ORIGINAL: DeerandbearhoG
ORIGINAL: bronko22000
Friend, its a bit more complicated than just looking at the numbers. These two bullets may fly the same (I haven't looked at the ballistics but I will take your word for it.) but its what happens when it get there too. The larger diameter .308 bullet has more frontal mass so it is initially going to creat greater havoc on whatever it hit tissue wise. Its heavier so it's going to penetrate deeper (provided both bullets are equally constructed) and the expansion diameter will be greater.
All this boils down to is more tissue damage resulting in more shock.
And if a marginal hit is made the 308 diameter bullet has a better shot (no pun intended) of killing the animal quicker.
Now I am no ballistician but I shot quite a few animals with different chamberings to have at least a pretty good feel for this topic.
IMO - Paper ballistics are great but they don't really tell the whole story.
Actually, I believe sectional density plays a bigger role than weight ,in penetration , but Im no ballistician either. Since I am comparing equal SD of both bullets ,I guess the point is moot, though. Yeah, I was just playing w/ the numbers out of curiosity, wasnt planning any elk trips with the 7-08 ,although I think it would be sufficient with proper bullet selection and shot placement. I think the comparison is interesting though, no?