6.5creedmoor vs 7mm08 for whitetails under 350 yards

[antelopedundee]

Antelopedundee, if that question was meant for me, it may be above my paygrade.

If you are talking about forming 6.5 creedmoor cases, I can't answer because the Creedmoor is not a direct descendent of the 308. I don't know how to make Creedmoor brass

If you had a 260 Rem, which is a 6.5 based on the 308, I would guess your best options would be to neck up a 243 or neck down a 7mm-08.

For my own use, I dislike headstamps that don't match what I'm shooting. But I do think that the 6.5-06 may be the best round based on the '06 case. I love my 25-06, but maybe I'd love it more in 6.5.

I guess it was mostly a general reply that anyone is free to answer. At this point one could simply buy some 6.5 CM brass and save it for that rainy day that may never come. Unfortunately the 6.5-06 brass is not available with its own headstamp and I suppose that it's possible one of the major brass makers would do it if one wanted to buy enough pieces. The easiest way to make 6.5-06 or the AI version is to seat a 6.5mm bullet in a new or fired .25-06 case. Since I have both .25-06 and 6.5-06 chambered rifles, I usually make my 6.5 ammo from .270 cases. I'll take one of each hunting next fall and load my 6.5-06 ammo in nickel plated cases just to avoid any possible mix-up!

 

[Orange Dust]

I will say this about the 7-08. Pretty easy to load an hbn coated 139gr SST to exceed the 140 gr psp factory loads in a 7MM mag that comes in Green boxes with half the recoil. 24" barrels in both. That stuff would do about 2950 in my old Remington 7 mag.. Hornady Superformance SST factory ammo is right with it. My girls have shot many whitetails with this load. Sometimes, right behind the BACK shoulders. They never lost one, but Daddy made them clean those. Excellent cartridge for Whitetails. Don't think you could have made a better choice for her in the first place. Guess I just have a soft spot for it.

 

[Slope77]

Really, it seems like the choice comes down to the rifles available in each cartridge as much as anything. I have Model 70s in 243 and 7mm-08, not so much because I thought they were better - the M70 just wasn't made in 6.5CM until now. I don't see enough difference to sell what I have to buy the CM.

 

[Slope77]

I guess it was mostly a general reply that anyone is free to answer. At this point one could simply buy some 6.5 CM brass and save it for that rainy day that may never come. Unfortunately the 6.5-06 brass is not available with its own headstamp and I suppose that it's possible one of the major brass makers would do it if one wanted to buy enough pieces. The easiest way to make 6.5-06 or the AI version is to seat a 6.5mm bullet in a new or fired .25-06 case. Since I have both .25-06 and 6.5-06 chambered rifles, I usually make my 6.5 ammo from .270 cases. I'll take one of each hunting next fall and load my 6.5-06 ammo in nickel plated cases just to avoid any possible mix-up!

I do that with 7mm-08 and 243 as well! Nickel for the '08 and brass for the 243.

 

[goodkid1]

If you want a 6.5CM just because you want one, go for it. But thinking that it might somehow be better then the 7mm-08 for whitetail deer, is backwards. They're both going to work just fine, but of the 2, I would opt for the 7mm-08 any day.

There has been a huge surge in 6.5creedmoor lately and I think I want to jump in on that train. I do already own a 7mm08 for my wife and she loves the rifle... many people on here would say "since you already have reloading dies for that why not stick with it"...well I am a tinkerer so a new caliber is always welcome in our stable. My concerns are two fold though...is the 6.5creedmoor here to stay or will it become difficult to find ammo over the counter and brass for reloading? Is the 6.5cm truly a good whitetail caliber OR is it more towards the unsuitable side similar to a 243 (I am a believe in dead is dead so why not have the horse power if you do not mind the recoil). yes I know plenty of 243s have killed a ton of deer but I still think it is a marginal caliber for strictly deer.

There has been a huge surge in 6.5creedmoor lately and I think I want to jump in on that train. I do already own a 7mm08 for my wife and she loves the rifle... many people on here would say "since you already have reloading dies for that why not stick with it"...well I am a tinkerer so a new caliber is always welcome in our stable. My concerns are two fold though...is the 6.5creedmoor here to stay or will it become difficult to find ammo over the counter and brass for reloading? Is the 6.5cm truly a good whitetail caliber OR is it more towards the unsuitable side similar to a 243 (I am a believe in dead is dead so why not have the horse power if you do not mind the recoil). yes I know plenty of 243s have killed a ton of deer but I still think it is a marginal caliber for strictly deer.

The 6.5 CM is here to stay. I have shot deer with a .243 for 20 years, am a good mid-range deer shooter (250 to 500 yards) and have never had a deer travel more than 15 feet after the well placed shot, but they almost always were kicking around enough that I felt I had to take a second coup-des-gras shot to end any suffering. So I picked up a Savage 6.5 CM light weight hunter for this year's hunt. My deer went down in his tracks at 230 yards, and only kicked for about three seconds. I feel the extra power and bullet weight (140 grains) made the difference.

 

[WildRose]

No matter how you slice it the 6.5 is less gun. That being said it will never matter until a less than perfect hit is made. Then the 7-08 will always have an advantage. Sounds more like an excuse for you a new gun to play with than really for her. If you really want a 6.5, buy one. If she WANTS a new gun, why not buy her what SHE wants. Or, If you like your Doctor you can keep your Doctor... Something like that.

Well, that's just not true. The 6.5 will ballistically out peform the 7mm in every respect other than energy.

Shots do not have to be perfect to kill either. The vital zone on a deer is about 10x24" and it's much larger on Elk and Moose measuring spine to heart and diaphragm to the bend of the neck.

