SORRY PUT THIS IN THE WRONG AREA
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Go Navy!

I do not think you will go wrong with the 308 winchester.
The advantages are:
-More load data.
-More(much)more bullet weights and designs.
-Inherent accuracy.
-Most efficient of the 3 in powder consumption.
-Will do anything the other 2 can...better.

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SAFE SHOOTING,

quote:

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Originally posted by HuntNavy:
...SORRY PUT THIS IN THE WRONG AREA

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No problem HuntNavy...

Moving to the Rifle Cartridges forum...

The Rifle Cartridges forum is for questions, answers, comments, and shared experiences in regard to specific rifle cartridges. Some pistol cartridge posts can be used here if the cartridge in question is chambered for a rifle as well. The same is true for some wildcat cartridges that have been commercialized. Some questions/comments relating to loads, powder, primers, and cases are acceptable. Members asking about particular cartridge, primer, powder, or bullet combinations are also acceptable. The topics may veer slightly but try to stick to the subject of the forum. After a topic has been idle for several months, depending upon the content of the thread, it will either remain in the current forum, get deleted, or get transferred to a more suitable forum or archive.

We stick with what we know works. But no matter what you decide to buy, choose the right projectile and place it accurately in your target.

Having said that, the .308 is a more practical choice. It is available in a much broader selection of factory loads. There is far more published reloading data and far more components available. There are more rifles chambered for the .308 in a greater variety of action types. Finally, it is a great but under-appreciated cartridge. Why? It is efficient, very accurate, easy on the shoulder, and deadly on game. What more do you need?

Comparing the .308 to the other two cartridges, there is little to choose from a hunting standpoint between the .308 and 7mm/08. Both are more flexible big-game cartridges than the .25/06, which in my view is optimal for shooting deer in open country but probably needs a 24" barrel to really perform to its full potential. Loaded with 120-grain bullets, it also kicks more than you might expect--about like a .270 with 130-grain bullets--and definitely has a loud bark.

I saw the post and couldn't resist the urge to comment. All of the comments posted to your question are right on the mark. Your choice of calibers from the three that you have listed are all good. Personally, I would go with another caliber, (.270), but it wasn't asked to be evaluated on.

If you're planning to hunt in PA. all three of the calibers commented on will do a fine job. I would opt for the .308 Winchester for a couple of reasons. First, it can be loaded up or down the scale of bullet weight requirements. That equates to 125 - 220 grains. Second, the .308 is a flat shooter and very accurate and dependable. And last, depending on the conditions that you'll want to use it in, (hilly, brushy, deep forest or wide open stretches), it will fill in quite well.

Being an old salt myself, every shotline I ever saw fired between ships came from a .308 Winchester modified to throw a weighted messenger line. If the Navy stands by it in daily use, you won't have any trouble with it either.

Best of luck and ask all of the questions you feel you need to ask in order to familiarize yourself with the handloading craft.

Either the 7-08 or the 308 would be great for your purpose. The 25-06 is fast and flat shooting, but won't handle bullets heavier than 120gr, and doesn't have the versatility of the other two. My recommendation would be for the 7-08. The 308 will work fine, but the 7-08 has slightly better downrange ballistics. With 139-140gr bullets, you'll have what I consider an ideal tool for medium thin skinned game. With 120gr Ballistic Tips, it makes an ideal pronghorn rifle. With 110gr Speer MHP's, it's a great coyote rifle. Although I think it's on the light side for anything bigger than cow elk, it can also be loaded with 160gr Partitions.

I used a 7mm Rem Mag for over 20 years, and it is a great cartridge, but downsized to a 7-08 in 1991. The first buck I took with it field dressed over 300 pounds. He dropped in his tracks with a 140gr factory CoreLokt. I bought my dad this cartridge in a Model 7, and he absolutely loves his little rifle. It will solidly anchor the largest deer on the planet, it's easy on the shoulder, and easy to reload.

I liked it so much, I built a custom 7-08Ackley Improved.

Just my $.02, and worth almost every penny of it.

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Regards,
Sam Taylor
Life Member NRA
Life Member NAHC