7mm-08 or 6.5

With the 6.5 , 108- 120 gr bullets recoil like a 243 but are very good killers on game up to 400-500 lbs. And probably bigger
I like to say that the 6.5 Creedmoor kills like an 06 and kicks like a 243.
Really hard to beat.
There is a big selection of good 6.5 hunting bullets in the 120 ~ 130 Gr range. Not so much in the 284. Would help bring the recoil down and make the 6.5 Creed flatter shooting at shorter ranges.
 
I just purchased a 6.5 grendel for my wife and little girl. I dont have a personal preference between 6.5 creedmoor or the 7mm-08 because they are so close in ballistics
 
I personally had a rifle built for 7mm 08 and was specific to shoot 162 bullets with a CBTO 10 thou off the lands and A COAL of 2.980 so they'd remain inside a 3.0 Wyatt internal mag box and a bartlein B3 25.5 inch braked barrel.

Yes I'm aware I can't chase the lands when erosion starts. HOWEVER a plus is that certain 140 gr factory offerings produce .5 MOA groups at .150 off the lands and I've run some 168 VLDs at 56 thou and got .4 groups at just shy of 2800. So there's room for erosion or I just get another barrel when the 162s stop shooting. ps I'm also aware I got lucky betting on the 162's but it was my money to bet hahaha.

This being a long range forum and giving hard data to the OP. I'll expound that I'm running the 162 ELD'M's behind 42.4 grs of Varget and get 2802 fps ave. with an ES of 4. That includes CCI 250 primers and Lapua brass. When I run 2802 fps through my ballistics software it has the energy / velocity according to bullet manufacturer spec to cleaning take game up to Elk size out to 800 yds. In addition because the velocity is relatively low it's capable of short range performance with the same bullet and since my 15 yr old daughter runs this gun recoil is mild.

As a side note which really doesn't help the OP. The combined accuracy that this rifle / myself produced was a 1 5/8 inch group at 600 yards and I'll quietly share who built it and provide the load development and target groups I worked up in support.

All that being said I'm not sure a 6.5 can produce similar killing power at comparable distances and velocities since it can't push a 162 grain bullet. I'd like to hear from the 6.5 guys on these ballistic points NOT looking for a debate but rather a factual comparison so the OP can consider them.
 
I have read this thread with some interest, because I've been thinking about buying a sporter. I've been a competitive rifle shooter for decades, but have never been hunting. Haven't made any decisions because I don't even know what or where I would hunt. I picked up a Rem mod 7 in 7/08 at a gunstore, Wow, what a difference from a LV benchrest, or a 14lb F-class rifle. Then I saw a custom Borden Alpine actioned .280Rem A.I. not as handy, but I can see how it would be so much more capable with heavier bullets at longer ranges. Then I had to wonder why the scoped AR-10 I already own wouldn't do 90% of what either of them would do.
 
Wife is getting into hunting and was debating on which gun to buy her I have the option to buy a Remington 700 6.5 Creedmoor or a Remington model 7 in a 7-08 both are price the same I reload and have a lot of 7mm Bullets but I also have 160- 147gr eld match factory rounds for the 6.5
Which one would you all recommend and why
Is your wife a typical stature women or a Amazonian? If she is like my wife she is under 5 foot 5 inches and grew up hunting with a shotgun. So I would go with a Remington Model 7 because they can be had in insanely light configurations over the years in wood or in synthetic. The Model 7 currently comes in 7-08 I think. Prior to Ultra Light Arms and Colt Buying the rights to it the Model 7 was problem the first mainstream mass produced "Mountain Rifle". Sure you can put a pencil thin barrel on a Mauser and a light weight stock but it is hard to intelligently take metal out of an action it is better just to start lighter!

On the light weight side of things the Rugger American is light weight and can be had in 6.5 Creedmore and 7-08. My oldest son traded me his M48 for my Ruger AMerican in 243 along with a Wilson 7mm #4 barrel. So it will soon be wearing a 7mm-08 barrel.