 

[WildRose]

I'm a 6.5mm man muhself 6.5-06 or the AI version, but I've no desire for a 6.5 CM. For the OP, IMO most of that stuff is more alike than it is different, so it comes down to choice/preference.

Just curious, but if push ever came to shove, what's the most common parent case one would use to make one's own cases? .243Win? If twas me I'd prefer to neck up rather than neck down.

.30TC for the CM and .308win for the .243 and .260. One of the big reasons I chose the .260 over the CM.

No matter what happens in this world we'll always be able to find .308win brass, and you can easily do it in two steps for either the .260 or .243 from the .308.

 

[WildRose]

Whenever I see a post that says "a .243 is marginal for deer" I just smile at the ignorance. Like you - well over 40 deer, a few elk, several antelope. None of them required 2 shots. 85 grain tsx at 3250 is the best deer killer I've ever shot. Hardly any meat damage either if you place your shot in the right place.

The old Remington "Woodmaster" 742 in .243 was the center of the centerfire world for us kids growing up. It was "the deer rifle" my mom, brother, sister, and I all shot when we were young until we were ready to graduate to either the 06 or 7RM.

It's not the perfect round for much of anything but it was very good for coyotes, bobcats, deer, and antelope for the whole family excepting my dad who alway shot his 06 or 7RM.

Too many people get stuck in the rut they fall into where the get told "by a good friend who really knows this stuff", or what someone said on the internet rather than verifiable facts when it comes to what rounds are suitable for which species.

It's like we keep hearing that the 6.5's aren't suitable for anything bigger than deer in the US when in fact they are the most popular rounds worldwide or European Elk, Moose, boar, and African Plains game.

I've piled up over a hundred hogs a year with the .260 for five years now and I know a lot of folks who've used the .243 with equal or almost equal success and wild hogs are much, much denser bodied than any of our deer species.

 

[WildRose]

Lol insulting much?!? This rifle has such a small stock I will not be able to shoot it well so why would I want it. It is 100% her choice, I'm just trying to get her the info. FYI, we decided on the 6.5cm. I hope the deer don't mind it's less gun

While I was in Lubbock yesterday I had some time to kill so of course I wondered through a couple of gun shops.

I've always been impressed with the kimbers and came across several of the M84's in different grades in 6.5 CM so I thought of this thread.

Not sure of what your budget is but I was looking at several very light versions that struck me as perfect for the average gal or kid to haul around even on "all day" hunts in the back country. They would be worth looking at.

 

[antelopedundee]

Well, that's just not true. The 6.5 will ballistically out peform the 7mm in every respect other than energy.

Shots do not have to be perfect to kill either. The vital zone on a deer is about 10x24" and it's much larger on Elk and Moose measuring spine to heart and diaphragm to the bend of the neck.

It's the bullet and not the gun or cartridge which propelled it it. A 6.5mm 130 grain bullet at 2900 fps from an 8 or 9 twist barrel will do its terminal thing to the target regardless of how it got there. Maybe it's just a matter of efficiency, accuracy, barrel life, etc. which causes one person to choose cartridge A or B over all of the others.

 

[antelopedundee]

.30TC for the CM and .308win for the .243 and .260. One of the big reasons I chose the .260 over the CM.

No matter what happens in this world we'll always be able to find .308win brass, and you can easily do it in two steps for either the .260 or .243 from the .308.

I was suggesting using the .243 brass as a source to make the 6.5CM, not looking for a way to make .243 Win brass. Is the .30 T/C brass easier to come by that .243 Win brass? I'd think that .243 brass will always be around somewhere.

 

[WildRose]

I was suggesting using the .243 brass as a source to make the 6.5CM, not looking for a way to make .243 Win brass. Is the .30 T/C brass easier to come by that .243 Win brass? I'd think that .243 brass will always be around somewhere.

I got that but it won't work, as the parent case for the CM is the .30TC. The TC is both shorter and fatter than the .308.

Long after the .243 brass is dead and gone though you'll still be able to find .308 brass and from it you can make either .243 or .260 ammo.

 

[WildRose]

It's the bullet and not the gun or cartridge which propelled it it. A 6.5mm 130 grain bullet at 2900 fps from an 8 or 9 twist barrel will do its terminal thing to the target regardless of how it got there. Maybe it's just a matter of efficiency, accuracy, barrel life, etc. which causes one person to choose cartridge A or B over all of the others.

I think it's more just that like choosing Ford, Chevy, Dodge we try to justify our choices with or without actual facts to back them up and of course loyalty. I know Ford, Chevy, and Dodge families that have driven their choice for decades and would consider anyone in the family buying anything else a traitor.

I only have one real prejudice when it comes to rifle calibers and that's my beloved 7mm STW's.

Even when it comes to rifles my preference is for the CRF M70 but I have a pile of M700's AR's and M1A's as well.

 

[antelopedundee]

I think it's more just that like choosing Ford, Chevy, Dodge we try to justify our choices with or without actual facts to back them up and of course loyalty. I know Ford, Chevy, and Dodge families that have driven their choice for decades and would consider anyone in the family buying anything else a traitor.

I only have one real prejudice when it comes to rifle calibers and that's my beloved 7mm STW's.

Even when it comes to rifles my preference is for the CRF M70 but I have a pile of M700's AR's and M1A's as well.

Don't get me wrong as I'm as biased in my choices as many others. I'm partial to Rem 700s since I'm a lefty and back in the mid-late 70s they were my best and most affordable option. Since that was a .30-06, I'm partial to that case and its derivatives.