does one have something over the other?

If you're going after elk, the 308 has perhaps a small advantage. Recoil is surprisingly similar. Accuracy potential from factory rifles is similar. For reloading, both have loads of bullets. Factory ammo gives the 308 the edge.

I'd buy a 7-08 if you are after deer, boars, and blackbear. I'm not much of 30 caliber fan - JMO...

im after deer and some wild pigs. and i wanted to know if one had a greater advantage but looks like a draw. guess its just opinion. How does a 30-06 vs. .308 do?

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Originally posted by Critter_Killer:
im after deer and some wild pigs. and i wanted to know if one had a greater advantage but looks like a draw. guess its just opinion. How does a 30-06 vs. .308 do?

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The .308 handles bullet weights of 165 grains or less a little better than the .30-06 will and the .30-06 handles bullet weights greater than 165 grains a little better than the .308. I think that the .308 has better inherent accuracy than the .30-06, but either round would be more than adequate for your needs. If compactness is important, choose the .308.

There is no appreciable difference between the two unless you want to shoot heavier bullets, then the 308 would get the nod. FWIW, I prefer the 7-08 because it's a little different and I don't care for 30 cal. Lou

If you shoot at long range The 7mm bullets have better ballistic coefficients and sectional density. They will pentrate better and retain more energy. If you dont shoot over 200 yards you'll never see the difference.

What, nobody mentions cheap Surplus ammo for plinking, training and ITSHTF scenarios?

Peronally I would ask about the .260 versus the .308, 7-08 is too close, this .260 seems to shoot flat, and the .243 is a little small for mountain hunting ( and sometimes illegal )( Europe ).

Have fun! H

I actually have both. A Winchester model 70 compact in 7mm-08, and one in .308. I think the compact is great for a kid, and then you can add a 1" recoil pad when they get grown. However I have a 1" recoil pad on the 308 and just the factory pad on the 7mm-08. Not much difference to me.
You can get 308 at walmart all the time, but not 7mm-08.
The remington green-box 140 grain 7mm-08 runs about 2750 fps out of the 20 inch barrel. Have not cronographed the 308, but I also have an old blr with the 20 inch barrel and it workes on deer.

I also have loaded the 175 grain hornady 7mm bullets in the 7mm-08 using H4350. They run about 2350 fps out of the compact. Was hunting hogs with that load, but did not see any hogs when I had that rifle.

The big advantage of the .308 is cheap milsurp ammo for practice, cheap enough that it is cheaper then handloading.

I have a 20" tubed .308, that I've done a fair bit of reloading for, first caliber I ever loaded for, and I was curious. 150 gr bullets can be pushed 2800 and change, 165's 2700 and change, and 180's upwards of 2600, though that is max, in fact factory rem 180 gr rn clock 2600 even from the short tube. I've tried 220 gr run with 3 different powders, and 2150 was it.

Compared to an -06 of the same barrel lenth, the .308 is within 100 fps up to 180 gr bullets.

Saying the 7mm has superior bc, sd is really splitting hairs, and bs in my opinion. Trajectory will be within an inch or less out to 300 yds, and neither the 7-08 or .308 are a good choice for shots farther then that. Compare 150's in the 7-08 to 165's in the .308 and they'll be a wash on paper, though the .308 will be throwing 10% more bullet.

Since you already have a pretty light 270 WSM and don't handload yet I would look at a varmint rifle.

A 243 would do that and be a backup for game hunting. The 7-08 and 308 are going to kick pretty good in light rifles and who likes that?

Handloading is the way to get flexiblity. A moderate 110 VMax out of the 270 would satisfy all requirements such as cheaper to shoot, varmints and less recoil.

If I recall, you are 15 yrs old. I think you would be best served with a 308 for all the reasons previously stated and if you decide you want something else later on, you can get most of your money out of a 308 for resale. Buy the best you can afford and do not forget a good scope. Do not go cheap on a scope. You will end up buying one twice. My first rifle was a 243. It would not handle bullets heavy enough for my puposes. I shoot deer and hogs with my 308. It works fine and surplus ammo is ok for hogs. Good luck.

I have loaded for both , and i have a slight preference for the .308. you don't say what type of rifle you are thinking of, but for pig hunting (never done it so i am just guessing here) I would look for a quick handeling rifle mabye a lever or a pump. But a model 7 or a micro A bo;t in either caliber would work well, The trajectory difference won't mater a bit, and the .308 will hit a bit harder. You might look foir a good used model 760 pump remington in 30,06, Out here in Oregon the are easy to find for abou 250.00, slip a low power variable on it, and go shoot a pig or two !...tj3006

The .308 is the only choice here in my opinion. Both have a great many choices of bullet weights and designs, both are accurate cartridges. The .308 has the availability of cheap surplus ammo to play with. The .308 is offered by more manufacturers in rifles. However both are offered by somebody in about any type of design you wanted.
The big thing here is personal preference---- I choose not to own or shoot anything under 30 cal. If its too big for a .22 rimfire, then I can load a .308 or 30-06 with a bullet design to use. If its too big for a 30 that's ok- will go larger, but never smaller.

i decided when the time comes to buy im gonna walk in the shop ask for a .308 or 30-06 bolt action and depending on which i like best, i will more than likley buy a .308

Between the two it's pretty much a wash, but when you mentioned wild pigs I think you tipped the scales in favor of the .308. A 180-gr. .308 bullet is precisely what you need for pigs.

Critter_Killer,

I can't speak for the 7MM-08 but the .308 Win is what I call the "little, big cartridge". It doesn't look much besides other longer cartridges but it is a sensational killer. I have a Winchester pre 64 M70 featherweight (22" barrel) in .308 and I can get 150 gr bullets to 2,900fps (and over) which makes it a great deer rifle. With a 250 yds zero theres no hold off up to 300 yds (where it is 3.85" low) on deer size game and it still has 1,700 flbs energy at this range. Also the little .308 Win can be built in a very light mountain rifle which you can carry all day in one hand and not dislocate your shoulder when you shoot it.

Either way .308 or 7Mm-08 you won't go wrong.

Cheers,
Magnum308