believer in "use enough gun".

"...why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for,... because it is the only thing that lasts."