Thread: .308 or 7mm 08? Newish hunter for deer/tahr

They'll both do the job. Pretty much a "do you prefer marmite or vegemite" situation

In a light rifle like a tikka id be leaning toward the 7mm08 for a little bit less recoil for the High BC bullets
they are so much of a muchness its not funny (same case and a 7.6mm bullet vs a 7.2mm)
either is great, both are winners

I own both... my advice for what its worth get an 18" 308 and go hunting! You can't go wrong.

Get what makes you happy. Neither you or you quarry will know the difference.

either or, 7m08 will have slightly less recoil than a 308 and more than a 243.
smaller caliber = lighter bullet at higher speed hence flatter shooting but typically less energy on target.
( modern VLD bullets and fast twist barrels are upsetting this a bit now with a 243 now able to carry over 1000ftlb energy at 500 mtr but that's hand loading)

at ranges that are ethical for a new shooter 100-200 mtr, maybe 300 after some range time and you have had a few animals on the deck to reduce the buck fever, anything in the 308 family will work, from 243 to 358.

Don't start thinking about long range shooting until you have shot a few deer, 200 mtr in a field setting is often a long shoot, bad rest, uneven ground, wind, long grass all add a level of complexity not found at the range.

So that comment above about going to your local gun shop and asking them what they stock the best range of and is an A line stocking item for them could well the the deciding factor.
Even different shop of the same net work can favour different calibres. I can think or 2 about 3hr drive apart, 1 all ways has lots of 243's on the shelf the other favours 7m08.
Z

You won't by shoulder feel the difference in recoil between a 7mm08 and a .308. And at the other end the animal won't notice a difference if you park the pill in the right place...

Biggest thing for a newer shooter is becoming used to the noise of the muzzle report - on that note, I would really recommend whichever rifle/caliber you decide to go with get it supressed.

243

Shot placement matters more than a big hole blown into the rocks/dirt...

7mm08 and 308 is kinda like splitting hairs, really not much in it. If you can't decide then go for the 308 based on ammo availability. As above 243 is a cool wee round too.

I highly recommend a surpressor.

243win wouldn't be my advice to a relatively new hunter chasing Tahr.

Got any mates with either of those calibres? Have a shot through them if possible and decide which you like best. Your either a 30cal fan or a 7mm fan as they will both do what you want.

Decide on action length. Short action you have 243, 708, 308. Long action 270,280, 3006. As said 243 is great but better for lighter game under 300yds. 708 only wants to be a 308 when it grows up. But it doesn't and a 308 can do everything a 708 can but not the other way around. 708 can't push the heavy high bc bullets fast enough to take advantage of the extra bc and we aren't talking reloading anyway. A 7saum can in a short action , but you have to reload so that's out. 270 has probably more choice of ammo off the shelf than a 280. Both are great. 3006 if you feel you need to get into the heavy weight bullets and are starting to shoot at ranges that a beginner shouldn't.
I'd say most game is shot under 300yrds (under 300yds bc is irrelevant)and most of it by factory ammo in the 100-150gn weight range.
So again, acton length. Long action for the longer cartridges which generally need longer barrels to get the most out of them. Or short action with the more efficient rounds and shorter barrels.
In a tikka it makes no difference as there is only one action length. Only the barrel length changes. Due to ammo shortages, I'll stick my neck out and go 308 or 270. Both proven to medium ranges. Plenty of ammo choices, power , but lacking the glamor.

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