308 win vs 7mm rem mag

[Brbpuppy]

Just curious; which caliber would you choose and why? I have a 2 week long hunting trip coming up for white tail, hopefully find elk, and am torn between which rifle I should bring. I prefer shooting the 308 win, and find its much lighter and more maneuverable, but at the same time I am aware of the extra power the 7mm rem mag can provide... The areas I hunt, I normally never get a shot outside 300 yards.

So under 300 yards...Is the 7mm rem mag really going to have much benefit, or not? I know at longer distances it has the obvious advantage.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks guys.

[58thecat]

The 308 seems to be what you are more leaning towards…..and if you do your part you are not under gunned!


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[graybeard]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

The 308 seems to be what you are more leaning towards…..and if you do your part you are not under gunned!


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100% agree....Out to 325 yards no problem.....

[Pathfinder76]

Ones a kids gun and ones a mans. :-)

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by chuck

Ones a kids gun and ones a mans. :-)

Lol, I'll take the kids gun for 80% of my hunting. Longer barrel cannons sure have thier place and uses but the way I hunt they are just cumbersome. Nice looking rifles by the way

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Lol, I'll take the kids gun for 80% of my hunting. Longer barrel cannons sure have thier place and uses but the way I hunt they are just cumbersome. Nice looking rifles by the way

Laughing. Yes, I agree. That little 18” Kimber 308 is some kind of handy. But I think it will get a 22” barrel come December.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Brbpuppy

Just curious; which caliber would you choose and why? I have a 2 week long hunting trip coming up for white tail, hopefully find elk, and am torn between which rifle I should bring. I prefer shooting the 308 win, and find its much lighter and more maneuverable, but at the same time I am aware of the extra power the 7mm rem mag can provide... The areas I hunt, I normally never get a shot outside 300 yards.

So under 300 yards...Is the 7mm rem mag really going to have much benefit, or not? I know at longer distances it has the obvious advantage.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks guys.

I own both. The 308 with 150 Grain bullet is every bit the equivalent of the 7mm with 150s to 300 yards. Both will spit them out at 3000 fps, so except for the slightly better B.C. of the 7MM, which helps after 500 yards, there is no effective difference in killing power. Anyone who says there is never used one or looked at the ballistics charts for them.

[Brbpuppy]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I own both. The 308 with 150 Grain bullet is every bit the equivalent of the 7mm with 150s to 300 yards. Both will spit them out at 3000 fps, so except for the slightly better B.C. of the 7MM, which helps after 500 yards, there is no effective difference in killing power. Anyone who says there is never used one or looked at the ballistics charts for them.

Nice, this is what I thought... Although I am using 180 grain, most of my shots are under 100 yards.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Brbpuppy

Nice, this is what I thought... Although I am using 180 grain, most of my shots are under 100 yards.

Even with 180 grain bullets, the 7 MM would only be about 150 fps faster and very few people actually use bullets that heavy in a 7mm. The "Magical" word Magnum has sold a lot of guns and ammo, but it is predominately marketing, at least at the ranges 95% of guys hunt at.

[catnthehat]

I prefer the smaller capacity cartridges as opposed to the bigger ones because if recoil.
The 308 size of case works perfectly for my needs, which are animals under 400 meters.
A 308 does just fine as does my .303 chambered Ruger which I run at 308 velocities .
Cat

[Dick284]

I’d go .308Win given the choices.

Belt, you don’t need no stinking belt……..

[obsessed1]

Another vote for 308. Great bullets in 150-165 range kill fantastic out to 400. Guns are generally lighter, shorter, handier....pontificating over which caliber is better between any big game cartridge over the next within " usual" hunting distances is redundant.....spoiler they ALL work just fine on deer sized game. Platform if said rifle for Said purpose makes much more difference on how enjoyable/ well the hunt goes.
Once distances increase or critter size increases caliber selection becomes a bit more important.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Dick284

I’d go .308Win given the choices.

Belt, you don’t need no stinking belt……..

Only to hold up your pants....like said earlier magnum.....meaning great....it is good but far from great but can make a lot of sales.

OP run that little 308 you might not sound cool around the campfire but look behind what’s hanging on the meat pole

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I prefer the smaller capacity cartridges as opposed to the bigger ones because if recoil.
The 308 size of case works perfectly for my needs, which are animals under 400 meters.
A 308 does just fine as does my .303 chambered Ruger which I run at 308 velocities .
Cat

My experience is totally different. To my shoulder the 7mm a milder kicking cartridge then the .308. Everyone experiences things differently. So for that reason I would go 7mm

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

My experience is totally different. To my shoulder the 7mm a milder kicking cartridge then the .308. Everyone experiences things differently. So for that reason I would go 7mm

That is a rifle issue, not a cartridge issue. The 308 does not recoil more than the 7mm Rem Mag.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Brbpuppy

Just curious; which caliber would you choose and why? I have a 2 week long hunting trip coming up for white tail, hopefully find elk, and am torn between which rifle I should bring. I prefer shooting the 308 win, and find its much lighter and more maneuverable, but at the same time I am aware of the extra power the 7mm rem mag can provide... The areas I hunt, I normally never get a shot outside 300 yards.

