Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Pros & Cons: 7mm-08 vs. .308 Win for plains game

Just wondering out loud but shouldn't the comparison be made made with the expanded bullet diameter for each,given that by the time the bullet exits,it has expanded?

I mean it's the expanded diameter that makes the hole....or am I missing something?

Bob, the amount of exits are much lower, I have found that the majority of game shot is quartering away. finding bullets, parts of bullets, or a internally lost bullets, are normal after the game is found. There are more "one hole" kills then two by a fair amount.

So with only one bullet diameter hole that was my point. Everyone has an opinion on this, it became a bit silly with the math arguments. However the facts as we see them through real world experience remain. There is a definate improvement .308 and above when compared to .308 and below for blood trails.

YMMV

I've already decided that because of Jim's advice, I'll be getting a .338 Federal or .338-06 for plains game.

It's guaranteed the Africans don't know it..

I thought every kid learned at an early age the old axiom.

[pi(r2)] (don't look right on the computer) Pie are square--NO pie are round, cornbread are square. miles

Two rounds that I like. Have one of each. The 338 Fed will be my go to for just about everything. Only ~100 FPS difference, give or take, in weights up to 210. For heavier bullets the -06 probably has an advantage. Noticibly less recoil with the Fed though. I will take my Fed to Africa in the next couple of years and for deer and elk in the interim.

While we are on the subject, it seems as if today is "International Pi day". miles

Pi

Kinda what I figure.

With today's bullets, I think going light (say, 185gr TSX) in the Fed is about all a guy needs for just about anything out to 350 yards or so. It also has a much better factory ammo selection than the .338-06.

I would have a hard time not accepting the advice of someone with the experience of JJ!

Randy

JJ: Fair enough. Thanks for the answer.

BTW, a .308 has slightly less than 15% more surface area than the 7mm, not 20%.

IMO the line in the sand lies between .308 and .338...

JJHack,

I read either a post or an article of yours somewhere...where you were giving a favorable review of 165 bullets for plains game in the 30-06.

In regards to the 308 Winchester, I get 2625 fps muzzle velocity with the 168 TTSX Barnes and great accuracy. Do you think that is sufficient velocity for plains game, along the lines of the 165 grain 30-06 load? I am thinking up to 250 meters.

This thread has been great, the 308 Winchester seems to get the nod, but what bullets at what muzzle velocity and how far?

My loaner rifle uses the 165TSX at 2900 plus. It's taken game to 400 yards or a bit more.

With the 308 an that bullet in the limpopo you won't likely be too far to use it for anything you care to shoot. Hunting the bush is usually a 50-150 yard situation. Longer shots come up, but even a 300 yard shot would be a loooong shot in the bush for most species.

Thanks for the reply.

Prone or from a rest, I have shot a lot of varmints way out there. Yet on game animals my self-imposed limit is now 250 meters since that is as far as I can quickly hit a 12" circle from field positions.

I like the slower speed also. It seems to not damage as much meat.

Get the "damaged meat" philosophy out of the picture in Africa, Just keep shooting til they are dead. I don't care where you hit them or how many times. Just get them on the ground. Meat will not be wasted, plenty of people will take anything I give them. You cannot take any home, so just keep shooting.