7mm-08 vs 308 hunting

[EnragedPlatypus]

Looking to buy a well rounded rifle to do hunting and recreational shooting. Eventually I want to get into loading my own ammo, but thats a couple years down the road.
I have a couple questions:
- Of these two rounds, which would perform better for hunting in the southeast?
- Looking at a Remington 700, any other recs?
Hunting, distance will be 200yds or less.
Recreational, id like to get out to 1000yds, but I've never done that yet.

Boxed ammo, was looking at Hornady Precision Hunter and Nosler Accubond. I use Precision Hunter for my 270 at this time. How does the accubond stack up?

 

[Jameswish956]

I vote for .308, it’s what I got for my gf to hunt with. 165 Hornady sst did great work on this buck.

 

[mark5pt56]

In my experiences, you will be a happier person in the long run by having two rifles, one for hunting and the other set up for the long range.
For the hunting, pick one, both are great with tons of choices in ammo, I would save time and money by staying with factory ammunition, you don't need premium bonded bullets for soft skinned game, rounds like Win Power Points, Remington Core locks, Hornady White tail will do the trick.
Long range? Well, read up on other calibers that may be better for the task and set up the gun for that purpose.
Yes, the .308 is a great round but there's better options ----and---take a sceond look at the Blemington choice.

All I can say reference hunting under 200 rounds in the SE--Any deer I shot all died the same, .300 supers, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 7-08, .308, 30-06, all with simple soft points other than the .300 BO-Barnes Black Tip, brown box.

 

[D1rtyHobo]

Between those two, I would probably recommend the .308 win. Since you are not reloading ammo cost and availability will be a big factor in your endeavors. The 7mm would do everything you mentioned well, but ammo is not nearly as common as .308 175gr smk for distance shooting. Im currently using the 165gr accubonds for hunting muley and pronghorn out west & the 175gr smk for PRS. That being said, If you are open to other rounds wouldn't necessarily recommend going with .308 or 7mm-08. South east game can be taken with a 6.5 creed and that round would serve you better trying to reach to 1,000yds for target shooting.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

308 has a lot better target ammo options. I’ve bought a crap load of 308 ammo cheap as hell recently because everybody thinks they can’t shoot past 100 yards now if their headstamp doesn’t say creedmoor.

 

[SRPowah]

You say you already have a 270, so whats wrong with that as your dedicated hunting rifle? That way your new rifle can be dedicated for long range precision work. This thread might go differently if you decide to go down that route.

To answer your original question:
Focusing on hunting, I would go 308. Way easier to find a variety of loads in any general store in the middle of nowhere than almost any other caliber in my experience.

Focusing on the long range game, 308 hands down since you aren't reloading yet.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Looking to buy a well rounded rifle to do hunting and recreational shooting. Eventually I want to get into loading my own ammo, but thats a couple years down the road.
I have a couple questions:
- Of these two rounds, which would perform better for hunting in the southeast?
- Looking at a Remington 700, any other recs?
Hunting, distance will be 200yds or less.
Recreational, id like to get out to 1000yds, but I've never done that yet.

Boxed ammo, was looking at Hornady Precision Hunter and Nosler Accubond. I use Precision Hunter for my 270 at this time. How does the accubond stack up?

Both are overkill for deer, especially at that range. .6cm will get it done with much less recoil and shoot flatter. Also much better target round for the same reasons.