which one to take

[georgia hammer]

Help me decide!!

For rifle season which of these would you use?

I have 2 rem. model 7s in ss/syn.I have scopes for both but am only going to use one because crazy as it may sound , it drives me crazy deciding on which rifle to take.If only one is ready then I have no choice.Both will do the job efficiently and have pros and cons, so your input please.

1 - Rem. model 7 ss/syn .308 with 20" barrel and 6 1/4 pounds

2 - Rem. model 7 ss/syn .7mm saum with 22" barrel and 7 1/8 pounds

[USFS LEO]

Realizing this is a loaded question, I'll bite. I would go with the 308 Winchester and my reasons are as follows: The 308 is more than capable of killing any whitetail that walks at as far of a range as is reasonable to shoot at the deer at. Ammunition for the 308 is easier to find and less expensive than the 7mm SAUM so you should be able to practice more. The 308 has less muzzle blast and possibly less recoil than the SAUM so you are willing to shoot it more and this is critical for achiving the maximum proficency with a given firearm. Also in the rifles in question, your ability to shoot the rifle accurately under field conditions will limit the range before either one of the cartridges reach their maximum effective range. Finally for a purely subjective response, I have killed many deer with a variety of 308 caliber rifles and a Sierra 150 grain spitzer boattail bullet, at ranges of a few feet to 175 yards or so, most of them have fallen where hit and none of them have went more than a few steps with a minimum of damaged meat and for me this is all that can be asked of any cartridge

[love the woods]

i love the .308! ditto.

[300 Ultra Mag]

.308 is a good round. Still have a couple of them. .308 personally here, but it just depends on what pro's and cons you think is going to fit you best for the area you are going to be using it in.

[shogan]

.308 hands down

[georgia hammer]

Truly it is not a loaded question.

I am leaning toward the .308 because it is so light and easy to manage, and if you hunt any hilly terrain it will carry nicely.

[C.L.Button]

I would use the .308 :D

[eddiejohn4]

I am with the majority, 308 it is. lighter easy to find amo, and a very good round over all:)

[daking]

I'm partial to the .308 too. Sell the other one. If the two rifles are causing you this much angst right now, what will it be at the moment of truth if you wonder "did I bring the right one?" Seriously, what ever decision you make, forget you even know the other one for this season.

[killer]

.308......

[hunter115]

308 for me, its hard to beat in the deer woods around here:D

[Auk1124]

I'd go with the 30 cal myself, though that 7 shamu would zap the daylights out a critter, no doubt, but the 30 cal would be easier to pack, and I am lazy. :D

[USFS LEO]

This is one of the reasons I like this board, folks seem to be practical. While I am sure the 7mm saum is a fine cartridge the 308 is also a fine cartridge and I am glad that people didn't trash it just because it doesn't have a "magnum" attached to its name. Not that there is anything wrong with a "magnum" cartridge but it seems that on several boards that I visit people have forgot that it is shot placement followed by bullet performance that kills critters and for most hunting situations the extra little umph provided by a magnum is not really needed. I venture to say that a lot of people that currently hunt with a magnum caliber would be better served with a "lesser" cartridge because they could shoot it more accurately and wouldn't be scared to death of the recoil and muzzle blast so they would practice more. I have been on the range numerous times and observed people shooting magnums because they could shoot deer "way out there" who couldn't hit a 10 inch pie plate a 100 yards because they were flinching so bad. Anyway I took a lot of words to say that it is refreshing to see that the users of this site haven't lost touch with what it takes to put venison in the freezer and a mount on the wall.

[WoodsWhisperer]

The one you are more comfortable and accurate with..

[raktrakr]

.308, Seems this topic is a lock