Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7-08 or 308 win?

I cannot imagine the 7-08 would recoil much less than the 308 win, was wondering if there was enough difference in the two to justify a 7-08 over the 308 in a Kimber Montana. I reload so bullets of even 110 grains are available in 30 cal.

I would download a copy of PointBlank software (it's free) and work the load comparison out. There is not going to be much difference between a 7-08 load and a 308 load of the same bullet weight on paper. However, there can be a LOT of difference between two rifles with similar or identical chamberings. The fit of the stock, the weight of the rifle, the recoil pad etc. are all going to contribute a lot to what and how you feel things.

I would start with the bullets you want to shoot, if you want 150s and up go with the .308, if you wants 140s or less, go with the 7-08. I had a Montana in 308 and it's now a 7-08. The .308 was definitely more sporty with heavier bullets. If I had to choose just one to hunt with I'd go 7-08. Use lighter bullets and it's more pleasant to shoot at the range.

What are you gonna hunt with it?

I have a brand new 308 that would have been a 7-08 if I didn�t have 1000�s and 1000�s of rounds of ammo, brass and bullets. The 308 is a good round, but ballistics wise the 7mm is the better choice.

My 21� lilja barreled hawkeye.

The 2 are so close that you can make either one recoil more than the other depending on the load you choose. I just ran the numbers here.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

From a 6 lb Kimber a 308/150 @ 2850 fps generates 20 ft lbs recoil.
From a 6 lb Kimber a 7-08/140 @ 2900 fps generates 19.4 ft lbs recoil.

I don't think anyone will notice the difference in recoil or performance on game.

The .29-08 wildcat is a fine compromise, but very few shooters know of its advantages.

Rifle manufacturers have conspired to prevent both the B-29 and the 29-08 from ever getting to the market place.

The cartridges are so effective that shooters would stop buying any rifles that were not B-29's or 29-08's.

It would ruin both the rifle and cartridge business for most of the suppliers.

And it is only here at the Campfire that we have access to such information that cannot be found elsewhere.

Steve

I think the Obama administration is also involved, but can't figure out whether its for or against .29's, probably because they can't either.

You just can't get inside information like you two are sharing anywhere else.... Don't know what I'd do without this place as a reference.

It's Bush's fault!

I had a 29-08 with a 20" barrel- I was a model 7 and the magazine length really hampered performance with those super long high bc .29 projectiles. 29-08 is a natural on a forbes action, or nula. The 3" magazine box really lets the sexy 29 really stretch her legs. The 159 grn hitari sc monolithics at 2980 are the definitive game load. For hunting. Everything.

That said, I never feel undergunned when I have a 308 or 7mmo8.

I am just gonna load Barnes 110s in my 308 Montana. You guys are not very supportive of my bad habit of buying and selling guns

I'd rather load Barnes 120TSXs in a 7-08, and do.......

If you're just going to shoot deer and schit it won't matter.

If you want to shoot distance you gotta look at BC and such. For example the 162gr. Gay Max has a BC of .625. To achieve that in the .308 you'd have to move up to the 208gr.

More recoil, mag restrictions, blah, blah, blah.

Just depends what you want it for.



Travis

Pretty much anything in history can be blamed on "bush", whether speaking of the President or euphemistically.

Having a 7mm-08 and being a big supporter of it, if I were going to buy a lightweight, hunt anywhere rifle right now it would be a 308.

This thread is incomplete without "post your load".

7-08: Norma brass, 120 NBT, and 45 grains of Varget, Federal match primer.

Or a 120 TTSX, same brass and primer, 51 grains Big Game.

.308: Lapua, TULA LRM, 155 scenar, 46 Varget. OK, that's not "my" load but it's a good one.

Bullets like the 130 TTSX and 155 Scenar have brought some new coolness to the .308win in recent years. It's always been a reliable workhorse of a cartridge, but not the flattest shooting thing going from the NATO case. Ammo is everywhere and components are good. I've killed a good bit of stuff with the .308win and never found it lacking regarding results.

The 7mm-08 seems to be a bit better design on that case regarding bore/capacity and the ability to shoot slightly lighter bullets of a comparable BC/SD at slightly higher speeds with a touch less recoil. Like Flave says, there are more uber-BC options in the 7mm-08 that can be pushed at usable speeds. Components/ammo are not quite as plentiful.

For medium-game use, I think the 7mm-08 is the better option for the handloader while the .308win is the better option for the guy buying factory ammo.

"Post your load" is a classic.....

And here I was thinking he was serious.