Which would you prefer? Kimber 308 or Weatherby 7mm08?

[Lavan]

I would always gravitate to the .308.

One of my PRIME considerations in ANY gun (rifle, handgun, shotgun) is
............availability of ammo.

I can vividly remember as a kid running out of 16 gauge shells during dove season. And that was in the days when 16's were the "holy grail" of dumb teenagers wanting a huntin' gun.

My son-in-law just bought a 300 Winchester Short Magnum.

I guess it's a fine gun, but I wouldn't want to be scouring small towns for a box of ammo.

I've never seen the advantage (other than in gun magazines) of cartridges that do anything a standard tried n true caliber won't handle.

.308

 

[Brian Pfleuger]

If the choice involves 7mm-08, my answer is 7mm-08.

It’s my favorite all-around cartridge and more than adequate for any animal in the lower 48.

However, the actual difference in performance is academic. Issues like availability are virtually irrelevant. I can’t recall the last time I saw a shop that didn’t have 7mm-08.

You could pick based on which gun you think is prettier, or more concrete reasons like if you have a scope base that fits one or the other, or if you load for one and not the other, or just roll dice.

In actual effect, there is no wrong choice.

 

[dgludwig]

But the Weatherby (Howa) is one of the best push feed actions out there.

Are all Weatherbys made by Howa? I know the Vanguard series rifles are (or at least were, as I note the 2017 issue of the Gun Digest reports that the Vanguard II series rifles are now made in the U.S.A.) but the one pictured looks to be a Mark V (can't tell for sure from the photo).

 

[LineStretcher]

Roy Weatherby once stated that the best round is somewhere between 6.5 and 7mm. The .308 is a pretty mild round that will shoot good distances accurately but runs out of energy pretty quick. The 7mm-08 is basically the same as a .308 but with a 7mm .284 bullet. There's slightly less recoil with the 7mm-08 and better BC's but both should be considered 250 yard ethical kill rifles. I don't own a 7mm-08 but I do have a .308 and have shot the 7mm-08. It's hard to tell the difference and my personal opinion is that the 7mm-08 is more marketing than anything else.

For me, the caliber and light weight rifle that I prefer is the .270 WSM. Converted it comes in at 7mm but .277 vs .284. BC is excellent and energy stays up there out to 400 yards easily. I happen to have a McMillan G30 Dynasty in .270 WSM which, in my head, is superior to the Weatherby and Kimber. I have owned and shot both and if you're looking for a status symbol at the campfire, very few know what a pre strategic arms McMillan is. The Kimber's are better known now but if you show up with a Weatherby you are looked upon as a great hunter. The hard part is living up to the reputation your rifle has.