Been looking at ballistics and rifles out there and would be interested to know what you folks think about the 7-08. Of course 308 has more power and more varieties of ammo loaded for it. But folks still buy 7mm-08. I wondered myself, but wouldn't mind knowing if anyone has it and likes it and how they'd compare it to 308.
How does muzzle blast and recoil compare? Accuracy in regular shooting and reloading? With my elsewhere mentioned experience with the 270 Win vs 30-06, I'm taking a critical look at the full power sub-30 cal rounds. I'm someone who would rather have recoil than muzzle blast, and would rather pay less for the likes of 308 than pay through the nose for sub-caliber zippers like 25-06. But last I saw the 7mm-08 wasn't so bad in any regard.
A number of cartridges have different optimal performance levels, ie the 30-06 excells over the 308 with the heaviest bullets, while they might as well be the same in the 150gr range, hence the switch by our military. Same way the X39 only compares to 30-30 with the lighter bullets. How does the 7-08 compare to the other 7mms in that way, ie the 284, 280, and 7x57mm Mauser? Remington factory specs put it behind the 280 and significantly ahead of the 7x57mm.
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I've got a couple of .308s, but if I where to go out and buy another rifle today it would probably be a 7mm-08. It basically duplicates the statistics of the 7x57 mauser.
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I have read that the 7mm 08 is incredibley flat shooting. I see first hand a limited ( seemingly ) range of projectiles available compared to .308 win. I have owned 2 .308`s but I desire to own a 7mm 08 with some intensity, apart from the reported flat shooting a less recoil than the .308 I can give no other valid reason.. I just want one..
I'm on a string of one shot kills with mine. Nosler ballistic tip 120gr, with 2208 ADI powder doing just over 3000fps. Suits me cause I can use 08 brass and there's anywhere enough projectiles around for 7mm. And because I just like it! A little bit different but not a wild-cat. I had a 308 Ruger and didn't really 'like' the calibre.
Stephen
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Another kiwi bumming around Aussie (west island) welding shit up....
7mm/08 and the .243 Winchester are my two favorite cartridges.
I like the accuracy of the 7mm/08 coupled with the acceptable level of recoil and muzzle blast. You can shoot the cartridge enough to get really good with it. I have seen a number of people ( a lot of them, actually ) purchase magnum rifles they cannot handle.
I feel it is better to have an accurate hunting cartridge that is excellent on deer even at longer ranges.
id say take your pick, you cant go wrong with either.
when useing factory ammo to compare the virtues of a cartriges, i always go to hornadys sight, and compare light mag ammo, and in this case the .308 does have the energy advantage at 300 yards.
7mm-08 is a .308 necked down to .284. 7mm-08 works best with lighter bullets in the 125 gr. to 150 gr. range, as compared to the 308 which prefers 150 gr to 180 gr. it's not that the 7mm-08 is flatter shooting, it just has better BC numbers on the projectiles due to it's smaller diameter. hard to compare them on ballistic tables tho because of no equal bullet weights that I can find. but, by the BC numbers the 7mm-08 should have the advantage if all other things are equal.
