Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 308 or 7mm-08 for Elk.

I'm buying a .223 and plan to kill an elk with it, just so I can say it must be better than my 300 RUM for elk.

4100fps GREAT bull! Congrats.

Both fine rounds but put me down for the 308 if I have to pick just one.

It has been Scientifically Proven that they are essentially ballistic twins right here on this forum.

I have carried a 7mm-08 elk hunting and it did feel like an elk rifle in my hands.... albeit, about as light an elk rifle as *I* have any interest in carrying.

Where the .308 & 7-08 are not twins is in the realms of bullets weight and diameter. Since neither is a cartridge that will excite the "speed kills" crowd, I do think the .308 has an edge here. It will, quite simply, put a bigger, heavier bullet into an elk. Try as I might, with all else so damn equal between the two, I can't see how that doesn't give the .308 the edge here.

I'd go .308 and set it up like Brad's- 165-gn medium hard bullet.

In the 7-08 I ran a 150-NPT, and that's what I'd do again, or a 150-NAB.

That's just me. This is one of those "You take Sally, I'll take Sue... there ain't no difference between the two..." things.

(bonus points for naming that song!)

My late cousin killed 22 elk, mostly bulls, with his pre-'64 Winchester Mdl. 70 Featherweight in .308 Win.

As he was not a reloader, I asked him what ammo he used in his .308? He said, "Whatever is on sale at the sporting goods store, so long as it is 180 grains.

Worked for him.

L.W.

Haven't you guys been reading the hunting magazines? The 338 win mag is the absolute minimum for elk!

I agree with most who say that they're so close it doesn't matter much. That being said, if a 7-08 and a 308 were side-by-side on the rack and I was about to go after elk, I'd take the 308 every time, loaded with good 165-gr (or maybe 180-gr.) bullets.

Since you're standing by a gun rack, there's probably a 300RUM somewhere.. I'd grab that and throw the other two in the toilet.

Here's a 7mm08 kill, 410 yards, 140 TSX

Shoot... I was gonna post a pic of my 308 shot bull, but it can't compare...

...guess the 7-08 really is better

It is actually one of my top picks for all around versatility... but that doesn't mean that others don't get it done.... I carried a 243 once.... never had a shot but had no issues... knew I'd have to be a bit picky but beyond that no biggie... the nut behind the butt is more important really.

That being said there are a couple of other issues.. projectile choice can make a HUGE difference in the ability or lack of in a round. And optics on the gun better be good... after all if you can't see it, you can't shoot it... if they are not at least as good as your binocs, you spin your wheels.... I"d take good glass on a H/R handi rifle any day over a higher buck gun and cheaper scope.

Ain't there a prize for the stupidest f***-ing quote of the week?

If not, there should be, now.

At least the thread was good for a few toad photos.

I thought this thread to be another pissin' contest until a friend called and told me to scroll down! Sheet those are freakin' nice bulls! I gotta ask ya' Greenhorn, that bull's head size is just as impressive as his rack. Is it the angle of the pic or is he a horse - bodywise? Geeezzz....congrats - AGAIN!

Bigwhoop, I like this picture of my first bull killed with 150 grain bullets, propelled out of the old .300 savage.



Or maybe a more recent bull, with archery tackle:

That ranks up with my favorites of any photo I've seen shared on the internet.

+1

Great pics, especially the top one!

Awesome pix from everyone! 4100, that old picture is telling so many stories. You gotta tell us about that old 4x4, the convertible in back, and that has to be a swinging house that we see a little bit of car port on.. And the elk, too.

PS.. I'm saying 1962 or 64..

This picture had me dreaming of hunting elk all night long!!!!!! Thanks for sharing 4100.

Nice bulls guys....getting me in the mood!!



.308 bull a close bud of mine shot in 2007.



And another. This one from 447 meters.

Pat is the bottom bull the one with the boat story you told me?

Yep, thats it....I felt like I was on the Edmond Fitzgerald that night.

That bull reminds me of the one you and I were chasing earlier this fall....