I posted the other day about buying a ruger american compact .308. I started considering the 7-08.

As far as I my ability is concerned they perform the same, so neither gets the advantage there. I keeping hearing the 7-08 recoils less which is a plus. However, I have read several people say the difference in recoil is really unnoticeable.

Has anybody ever shot the same exact gun in both calibers? Is there a difference in the recoil that is worth talking about?

This would be out of a Ruger American Compact 18" barrel.

You'll never know the difference neither will whatever you're shooting at. That's just all internet talk

Thats true but that doesn't help me much. I think less recoil would only help me on follow up shots, if it even happens.

I am trying to buy into the 7-08 hype but if the recoil is essentially the same, I guess it will be .308.

It's preference..I bought a ruger american predator in 308 just because I didn't own a 308 anymore..But i do own several 7mm08s..I'm just a fan of 7mm calibers I guess lol..

And if you reload, the 7-08 can out perform the .308. Love both calibers though.

Not necessarily. A 7mm-08 may in some cases have more felt recoil. Here is an example = a 168 shot out of a 308 vs a 168 shot out of 7mm-08. At same speed and powder charge. The 7mm-08 will have more Recoil pulse than a 308 because of bearing surfaces. A 168 out of 308 will have an average bearing surface of .320 where a 7mm will have a bearing surface of .440. What does this tell us??? A bullet with more bearing surface will have more= pressure and in turn more recoil.

I love and own both calibers. Recoil is not enough difference to matter. I would assume the 7-08 might be a bit flatter shooting but again ,not enough to matter. .308 ammo is much easier to find is about the biggest difference.

This^^^^^

I reload so that isn't a issue but finding on shelves is a chore. Cant beat the 7-08 with 120 or 140 with a barnes ttsx. Wicked bad!!!!

A 7mm bullet with 168 berger has a bc of about .618 which is really good.

The 7-08 will kick less, mainly because the bullet weighs less.

There isn't enough recoil difference to affect a follow up shot. I would never consider a follow up shot for hunting deer a criteria for a rifle.

Cartridge (Wb@MV) Rifle Weight Recoil energy Recoil velocity
.308 Win. (150 at 2800) - 7.5 - 15.8 - 11.7
.308 Win. (165 at 2700) - 7.5 - 18.1 - 12.5
7mm-08 Rem. (120 at 3000) - 7.5 - 12.1 - 10.2
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860) - 8.0 - 12.6 - 10.1

give me a 7-08 for free i'll sell the next day . i wouldn't buy a shell for it . jmo !!!!!


308 , i'd might buy .

Depends on where you're huntin'. If it's more short range, say in timber .308. If you're gonna have a barrel stretching shot every now and then go with a 7-08.

I shoot a kimber Montana in 7-08. Now I'm not saying it's superior to anything, but it's a sweet shooting little thumper. @ 5 lbs roughly bare rifle, it's like toting a squirrel gun, and kicks about like a. 410. I've been most impressed. I'm sure of it was a. 308, is be just as happy.

I have the 308 Compact Ruger Mark II 168gr for hunting thickets. I would never sell it. When I use another rifle, that little thing is close by just in case something goes wrong. It's bad !

Might I add I also have a mark V . 300 wheatherby, a remington742 30-06, a Winchester 94 30-30, a Weatherby Vanguard 7 mag, a Tikka 695. 270 and I would still grab that kimber 7-08 before any of the others. It's just a good shooting, light toting, fine short action gun. I'm 40 years old and been hunting since I could ride on my dad's shoulders.so I've shot my share of them. Either the 7-08 or . 308 is a fine round.

7mm-08 would be my choice but not because of recoil. I doubt you could tell the difference in a 140 gr in the 7mm and a 150 in the 308. Now maybe so between a 120 in 7mm and 168 in 308 . Gun fit , weight, shooting form etc will make more difference than caliber.

Get a .260.

308 vs 7mm08. 308 ammo is readily available and cheaper. 7mm08 is higher and hard to find.

I have 2 7mm-08 rifles. I find ammo easily. Not sure why every body thinks it is so hard to find. It's not like you're trying to buy a thousand rounds.

I bought the 308 and my 14 yr old daughter shoots it great plus I love the gun. I bought the 308 because I shoot a 308 also and didn't want to chance getting the 7-08 ammo mixed in so I stayed with the same caliber so we wouldn't have to buy different ammo. Love the gun !!!!!!