7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Hi guys,
I am stricktly a deer hunter at this point with no experience on elk, moose, caribu etc.. I am building a deer hunting rifle and am decideing between 7mm-08 and the 308 cartridge for deer. My question is, are these cartridges suitable for the bigger game? I am a huge fan of waiting for the right shot and being extremely acurate with that one shot. So with that in mind and shot placement being first and foremost, with correct bullet selection would you guys use these calibers?

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

First three long guns should be:
22LR
12 Gauge
30-06.

So of those two I'd vote for the 308.
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However, I detect an undercurrent of "I'd like to go small and have someone tell me it is okay for everything, IMHO, it ain't.

Given all theparameters and restrictions and conditions your seem to be "guaranteeing-in" for your real big game hunt (non-deer) you'lldo just fine with a 22LR. Real life, it ain't that clean.

Want a deer rifle, build a deer rifle. [243 (25-06 better)]thru 270-ish].
Burn thru hundreds of rounds, become one with it, get your deer hunting days established....

Then later grow when your desire for bigger game grows....
When you decide to go big game hunting,
then build a big game rifle (30-06 power on up)

Match the tools to the job.
Don't try to change your spare tire with a 1/4 drive socket set.
Might work, but you're flirting with trouble,

or a $3,000 empty tag.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

If those are the options that you are set on I would go with the .308 it has better bullet selection, but just be picky on the shots and range.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I agree!

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

not me,i'd go 7mm-08 less recoil and will kill as good as any 30caliber bullet.

actually i'd buy a 270win,the best whitetail caliber ever.....

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Either one will be just fine. Lots of bullet weights to pick from in both 284 or 308 if your a handloader. Not much differnce in the 2 to make a huge differnce in debating to buy. Ive always preferred the 7 over 30 cals though.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I have a .308 Win, and I've killed a deer with it, dropped, didn't even move.

Recoil? It's really not bad, anyone 'ought to be able to handle it, in fact, it's a very popular youth rifle, it's the less-recoiling alternative to the 30-06, in my opinion, the only problem I ever had with my .308 was it giving me a scope eye when the scope was mounted too far back, but never had any trouble with the recoil, just, as with any gun, get some good shooting bags, so you can sight in dead-on, and have total, 100% confidence in your gun's accuracy.

As for if it can handle bigger game, my great-uncle has killed two elk with his Savage Model 99 in .308 Win, but he made sure he used the proper bullet, 180-grain.
He's also killed a black bear in Minnesota with it, and a ton of deer, that gun is the only one he's used since he got out of the Navy in the 1950's.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I would go with the .308 Win. Good luck.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I have two rifles tikka t3 308 win and browning blr pistol grip 308 win ,no need for anything bigger i have killed deer,bears and moose with ease i perfur 150 gr bullets nosler accubonds work well for moose and hornady sst work for deer

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I have a .308 and just love it. It has taken deer and moose with no problems. I use 150grn bullets for deer and 180's for moose. Haven't lost an animal yet, and never had to track more than 50 yds.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

With bigger game in mind I would go with the 308 but really inside of 300 yards either will do with good shot selection and placment.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Thanks for the opinions guys. I am not trying to under caliber for big game, just wondering what you guys thought. I have a 300 WSM that I can use if I ever decide to go for the bigger stuff. It is just a bit heavy as it was built as a long range target gun, weighing in at about 14 lbs.
Thanks again

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Food for thought. If you ever want to go after anything larger, I couldnt be paid enough to carry a 14 pound rifle around in elk country for example, or any country for that matter unless it was hunting via a stand, or a "truck" gun.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

With both cartridges loaded to 2,800fps and the bullets being the same make and style, the 7mm-08 pass's a .308 at right around 200 yards in both muzzle vel and energy.

