Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger American Compact .308 vs 7mm-08

I want a compact deer rifle for under 200yds. I've settled in on the Ruger American Compact with 18" barrel (unless there's something else comparable in length). I need a nudge one way or the other on caliber. I'm leaning toward the .308 mainly because of cheaper ammo off the shelf and probably a better over all shooter out of an 18" barrel. Handloading not out of the question for either caliber though. What says the tribe?

Factory ammo, go 308. Both are great and will do anything you need done.

I'm thinking about picking one up as well. Probably leaning more towards the predator model with the 18" barrel though. I already have a compact in .223 so if I buy the rotary mag model I can swap stocks for my kids. Might have to open up the barrel channel a bit but that's an easy fix. The predator comes threaded as well if you ever want to add a can or brake.

Not enough of a difference to warrant a discussion.






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Lotsa debate on here about barrel length, but an 18" Remington .308 cured me of such barrels more than 40 years ago. If possible, I'd suggest you spend a bit of time with one of the little cannons before you buy one. That said, while you can't go far wrong with either, I'd lean towards the 7-08 for a bit less "liveliness", or light bullets in the .308 like the 130gr TTSX.

A friend traded a printer for one of the original Kevlar Model 7 7-08s way back when and loves it dearly.

Hand cannon with a stock I assume?

Get the 243 and some good ear protection.

Actually, in this kind of rifle I think the 6.5 Creedmoor would be ideal. But I’d still prefer a 20” barrel for a round that fires 2600+fps. Several manufacturers offer a compact/youth rifle with a 20” barrel.

I bought a used RAR stainless compact in 7mm-08 a few years back for use as a truck gun. My dad wound up buying it off me. We load the 120NBT over CFE223 for 3,100fps in that 18" barrel and it shoots around MOA. Book load too, if I recall. Snorty little bugger, but it shoots and is rather handy.

Remington 600. You got the cannon part right. The thought of one of those in .350 gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Well crap now y'all are starting to rain on my parade!

If its that specific for game and range either would be great. 7mm chambers are bad ass. If needing to hunt bull elk/moose eventually, the 308 is hard to beat. Never discount the power of a 200 grain 308 Win load at 200 yards, its a hard hitter giving great penetration.

Either/Or = dead deer.

FWIW I'd use 120 NBT's in the 7mm and almost certainly will be using 125 Noslers in my .308 RAR this year.

My wife has one in a 7-08 and its a fine little rifle

Can’t go wrong with either one! Probably have a better ammo selection off the shelf with a 308, but if you can’t decide on one just buy both.

...............................A Don Knotts fan there Barney Fife? LOL..............For deer under 200 yards pick either. However if you plan to hunt larger game with the Ruger, heavier bullet choices for the 308 might give you a little added assurance.

Imo and as a Ruger Frontier owner, the shorty compact rifles do have their place and function very well in tight quartered stands, in the thickets and are a joy to carry around all day even out in more open country..................Have fun.

Neither.............

Get the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 and shoot wolf ammo consistently under MOA. Not to mention it's .22 cents shipped for Wolf Steel case, for which Ruger designed this rifle.

I've got a 6x SWFA Mil Quad on mine and consistently hit a 10" home made gong out to 500 yards.

If 200 is your max range, it would be a great rifle.

Hornady makes some 123gr SST steel cased loads that shoot well and don't break the bank either.

I had a model 7 in 243 with a 18.5" barrel.........if your into insane muzzle blast and losing 350 FPS from a 24" barrel go for it.

Hard to beat a good ol .308.

I'll admit, I do have the full series set on DVD.....and there may be one in or near the DVD player as we speak. If only we could go back to Mayberry... Nothing over 200yds and deer only. I have plenty of longer barrel rifles, just want a short handy one with a little giddy up.



I considered the 7.62x39 route but in a CZ527 carbine. I have one in .223. Honestly that CZ is what got me looking for a .308ish option but without the $5-600 price tag.

And........."Bobs your Uncle"

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/44368/Ruger+16976+American+Ranch+Bolt+7.62x39mm+16.12+5%2B1+Synthetic+Flat+Dark+Earth