help me Choose: 7mm or .308

J

jtice

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Dec 17, 2009
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#1
I want to build a precision long range rifle for my next firearm.
its main purpose will be just having fun, shooting long range targets, but I also want to be able to hunt deer with it also.
The target shooting will rarely go over 500 yards, most will be around 200 yards.
but, I want the ability to reach out around 700+ on occasion.

I thought I had my mind made up, with a Remington 700 .308 20" heavy barrel SPS Tactical.
But I keep hearing alot about the 7mm and how its better for hunting, and stays flat better?

I also think there is a 7mm and a 7mm-08 ?

What would be the main differences between the two?
In what situations is each best?
Do they make 20" to 22" barrels for the 7mm?
How do the ammo prices and availability compare?

Thanks
~John
 
#2
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

The 7-08 is going to require a custom barrel. Savage does not make a heavy in 7-08. Ammo cost are about the same for facory rounds, but I think you find more choices in the 308.
The 7-08 and the 308 are like comparing the 30-06 and 270.

I would go with the 308.

Pop
 
#4
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

I don't think you will find a 7mm mag in a 20" or 22" barrel from the factory. You might be able to have one rebarreled but I think they need longer barrels. I may be wrong though. My 7 mm mag is a 26" barrel.
 
#5
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onemoretime</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For what you want to do, go with the .308. More ammo choices and more flexibility.</div></div>

+1 on what he said!
 
#6
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

Thanks alot for the info guys, keep it coming
smile.gif


I couldnt find anything that specifically said the 7mm needed a longer barrel, but i was assuming that.
The fact that the .308 seems to perform just fine with a 20" barrel is a big plus to me.
I want the gun easy to handle.

~John
 
#7
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

I would buy the rifle in 308.

Try 168g and 175g match ammunition from good sources. Skip the FMJ crap as it typically shoots horrible and will prevent you from testing and growing in skill.

You should get into reloading as soon as the need to shoot over rides the cost of factory ammo. I would load 155g bullets to optimize the 308 wind and trajectory while maintaining great accuracy.

When you finally wear out that 308 barrel (over 4,000 rounds usually) - you will "get" to look at all sorts of cartriges with their multitude of benefits (wind, recoil reduction, trajectory, etc.) and costs ($$, barrel life, etc).

Mike
 
#9
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CFS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 7-08 is going to require a custom barrel. Savage does not make a heavy in 7-08. Ammo cost are about the same for facory rounds, but I think you find more choices in the 308.
The 7-08 and the 308 are like comparing the 30-06 and 270.

I would go with the 308.

Pop </div></div>

No custom bbl needed. Remington make their SPS heavy varmint in 7mm-08 with a 1/9' twist. search the net and you can find them for under $500. I think the bbl is 24". Easy to cut to fitfor $40.
 
#10
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

If you are going to reload, the 7mm-08 is your answer.
Superior ballistics, less recoil and works very well out of short barrels.
Remington has sold a metric butt-ton of model 7's in 7-08 with an 18" barrel.

There are several rounds in 7mm available.
7-08, 7mm mauser, 7 WSM, 280 rem, 7 RM and then the exotics.

I happen to be a huge fan of the 7x57 mauser, one of the original, modern military cartridges. It pre-dates the 30'06 by a considerable margin and was actually the reason the 30'06 came into being. It is still going strong after 120+ years.

There is a VAST assortment of very good bullets available for the 7mm. However, the exact same thing can be said about the .308.

If you think that you are going to be buying match ammo for the time being, your answer is the .308.

They are BOTH great cartridges.

I would choose the 7mm, but that is me. I am a big fan of the .284 bullets.

Many long range competitors are going to the 7 with VLD bullets, one look at the ballistic coefficients convinces many.

You can shoot a lighter bullet in the 7mm and equal the ballistics of a heavier bullet in the .308, resulting in less recoil and higher velocities. The higher velocities translate into less time in flight. Of two bullets with the same BC, the one that arrives faster drifts less in the wind.

It is FAR easier to find the rifle you want in .308.

BOTH calibers will do exactly what you want.

I would suggest a Savage 10 in .308, as you progress in your abilities, and if you decide to try the 7-08, you can get the equipment to change the barrel your self (around 200-250 bucks) you will only need one set of headspace gages since both are based on the .308. Buy a quality barrel in 7-08 and swap them when you want to.
 
#11
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chrisj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Remington make their SPS heavy varmint in 7mm-08 with a 1/9' twist.
</div></div>

I don't see this anywhere and they don't list it on their website.
 
#13
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would suggest a Savage 10 in .308, as you progress in your abilities, and if you decide to try the 7-08, you can get the equipment to change the barrel your self (around 200-250 bucks) you will only need one set of headspace gages since both are based on the .308. Buy a quality barrel in 7-08 and swap them when you want to. </div></div>

If I were starting over, knowing what I know now, coupled with the fact that there are real stocks available now for Salvages-that is exactly the route I would go.
I've been toying with 7-08 lately, .625 BC for the Amax's isn't too shabby.....
 
