Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

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Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by roob » 07 Oct 2013, 2:07 pm

I've got a 22-250 at the moment and am looking to add a larger hunting caliber to my gun safe.

I had in mind that I'd get a .308, but the guy at my local talked up 7mm-08 quite a bit as his favorite caliber.

I've done a bit of research since and get that it can hit with a little more energy and accuracy with less recoil because of better ballistics on the bullets, and and all that... In the real world though, will I actually notice any of this as a regular shooter?

I'm not going to be chronographing shots or doing anything technical trying to get good numbers on paper. I just want a good hunting round.

The guy did warn me that ammo for the 7mm-08 can be a bit scarce, so unless the benefits are real I'll give it a miss.

Thanks.
7mm-08 Tikka T3 Varmint and a .22-250 Tikka T3 Varmint
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Re: Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by Herdsman » 07 Oct 2013, 7:04 pm

If you're shooting the same weight bullet weight you could load the 7mm-08 a little lighter for a little less recoil, and impact on your target would be the same.

It wouldn't be a massive difference though.
Shepherding bullets down range.

Tikka Hunter Stainless Fluted 300 Win Mag
Tikka Battue Lite .308 Win
Tikka Varmint Stainless .222 Rem
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Re: Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by Herdsman » 07 Oct 2013, 7:06 pm

Er, when I say impact on target, I'm was talking about hunting...

I meant to say that the 7mm-08 bullet will have the same amount of energy/"killing power" when it hits the target at distance than a slightly hotter .308 load.

Not important if you're shooting paper obviously...
Shepherding bullets down range.

Tikka Hunter Stainless Fluted 300 Win Mag
Tikka Battue Lite .308 Win
Tikka Varmint Stainless .222 Rem
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Re: Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by RealNick » 07 Oct 2013, 7:12 pm

For hunting either will put the same game down just as well.

If you're happy to hunt for ammo in exchange for a fraction less recoil, fair enough.

Otherwise .308 most common cartridge around, and you'd always have ammo available.
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Re: Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by Lorgar » 07 Oct 2013, 7:38 pm

I'm pretty sure 7mm-08 was developed for silhouette shooting where you needed a certain amount of energy at the distance to knock the target over.

Shooting the same powder load and weight bullet in a 7mm-08 it could knock over a target which a .308 might not because the lower B/C of the .308 had the bullet going slower and with less energy by the time it was that far down range.

That's a highly specific situation obviously though. Not a problem you're going to encounter in your daily routine :lol:

I had the same dilemma when I bought my last rifle. Ended up going .308 Win instead because of the availability of ammo.
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Re: Real world advantages of 7mm-08 over .308?

Post by roob » 23 Dec 2013, 2:01 pm

Late reply, but excited to share :D

Ended up going with the 7mm-08 over the .308 and got a new Tikka.

Now the 22-250 has a big brother :D
7mm-08 Tikka T3 Varmint and a .22-250 Tikka T3 Varmint
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