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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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I have been thinking of purchasing a very lightweight rifle for elk hunting. It will probably be a short action. Between the .308 and 7mm-08, which would you choose and why?
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I need a cold beer and popcorn...here we go..
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I have been thinking of purchasing a very lightweight rifle for elk hunting. It will probably be a short action. Between the .308 and 7mm-08, which would you choose and why? Either works. Buy one, shoot it, then go kill elk.
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I'd choose the .308, but that's just me. (I don't own either).
the smallest I've used on elk has been a .270 w/ 130 gr bullets.
no problemo.
get whichever one you want more, but I'm staying with the .308 rec.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I've heard the 7mm-08 is a much flatter shooting cartridge................
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I killed many elk with the .308 using 150 grainers. Took this bad boy with mine. [img:center] [/img]
I wanted to take a scalp, but the kill was not mine.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Either would work. Personally I would choose the 308. It has a bit heavier bullet choices.
ddj
Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau
The best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back. - Robert Ruark
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I have both and used both with great success but if it's a short action you want go WSM or RCUM
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I have been thinking of purchasing a very lightweight rifle for elk hunting. It will probably be a short action. Between the .308 and 7mm-08, which would you choose and why? ....................Either will work fine. Some prefer the 7mm and some would prefer the 308. This can be debated, splitting the hairs and picked apart until we all go to our graves. The 7/08 is a little flatter shooting, while the 308 offers a more versatile bullet weight selection from 110gr to 220 gr. I`d say, pick the rifle you happen to like the best and live with whichever of the two cartridges comes with it.
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
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I killed many elk with the .308 using 150 grainers. Took this bad boy with mine. [img:center] [/img] You made my night... THAT is an absolute toad! Well done...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Aside, I'm a 308 fan and this year's elk season will find me toting a 308 stoked with 165 Accubonds. Would be even happier with 168 Ballistic Tips, but couldn't find any before the season. 165 Hdy SPBT's also shoot great in my rifle and would be happy with them.
The 308 is just easy on bullets...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I would choose the .308. So many different combinations of guns and bullets to choose from. However, if you found a 7mm-08 that you really liked or got a great deal on it would work with good bullets.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,235 Likes: 27 |
308 with some good 165's on up to 200 grain if you like.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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In my honest opinion, I wouldn't use or buy a 7MM08 The neighbor had one and it did not impress me to the point of where I would have ran right out and bought one and he sold it two years after he got it and now misses the gun he sold when he won the 7MM08.
If a person was going to buy a rifle to hunt Elk, they should buy a 30-06 because you will not notice any difference between the two when you cycle the round in the chamber and all it takes is one shot to kill a animal - so a quick 2nd shot wouldn't be enough of a reason to want to use a short case over using a long case.
The Elk that 4100 FPS has in that picture is very impressive. Way to go and keep up the good work.
For those that cares the 308 Winchester is a poor performer with anything other then the 150 GR bullet. Trying to shoot even a 180 GR bullet with a .308 would be like trying to haul a cord of wood with a CJ 5 Jeep. If you want a pick up truck to haul stuff you buy a full size pick up truck and haul your load all in one load.
The 30-06 is good even with a 180 gr bullet and is marginal at best with a 220 gr bullet. When you consider that a .300 Winchester Magnum has almost twice as much performance with the same bullet - it is clear that the .300 Winchester Magnum would probably be the right choice if I was me and not you.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I too will be hitting the elk hills with a 308 running 165 Accubonds. Took a bull last year with 165gr. Partitions and am also a large fan of the 308. Between bullet selection, easy to load for or find factory ammo, recoil ain't bad... it just works.
I actually just sold off a 300WSM, for my purposes, it just didn't seem to do much a 308win couldn't do. Just my $.02 though-
"You know why nobody panic buys 30-06 ammo? ... Because men with 30-06's don't panic"
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
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I killed many elk with the .308 using 150 grainers. Took this bad boy with mine. [img:center] [/img] Interesting only a couple of "elk hunters" commented on this photo...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
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I killed many elk with the .308 using 150 grainers. Took this bad boy with mine. [img:center] [/img] Interesting only a couple of "elk hunters" commented on this photo... Brad, that's because the picture speaks for itself. Nuff said.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
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I killed many elk with the .308 using 150 grainers. Took this bad boy with mine. [img:center] [/img] Interesting only a couple of "elk hunters" commented on this photo... Brad, that's because the picture speaks for itself. Nuff said. I doubt that's the reason...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Campfire Tracker
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I am a new elk hunter but I know a massive elk when I see one. That is a once in a lifetime bull.
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