#14
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jtice</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The target shooting will rarely go over 500 yards, most will be around 200 yards.
but, I want the ability to reach out around 700+ on occasion. </div></div>

This is the perfect environment for the 308. The 7-08 really comes into its own at ranges just beyond this (700 yards). Run the numbers through a ballistics computer like JBM and you will see there isnt much gained between the two at ranges before 700.

That said, the 7-08 would make a sweet setup as long as you reload your own ammo, or buy Corbon's match load which pushes a 168 berger vld at around 2700fps.
 
#15
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

Discountgunner and Safari Shooter on GB had them but I belive they were a special run for them. They were all over on GB but now they are not running the auctions anymore....hopefully they didn't sell out before I could get my ass in gear.

My plan was to get the 7-08 Varm and chop it to 18" and swap stock and run some RL17 under 168Bergers or 175SMK.

Weight for weight the .284 bullets will fly better with the same amount of powder as compared to .308.
 
#16
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

7mm mag all the way. Head and shoulders superior ballistics (the most important thing).

Just watched a LR hunt on TV, 764 yard ram dropped in tracks. That answers all those questions.

Downsides, yes. Shorter barrel life/longer barrel, less ammo available, more kick. Other than that, superior gun.

I'm having one built in RSAUM.
 
#19
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

As long as you're right about a 700yd limit, the .308 is better; because of the ammo/bullet selection. Beyond 800yd, I favor the 7-08 because I think (and I'm guessing here), a good 7mm cruise missile/bullet should retain velocity better.

Greg
 
#21
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dontstrokeme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Discountgunner and Safari Shooter on GB had them but I belive they were a special run for them. They were all over on GB but now they are not running the auctions anymore....hopefully they didn't sell out before I could get my ass in gear.

My plan was to get the 7-08 Varm and chop it to 18" and swap stock and run some RL17 under 168Bergers or 175SMK.

Weight for weight the .284 bullets will fly better with the same amount of powder as compared to .308. </div></div>

There are a few on GB. They just don't tell you twist rate or barrel thickness.
 
#22
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dontstrokeme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Discountgunner and Safari Shooter on GB had them but I belive they were a special run for them. They were all over on GB but now they are not running the auctions anymore....hopefully they didn't sell out before I could get my ass in gear.

My plan was to get the 7-08 Varm and chop it to 18" and swap stock and run some RL17 under 168Bergers or 175SMK.

Weight for weight the .284 bullets will fly better with the same amount of powder as compared to .308. </div></div>

The 162 Amax has a better BC than the 168 Berger. I really like the 162's in my 7 SAUM, the next step for shooting heavies is the 180 class bullets, of which, the JLK bullet is the top of the heap.

The 168 Berger is not a bad bullet, it just doesn't have the BC that the 162 Amax does and they're more expensive by a fair margin.


OP- As has been the standing response, if you reload the 7-08 is going to be your medicine. 280 Rem is a 30-06 necked back to 7mm and it's got the same kind of distinct differences that the comparison from 308 to 30-06 have. Several hundred fps faster, but to really get the most out of the WSM, SAUM or anything above about 50gr of powder capacity you need a longer barrel.

The 7-08 is going to be the choice in that regard.

The 7x57 is excellent but it's not really a mainstream caliber in this country so good luck on finding match quality ammo. If you don't load it, you can't have it basically.
 
#23
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

Thanks alot for the responses here guys, its really helped.
I really dont plan on reloading, not for a long time at least.
Plus I seriously doubt I do any shooting over 700 yards.
So it seems the .308 is the way to go.

I need to do alot of research on the actual ammo to use though.
I want to have some "cheap" ammo for just fun shooting at shorter distances (100 to 200 yards)
And then a good ammo for longer distance and accuracy. (and hopefully use it for hunting also)

Are there any that come to mind that seem to be the generally liked ones?

~John
 
#24
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onemoretime</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chrisj</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Remington make their SPS heavy varmint in 7mm-08 with a 1/9' twist.
</div></div>

I don't see this anywhere and they don't list it on their website. </div></div>

www.impactguns.com and sportsmans safari in GA.. use google..you will find more.
 
#25
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onemoretime</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dontstrokeme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Discountgunner and Safari Shooter on GB had them but I belive they were a special run for them. They were all over on GB but now they are not running the auctions anymore....hopefully they didn't sell out before I could get my ass in gear.

My plan was to get the 7-08 Varm and chop it to 18" and swap stock and run some RL17 under 168Bergers or 175SMK.

Weight for weight the .284 bullets will fly better with the same amount of powder as compared to .308. </div></div>

There are a few on GB. They just don't tell you twist rate or barrel thickness. </div></div>



24" bbl with a 1/9" twist and standard varmint/PSS contour...trust me
 
#26
Re: help me Choose: 7mm or .308

the scenario you are talking about is ideal for the 308, you just about cant beat it for paper at that range and is awesome within about 450 for hunting. At least those have been my experiences, im sure it is still good further but Ive done it to 450 on whitetails with the 308
 
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