When it comes to shooting, picking up a suitable cartridge plays an important role. If you are wondering between the 7mm vs .308, this article is written for you.
7mm and .308 are superb rifle cartridges with distinct strengths and weaknesses. They are completely different in a couple of respects. However, they are all best suited for a big range of hunting tasks.
In this article, we’ll provide sufficient information about these two types of cartridges and make a clear comparison between 7mm vs .308. Keep reading to know more!
7mm vs 308 Mag: What are The Differences?
Cartridge Sizes
| Cartridge | 7mm Remington | .308 Winchester |
| Bullet Diameter | .284” | .308” |
| Case Length | 2.035” (51.69mm) | 2.015” (51.18mm) |
| Maximum Overall Length | 2.8” (71.12mm) | 2.81” (71.37mm) |
| Rim Diameter | .473 (12.01mm) | .473” (12.01mm) |
| Case Capacity | 52.2gr H2O | 53.5gr H2O |
| Max Pressure (SAAMI) | 61,000psi | 62,000psi |
Although 7mm and .308 Magnums share the similar roots, there is a huge difference in the ballistics of each type which reflects the distinct priorities wildcatters had when creating the 7mm and .308.
In comparison to 7mm, .308 Magnum loads have approximately up to 20% more muzzle energy.
It is undeniable that the cartridge utilizes the most aerodynamic bullets. Among 2 types of cartridge, the 7mm loads tend to retain a higher percentage of muzzle energy at long range.
| Cartridge | 100 Yards Wind Drift | 200 Yards Wind Drift | 300 Yards Wind Drift | 400 Yards Wind Drift | 500 Yards Wind Drift |
| 7mm 150gr | 0.6” | 2.4” | 5.4” | 9.9” | 16.0” |
| .308 178gr | 0.7” | 2.7” | 6.2” | 11.4” | 18.4” |
Price
When it comes to price, the 7mm tends to be more expensive than the .308. Normally, a cheap box of .308 Winchester may cost approximately $14 for a box of 20 cartridges, equivalent to $0.7 per cartridge.
On the contrary, the least expensive box of 7mm Remington is nearly $20 per box of 20 cartridges, equivalent to $1 per cartridge. Actually, $0.3 per cartridge is not much but it may count if you shoot regularly.
Via: https://www.capitalcartridge.com/7mm-rem-mag-brass-p/sp7mmremmag-q0050.htm
Velocity
| Velocity (fps) Comparison – Federal Nosler (Ballistic Tip) | ||
| Range (yd) | 7mm Rem = 140 gr | .308 Win = 150 gr |
| 0 | 2800 | 2820 |
| 100 | 2613 | 2611 |
| 200 | 2433 | 2410 |
| 300 | 2260 | 2219 |
| 400 | 2094 | 2037 |
| 500 | 1935 | 1863 |
| 600 | 1784 | 1701 |
Energy
| Energy (ft-lb) Comparison – Federal Nosler (Ballistic Tip) | ||
| Range (yd) | 7mm Rem = 140 gr | .308 Win = 150 gr |
| 0 | 2437 | 2648 |
| 100 | 2122 | 2270 |
| 200 | 1839 | 1935 |
| 300 | 1587 | 1640 |
| 400 | 1363 | 1382 |
| 500 | 1164 | 1156 |
| 600 | 990 | 963 |
Trajectory – Wind Drift
| Wind Drift (in) Comparison – Federal Nosler (Ballistic Tip) | ||
| Range (yd) | 7mm Rem = 140 gr | .308 Win = 150 gr |
| 100 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 200 | 2.7 | 3 |
| 300 | 6.4 | 7.2 |
| 400 | 11.9 | 13.3 |
| 500 | 19.1 | 21.5 |
| 600 | 28.7 | 32.7 |
Trajectory – Drop
| Drop (in) Comparison – Federal Nosler (Ballistic Tip) | ||
| Range (yd) | 7mm Rem = 140 gr | .308 Win = 150 gr |
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 200 | -3.6 | -3.6 |
| 300 | -13.1 | -13.2 |
| 400 | -29.4 | -29.9 |
| 500 | -53.4 | -54.7 |
| 600 | -87 | -90.2 |
Infrastructure
In terms of the .308’s advantages, infrastructure feature comes none to second. Its infrastructure is built around that caliber.
There are numerous distinct rifle models which are chambered in the .308 in any action type such as semiautomatic, bolt action, etc.
There is a bunch of .308 caliber AR platform rifles in the current market in loads of configurations.
Regarding AR platforms, while there is a couple of 7mm upper receiver available which able to be added to a .308 AR lower receiver, a few AR platforms are specially made for 7mm Remington.
Via: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
7mm vs .308: Which one suits you best?
Both 7mm and .308 are all flat shooting and mild recoiling cartridges which are best suited for hunting thin skinned games such as mule deer, coyotes, fallow deer, pronghorn or whitetail deer. Plus, they meet the minimum bullet and caliber energy requirements.
7mm and .308 cartridges are outstanding for small, medium and big sized games. Moreover, they are good for hunting big game animals thanks to their advantage in kinetic energy and frontal surface area.
Additionally, shot placement is highly important. However, it is more crucial when using a small cartridge for hunting elk and other large games. If you’ll use 7mm and .308 cartridges on big games, please be cautious about closing the range and be particular about your shooting angles.
If you are pretty sensitive to recoil, 7mm Remington cartridge is born for you. It is great for newbies and smaller framed hunters such as children and women. It is powerful enough to take deer sized game. However, if you can handle the extra recoil, pick up 7mm Remington to add flexibility for hunting big game.
In contrast, if you love using a semi-automatic or battle rifle for personal defense, let’s go for the .308 Winchester.
Last but not least, 7mm and .308 are also highly appropriate to mountain goat, tahr, chamois or bighorn sheep hunting. They provide the best balance of a flat trajectory, resistance to the wind, numerous killing power and mild recoil with good shot placement.
In conclusion
In conclusion, we know that picking up a perfect cartridge seems to be a challenging task, especially picking up between 7mm vs. 308. But hopefully, after reading this article, you could grasp some helpful information to make a lucid purchase decision.
To sum up, the 7mm is different from the .308 in terms of availability, infrastructure and wide acceptance. Furthermore, the 7mm has more advantage when it comes to long-range shots. However, it is more expensive and has fewer options for grain weight and bullet type.
Even though 7mm possesses good performance, the .308 remains its popularity in the shooting accessory market. Thank you so much for reading our article. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe to see other fun and interesting articles.
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