A11en

I'm traveling to Africa this June to hunt plains game. Myoufitter insists on a .30 cal rifle and nothing less. Gemsbok, Kudu, Eland, Zebra are all elk sized game and they feel .30 is the best choice. Most outfitters for Elk will tell youthe same.

For all the reasons spd522 lists, go with the .308.

Buckshot

I guess I should have added handloading. I can push a 140grXLC, to within 3,000fps and have no pressure signs, and my gun has a 20" barrel

Wow, I never realized that the factory loads were so whimpy.

With the premium bullets around today, especially the barnes bullets, thats really not a concern anymore.

bigbulls

Bottom line is this....

Flip a coin, the dead animal won't know the difference between the two.

salukipv1

Personally I like big rifles for big game. Of the 2 on elk, I'd want the .308, but if I was going elk hunting, I wouldn't be using a .308, I'd have my .340 weatherby, and my .300 win mag for backup.

For deer, I'd have the 7mm-08, especially for out west/ longer shots, the flatter trajectory and plenty of power to drop a deer.

.30-06 would be a better combo for deer/elk I feel than either of these two. Consider the .300 WSM as well, I wouldn't worry about kick out of either of these, and the .300 WSM is here to stay, so don't worry about it fading away from popularity.

SILVERTIP-CO

7mm-08 with 140gr to take advantge of 'natural' ballistics.

vaughnm

I believe you stated earlier that you have a 300 WSM for the bigger stuff. Therefore, I would go with the 7mm-08.