Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Hunting rifle opinion--7mmRM vs .308

At present I own both a Savage in 7mmRM and a Savage in .308. I am considering getting rid of the 7mm. I use the rifles for hunting only, 99% of which takes place for deer and hogs. I dont reload and the 7mm is dang expensive to buy ammo for and practice with.

If I get rid of the 7mm what would your opinion be for my next rifle and cartridge for the purpose of hunting deer and hogs inside of 400yds?? Budget is a big concern and I would like to stick with the Savage line of rifles as they are what I am most familiar with. I am actually considering just getting another 308 as it seems to work as well as my 7mmRM for my use. Thanks all in advance for your replies.

Scott

Well, the .308 has you covered but if you just want another caliber, how about the .25-06?

I was thinking a .243 would work well for deer and hogs, and ammo should be abundant.

thinkin the 308 has the first part covered......223 for cheap ammo and practice?

Yep, I'd get a fast twist 223 to go with the 308 and call it a day.

The new rifle would be used also mainly for hunting deer and hogs as well as either a backup or to loan to family member/friend thats deer/hog hunting with me. I knw the 223 will kill them cleanly but looking for something else. Good thought though and thanks for the replies.

Already owned a 243 in the past. 25-06 I will look into . Thanks all.

Id go 270 Win for longer range shooting

Get a 7mm-08, best of both worlds?

I would stick with the 308 especially if you don't reload? A 25.06 is a great caliber also but they both do the same thing which is kill.

Then do a 243 and call it a day.

Personally id just keep the 7mm as the loaner and use your 308 99% of the time . You'll spend more trading around than you'll save on ammo. Also you could go for a reloading kit like the Lee challenger and load to suit your needs ie make you 7 mag into a 7 mm08 and save money at the same time. Third choice is sell you mag to your freeloading buddy and use your 308.

270 will cover the lighter 7RM stuff and 308, but the 308 wins in selection of factory ammo. If its a round you like, then a second one would at least cut down on the crap laying around factor.

This.

This...it'll do anything the 7 mag will do except bruise your shoulder.

HAHA great advice thanks. Reloading is out. Tried it and enjoyed it somewhat but I just dont have enough time to dedicate to reloading. It always seemed that I either had time to go shoot or sit in the garage and reload but not both. Blessed with a wife and three kids which get most of my time outside work. I agree also I dont want to spend much in the deal cause it would take alot of shooting to see any savings. My thought is to hopefully trade the7mm plus throw in maybe 100$ then quit swapping rifles around until my finances allowed me to start spending any money on hunting rifles which likely will be a while. Going from 40$ a box to hopefully 20-25$ a box is my goal. Thanks again for the replies thus far.

Scott

^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^ Again

Time is certainly more valuable. One thing I've learned from reloading is I shoot at least twice as much and spend many nights at the bench. Not that is necessarily a bad thing. Some days one rifle stashed away with a few cases of ammo is pretty appealing...

Since reloading is out, you can take your pick of the common chamberings, any of which will do what you want.

243, 270, 308, 30-06, 7RM, 300WM, 300WSM

Simple solution - sell the 7MM, keep the 308 Savage. As you stated it is a proven performer for 99% of what you do. There is a multitude of factory ammo choices mostly relatively inexpensive compared to the 7MM. For plinking/practice there is a lot of inexpensive imported 308 ammo available.

drover

Thanks drover. I would really like to keep two rifles for the purpose of deer hunting on hand though. Thanks again for your reply.

You seem to appreciate keeping things simple, so I'd just get another 308- Just one kind of ammo to mess with, one set of bore brushes, don't have to worry about grabbing the wrong ammo in a hurry (check out 'Travis's first elk" thread for that experience), one trajectory to memorize-

Well, 270 will get you a latte with your box of shells due to less expensive ammo.

I would sell the 7mm and get one of the cheap rounds...
223, 243, or 270.

I am partial to the 270 but a 243 would certainly work.

Sell the 7mm RM, get another .308.

Sell the Mag, keep the .308W and shoot a .22lr more than a little. The way it sounds you are presently pressed on time, and an additional CF no matter the cartridge would mainly sit idle.

I have Rem 700's in both 7mm RM and 308 but I prefer the 308.

I have 3 7mags in the safe that never get shot. Get another 308 or if you want something different, a 243 or 25-06. A 243 is an absolute joy to shoot, just saying.

KISS principle sell the 7 because you don't need it and can't see the value of it. I'd no more loan someone my 7 mag than my dick. If they are to cheap to buy their own deer rifle tell them to stay home and engage in honeydoos. 223 is a great round for inexpensive practice an NO I wouldn't loan it to some cheapass either. Magnum Man

Get another .308, but in a different package. Have a light, handy one and a long, heavy barreled one for long range shooting. Savage definitely has you covered there with the Model 11 Long Range Hunter at one end and the Lightweight Hunter at the other. Can loan either depending on the situation. You say you can do 99% with the .308. What can't you do in the US with a .308?

Given your criteria:
For simple-get another 308- others have posted the advantages
For Options- get a 270- gives you the long range but cheaper
For cheap- get a 223- lowest price ammo, can still kill deer

Agreed the 308 will.cleanly take anything in NA outside of grizzly . What I put in my original post was that 99% of my hunting is for deer or pigs. Good advice and thanks.

Well I currently do all my hunting with a 7mm RM so I might be a tad bit biased in this, I don't find the cartridge to be that expensive to shoot, what I have noticed is that were I live, 7mm RM is on the shelf in most places and the 308 is not. Something to consider if you don't hand load your own, and there are the lack of component issues these days too. You will spend more money horse trading guns than you will think and end up spending more that you thought you would spend! Federal Fusions in 7mm RM is a good load for about $ 26 a box not much considering what things cost, keep the rifle that you can find ammo for, 308 is short supply for some reason due to the times we live in and perception.t, its all relative to what you are use to I guess!

Well gm I guess you and I are the only ones who like 7 mags. But better them 308 shooters know their limits than to have them expanding their possibilities. Magnum Man

Those are two excellent but very different rounds for different purposes, and both are worthy of owning. I'd keep them both. I have over a dozen different 308s in bolt and semi, but I own many other calibers as well...but that's me.

Consider that the resale value of the Savage might not be that much, but you can always try.

Also, you might like to try a different platform. Consider a lightweight Ruger American Compact in any of the calibers they are offered in that you might want to experiment with. They are inexpensive but well-made and a good choice for a limited budget.

If you want to keep it simple, just get one in .308 and explore the different platform.

They are simple and well made like the Savage, but lighter and handier and a good choice for hogs and such.

Good advice topcat thanks. I will look into the Ruger.

Since you have kids, get a 243. Ammo is as cheap and readily available as 308 and a good one for kids to start on. Both are just as effective on deer/hogs. I would also look into a Ruger American.

If both rifles would be used for the same thing (in this case deer and hogs) I would think another 308 would be fine. Ammo inventory would be easy. Just a thought.