The Ruger American Compact "girl friendly" is also available in 7-08 and in "Muddy Girl Camouflage".

6 of one and half a dozen of the other! LOl The 7-08 has more potential for a reloader and you can choose cheaper brass for 7-08 but Creedmoor you are pretty much locked into fairly expensive brass or really expensive brass. If I was going to get into a 6.5 for hunting it would be Remington 260 not the 6.5x47 or 6.5-284 especialy if I am looking at a small stature young boy or your average women. The 7x57 Mauser which is what the 7-08 was meant to replicate here in America is a prolific hunting cartridge. I have not played around witht he Creedmoor but to be honest is does not do anything for me on paper too many cartridges that are more readily available at a Walmart or KMart near you that have cheaper brass and more flexible from reduced power loads up to far higher than SAAMI in CPI approved formats etc....

Looking at what the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed to do it makes sense as does the 6.5x47 but when you take those cartridges outside of their intended uses they quickly seem rather stupid to be Frank. If you are going to get a Remington why get it in 6.5 Creedmore you might as well make use of the added weight.

If it for deer and antelope sized game a 243 is ideal and has been used by children and women especially! If you stalk in close the 243 can be used on Elk although not my first choice by far. If you move up to 7-08 You can take some fairly long shots on Elk, Caribou, Mouse,Deer, Black Bear etc.... think of it as better than 308 Win down range but not as good as a 30-06 with less recoil than the 308 Win. For a light weight Mountain Rifle for a man it is not an impressive cartridge to cartridge snobs but it is an all around fantastic compromise doing a lot of things really well!

Now if we were considering the cheap brass Remington 260 for hunting I would give it a slight edge over the 7-08 only because so many companies make really good bullets in 6.5mm due to the popularity with target shooters! I think bullet variety for what is essentially the same parent case slightly favors the 6.5mm. We have to keep in mind that prob. half of all bullets will be lighter than you want to use or heavier than the parent case has powder capacity to throw with enough speed with them being meant for various maganum class 6.5mm or 7mm cases.

Ultimately it really wont matter outside of weight and recoil. In the hands of a reloader either will do fine I am sure!
 
Wife is getting into hunting and was debating on which gun to buy her I have the option to buy a Remington 700 6.5 Creedmoor or a Remington model 7 in a 7-08 both are price the same I reload and have a lot of 7mm Bullets but I also have 160- 147gr eld match factory rounds for the 6.5
Which one would you all recommend and why
For cartridges you can't go wrong with either one. I see some fine rifles have been suggested as well. The only thing I would add is to consider a Tikka rifle. They are very good. Honestly, unless she plans to shoot long distance I would put more work into matching her with a rifle she likes than a cartridge. Good luck. Not all guys have wives that are willing to do this.
 
Wife is getting into hunting and was debating on which gun to buy her I have the option to buy a Remington 700 6.5 Creedmoor or a Remington model 7 in a 7-08 both are price the same I reload and have a lot of 7mm Bullets but I also have 160- 147gr eld match factory rounds for the 6.5
Which one would you all recommend and why

''jbo829''
If you wife hasn't been shooting before, I'd be getting her used to firing a .22lr so she doesn't develop a flinch. she'll soon be wanting you to take her to the range each week! Move up through the low recoiling center fires, .204 and .223 are a good start, then build up to the .243 or the 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
I'd just get the rifle you want. I prefer the Model 7 over any current production 700. As a reloader you can adjust the loads right where you want them. I didn't see the area or type of hunting listed?

Most of us could likely list 40 'ideal' deer hunting rounds. I do have a CZ in 6.5x50, fine round. The Creedmore seems to have caught on well, but it's no magic wand. My Son just took a deer with a K-31 in 7.5 Swiss. He likes milsurps, it's ballistically close to a 308.

