308 or 7mm-08 for mule deer?

I am looking to buy either a 308 or 7mm-08 as a mule deer hunting rifle. The typical hunting ranges i encounter out west here are between 200-600 yards. Ive got a 300wm I use for elk and other large game and an old 270, but I am wanting something new dedicated for mule deer. My main concerns are ammo price and availability and I am also looking mainly at Bergara, Weatherby and Browning.

If you don't reload, then the .308 will have more options for factory ammunition and will probably be easier to find ammo for. Having said that, both cartridges with the right load will be capable of taking mule deer out to 600 yards. Another cartridge you could look at would be the 6.5 PRC. It's going to cost a little more to shoot, but it's an excellent long range cartridge for medium game.

I'm trying to avoid the creedmoor and prc bandwagon. Mainly because of price and availability. If it was cheaper and more readily available, I would be all over the prc or 26 or 27 Nosler. I do reload, but have never reloaded either. Ive only ever reloaded 30/06, 300wm, 30-30 and 270.

284 Win? Worked Good for me this year.

belldar said:

284 Win?

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This would be my choice, but the OP is concerned with ammo availability.

JD-ODINSON said:

I'm trying to avoid the creedmoor and prc bandwagon. Mainly because of price and availability. If it was cheaper and more readily available, I would be all over the prc or 26 or 27 Nosler. I do reload, but have never reloaded either. Ive only ever reloaded 30/06, 300wm, 30-30 and 270.

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I understand your concerns. If you have reloaded before, and you still have the equipment, than I would definitely get back into it. You can really turn a .308 or 7mm-08 into an excellent mid range hunting cartridge with a good reload.

Peterson makes some awesome brass for the 284 FYI Probably easier to find loaded 284 Winchester right now than creedmoor or PRC ammo.

Thats the plan. I really like the 7mm-08, but I am trying to decide if its worth getting over the 308 or not.

I'd go 7mm-08, and I've never owned one.

Of course they are the same casing, so your looking the difference in frontal diameter of less than 3 hundredths of an inch, and that's about it. They will both work, but the 7mm-08 will give you more speed, and I like speed........ and fast twist barrels with long bullets

belldar said:

Peterson makes some awesome brass for the 284 FYI Probably easier to find loaded 284 Winchester right now than creedmoor or PRC ammo.

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I use Peterson in my .284 lol. I don't think I've ever seen loaded .284 ammo on the shelf haha. Comparing things to the ammo crisis we're in now isn't realistic. The .284 is awesome, but it's a handloaders cartridge unfortunately.

JD-ODINSON said:

Thats the plan. I really like the 7mm-08, but I am trying to decide if its worth getting over the 308 or not.

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They're both excellent cartridges. I think the 7mm-08 loaded with 162-168gr bullets would be my choice over a .308 with the same weight class of bullets. The 7mm will buck the wind better and have better ballistics. The .308 would need a 200+ grain bullet to match the wind drift and ballistics of the 7mm with the 168 class of bullets.

Jud96 said:

I use Peterson in my .284 lol. I don't think I've ever seen loaded .284 ammo on the shelf haha. Comparing things to the ammo crisis we're in now isn't realistic. The .284 is awesome, but it's a handloaders cartridge unfortunately.

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the 284W seams to be making a comeback on It's own not just it's wildcats. I am guessing more and more ammo makers will be making good loaded ammo for it in the future.

belldar said:

the 284W seams to be making a comeback on It's own not just it's wildcats. I am guessing more and more ammo makers will be making good loaded ammo for it in the future.

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I hope you're right. I would like to see it re-standardized like become the .284 Norma. My .284 is chambered with the Norma match reamer and works perfect with Peterson brass and 175gr Berger's. In my opinion that's the perfect combination. The 175-180gr bullets work awesome with that reamer. It's simply a .284 with a longer throat compared to the original design.

Jud96 said:

I hope you're right. I would like to see it re-standardized like become the .284 Norma. My .284 is chambered with the Norma match reamer and works perfect with Peterson brass and 175gr Berger's. In my opinion that's the perfect combination. The 175-180gr bullets work awesome with that reamer. It's simply a .284 with a longer throat compared to the original design.

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I'm fine reloading it and am finding a little less bullet in a 160 AB with some H4350 is perfect for a 700 yard and closer big game rifle . Mine is long throated as well.