7mm Rem mag. or 308 win

Its came down between these two. I think their both ok for shooting elk and moose but need final thoughts before I buy one.

I used the .308 for years and liked it. I love my 7mm mag because of the ballistics. Deer die on the spot and moose don't go far at all. BL

How about the 7mm-08?

just about anything will work but shoot enough elk and moose and you will probably prefer a 30-06 (minimum, has heavier bullets than 7mm), 300 "anything" magnum or a 338 win. I've pulled .308 dia 150 gr corelokt bullet out of a cow elk (i suspect it from 308 win) just didn't have enough power to drop the elk, it actually healed up, but the 300 h&h with 180gr silver tips proved quite different. also pulled a 150 gr boattail from a cow elk brisket all healed up didn't caliper the bullet but it was either 270 or 7mm, and again the 300 proved different.

Well t;
Looks like you've narrowed it down to two really good contenders.
The one you choose will no doubt be agonizing and as it appears very well researched.
I will give you my 2-bits from a lot of personal obsevations and experiences.
The 308Winchester is a wonderful calibre capable of harvesting most every critter encountered in N. America.
It however has a few limitations such as;
A maximum range of about 300yds for adequite energy and penetration on moose or elk sized game.
It however has the advantage of being available in a short action, performs marvilously in 22" to 20" barrels, and is easy on a new shooters shoulder.
The 7mm Rem. Mag., is a proven performer being quite adequite to take elk or moose sized game to ranges of 400yds.
It however has to be housed in a long action, and fitted with a minimum barrel length of 24" to attain anything close to published factory velocities. Actually unless you reload the 7mm Rem Mag, has a tough time living up to the published specs. All that aside it has all the jam a guy needs. But it will be a bit more in the recoil department than many new shooters are willing to endure, so as to become as practiced and proficent as they should.

What ever you choose, I know it will be the right choice for you. Just make sure you practice enough to gain the skills to make the first shot count.
Good luck

I've pulled .308 dia 150 gr corelokt bullet out of a cow elk (i suspect it from 308 win) just didn't have enough power to drop the elk, it actually healed up,

First off, how in gods name did you come to the conclusion that it was from a .308 Win? It was .308 calibre, and thats about all that you'd be able to tell...

Secondly, a .308 Win has all the power to kill elk and moose and bears.........shot placement is the key.

it was a 30-06 150 gr core lokt :rollin
a guy we hunted with shot a cow the year before out of the same herd with a 308 win 150 gr core lokt at 300 yards, this elk did not go down and there was very little blood. The bullet we found was deformed only on the side from striking a rib, didn't even mushroom, who knows we only suspected it was the same cow, we could have stuck it down the barrel but did not, still have the bullet but the gun is long gone.

At close range the 308 win in my opinion is fine for elk but I would not even consider the 308 win for long open country shots, i've seen enough elk and moose shot with everything from 270 win to 338 win to know that hitting power does play a major factor in knocking down big animals.

well as for 7mm or 308, it would be 7mm hands down, no questions asked, even 7mm to 30-06 all your ballistics are a touch better for the 7mm. just my opinion though.
hill

t
Have you chosen a particular rifle and now are just trying to deside on a cartridge?

Sometimes I fall for a rifle and then pic a cartridge it is chambered in, sometimes I am looking for a cartridge and then select a rifle it comes in.

Have you shot a 7mm mag and a .308 to see how you like the BOOM!???

Robin

7MM I LOVE IT, far better ballistics that 308

I could of been from any 30 cal rifle. Maybe it was a 300 rum that a guy thought he could shoot from 700yds.

Just because a 7mm mag. shoots faster and flatter than a .308 does not mean that a hunter will enjoy hunting with one or do better with one.

Robin

My personal choice over the two of them is the 7mm-08 any day of the week......

7mm Mag....I anchor bears with it.
Jim

To this day, when I'm bush hunting, my .308 is the weapon of choice. In 98% of the instances your shot will be well within 100 yards. Hunting farm country or open spaces however, the game changes.

Get both is my suggestion.

having owned or shot neither, i would probly go with 7 mag..
personally i prefer a lighter bullet travelling fast to gain energy rather than a heavy bullet going slower. the increase of velocity also compliments a flatter trajectory, therefore decreasing mistakes from yardage or line-of-sight errors...at 100-200 yards it isnt important in most calibers but, this is important when dealing with mid-range (200-300yard) type shots.
300, 400, 500 and longer shots in a hunting situation, is a different discussion altogether...
if you want to crank 500 rounds a year into paper, and 5 shots in season, id go with the 308.
if you shoot a 100 times at targets and 5 times per season, the 7 would be acceptable.
recoil is not an issue in a hunting situation, because you never feel it anyways. hope i can help.

Just because a 7mm mag. shoots faster and flatter than a .308 does not mean that a hunter will enjoy hunting with one or do better with one.

Out to 300 yards any ballistic advantage that one high speed modern cartridge has over another is basically a moot point anyway.

Inside of 300 yards virtually every legal modern cartridge is adequately effective for North American big game.

Pick the one that strikes your fancy - unless you have designs on being a 400+ yard big game shooter. Then neither of these cartridges are really in the radar.

But 2 of over 40 rifles in my gun cabinet, I say buy both of them, hell save time and pick up a couple of other calibers while you're at the store!
:rollin

well said shooter47

First off, how in gods name did you come to the conclusion that it was from a .308 Win? It was .308 calibre, and thats about all that you'd be able to tell...

Rackmastr, I didn't know there WAS another .308 other than the .308 Winchester.... sorta like the 30-06 Springfield or the 280 Remington. Is there another .308 caliber other than the .308 Winchester?

Okotoks, all 30 calibre rifle cartridges shoot a .308 diameter bullet, except the .303 British which shoots a .311 diameter bullet. Whatever the nomenclature may be, if it is a 30 calibre rifle it will fire a .308 dia. bullet.

Ahhhhh thank you. As a primarily shotgunning sort of guy relatively new to centerfires, I did not know that. Confusing nomenclature!