Two years ago, I saw something that amazed me with a guy shooting a 7/08 in an AR10 at 1000 yards. He was shooting a hand load with Sierra 160g TMK, and he was wearing a plate out at 1000 with some decent right to left wind! I was shooting a custom 308 with 169g Sierra MK and the slight wind pick ups and let ups was tearing me up at the same distance. Goes to show you that BC is king!
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Decisions - Choosing between 7-08 or 308
- Thread starter sneedb82
- Start date
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I'm no expert , however unless you reload , have a large stockpile of components for the 7-08 & have it all dialed in, it makes more sense to go the .308 route. After the build, which will be fun no doubt, you have to feed it for a long time & there are a lot more components on the shelves these days for .308, not to mention factory loads as well. Good luck.
You are right, VinceMule
I haven't tried Leverevolution
CFE223 will launch 150's at eye popping speeds.
Ramshot Tac is great for speed and accuracy with 150's too.
That's what I settled on.
One would have a hard time getting 7-08 up to that speed with 150+ grain bullets.
I love 7's too but that .30 cal exhaust pipe blows gas out like a header on an old V8!!
Another vote for the .308 Win!
I don't own either.
That said I'd go 7/O8. Less recoil but plenty potent for deer. Push a lighter bullet fast for flatter trajectory. Should work nicely for your intended range (300/400yds). From what I've read regarding hammer bullets, probably best to push fast.
I shoot 139gr LRX out of my .280ai and 130TTSX out of my .270 win and have had great results to 300 yards. My muzzle velocity is 3125 and 3050 respectively.
That said I'd go 7/O8. Less recoil but plenty potent for deer. Push a lighter bullet fast for flatter trajectory. Should work nicely for your intended range (300/400yds). From what I've read regarding hammer bullets, probably best to push fast.
I shoot 139gr LRX out of my .280ai and 130TTSX out of my .270 win and have had great results to 300 yards. My muzzle velocity is 3125 and 3050 respectively.
I own both. Not taking anything away from the 7/08 but the 308 would be my pick. Shear number of projectiles available and components. I run a 130 TTSX out of a 18" at 3150 with AA2460 and it's killed numerous Cow Elk out to 310 yards and all were one and done. I also run a 168 Swiss +P that has strong BC with Varget around 2750. Both rounds super accurate and wicked on game. There are some 150 Monos with fantastic BCs also that are incredible in the 308. Good luck!
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bballard
Well-Known Member
Pick the bullet weight you most likely will use and then see which caliber is faster and flatter given that bullet weight. I don't buy into the .308 caliber having more of components available. What is the hardest thing to find right now? In my neck of the woods is large rifle primers and they both use those! You probably would have more bullet choices if you reload for the 308, but I would say you have plenty of choices in 7mm. I try to always find the load that is superior in the ballistic department, no matter the caliber. In many cases that is what I strive for when developing hand loads. I am, admittedly, a 7mm freak, but I also know the 308 can do it too! Nothing wrong with it. This is the stuff that makes us tick! Good luck, you really couldn't go wrong!
If you don't reload don't even consider the 7-08. If you do that's the only way I would go. I have both and load for both. At 200 yards or less the .308 reigns supreme, after that I leave it at home. I am shooting the 7-08 AI now instead of the original though.
Stonyman88
Well-Known Member
Wildehunting said it all, 7mm-08 Hornady 150 eld-x. outstanding set-up, I use mine all the time, deadly 7X08 an 139-150 Hornady ammo.
6.5x300 WBY
Well-Known Member
Another vote for the 7-08. What's not to love? Absolutely nothing
The 7/08 has plenty of components available. Good brass is easy Lapua,adg,nosler,hornady and more . The bullets range from about 110 gr to north of 170 gr . The advantage of the 308 is the size of the bullet at 30 cal and the increase in bullet weight. I run lapua brass and 140ttsx thru my 7-08 it will push that little ttsx at just under 3100 and a 120 ttsx north of 3200 . Flat shooting and plenty of speed for a mono.
wild_musk
Well-Known Member
Op specs were a 20" 7mm barrel or 12.5" 308 right? My concern with gas guns are I never get book performance out of them, but I only have 16" 308s. Like others, these rifles like 130g ttsx at 2930 with Varget. Based on that I would hope you could get better than 2800fps with your 12.5", but don't really know. If you can, I might go that route because the other thing I don't like about gas guns is how heavy they can get. I also like suppressors and that pairs well with the shorty.
Agree, just not as many as the 308 and the 7/08 brass is more expensive in most cases. ADG does not make 7-08 brass, Alpha does though. 308 SRP/Palma brass is abundant as well and I don't think it's even an option in 7/08. As I said, I shoot both and it's just my personal preference, especially in a AR platform. The OP mentions wanting to shoot heavier projectiles and the 7's length take up more powder in the case than the 308. Also with his barrel choices I'd much rather have a Proof as opposed to the X-Caliber, again JMO.
OP's specs were also 170-180 grain bullet out of short 20" gas gun (at mag length) to shoot up to 300-400 max yards.
308 in AR10 meets those criteria.
Not saying 7mm-08 isn't good but it's the easy button and happy place for the 308.
Also, unlike bolt rifles…Altering bullet weights to have light fast 120-130's can definitely affect the gas operation.
My S&W M&P10 tells me so.
