I bought my son a Ruger compact stainless in 7mm-08 for his first rifle several years ago. I don't believe they make it in 7mm-08 anymore.

Love the rifle. I used it for hunting in the woods from my climbing stand since I already had a 270 for field hunting. I always had good luck with Remington corelok 140 grain ammo. Relatively cheap (used to be anyway) and easy to find. Never shot as good of patterns as the 270 but plenty close (2 inch groups at 100 yards) for what I used it for.

I grew to like the caliber so much that when he finally left home and took it with him, I bought myself a Remington 700 mountain rifle stainless in 7mm-08 and use it for woods hunting to this day. Got a Zeiss 3.5 X 10 X 44mm scope on it and it is one sweet shooting rifle.

If you can find the Ruger compact in a 308, I think you would be very pleased.