Help needed, 7mm-08 or 308

[7Miller]

So I am adding a variation to the FAC after recently selling my 243. A couple of mates have 7mm-08 and rate them highly. They home load (one makes the bullets for both of them) running 120g bullets.
The rifle will be for deer and fox but the occasional Wild Boar of and when permission comes up.

I was set to get the 7mm-08. But after watching a ton of things on YouTube (where are all the British videos on this calibre BTW?), and there seems very, very little between them. The main concern I have is buying factory ammunition as the general consensus seems to claim 7mm-08 are hard to come by in the UK, but the 308 is far easier.
So now it's left me wondering if a 7mm-08 is the right one for me and if I'll regret it later on.
Accuracy is everything to me and I expect to shoot clover leaf groups at 100y.

So, for Fox, Deer and maybe boar, which would I go for???
Generally never shoot over 200y but will take a fox at 300 if I've had to, (this was with the 243).

 

[cjm1066]

You have answered your own question, a.mo availability answers the question.

 

[hw101]

I’ve got 2 x 7/08 rifles - it’s a good cartridge. The .308 is also a good cartridge and very easy to come by.
My advice is to pick the rifle you like that you can feed. For your application the cartridge won’t make any difference.

 

[andyk]

Do you reload? If not,I think you’d be mad not to go 308.

Have to say I’ve always liked the look of the 7-08, figuring that the bullet weight best served by the 308 case is a bit light for the 308.

If you were going to stick to the limited factory you can get, then it would be worth looking at the ballistics of it. While the 7-08 does have a ballistic advantage, you may find you can’t get that with limited factory ammo, e.g. because the few available loads are underpowered or use poor bc bullets.

Also, if your sticking within 300, that’s not really far enough to see a benefit from slightly better ballistics.

 

[Fabnosh]

I have both and I reload both so availability isn’t an issue. Both cloverleaf at 100 and I love them equally.

The 7-08 is a lovely balance of shooting comfort and knock down power and is a fine rifle. As mentioned previously though, factory ammo availability in the UK and Europe generally is not good.

My .308 is great as well but……it’s a ‘universal’ calibre and, as such, ammo is available almost anywhere on the planet.

I’ll only ever travel with my .308 for that reason so if my polished and shiny reloads don’t get on the plane I can buy ammo locally and just re-zero.

Nothing worse than arriving in Johannesburg and finding your 7-08’s are still in London (as has happened).

So where is this all going? If you’re reloading and shooting in the UK then I’d go 7-08. If however you are considering any adventures overseas, I’d go .308

Hope that helps.

FN

 

[7Miller]

R

Do you reload? If not,I think you’d be mad not to go 308.

Have to say I’ve always liked the look of the 7-08, figuring that the bullet weight best served by the 308 case is a bit light for the 308.

If you were going to stick to the limited factory you can get, then it would be worth looking at the ballistics of it. While the 7-08 does have a ballistic advantage, you may find you can’t get that with limited factory ammo, e.g. because the few available loads are underpowered or use poor bc bullets.

Also, if your sticking within 300, that’s not really far enough to see a benefit from slightly better ballistics.

I used to reload years ago, (no longer own the kit), and it is something I may get back in to but this will be a year or two down the line

 

[sauer]

If you don't reload ... .308

If you reload ....up to you

Paul

 

[HonestJohn]

7-08 far better than .308; however, only if you reload due to ammo choices and availability in general

 

[Kalahari]

7 x 57!

David.

 

[ukhunter2017]

I have both 308 and 7-08 in Sako 75's and prefer the 7-08, being more pleasant to shoot, and I'm advised (but haven't yet tested) that it has better long range performance. I don't reload, and with 7-08 not being regularly stocked in gunsmiths, I'm somewhat reluctantly considering moving to 6.5 Creed.... (head down in trench, awaiting incoming...!)

 

[HonestJohn]

7 x 57!

David.

Definitely the better of the two, but should have a 22-24” barrel so cannot be as short handling with a mod as the others. I’d pick the 7mm Mauser any day, but now non-toxic is taking over, the benefit of the good old Mauser being able to run 163g downwards is sort of gone in that most will run 129-130g bullets - which can be done efficiently with other shorter cartridges. Same story with 30-06 really, and 6.5x55 that used to be able to run 156g

 

[Muntybuck5803]

I have both, and love both. But if I were after only one and didn’t home load, I’d go .308.

I’m loading my 7-08 with the high BC 7mm bullets but factory ammo is like rocking horse poop. 308 gets my vote.

 

[7Miller]

I have both 308 and 7-08 in Sako 75's and prefer the 7-08, being more pleasant to shoot, and I'm advised (but haven't yet tested) that it has better long range performance. I don't reload, and with 7-08 not being regularly stocked in gunsmiths, I'm somewhat reluctantly considering moving to 6.5 Creed.... (head down in trench, awaiting incoming...!)

Also been torn with the 6.5 creedmoor too! Plenty of factory ammo around for that too!

 

[7Miller]

I think I'm going to have to go down the home load route for the main reason of consistent accuracy. So if that's what I will be doing then it looks like the 7mm-08 will be the one I'll go for.... Unless the 6.5 CM.....

 

[HonestJohn]

I think I'm going to have to go down the home load route for the main reason of consistent accuracy. So if that's what I will be doing then it looks like the 7mm-08 will be the one I'll go for.... Unless the 6.5 CM.....

there’s nothing in it, pick based on rifle availability in one that meets your requirements, budget, handling, trigger, feeding, ejection, overall quality and known accuracy expectations.

 

[TringSaint]

As an aside, the comment re shooting clover leaf groups at 100m is interesting, as this thread is all about the cartridge.
Not the load, bullet weight, rifle, barrel length or twist rate, but the cartridge.

Given that there are so many variables at play here, surely it’s a correct statement to say that any small to mid calibre hunting / target cartridge should be capable of clover leaf groups?

I guess it’s a bit like asking if a Porsche is faster than a Ferrari, without knowing which model it is, what it’s being driven on and by whom!

Sorry if this is a bit pedantic!!

 

[7Miller]

there’s nothing in it, pick based on rifle availability in one that meets your requirements, budget, handling, trigger, feeding, ejection, overall quality and known accuracy expectations.

Likely going down the custom build route, hopefully.

 

[7Miller]

As an aside, the comment re shooting clover leaf groups at 100m is interesting, as this thread is all about the cartridge.
Not the load, bullet weight, rifle, barrel length or twist rate, but the cartridge.

Given that there are so many variables at play here, surely it’s a correct statement to say that any small to mid calibre hunting / target cartridge should be capable of clover leaf groups?

I guess it’s a bit like asking if a Porsche is faster than a Ferrari, without knowing which model it is, what it’s being driven on and by whom!

Sorry if this is a bit pedantic!!

Totally agree. I added the comment about a clover leaf group as that was what I got from the 243 and what I'd want from the next rifle too. Which is why I will be going down the home load route with the chosen calibre.

 

[HonestJohn]

Likely going down the custom build route, hopefully.

Why not 7mm PRC then?

 

[7Miller]

Why not 7mm PRC then?

Been looking at them online today! A lot more powder BUT does bop on fairish