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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
308 vs 7-08 (or other options)
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<blockquote data-quote="greenejc" data-source="post: 1699841" data-attributes="member: 60453"><p>Have you shot the rifle you bought, yet? If it shoots accurately, you might think about just having a good gunsmith shorten the barrel to around 20 inches and staying with the 7mm-08. Brass isn't that hard to find, and making it is just a pass-through on the die. Ammo is pretty available, too. But if you're going to re-barrel it, go with the .308. Availability is greater, bullet weights are higher, and loaded with the right powders, velocities are better. I wouldn't go shorter than 20 inches, though. In a short action bolt gun, that will give you a fast handling rifle, but still give you nearly all of the velocity you'll get from a conventional length barrel. Especially if you reload with CFE223 and work up loads for 165-168 grain bullets. For the 7mm-08 and heavier bullets, IMR4350 and IMR4451 give very good velocities from 24 inch test barrels, but you'll lose around 100fps with a 20 inch barrel. The .308 is more forgiving. With certain powders, it will make up the difference in bullet velocity. It will also hit significantly harder at distance. Keep in mind, you will lose a lot of velocity with either cartridge when you go to a 20 inch barrel. But the .308 will duplicate the 7mm-08 velocities with on average bullets that weigh 15 to 20 grains more, resulting in an increase of delivered energy and greater penetration/wounding at distance. Hodgden lists the max velocity for the 162 grain Amax 7mm-08 load as 2674fps and the 160 grain Speer as 2690fps, while the .308 is listed for a max velocity using a 165 grain bullet at 2834fps. It lists the 180 grain Speer SP at 2683fps. The Speer .308 BTSP has a BC of 5.45 and could be safely pushed to 2550fps in a 20 inch tube. A 165 grain Speer at around .48 BC can be pushed closer to 2630fps or so with the right powders. But it depends on what you like. If you're already using a 7mm of one flavor or another, go with the 7mm. If you're already reloading for any of the .308 cal. rounds, go with the .308 Winchester. That way you will keep some commonality of components. Either caliber will work fine, though.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="greenejc, post: 1699841, member: 60453"] Have you shot the rifle you bought, yet? If it shoots accurately, you might think about just having a good gunsmith shorten the barrel to around 20 inches and staying with the 7mm-08. Brass isn't that hard to find, and making it is just a pass-through on the die. Ammo is pretty available, too. But if you're going to re-barrel it, go with the .308. Availability is greater, bullet weights are higher, and loaded with the right powders, velocities are better. I wouldn't go shorter than 20 inches, though. In a short action bolt gun, that will give you a fast handling rifle, but still give you nearly all of the velocity you'll get from a conventional length barrel. Especially if you reload with CFE223 and work up loads for 165-168 grain bullets. For the 7mm-08 and heavier bullets, IMR4350 and IMR4451 give very good velocities from 24 inch test barrels, but you'll lose around 100fps with a 20 inch barrel. The .308 is more forgiving. With certain powders, it will make up the difference in bullet velocity. It will also hit significantly harder at distance. Keep in mind, you will lose a lot of velocity with either cartridge when you go to a 20 inch barrel. But the .308 will duplicate the 7mm-08 velocities with on average bullets that weigh 15 to 20 grains more, resulting in an increase of delivered energy and greater penetration/wounding at distance. Hodgden lists the max velocity for the 162 grain Amax 7mm-08 load as 2674fps and the 160 grain Speer as 2690fps, while the .308 is listed for a max velocity using a 165 grain bullet at 2834fps. It lists the 180 grain Speer SP at 2683fps. The Speer .308 BTSP has a BC of 5.45 and could be safely pushed to 2550fps in a 20 inch tube. A 165 grain Speer at around .48 BC can be pushed closer to 2630fps or so with the right powders. But it depends on what you like. If you're already using a 7mm of one flavor or another, go with the 7mm. If you're already reloading for any of the .308 cal. rounds, go with the .308 Winchester. That way you will keep some commonality of components. Either caliber will work fine, though. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
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308 vs 7-08 (or other options)
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