6.5creedmoor vs 7mm08 for whitetails under 350 yards

[GonzoK34]

I'll look into it. Several of our varmint club members have Ruger Americans in 6.5 Creedmoor. I like the CZ for it's quality, weigh, 2 stage trigger and accuracy. I glass bedded the stock. Honed the trigger and adjusted. One piece 0-MOA base and installed my NF 3.5x15 NSX. Since my purchase it's taken allot of coyotes, fox, bobcat, rabbits, crows, and a **** load of prairie dogs out to 400 yds with 40 gr Blitzkigs, 13 grs Lil-Gun. It goes with me anytime I venture into the back country.
There are now six 22 Hornets in the club and one 17 Hornet.
Go figure!

 

[WildRose]

I'll look into it. Several of our varmint club members have Ruger Americans in 6.5 Creedmoor. I like the CZ for it's quality, weigh, 2 stage trigger and accuracy. I glass bedded the stock. Honed the trigger and adjusted. One piece 0-MOA base and installed my NF 3.5x15 NSX. Since my purchase it's taken allot of coyotes, fox, bobcat, rabbits, crows, and a ---- load of prairie dogs out to 400 yds with 40 gr Blitzkigs, 13 grs Lil-Gun. It goes with me anytime I venture into the back country.
There are now six 22 Hornets in the club and one 17 Hornet.
Go figure!

 

[WildRose]

The .22 Hornet is one of the most underrated cartridges on the market. For a hide hunter of any type they are perfect and can reasonably be used on Deer, hogs, and pretty much any varmint out to about 300yds in the right hands.

I had one in a Rugger 77/22 for many years but it didn't survive a house fire and I never replaced it. About the time I was going to I was given a CZ 527 Ruger as a thank you present from the CEO of CZ-USA.

For a varmint gun the .204 is fantastic but it's really lacking for anything larger unless the shots are absolutely precise.

 

[GonzoK34]

I had one 40 years ago and sold it. Then along came varmints and I'm having allot of fun.

 

[Sixmoons]

It seems, between the two cartridges you are considering, you can't make a bad choice. With the 6.5 Creedmoor, you have a huge selection of rifles and manufactures to choose from. And, everyone sells ammo and components for the 6.5. ( I'm impressed with the wide variety of factory loaded ammo, currently on shelves in stores. ) I own a Ruger 77Hawkeye, stainless med. heavy barrel, laminated stock. But, I think the Ruger American models are great rifles, especially if $$$ are a consideration. Take your time and enjoy the search for that "NEXT" rifle.

 

[StanB]

6.5cm or 7mm-08 inside of 350 for deer...can't go wrong either way.
We have 3 Win70 compact 7mm-08's that my daughters all use for whitetails. I will say that the 120 Nosler BT is one deadly bullet, and help keeps pretty recoil light for them.

 

[troupe]

The Creed is so accurate out of the box. I picked up a Ruger American Predator for my son in 6.5 and it is a 1/2 rifle with factory Hornady. Light, Cheap, and custom rifle accurate. I also have used the 7-08 and it also is a great whitetail rifle. The accuracy out of the box with factory ammo seems to lean towards the Creed. The ammo is priced great also.

 

[Susquatch]

The Creed is so accurate out of the ...... The accuracy out of the box with factory ammo seems to lean towards the Creed.

Nothing about the creed make it more accurate out of the box than the 7-08. Accuracy out of the box and also after tuning are all about the rifle and luck of the draw and not the cartridge. From an accuracy perspective, they are equals.

That said, I prefer the 6.5 over the 7-08 because it can use lighter bullets and kick a wee bit less. Not that I mind the kick, but for new hunters anything to reduce flinching is a good thing, and less kick is always good at the range.

 

[Barrelnut]

I think it does boil down to the variety, quality, price, and availability of factory ammo for the Creed. There is really nothing quite like it.
But... If you look at the Federal Ammo comparator on the federal site, the 7-08 with a 140 Accubond performs a little better than the Creed with a 140 Accubond. Especially drop at 500 yards.
Link shows the two compared:
https://www.federalpremium.com/prod...ration={7FF5C5E6-B60E-4CA5-A1AE-07A721FB1CC4}

 

[GonzoK34]

I think it does boil down to the variety, quality, price, and availability of factory ammo for the Creed. There is really nothing quite like it.
But... If you look at the Federal Ammo comparator on the federal site, the 7-08 with a 140 Accubond performs a little better than the Creed with a 140 Accubond. Especially drop at 500 yards.
Link shows the two compared:
https://www.federalpremium.com/prod...ration={7FF5C5E6-B60E-4CA5-A1AE-07A721FB1CC4}

 

[GonzoK34]

Barrelnut,
I've had many discussions with friends on the merits of both calibers. Most push the 6.5CM. However as the Federal Data indicate's they are so close across practical shooting distances that it's a wash.
My rifle inventory covers 300WM, 30-06, 280, 308, 7-08, 6.5 Swede, 6.5 Grendel, 243AI, 243Rem, 223, 5.56, 22 Hornet, 22mag, and 22LR.
They all contribute to my happiness.
BUY the rifle caliber that suit's you and practice with it every chance you get. Become proficient with it. Enjoy the outdoors and past the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience of your life with your children and friends.

SEMPER FIDELIS
Sargeant of Marines
Disabled Combat Veteran 100%
Vietnam 1965/66/67
0311 Grunt

 

[Litehiker]

I have three 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. One, a Ruger Precision Rifle is for competition to 1,000 yards, the other is a Ruger American Predator W/laminated Boyd's Classic stock and Timney trigger (now for sale) and finally a beautiful Browning X-Bolt Pro with fluted barrel and bolt and carbon fiber stock, burnt bronze Cerakote on everything.This is my new "mountain" rifle.

I live in Nevada and feel the 6.5 CM is fine for deer and cow elk to 600 yards.
BUT... as mentioned here a 6.5/284 Norma has more "hunting range" with higher energy at longer distances than the smaller cased 6.5 CM.

HOWSOMEVER, if I wanted a 6.5 cartridge with better hunting range than my 6.5 CM I'd get the new Hornady 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) VERY similar to the 6.5/284 so it's a ballistic toss-up.
I think in the future it will overtake the 6.5/284 in availability given Hornady's corporate muscle and many available loads.

Eric B.

 

[Canhunter35]

You won't see much difference between the 7-08 and 6.5cm in terminal performance. Another option is the 308 with 168eldm. That's a deer slaying sucker too

 

[ATH]

I don't buy that a 243 is marginal for deer unless you are marginal at picking bullets or placing your shot. Therefore, a larger caliber bullet should only be better. If you want a 6.5CM go for it. My go-to deer rifle to moderate ranges is a 243AI. It performs well but I am a believer that larger diameters will perform better...I step up to 300WM at longer ranges and prefer 338s for elk. And at 100 yards and under a 458 SOCOM will out-perform them all.