Well I have been saving my money and want to add these two calibers to my collection and these two guns - the Win model 70 and Browning BLR. I can't decide which caliber to get in which gun. I know there are larger problems in the world....but I am torn.
The 7mm-08 would only be used for deer and the 308 for everything including elk.
Either caliber, you listed, are fine for the hunting situations, you posted. However you might consider buying a .270 or .30-06 then you can cover all hunting situations.
Well I have been saving my money and want to add these two calibers to my collection and these two guns - the Win model 70 and Browning BLR. I can't decide which caliber to get in which gun. I know there are larger problems in the world....but I am torn.
The 7mm-08 would only be used for deer and the 308 for everything including elk.
The difference between the two is about as small as you can find anywhere. Actually you could argue that there isn't a lot of difference between either and an '06 most of the time for deer hunting. But if I were to chase elk, I'd much rather have an '06 on the rack than the smaller cartridges.
Both are fine cartridges and those are also two fine rifles as well. I own a M70 in 7/08 now and have owned BLRs in both .308 + 7/08, all are great rifle/cartridge combos. I like getting all the 7 has to offer with a slightly longer barrel plus warm loads or Superformance ammo for the best MPBR, so I like the M70 for that.
With the .308 and larger game, such as elk, you'll want a larger bullet such as a premium 165 or 180gr and in the BLR the velocity loss on those loads would not be severe. One last comment.... I would suggest taking a look at another family member for the larger bore rifle. The .358 is a great cartridge in that BLR and with a little research, I think you'll find some loads from Double Tap Ammo or others that bring near .35 Whelen performance out of the .358W. A 200gr bullet @ 2600 FPS would be excellent elk medicine as would a 225gr @ 2450 and a 250 @ 2300-2400. Lots of lighter 180 & 200gr loads out there for deer-sized game as well.
Tnhunter beat me to the punch, but he said almost exactly what I was thinking. Go the Model 70 route for the 7-08 but do yourself a favor and look into the 358 Win in your BLR.
I was going to go with the majority and say .308 in the BLR and 7-08 in the bolt, but then I remembered that you said the 7mm would be for deer and the 308 for elk. The BLR is classic for deer, and I think of bolt action when I think elk hunting, so I'd switch and get the 7mm in the BLR.
Or, go the other way and use the 308 for deer and 7-08 for elk!
Some of the guys have already said what i was thinking in that the two calibers are so very close to each other i would maybe consider one a little different. The 280 Rem, 30-06 or even a 30TC if you want a short action. The 30TC is a 308Win that has been shortened by a 1/10 of an inch and has 11% less case capacity than the 308 with 15% less recoil than the 30-06 but more velocity and energy than both the 308 or the 30-06. IMO its a really good round although i think Hornady may still be the only one loading for it. Hornady is a great company though and put out good stuff. Good luck
Some of the guys have already said what i was thinking in that the two calibers are so very close to each other i would maybe consider one a little different. The 280 Rem, 30-06 or even a 30TC if you want a short action. The 30TC is a 308Win that has been shortened by a 1/10 of an inch and has 11% less case capacity than the 308 with 15% less recoil than the 30-06 but more velocity and energy than both the 308 or the 30-06. IMO its a really good round although i think Hornady may still be the only one loading for it. Hornady is a great company though and put out good stuff. Good luck
I can't imagine the 30TC being a good choice from the handloaders perspective. With many powders filling the .308 case to capacity, I don't see where 11% less case volume is a better thing. Wonder if the 30TC is going to wither on the vine given more time?
Can't talk for the BLR, but I have a 308 in a Sako 75 Varmint and a 7mm 08 in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. Both are excellent calibres, but the M70 in simply brilliant in every respect. Take a good long look at the M70 and admire. The finish in mine is superb. IMO, I'd love to see Winchester offer the option of a box magazine which would make the M70 for my uses. Add a 223 into the offerings and I'd be one very happy shooter. Just my two cents worth!
I've got a few posts in the Forums on my M70 which you may have already read. My thoughts since posting them have not changed at all. In fact I'm even more impressed with the M70 given some extra time with it.
I have a Sako 75 in 7mm-08 and absolutely love that gun. To me, its about the perfect cartridge for deer sized game around. The 150grn Ballistic tip that I load over a healthy dose of 4350 will darn near rival the .270's my buds shoot and for some reason the damage and wound tracts it leaves is massive. I've never owned a .308win until now, I just purchased the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine and have yet to shoot it. I believe that now I have the perfect short action range. A .243, 7mm-08, and now a .308.
No not exactly IMO to be a perfect you need a 260rem (ie: 6.5mm08). The 260rem would give you much better longrange option over those other 308 parent cartridges you have listed.
tedtf said:
Well I have been saving my money and want to add these two calibers to my collection and these two guns - the Win model 70 and Browning BLR. I can't decide which caliber to get in which gun. I know there are larger problems in the world....but I am torn.
The 7mm-08 would only be used for deer and the 308 for everything including elk.
Hi Ted
IMO the 7mm and 30 cal (7.62mm) are pretty close together as far as bullets are concerned, if you handload I would go a 260rem. You have to handload as there is not much in the way of factory ammo for the 260rem, but as you can see there is alot of bullet options for the 6.5mm http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...9&categoryString=9315***652***19785***9016***
Also have you looked at the Sako 85 and Tikka T3 range of rifles (both brands come in 260rem)? IMHO the Sako 85 is the best factory production rifle on the market and the Tikka T3 is the best value for money factory production rifle on the market. There is a couple of things that make them better then other guns. They both come with the best accuracy guarantee (by far) on the market. The Tikka is 1" (Sub MOA) 3 shot groups with "ANY" factory ammo and the Sako is 1" (Sub MOA) 5 shot groups with "ANY" factory ammo. If you handload or use Match Grade ammo you can at least cut those groups in half.
Both the Sako and Tikka will shoot "ANY" ammo accurately so you don't have to waste time, money and frustation finding some ammo that your gun likes.
The Trigger on the Sako and Tikka are as good or better then most performance after market triggers you can buy (ie: Timney Jewell) and the fit and finish is second to none.
No not exactly IMO to be a perfect you need a 260rem (ie: 6.5mm08). The 260rem would give you much better longrange option over those other 308 parent cartridges you have listed.
I can see your arguement and can assure you that as soon as a source locates the 6.5-284 that I want, I'll add it. Thing is, I'm very comfortable with the 7mm-08 to 300yds which is a long shot for our type habitat and preferential ranges for a SA cartridge to me. If I were hunting beanfeilds or open plains, then I'd prefer one of my 7Mags over anything.
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