I've backed off a bit from my usual 308. I'd use a 243 or 284 Win more often today, then there's the 6.5x50 or the 7mm-08.
 
She shoots a 12ga pretty good but she hunts with a 20ga and she has shoot my ar-15 and shoots with handguns as well she loves to shoot so first hand gun I bought her is a sub sauer mosquito 22lr and she loves to shoot she now carries a Ruger lc9
''jbo829''
If you wife hasn't been shooting before, I'd be getting her used to firing a .22lr so she doesn't develop a flinch. she'll soon be wanting you to take her to the range each week! Move up through the low recoiling center fires, .204 and .223 are a good start, then build up to the .243 or the 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
I appreciate the tips from each and everyone of you I enjoy getting and here and always getting feedback and not having people start arguing about stuff
I talked to her last night about other possibilities and when I get back home we are going fun hunting so she can get a feel for which rifle fits her better she is 5'5" so she is on average side
To the gentleman that recommended the tikka I will look into it since I my self haven't held one and I see a lot of people here talk good about them
 
El Matador has it right. The 7/08 is a wonderful deer whacker out to 2-300 yds. I gave my 22" barreled Rem 600 to a son of an outfitter in Mt. and he killed a cow elk with it. The 140 gr. bullet has a lot of stopping power in it. That rifle was light weight, accurate and easy to shoot. I also now have the 6.5 Creed and it too is a fine number. Your wife seems to be recoil shy as she says she wants a 243. Why not go with a 6 Creedmoor? They come with barrel twists for heavy bullets, recoil about like the 243, and are super accurate. If you reload, it's one of the easiest I have ever loaded!
 
My daughter Hunted with a Winchester featherweight in a 243 for the first two years of hunting that I had to take a stock and shorten it for her to use. I was not a fan of the exit holes on the 243 hunting in heavy CRP ground lack of Blood Trail was a big decision on moving her up to a 6-5 Creedmoor. I put together a Savage Axis change the trigger to a timney trigger took and put a muddy girl youth stock on it for the correct length of pull for her she told me that the recoil difference is very minimal she can't hardly tell it. She is shooting 129 grain Hornady SST. The biggest thing is making sure whatever gun you get fits her
20180922_200849.jpg
 
I personally had a rifle built for 7mm 08 and was specific to shoot 162 bullets with a CBTO 10 thou off the lands and A COAL of 2.980 so they'd remain inside a 3.0 Wyatt internal mag box and a bartlein B3 25.5 inch braked barrel.

Yes I'm aware I can't chase the lands when erosion starts. HOWEVER a plus is that certain 140 gr factory offerings produce .5 MOA groups at .150 off the lands and I've run some 168 VLDs at 56 thou and got .4 groups at just shy of 2800. So there's room for erosion or I just get another barrel when the 162s stop shooting. ps I'm also aware I got lucky betting on the 162's but it was my money to bet hahaha.

This being a long range forum and giving hard data to the OP. I'll expound that I'm running the 162 ELD'M's behind 42.4 grs of Varget and get 2802 fps ave. with an ES of 4. That includes CCI 250 primers and Lapua brass. When I run 2802 fps through my ballistics software it has the energy / velocity according to bullet manufacturer spec to cleaning take game up to Elk size out to 800 yds. In addition because the velocity is relatively low it's capable of short range performance with the same bullet and since my 15 yr old daughter runs this gun recoil is mild.

As a side note which really doesn't help the OP. The combined accuracy that this rifle / myself produced was a 1 5/8 inch group at 600 yards and I'll quietly share who built it and provide the load development and target groups I worked up in support.

All that being said I'm not sure a 6.5 can produce similar killing power at comparable distances and velocities since it can't push a 162 grain bullet. I'd like to hear from the 6.5 guys on these ballistic points NOT looking for a debate but rather a factual comparison so the OP can consider them.
Are you running 162 ELD-X? Irun 160AB in my 7.08 and it's a show stopper for deer.
 
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