308 win or 7mm mag rem

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blacksky

New member
Same rifle, which caliber for hunting all North American big game?
Elk etc :)

308 will have 22" SS barrel 10 to 1 twist

7mm Mag wil have 24" barrel 9.5 to 1 twist
 
7mm Rem Mag

I have a Remington 700 in 7Mag and I love It. Always a one shot kill. It kicks more and is more expensive than the .308, but I'd go with the 7Mag.
 
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While I think the .308 would probably do the job, I thing the 7mm would do it much better. Now if the question had been 30-06 or 7mm Mag, I would have to think it over.
 
I have both cartridges and prefer the 7mm rem mag for Elk.I also hunt some very long crop fields for Deer the 7mm rem mag really shines at 500 yds on game!
 
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While the 308 is a fine round the 7 mag is the better all around big game gun. Better SD, better BC, and better velocities mean it'll deliver as much or more down range energy than the 308.
 
7mm Mag is the better all around.

308 is a great cartridge, would make do if I had it, but getting new, then 7mm.

We take Alaska moose with it just fine, would use it on a bear (brown/griz) if I had to.

Great sheep gun as well.

Probably the only big game not prime in NA for it are Brown bear. Not sure what the guides would say but if backed up I would not have a problem using it on one (we are talking a surprise shot).
 
There only about a 300-400 fps speed difference, if you are shooting past 250 yards the 7mm is going to shine because it has a way better BC.

.308 I can buy cheap ammo for $10 per box. 7mm costs about $25 per box and up.

I own both and they both blow right through deer and hogs.
 
The infamous flinch factor will no doubt raise it's ugly head

I can get the same Savage rifle in 4 different calibers for the same price. 308 - 7MM Mag - 30.06 - 300 Win Mag.

This will be my go to hunting game gun.

The responses so far are all logical except for one which I won't name!

I'm leaning towards the 06 but I have been working on long range distance.

As of this weeks range visit I'm out to 600 yards with consistant hits in the kill zone using a .223.

The infamous flinch factor will no doubt raise it's ugly head when I move up into the 30-06 and magnum calibers.
 
.308 is my pick, even if you reload, so long as shots are under 300yds. A nice 165gr or 180gr load will kill nearly everything on the continent with good bullet placement.
For my preference, I enjoy less recoil, longer barrel life, lighter/shorter rifles (in general), lower brass costs due to longer brass life, less powder burned per shot,etc.

I reload both, and the 7mmRM is a thirsty beast for powder. It stinks not even getting 100rds out of a pound of powder. Belted magnum case stretching makes for a short case life.
That said, a 7mmRem Mag with a good 175gr boattail is powerful long range medicine . As an eastern guy, I seldom find a need for it though.
 
blacksky said:
I can get the same Savage rifle in 4 different calibers for the same price. 308 - 7MM Mag - 30.06 - 300 Win Mag.
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Either the .308 or the .30-06. Take the money that you would save on ammo to shoot more & become more accurate with the rifle. The 7mm & .300WM waste a lot of meat on the smaller game. You don't NEED a magnum to take elk (people do bow hunt them), I've killed them from 500-650yrds with a .308 and never had a concern shooting them from that distance with it.
 
Peetza, really the 7mm rem mag even if you don't reload, because there's some great factory stuff,,,,, I'm talking using just the one caliber for all species. :) also mikerussell, my 7mm rem does'nt eat meat so waste hasn't been an issue yet!!!!:p
 
hooligan1 said:
Peetza, really the 7mm rem mag even if you don't reload, because there's some great factory stuff,,,,, I'm talking using just the one caliber for all species. also mikerussell, my 7mm rem does'nt eat meat so waste hasn't been an issue yet!!!!
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Oh, I'm sure there's great factory ammo available, I was thinking purely in cost terms.

I didn't do a great amount of research but a quick glance told me that 7mm Mag ammo runs about $1/round on the low end and .308 runs about 44 cents. Probably both can be had cheaper.

If performance and potential are the main factors, I'd take the 7mm every day and twice on Sunday.

If I reload, the cost equation is much closer. I'm sure the 7mm would still be more... more powder, more expensive bullets, probably, but close enough to make it a non-issue for me.
 
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