7mm-08 over 308 for reloading

[ARog]

Hey all,

I'm about to get a new hunting rifle and the 3 options were, 308, 7mm-08 and 6.5 CM. I was going to go with the 308 because I currently have everything I need to reload for 308. But my friend said I should look into the 7mm-08 round. Is 7mm-08 that much better? It would mainly be for deer hunting @ 100-200 yards. I don't really want to invest in a new reloading equipment but if it's that much better I might be persuaded. Any 7mm-08 shooters want to chime in?

[highpower790]

I see a theme here and that is cartridges based on the 308w case.Dont leave off the 260rem,worth a look,one that I considered,as well as the 6.5 Creedmoor.

[kcstott]

7mm08 is a little better then the 7x57 and that is the most universal 7mm around. The selection of 7mm bullets today make either a great choice.

[bazineta]

At 100 to 200 yards, any of those choices are fine. Frankly, any of them are fine at 4 times that range. I tend to go with 308 just because I'm already set up for it and it's easy to find on the shelf out in BFE if I need to buy commercial, but for your stated purpose any of them will work well, and at your stated range, there's really not much difference between them.

[JagerDog]

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/7mm-08+Remington.html

[AGGRO]

For S Cal medium game the .264 caliber is a pretty good option, if not the best.

[NapalmCheese]

Hey all,

I'm about to get a new hunting rifle and the 3 options were, 308, 7mm-08 and 6.5 CM. I was going to go with the 308 because I currently have everything I need to reload for 308. But my friend said I should look into the 7mm-08 round. Is 7mm-08 that much better? It would mainly be for deer hunting @ 100-200 yards. I don't really want to invest in a new reloading equipment but if it's that much better I might be persuaded. Any 7mm-08 shooters want to chime in?

I have no experience with 6.5 CM but I can say, between the .308 and 7mm-08 at those distances it won't matter one big. HOWEVER, you can load a 110 grain TTSX to 3200+ fps in a 7mm-08 and have a light recoiling flat shooting load with similar recoil to a .243 but a little more frontal area and mass.

[Divernhunter]

I have both the 7-08 and 308win as well as a 6.5X55 which is hand loaded to be like the 260Rem.
I like them all but I would get the 308 because you have stuff for it and sound like you do not really want to start another cartridge. For non-lead load it with 130 or 150gr TTSX bullets and you are good to go. I use the 130gr TTSX in my 308win. For lead core bullets I use 150gr Nosler Partition.
I like the 260Rem very much and loaded with 100gr TTSX it just plain works for non-lead bullets. Otherwise I like 125gr Norlse Partition, 120gr Swift A-Frame or 130gr Swift Sirocco's.
I have the 7-08 and using 110grs TTSX it is very good. Also 140gr Partitions or 120gr BT bullets.
The 6.5CM is much like the 260Rem or 6.5X55. It is a crap shoot as to the choice there. Then there is the 6.5-284 to toss into the mix.

But judging by your post I would say get the 308 and it will work just fine for anything you want to shoot except African DG.

[tonyjr]

I would go with another caliber .
The 308 is to popular and another choice is good . Remember this is coming up on 2018 . Buy reloading stuff [ power / primers / bullets / cases now .
But then I reload on a loadmaster - 2 sets of dies and a tool head = less than a 100 .
Gun wise , I like my 270 dbl and 243 better than the 30-06 , 30-30 and 308

[Dark Hunt]

At 200 yards neither you or the deer will see any difference between the two cartridges.

[MongooseV8]

If I was to buy a hunting rifle with a short action id get a Kimber Adirondack in 7mm-08 amd load it with 130 TTSX in some Lapua brass.

[Sideline Shooter]

I have used the 7mm-08 for years. I really like it. When .223/5.56 and .308/7.62.51 were scarce and costly I was at the range shooting the 7-08 all day. Why? Purchased 7mm bullets in bulk. Now you say you reload .308 Win. Do you already have a rifle in .308 or are getting a 2nd rifle?

Good to have options. But in factory ammo 7-08 is always going to be more expensive since it is less popular. Soon in California all hunting ammo will be non lead. If you can reload for the new caliber you will be ahead of the game. Buying bulk .308 brass you could always neck down to 7mm-08 and make your own brass. Same for .260 Rem. and .243 Winchester.

7mm or .30 cal are going to give you a lot of bullet choices but in non lead bullets I think the edge will be .30 cal for now.

[rm1911]

7-08 is an awesome round and really a reloaders round. You don't get the max out of that round unless you reload. I knew a couple of guys that reloaded for it and they said it was a far better round than it's daddy. And the cool thing is that brass is actually not a problem. Any 308 brass can be necked down.

7mm bullets will give you better SD and flatter shooting too. And 7mm bullets give a wide variety. 6.5 wasn't always so good until recently with the growing popularity of the credmoor. The 6.5x55 in a modern rifle might be close to perfection.

The only drawback from a round like 7-08 is that odds are wherever you are or go, you'll be the only one shooting it. And it'll not always be available. And whatever advantages you do get from it, won't be so great as to justify any difficulties.

I love my '06s. It'll do anything any other round will do. I'm never undergunned. And the variety of bullets and powders is larger than any other cartridge. 308 is similar.