Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles opinion of 7mm-08 rem. vs 308

Dober, as always I'll take your word for the speed, and Finn wasn't one to stretch the truth. I'm shooting a 160TSX out of a 7x57 and getting right at 2650,and as you say, I'm leanin' on it.Ordinarily the 7mm-08 will do anything the 7x57 will... but youve got more experience with the '08, aren't they chambered and rifled for boolits closer to 140 and under?
Ingwe

Silouette shooters learned a long time ago that the 7/08 has significantly less drop and wind drift than the 308.

How much does that figure into your hunting equation?

Better pack a Dirty Harry Magnum and a Bowie knife for ole grizz as a back up, no matter what rifle ....perhaps a 475 Linebaugh.

Now to rifles.....a 308 180 vs a 708 160, hmmmm, shot placement w/like constructed/SD bullets will both work IMHO, but if you rather .020 more bullet diameter and 20 grains why not bump it up to a 338 Federal w/225 partitions or TSX bullets?
Heck, a 358 even gives you more smack, well some might say get a 9.3/350 Rem Mag via Sisk rifles......all in short actions....

John, a Kimber Montana in 338 Federal might just be what the Dr. ordered. Or maybe a WSM M70 action barreled to 350 Rem Mag, set down in a light synthetic.

Dober, you can hunt with me....and be my guide

Like I said, Mark, it's a feeling thing. I'm sure you've been there . . .

I lucked out, Brad. I've three .308's (a Remington and two Winchesters) and they all keep the HE load within an inch, so I've used the load a bit.

Ramshot Powders

7-08, 24" bbl

Hunter Powder 48gr
Fed 210
160gr Sierra
2750fps
58,500psi

Past Thread

MtnHtr

humdinger

sorry to impose on you

Much much more choices in Bullet weights and styles for one thing especially in factory loads, easily 5 times more factory loads available for the .308, as for Myself if I chose to hunt really big game such as Moose with such a rig I'd feel better with a well constructed 180gr .308 diameter bullet than any of .284's available in 7mm.08 factory stuff, not that the 7mm.08 wouldn't do the job I just don't think it's as well suited for really big game. as I said before for Whitetail I don't see a relevant difference and for the $200.00 savings I'd opt for the "Wife and Sons caliber" and put that 200 bucks toward some nice glass....someone mentioned the Federal HE loads, last time I looked Hornady had Light magnum loads for both calibers. My local gun shop has had the same box of Hornady 7mm.08 light magnum 140's on it's shelf for three years that I can remember, the poor box is turning yellow, even at three year ago pricing it just sits there. Not exactly a popular load I take it..........547.

Not doubting sources here which are very reliable but want to point out that the Nosler data for the 7/08 is taken from a 26" barrel. I don't see many of those on field-grade 7/08's.

Nosler's data for the 7x57 is from a 22" tube. That said my choice would be the 7/08 just because,and I would rather have a 7x57 than either of them,......just because.

Bob you're absolutely right, I just took a look at the manual and saw that darned old 26" thingy.

I have often wondered why on earth the loading manuals would use any length but what is norm?

I also took a look at Finns old article and he was using a 22" tube and he had two loads with the 160's at over 2700. One was with IMR 4350 and the other with 205 I think?

Bottom lines is that I imagine a few 22" 7/08's will get you to 2700 and a goodly share most likely won't get there. As well I don't think it'll matter one iota to the game if where using a bullet at 2600 or 2700.

Nor does it mean any diff at all if I were to be using a 308 or a 7/08. To me it's just like is there any real world diff tween a 280 and an 06...grin

Dober

Okay, okay . . . I give. I'm gonna have those crappy .308 barrels unscrewed tout de suite and replaced with 7mm ones before you guys jump all over me again.

John-good to see you're buying into my plan, when you get those crappy 30 cal tube off send em to me...grin

Seriously, bottom line if I had to have one of the two for the rest of my life for hunting all over the world slam dunk and without question I would go for the 308. I can only think of 3 or 4 critters on this whole world that I'd prefer not to take on with the lil 30 and all 3 of them are on my list of never having any desire to hunt/kill.

Dober

Mark - too late to sway me back, 'cause I already got two of the barrels unscrewed. Just let me know where you want the junk shipped.

Seriously - I've used the .308 since I was a teenager in 1964 and it has served me well in all kinds of situations, along with the 180gr. Noz. In fact, the fastest I ever saw a bull moose go down was when my 11-year old son whacked one with "his" Rem 660 and a 180Noz. a few years ago.

I used to use the 165-Hornady BTSP, too, with good results.

To add, I suppose I've lived a sheltered life, since the only other cartridges I've used to kill game are the .270 and the .30-06. Also, to answer someone else on this thread earlier who claimed that the 7-08 produced significantly better trajectory and wind drift, if I really wanted significance I'd go with the .270 over the 7-08, and even then the difference ain't that great.

Dober: I can see the 7/08 going hard onto 2700 with a 160,and everything "just so". I think Eleanor O'Connor used the 7x57 with 160 at 2680 or so from that Russ Leonard Mauser to knock off about everything.....

I hear you Bob and I for one feel that I'd need a "fast" barrel to get there.

Finns load in his 22" was 46/IMR4350 and it went 2680.

His other load he had listed was 51/MRP and it scooted along @ 2737.

Dober

This ain't no kid on his parents computer men,We should take heed to what this man says......You are most wise OldCenterChurch...............547.

Just a couple of thoughts on this topic:

First, there's not enough difference between the 7-08 and 308 to build much of a hill of any kind, much less a hill to die on regarding which is better.

That said, it seems to me that the best way to judge a cartridge is in what it does best. I think the 7-08 bests the 308 in what both do best - sending mid-weight bullets where they're needed with maximum effect. In my admittedly limited experience and understanding, it seems the 7-08 shoots a bit flatter and with less recoil and more energy since the 7mm bullets make up some ground on the advantage the 308 has with a bit more juice.

If I want to send something heavier than 120-150 grains downrange with authority, I'm going 300WSM over the 308 or the 7-08.

In the sweet spot for the 7-08 and 308, I like the 7-08 a little better.

Man, I need to go shoot some hogs or something....grin.

DJ

Why shoot the immitation when you can have the original? If it weren't for Remington and a few odd handloaders the poor 7mm.08 Rem. would just fade away.......I can't believe I just wrote that!!! .....But it is funny................547.

Ain't that the truth - the stuff we'll ponder when there's not enough stuff to hunt...grin.

That bulk ammo 308 advantage alone may be insurmountable, but as long as we're skinning fleas for their hide and tallow for want of larger game, ballistic gack is pretty harmless.

DJ