7-08 Ackley Improved or 6.5 Creedmore

[Marble]

I am in the planning stages of building a rifle for myself that I will use for mostly hunting, but some target practicing. Currently, I shoot a Browning A-Bolt 1, rechambered in a 7-08AI with a factory barrell. It shoots about .75"group, 2950 fps with a nosler accubond 140 bullet. It shoots real well for buying it second hand with all the work already done to it.

The reason I put these two cartridges up against each other is becuse I would like good accuracy, somewhere around 1/2 MOA, decent velocity and long range killing ability. For the 7-08 I feel comfortable shooting it out to 500 at deer sized game. Depending on how the numbers go Imight be able to extend that range. It doesn't have that great of a scope on it, so maybe changing it a little would help.


Is the 6.5 Creedmore an awesome enough cartridge to accomplish what I want? Is it what everyne has said it is? Or is the ease of using my current reloading knowledge, plus the equipment, bullets and powder, fire formed brass and custom dies where I should stick?

The gun will be either based upon the Savage Target action or the sporter, undecided on barrell and stock. If anyone wants to chime on the barrell and stock, feel free to.

 

[Browninglover1]

I personally love the 6.5 creedmoor, it provides great ballistics, excellent factory ammo, good brass (I've for 5 loads on mine and primer pockets are as tight as when they were new), excellent accuracy and low recoil.

That being said, if you're already set up to load for the 7-08 I don't see any reason to go with the creedmoor unless you just want something new

 

[Marble]

That being said, if you're already set up to load for the 7-08 I don't see any reason to go with the creedmoor unless you just want something new

Thanks for the input. The only additional cost, or possible cost with the 708 is reaming the chamber out. I would either have to let the barrell maker do it (if they would) or my local smith. I talked to him today and he think he has the reamer of the 7-08. so the extra cost of reaming might something to consider.

 

[HorizonFirearms]

If you are set up with the 7-08 i would stay with it. I personally use a Creedmoor that I built. I love the gun and have dumped deer out to 736 with it with 129 grain factory bullets. It is a smoking little round that you really dont need to reload for. although the 140s have a really good BC and my hand loads will stack them right on top of each other at 100

 

[wf deacon]

I have a 7-08 that is my primary deer rifle. Its a rem. mountain rifle that I found a load that shoots nice little 3 shot clusters. I was wanting something that I could take to the range that was fun to shoot, but I could also take hunting. The Creedmoor sounded like a round that fit my needs. I picked up a Savage Predator and I love the combo. At the range it is so much fun to punch paper with. The factory Hornady ammo was real accurate. With not a lot of effort I found a load that worked a little better than the factory. The round is just a blast to shoot. I love my 7-08 and will continue to hunt with it, but if it ever needs to be re-barreled, I can see another creedmoor in the safe.