7mm-08 140gr 200 yards fps.- 2,440 fpe1851, 300 yards fps271 fpe1603, 400 yards fps2109fpe1382

.308 150gr 200 yards fps2360 fpe1854, 300 yards 2156 fpe1547, 400 yards fps 1961 fpe 1281

If you use a 150 gr bullet in the 7mm-08 the difference is even more so, to the tune of 300 more fpe at 400 yards.

fpsfeet per second, fpe foot pounds of energy.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I got a 7mm-08 Ruger Bolt action.. But couldn't resist getting an Encore in 308.. They are the same casing.. Just different selection with a 7-08 going from 120 - 150 grain bullet and the 308 going from 110-200 grain..

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Never been a fan of the 308 (no particular reason). The 7-08 is a sweet round. I'm reminded of a saying: "anything a 30 cal bullet can do a 7mm can do with less recoil.

My vote is the 7mm-08.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Both are extremely accurate calibers and very well suited for game up to deer, sheep, and antelope. It's when you start hunting larger boned game that the differences start to show up.
The 7mm-08 will limit your choice of bullets best suited for large game unless you handload. I could not find a factory load over 140 gr. Winchester factory ammo does not list arecommended 7mm-08load for large game. Federal loads 140 gr Nosler Partitions and Barnes TSX bullet thatwould work better for large game, although still a bit on the light side. But with the .308, you can get factory ammo with 180 gr bullets of stout construction that are better for big boned critters like elk.

Also,in factory loads, the 308 will outperform the 7mm-08 when comparingsimilar bullets and weights.The two have very few common weight bullets. Unless you handload, a 7mm-08 will most likely only have a 140 gr bullet max. And .308 will usually start at 150 and go up to 180 or more.

Below is ballistic info from the Federal and Winchester websites The higher velocities and energys are in BOLD.

Federal load using Nosler Ballistic Tip:
7mm-08 has a muzzle velocity of 2800 and energy of 2437 for the 140 gr load.At 400 yards, it is at 2094 fps and 1368 lbs ME.
.308 has a muzzle velocity of 2820 and energy of 2648 for the 150 gr load.At 400 yards, it is at 2037 fps and 1382 lbs ME.

Winchester load using the Ballistic Silvertip:
7mm-08 with 140 gr: Muzzle velocity 2770 Muzzle energy 2386 400 yards- MV 2026 ME 1276
.308 with 150 gr: Muzzle velocity 2810 Muzzle energy 2629400 yards- MV 2028 ME 1370

So in both cases at the muzzle, the .308 has higher velocity and more energy with a slightly heavier bullet.At 400 yards,down rangevelocity issplit but the .308 still retains more energy.

(I just used these two loads as examples and not as suggested bullets for hunting elk as they are too lightly constructed bullets.However, the Nosler Ballistic Tip in 150 gr is my favorite for both my 30.06 and my 300 Win Mag for deer and antelope. For Elk, I use handloaded Barnes XBT in 180 gr with my 300 mag and factory Winchester 180 gr Fail Safe in my 30.06.)

Both calibers will kill elk with proper shot placement and a good bullet. I would still go for the .308 for afew other reasons.
1)Recoil difference isn't enough to make a difference in your ability to shoot it well.You will never tell the difference in the field.
2).308 ammo is always easier to find. And it is more often on sale.
3).308 will let you go with a 180 gr bullet that is better suited for game the size of elk.
4) If you start reloading, there isn't a caliber out there with a wider range of bullet weights, designs, and purposes than for the .30 cal. Bullets from 100 gr to 220 gr are available.
5) Both rifles, if of the same make, model, and features other than caliber will weigh the same.

Just my opinion and you know what they say about those....:D

Craig

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Another vote for the 7mm-08. It's a great round. I've seen several elk taken with it, and know of many more. It may not be as good an elk gun as say a 7mm Rem Mag, but it's definately not under-powered by any means (assuming you are shooting at typical ranges).

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I use a remington 30-06 and it is a great all around gun and it never failed me.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

I say .308, i have killed several deer with it and also killed elk with it and havent had to track anything farher than 30 yrds. (i dropped the elk in its tracks):D

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

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.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

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.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

Bottom line is this....

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

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

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.

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

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

RE: 7mm-08 or 308 for big game
 

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