7mm-08 or 308 recommendations

[Dark timber]

Find which shoots best.

I’ve killed deer with the following:

120 BT
140 AB
140 PT
150 ELDX (my current favorite)

Pick whichever shoots best and is readily available (hint, ELDX), no deer you shoot will know the difference.

My older daughter has killed a couple blacktails with the 120 BT. It kills great. After seeing your praise for the 150 ELDX, I loaded up a bunch over BG and converted it to long action. I’m pushing the 150s at 2865fps. My youngest daughter killed a mulie this year with it and I was really impressed with the performance. She has a late youth cow tag here in Idaho coming up that we’re gonna try the 150 ELDX on.

 

[insanelupus]

Of the two listed, 7mm-08.

If just wanting a new rifle, looking at what you currently own, I'd consider a 30-06. Boringly consistent, not real flashy, but a get 'er done cartridge.

 

[Tedhunts]

Food for thought...I couldn't find the exact configuration I wanted in a Tikka 7-08 so I bought a stainless Tikka action and built a rifle the exact way I wanted. It's purpose built for how I hunt whitetails. You will spend a little more than a factory rifle (and can spend a lot more if you go crazy).

 

[mitchellmountain]

I was in the same boat last winter and found a stainless tikka superlite 7mm-08, couldn’t be happier. I was a big 308 fan for years, still am , but the 7mm08 is a little more versatile deer cartridge.

 

[SC HUNTER]

A 7mm08 is one of my favorite rounds to shoot deer with. I've killed a few truck loads worth with 7mm08's. Maybe its because my buddy had one in 8th grade and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Fast forward and between myself and that buddy I think we own 5 or 6, all factory guns. we have kids now so everybody needs one right? I'm going to pick up a tikka action in the near future and put together another 7mm08 exactly how I want it and probably hunt with it for several years until one of my kids lays claim to it. A tikka is a wonderful rifle and a 7mm-08 is wonderful. So extra super wonderful!