Thread: .308 or 7mm 08? Newish hunter for deer/tahr

Decide on action length. Short action you have 243, 708, 308. Long action 270,280, 3006. As said 243 is great but better for lighter game under 300yds. 708 only wants to be a 308 when it grows up. But it doesn't and a 308 can do everything a 708 can but not the other way around. 708 can't push the heavy high bc bullets fast enough to take advantage of the extra bc and we aren't talking reloading anyway. A 7saum can in a short action , but you have to reload so that's out. 270 has probably more choice of ammo off the shelf than a 280. Both are great. 3006 if you feel you need to get into the heavy weight bullets and are starting to shoot at ranges that a beginner shouldn't.
I'd say most game is shot under 300yrds (under 300yds bc is irrelevant)and most of it by factory ammo in the 100-150gn weight range.
So again, acton length. Long action for the longer cartridges which generally need longer barrels to get the most out of them. Or short action with the more efficient rounds and shorter barrels.
In a tikka it makes no difference as there is only one action length. Only the barrel length changes. Due to ammo shortages, I'll stick my neck out and go 308 or 270. Both proven to medium ranges. Plenty of ammo choices, power , but lacking the glamor.

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