7-08 or 308

I said it on a previous thread and admitted that I am maybe just easily pleased, but if I was handed a 308, 7-08, 260, 6.5x55, 6.5x47 (in short actions) or a 270, 30-06, 25-06 (in long actions) and was told I could only use one of them for the rest of my life, in my choice of rifle I genuinely would not care. I have at some point owned and stalked with 5 of these mentioned plus some others including the 243. Just deviating ever so slightly from the theme, the point is with any cartridge from say 6.5 up to 30cal in popular stalking chamberings, I think the terminal effect on deer for stalking is way beyond what would be seen as a minimal performance, providing suitable bullets and weights are used. Realistically with common bullet weights none of these chamberings require any adjustment out to 200yds assuming between 1" and 2" hight at 100yds and even pushing it to 300 will all drop somewhere between say 7 and 12 inches. I don't have a table with me so happy to be corrected on those figures. The point being for stalking the argument is almost academic. On targets beyond normal stalking distances then There may be an advantage but that is something I know very little about. Since the use of sound moderators recoil is no longer an issue in lightweight rifles and even the once thought of as hard kicking calibres are now a joy to use.

That is why I said earlier that nowadays I may just plump for the 7-08 to try something different, but I have no argument beyond that as to why. I have been through the fastest, flatter, higher BC and so on phase in my life and now feel that it is almost irrelevent for stalking deer at stalking distances.

Powder
20"
21"
22"
23"
24"
25"
26"
27"
28"
29"
30"
31"
32"
44.5gr Varget (ADI 2208)
2592
2620
2646
2671
2694
2716
2736
2756
2775
2792
2809
2825
2841
44.5gr IMR 4064
2628
2656
2681
2705
2728
2749
2770
2789
2807
2824
2841
2857
2872

Above table is off the 6mmBR website and was compiled using a 168grn bullet. Gives an idea of the (small) benefit per inch of barrel length. Couldn't find one for the 7mm though. Between 20'' and 24'' which I would consider the 'norm' for a stalking rifle a grand total of 100FPS of a difference.

Just to clarify what I said about using any one of these chamberings. I would be happy providing it was built on a BAT or Stolle action... ;)
 
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I played about last night on a balistics calculater using 120grm for the 7mm and 125 grn for the 308. The speed I popped in was 2800 fps (I know it was plucked from the air) and was surprised the 308 was marginally the better round..

This thread was posted out of curiosity as Ive never used the 7-08 but have owned a 308, and just handled a remington model 7 which was a lovely little rifle. Thats hiw I got the calibres and 30" barrel from.



Nutty
 
Below is a target I shot at 100yds last year when I was 78.
HWH.
P1070007.jpg

Hi Stag we now see why you were County CHAMPION marksman in your younger days. Excellent shooting.

Kind regards Jimbo
 
It would depend, for me, on the length of the magazine well AND if you were reloading or using factory ammunition. If you could seat the bullet out to maximum overall length (or more out) and it would safely feed and chamber I'd probably choose, for your very limited scenario 7mm-08.

Why? Beacuse of he improved ballistic properties IN REAL TERMS that 7mm offers over 308 as the distance stretches. And a 140 grain 7mm bullet is not at all a bad cartridge. A modernised 7x57 in fact! Or 270 Winchester substitute. If I handloaded I would also choose the 7mm-08 as it would give access to all those "exotic" continental 7mm bullets.

IMHO 30 calibre is best in 30-06 and second best in 308 where head ruling heart the 7mm-08 is a better performer. OTH you then rule out the great advantage of the 308 in that it is an "everyman's" calibre and so both ammunition (and rifle) will be competitively priced.

+1 for the 30-06.

Jimbo
 
well for me as no really exp stalking or deer shooting in general I would ahve to go for 7mm-08 mainly because I would also want ot shoot at my local club and the Range is restricted so your not allowed to use 7.62 x 51mm Nato / .308" (only that exact calibre :rolleyes: )
 
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I like what Elrigs saying.....love those Sako 123 grainers......7 08's a great round though, has taken NZ by storm, i could never tell the difference between them thats for sure.......
 
I've just gone for a 7-08 - reason being I wanted something that chucked 150gn slugs as well as my .243 chucks 100gn slugs.

Not much different than the 308 but legal in France. Also less felt recoil than the 308.

Ammo isn't as easy as the 308 but if we all took that approach there would only be one calibre! ;)
 
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