So under 300 yards...Is the 7mm rem mag really going to have much benefit, or not? I know at longer distances it has the obvious advantage.

Appreciate any feedback, thanks guys.

The 7 mm outperforms the 308 at range. More ft lbs,flatter and the recoil is very bearable.For Elk its a better cartridge,they are 3-4 times as big as deer and very hard to kill unless you are within the calibers capability.The 7 gives you more of what you want for Elk.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by buckman

The 7 mm outperforms the 308 at range. More ft lbs,flatter and the recoil is very bearable.For Elk its a better cartridge,they are 3-4 times as big as deer and very hard to kill unless you are within the calibers capability.The 7 gives you more of what you want for Elk.

You are incorrect. Two 150 grain bullets with a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps have exactly the same killing power, at least to 300 yards, regardless of caliber. The slightly better B.C. and S.D. of the 7mm will make zero difference to 300 yards. Deer, elk, moose or bear, the 7mm does NOT kill better under 300 yards.

[roper1]

You seem to prefer the 308, probably a bit less recoil & muzzle blast if a back up shot is required. If you think you might be tempted to "stretch the barrel", take the 7MM.

[Smoky buck]

Just because you seem to like the 308 more I say take it

Put the hole where is belongs and you will have a dead elk no matter which one you choose.

[mediumrare]

Never owned a 7mmrem mag so I’m biased .308 shooting 150 grain copper bullets does the trick for me.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Dean2

You are incorrect. Two 150 grain bullets with a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps have exactly the same killing power, at least to 300 yards, regardless of caliber. The slightly better B.C. and S.D. of the 7mm will make zero difference to 300 yards. Deer, elk, moose or bear, the 7mm does NOT kill better under 300 yards.

I won't argue with the foregoing, but a handloaded 308 has a max velocity of about 3000 fps with a 150 gr bullet, whereas handloaded the 7 RM has a max velocity of about 3250. (Numbers from my Nosler manual, both with 24" barrels). Given those velocities all advantages lie with the 7 mag. However at 300 yards or less I doubt any game animal would notice the difference.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Dean2

You are incorrect. Two 150 grain bullets with a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps have exactly the same killing power, at least to 300 yards, regardless of caliber. The slightly better B.C. and S.D. of the 7mm will make zero difference to 300 yards. Deer, elk, moose or bear, the 7mm does NOT kill better under 300 yards.

I said at range,meaning beyond 300 yds.Better to have the extra when, and if you need it rather than not. Having said that the 308 is a capable cartridge.
I can easily get 3200 in my 7mm with hand loads.

[freeride]

Originally Posted by buckman

The 7 mm outperforms the 308 at range. More ft lbs,flatter and the recoil is very bearable.For Elk its a better cartridge,they are 3-4 times as big as deer and very hard to kill unless you are within the calibers capability.The 7 gives you more of what you want for Elk.

At range yes, but as Dean said 300 and under nope.
308 at 300 and under is more then enough.
As well as cheaper, less recoil.

[fps plus]

You won’t go wrong with either one

I owe several hunting calibers but I keep catching myself grabbing my 308 ultralight that weighs 6lbs with a 6x leupold .

[360hunt]

308

I've harvested caribou, elk, moose and deer. All sub 400 meters.

Nothing wrong with 7mm remington mag but never needed it.

[Lefty]

Owned and hunted with both. I would take the one that you shoot the best. If it is a draw then I would take the lightest one if I was doing a bunch of walking.

[marlin1]

slightly less bullet drop for my 7mm than my 308 with fusions . Having said that I think the difference is negligible . I love my 7 but working on a 308 model 70 for this season . my vote is for the 7mm rem mag just because I have used it most

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by buckman

The 7 mm outperforms the 308 at range. More ft lbs,flatter and the recoil is very bearable.For Elk its a better cartridge,they are 3-4 times as big as deer and very hard to kill unless you are within the calibers capability.The 7 gives you more of what you want for Elk.

That's why I have one.

Grizz

[fordtruckin]

I had a 7mag and sold it. Was never a fan of it. My personal opinion is for the small gain in velocity and energy you pay for it in recoil, the necessity to have a longer barrel to actually benefit from the extra powder and of course the cost being a magnum. For me personally it doesn’t make it worthwhile to own one. Now I hunt only with a .308 and have not had any issues. For the animals you mentioned a .308 will be more than adequate no point beating yourself up with a magnum and carrying the longer barrel to get the same results. Of course that’s my opinion only.

[32-40win]

About the only reason I own magnum cartridges anymore are because they were really cool rifles, the cartridge was OK. Shot everything with my 7-08 that I've ever shot with a magnum cartridge. Had some better DRT's in some cases with the 7-08 and 30R as well.