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

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.

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.

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.

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...

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 !!

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...

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

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

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.