Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Question about the 308 vs. the 7-08

Nothing you can stoke a 308 with will outperform or out penetrate a 175 in a 7 in my experience.

But who cares...there is absolutely nothing on this continent I would not hunt with either...honestly maybe one or two animals in the world I wouldnt tackle with either. You couldn't find two more alike cartridges if you tried. They are both top tier and tried and true.


All bull [bleep] aside...I just like the recoil reduction of the 7...they are both giant killers

Full disclosure...I do believe the 308 to be the worlds most popular big game sporting round...I honestly believe it's taken the crown from the 30-06

7-08

My <opinion> is the 308 has not topped the 06 in "hunting". Now black rifles & target (comp) shooting I'd probably agree with you.

I have nothing against the 308 at all, I just LIKE long cartridges better than short ones. When you have larger fuselage, you can have a larger payload.

I don't know how or IF we can answer that ?

To me ----it's a personal thing.

Jerry

Nothing you shoot will know the difference. Come on, we're talking about 0.024". That's about 6 red c-hairs of difference.

That said, I'm a 7mm-08 homer.







P

I do too.

I've hunted with 280's for a very long time having killed several truck loads of animals with commercial ammo. When I finally chronographed the velocity I was surprised at the average speed of 2820 fps with 150 CoreLokt's. It was this that opened my eyes to several facts.

1. It does not take a magnum to humanely dispatch wild game.
2. 2800-3000 fps is fast enough


The 7/08 will push 140's between 2800-3000 fps
The 308 will push 150's between 2800-3000 fps

So, what more would you need?

I shoot a 20" 7-08 with suppressor. A 150gr Swift Scirrocco at 2,730fps under N550 makes it really tough to get a 'better' deer rifle. Even with a big scope for shy last light bucks it's still well balanced and useable.

There is one problem - every time I think of another rifle the intended one comes up short. The other problem is it's impossible to get factory ammo in Sweden so I can't realistically use it for moose.

I've seen nothing but fine results with both the 7mm-08 and the 308, as they are two peas in a pod when talking hunting rifles. Both work well with medium weight cup/cores at standard speeds and lighter monos at higher speeds. I lean more toward the 7mm and 6.5mm offerings these days, as I like the slightly better ballistics and lower recoil (fairly sleek 120-140gr stuff at 2,800-2,900fps). It's also easier to find loads that match well with the Leupold/Redfield reticles I like to use (B&C, LRD, Accu-Range). That being said, I can say absolutely zero bad things about the performance of the 308 on game. Things tend to bleed well and not run terribly far, even with cheap ammo. A 165gr cup/core is generally quite impressive on deer or hogs, often more so than the slightly smaller calibers I tend to prefer for their shooting characteristics.

308 Win - 150 TTSX - 2800fps - 300 yards Point and shoot.

10.000 rounds later, you can start thinking about a new barrel.

Pretty much the same to me...I have hunted with both over the years and they both do the job on WT equally well. I started using the 308 more because its in a Remington M7 that's short and handy for the distances that I hunt 250 yards or less from stands. Both are accurate and I really don't notice any perceived difference in recoil using 140s in 7/08 and 150s in the 308.

A common answer seems to be that the two use about the same size case, about same same weight bullets, about the same powder charge weight, at about the same muzzle speed, kill game about the same, but the 7mm08 has noticeably less recoil.

Why?

Bruce

Never tried a 175 in a 7-08. I would have thought they'd be pretty long in a standard mag length mag to get the velocity up.

Anyway, you're right. They're both great.

308 all the way for me. More versatile.

You can use subsonic bullets designed for the Blackout all the way to 240 grain Woodleighs if desired.

None.

Dont know whether you load or shoot commercial ammo. From a loaders POV, as you graduate up
the bullet weight scale the recoil graduates as well. I begin noticing it at 140. After that, the 150 seems to "announce" the ladder climb quickly. Depending on powder charge weights the 165's can really sock it to you. 180's exponentially increase & so on.

Everyone handles recoil at different tolerance thresholds. I shoot 300 WSM's & 7 Wby Magnums at top speeds with no muzzle brake. For me, recoil does not begin registering until I reach 180 gr bullet weights. I shoot 180's at 3200 fos from my 300 Wby. It is the only rifle I own with a muzzle brake.

For the record, I do not like muzzle brakes.

Because the majority of human beings are dumb fugks.

Or don't reload.




Dave

Coming from a qualified source ! <grin>


Jerry

I reload.

FACT.




Dave

As most have said there is really no practical difference in a hunting rifle. They are close enough I'd probably base my decision on the piticular rifle and or deal I was offered or some other exterior factor such as I already have plentry of 30 cal. bullets on hand so I don't have to buy $150 worth of reloading gear or vice versa I have plenty of 7mm stuff.

The other FACT !!! GRIN twice.

Jerry