7mm-08 or .308
 

Looking to purchase a new rifle soon. I was convinced I would go with the .308, but read so much on the 7mm-08, I'm having trouble making a decision. I plan to use the rifle for deer and black bear in Pa. Any help in making a decision would be greatly appreciated. My rifle choice is a Tikka T3 Lite in camo version...

R1

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

You are where I was 5 months ago. I wanted a .308 Tikka but ended up with a 7-08 Remington SPS. After shooting this rifle I can honestly say I made the right decision. In my opinion you can't go wrong with the 7-08 or the .308. The 7-08 made more sense for me since the gun is actually for my son and the reduced recoil was an added benefit. What steered me away from the Tikka was the long action for a short round. The detachable box has a spacer in it for short cartridges. If I ever buy a Tikka, it will be for a long cartridge or when they decide to create a short action for the short rounds.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I haven't shot a 7mm-08, but I have heard such great things about them here that I'll probably give one a try.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I have both a 308 and a 7mm-08, and I prefer my 7-08. Very little recoil, and with 120gr Barnes TSXs its a far reacher.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

My brother has used a 7mm-08 Remington Model Seven since about 1980...He has killed at least a hundred whitetails with....Its a good round, but there is no practical difference between what it will do to a deer and what a .308 would do...A person sensitive to recoil MIGHT be able to tell a difference between these 2 calibers if the same model rifles were shot...

If it were me, I'd go with the 7mm simply because I know that my brother and I can share ammo if need be...but...in some parts of the country 7mm-08 rounds are hard to come by...Assuming you don't reload, here's what I'd do, go to 3-4 local sporting goods stores and make a note of what ammo they carry in each round...At least then you know what is locally avaliable...There is so little difference that's about as good a way as any to decide...

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Half a dozen or 6, your choice...there's really not beans worth of differnce...I'd pick the 7/08.....have on in an XP-100...luv it !!

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I also have a 7mm-08 and find the recoil mild and pleasant to shoot at the range. I would suggest as previously mentioned, find out about availability of ammo unless you have intentions of reloading. The 308 might have a little more recoil then anticipated in a Tikka lite if you are recoil sensitive. I sighted in a 308 couple of weekend ago for a friend and the rifle didn’t have a recoil pad. I forgot what kind of recoil the 308 could have. [>:] Good luck...

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I have 2 7-08's now...kinda fond of them...lol.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Definitely the 7-08 One thing to mess up the mix...Have you looked at the ballistics of the .260 compared to the 7mm-08? If not, take a look, same case, just a real high ballistic Coefficient for the wt. of bullet you would likely use. The .260 is awesome on paper and in the woods. Just bought my daughter one yesterday.

Even then you are splitting baby hairs...I bet the deer or bear won't know or even care if it was a .264 bullet or a .284 (7mm) bullet that vented it's boilerroom!!! Either way you won't go wrong and you can go to lighter bullets for those pesky coyotes w/more accuracy than the .308.

Just my .02,

Dave in WV

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I have both. 7mm-08 in a Rem. Model 7 and .308 in a Ruger M77 stainless / Syn.

The 7mm-08 is my favorite. And the ammo for it is just as readily available as a .308 is , these days. I have had it for 16 years, and in a Model 7 , I believe it to be the perfect gun. Light , manuverable and deadly.

I vote 7mm-08. It is a sweet round.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

The 7-08 is definately my favorite as well. I have an Encore and a 700 LVSS in 7-08. Just a sweet little round. Easy to shoot and plenty enough deadly.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I am a big fan of the 7mm08. I have 3 of them not counting the 1 that I built my baby girl for her 1st deer rifle. She has started a good record with it so far,her-2 shots=2-deer. It is possibly the best all time deer cartridge(my opinion only).

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I don't know why you people do this.

It's like asking if Coke or Pepsi is better.

Get what you want.

There are some distinct advantages to the .308,I can't speak about recoil on the 7mm-08 but then again the .308 doesn't kick for me at all soo...

However, a 7mm bullet is more efficient than a .30 of the same weight. But it's splitting hairs. The actual performance gains are negligable, however there are more factory offerings for the .308 as well as more high powered loads.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Good choice either way. Although the .308 might be cheaper to plink with. But mil surp ammo is getter more expensive and harder to come by. I love the 308 case. I have a savage 308, savage 243 and by this time next week should have a 25-308 (souper) built on a mauser action with a ss fluted savage barrel.

Here's some advice from my father-in-law. Flip a coin, if its heads get the 7mm-08, if its tails get the 308 and if your disappointed in the flip, then you know which one you really want.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

First you bash him, then ya give him helpful information. I think the helpful information was all he needed.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Forgot to mention that there is some very high quality military surplus .308 ammo that can be had pretty reasonably. Lake City is one and the South African battle packs are a smokin deal. I've had great accuracy from them.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Good job, helpful info, no bashing!:D

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Humm.. I guess I must have missed something !!!:eek:

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I have both, and really, I pretty well grab either for deer. One thing I see, is generally the 7mm08 has slightly less recoil. I generally shoot 165gr bullets for my 308. never could get 150gr to shoot as well. And generally shoot 140gr for my 7mm08.

But then again for deer, I have a 270win, 06, 45-70, 30-30, and try to take them all out at least once during hunting season. All of them kill deer very good.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Um I didn't bash him. Bashing would have been name calling or somethign of that nature.

Or I could have gotten nasty and told him that even a chimp could have searched the forum for the dozen or so topics exactly like this that have come before; usually spanning at least six pages, throughly discussing the ins and outs of both cartridges.

But I didn't.......;)

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I'd go with the .308. Cheaper to plink with and you can shoot more powerful cartridges if you wanted to. Also the .308 is very accurate and proven.

Tom

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Maybe bashing wasn't the correct term. Just plain rude. Your a wealth of information and you've proven that over and over. I just need to learnto overlook your demeanor.;):)

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

Colorado, give it up, I second your opinion and totally agree with you. But sooner or later, you will learn he likes this sort of thing. Your wasting your time and giving some kid some grins.

RE: 7mm-08 or .308
 

I shoot the 7 mm mag myself but was looking for a new rifle for one of my sons. I took some advice on the 7-08 from this forum, bought him one and now I think I might get another one for myself. Have been loading 140 gr. Sierra BT and have been getting great groups. I have the gun sighted in at 100 yards but I'm sure that 200 will be no problem. Sure does have a lot less recoil than my 7 mm mag. I also have a .308 which I enjoy shooting also but I would have to give the nod to the 7-08.