DaveC

I own both and on my most recent purchase I went with another .308, merely to keep my ammo supplies simpler.
I can find .308 ammo just about anywhere as to where if I see a box of 7mm-08 on the shelf I'm surprised.

dkhamner

I bought the 7-08 last year and have had great success/results. My next purchase will be the .308 because I want both.

So if I were going to talk someone into a new rifle I would argue the .308 to be the better choice. More bullet weights, cheaper ammo, bigger variety of factory loads, just about available at any store that sales ammo.

Which ever one you pick, you wont be disappointed, both are excellent rounds.

thndrchiken

Flip a coin, both will do the job.

Bernie P.

Both are excellent but the 7mm has better ballistics.

Ruger-Redhawk

Both are excellent rounds.I assume you want it for varmints and deer size game. If it was me I'd go with the 7mm08.It's a great deer round and we've laid many a deer low using a 7mm08.They usually drop in their tracks if you do your part.
We use Federal Vita Shok. I believe it's 142 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Switchback_XT

So many cal. will kill a deer dead in its tracks no one can say which is right for you with the info posted.
We need more info. Like what ranges do you normally see deer at? see 300 yards much?

Just in case you all didn't know the 7mm-08 is based off of the .308 case, its just been necked down to accept a 7mm bullet. because of that the 7mm will shoot farther out with a flatter trajectory. Thin bullets mean better drag coefficient which means flatter trajectory's but fat/short bullets will transfer their energy better. I.E. they kill better.
The .338 Federal is also based on the .308 win. but they went the other way. If I have a spot to hunt that didn't ever see ranges over 200 yards I would take the .338 Federal because its fatter bullet will do more damage than a thinner bullet of the same design and weight and we don't have to worry about long range shots so its perfect there.

All three could be used out to 300 yards and kill deer reliably, you will have to be more precise in your hold over with .338 where as 7mm08 will be a laser. Take your pick all three are deer slayers.

Worc

You're pretty much splitting hairs ballistically speaking. The 7-08 has a little less recoil and the .308 is easier to find ammo.

Here's the flattest factory rounds for each from my ballistic calculator.

turkey guide

I like the 308. for ease of finding ammo. Especially all the cheap military surplus you can get.

zrexpilot

I like the 7-08 only because I handload. 7-08 ammo is not easy to find and they dont offer a lot of different loads.
the 7-08 can push a 120 gr bt to over 3200 fps, that puts it with 270 and 25-06 trajectories, actually slightly better.
The 120 is good for whitetails and find then to perform better than 140 gr pills.
The 140's seem pencil in and out.
My buddy took a hog this morning with my 7-08 using the 120 gr bt,pushed at 3200 fps, he hit him in the jaw and exiting behind the jaw and below the ear. Not a perfect shot but it dropped him on the spot hitting the juggler. Its the first time I have expierenced hydraulic shock because when we opened his cavity up it poured out blood, I am assuming the hydraulic shock ruptured major arteries in the cavity, i.e. maybe the aorta.

ACutting

I'd recommend the 308 only because some states do have a 30 caliber or larger restriction for hunting big game species. If you don't plan on hunting in those areas though the 7mm-08 is a great round little difficult to find ammo for though.