why you buy a gun you have to overload to make it work for where you hunt?

That 7-08 should work just fine at any ranges that you should be hunting deer. There is usually no need to shoot at deer past 400 yds (I keep it under 350 yds. on game) and your calibre will be just fine without the hot loads. You just need to know the path your bullet will take at a certain yardage.

I just said I hunt open country. That doesnt mean that I rourinely have to shoot past 300 yards. In fact, somewhere around 250-300 yards is the longest shot I have ever taken out there. The 7mm-08 should be excellent even with factory loads at 200+ yards. 300 yards is about my limit with any gun.

With you limits, the 7-08 will be right at home. Enjoy. It is one calibre that I have an interest in. The ammo is very difficult to get up here so I have yet to get one but as soon as ammo or reloading brass is more common I will get one. I wonder how hard it is to reform .308 brass. I have never changed brass to a new calibre before. I have literally 30 lbs worth of .308 brass so I'd have good supply lines.

You shouldn't need to load it above factory performance. Stout loading is more a matter of preference than necessity.