308 or 7mm-08 for mule deer?

[fmuguira]

Of the two you re asking about, 7-08.

 

[Hunter84]

I regularly hunt whitetail with a 7mm-08. It is a well balanced cartridge, but I would recommend 308 for mule deer. You can get similar ballistics with a heavier bullet (compared to 7mm-08) or use a slightly lighter bullet for better long range ballistics.

 

[blacktail 8541]

I have both 7-08 and 308 platform rifles. My 7-08 has a 23 in barrel and the 308 a 22 in.
For the ranges you are stating, My choice would be the 7-08 with a 150 grain + bullet.

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

7-08. Will Get er done.

 

[blacktail 8541]

Having stated above, depending on what ammo is available to you, the 308 with a 160 class bullet is no slouch. If you are willing to hand load, get witch ever you find in the rifle you like the best.

 

[zb338]

Your .270 would be a great cartridge for Mule Deer. There wouldn't be a heck of
a lot of difference between the 7mm/08 and the .308.

Zeke

 

[villagelightsmith]

There's nothing wrong with that old 270 caliber.

 

[rifleman26]

I am looking to buy either a 308 or 7mm-08 as a mule deer hunting rifle. The typical hunting ranges i encounter out west here are between 200-600 yards. Ive got a 300wm I use for elk and other large game and an old 270, but I am wanting something new dedicated for mule deer. My main concerns are ammo price and availability and I am also looking mainly at Bergara, Weatherby and Browning.

300 wm is a great mule deer gun too
but if your just wanting another gun I get it

 

[Jzslade762]

My kids and I hunt both the .308 and 7mm-08, the 7mm-08 is an awesome shooter, hits hard and a little bit more accurate, but the 308 with the same bullet has better expansion and seams to put em down better.

 

[bigmo58]

You can't go wrong with either caliber for mule deer. I personally favor the 7mm-08 because it is a little bit faster and flatter shooting. You have some higher b.c. Bullet options for it but I have found the 139 grain hornady superformance ammunition to do the trick on about anything.

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

the 284W seams to be making a comeback on It's own not just it's wildcats. I am guessing more and more ammo makers will be making good loaded ammo for it in the future.

Does anyone know of a currently mass-produced factory firearm in the caliber?

 

[nicholasjohn]

They are selling the 150 eldx bullet as a component now.

I have used this bullet recently, in factory-loaded 280 ammo. Shot a couple of nice bucks with it, @ 300 & 450 yards. I found both expanded bullets in the animals, and they looked just like the pictures in the magazine. Don't know what they would do if I had happened to shoot the deer at very close range, but at those distances they worked great.

 

[nicholasjohn]

That is screaming 6.5 Creedmoor to me, even though it's not on your list.

It's screaming 7-08 to me.

 

[Huntz]

I used the .308 in a Older Winchester push feed feather weight for years and had no problem killing Antelope ,Mule deer and Elk with it.I doubt that I shot any animal more then 400 yards away with it.I used Hornady 150 grain cup&core flat based bullets in it.I also like the 7MM08 and think it to be as capable as the .308 Win.Now I use Bergers in my hunting rifles.I doubt they kill any better than cup and core at moderate ranges,but sure do make tiny groups.I am sure either would do fine out to 600 yards with any good boat tail bullet available.