I have fired a coupe of bolt guns in 6.5 Creedmore, and am somewhat versed on the ballistic capabilities and advantages. Personally I would go with the 6.5 because ammunition availability has gotten pretty common, and the prices in general isn’t that outrageous.

 

I have been told that the 7mm-08 is a better "game" or hunting round

 

It seems to me that at normal hunting range the rounds would have no real difference. Anything you could do with one you could do with the other.

 

I agree

 

I don't think anything you shoot with it will be able to tell the difference. If you like 7mm bullets, go 7mm-08. If you think the sun rises and sets on 6.5 mm slugs, like me, get the 6.5.

 

what grain do you hunt with in the 6.5?

 

They are both excellent rounds!! They are both flat-shooters and both provide a healthy wallop when they arrive...Availability of ammo would be the only difference for me...

 

The 7-08 and the 260 Remington are more closely comparable but the 6.5 Creedmoor has some important differences from either of those cartridges that make it a better cartridge and contribute to it's greater inherent accuracy.

The 6.5 CM has it's shoulder set back so that the bullet can be seated further out so that the base of the projectile does not enter into the powders space. this has been shown to result in greater accuracy. Additionally, the 6.5 CM was designed from the get-go to be a benchrest cartridge and has chamber dimensions that are more conducive to accuracy than the 260 Remington or the 7mm-08.

Then there is the matter of sectional density and ballistic coefficient. The most popular weight for all three cartridges is 140 grains and in 6.5 caliber a 140 grain bullet has better sectional density and ballistic coefficient than 7mm. The ideal bullet weight for 7mm is 160 grains but to propel that weight bullet at velocities that would make it preform better you need more case capacity and it would generate more recoil.

The 7-08 has been used for benchrest competition but those rifles have custom chambers optimized for accuracy. Basically all production 6.5 Creedmoor rifles have the same chamber dimensions while 260 an d7-08 rifles have different chamber dimensions.

Hornady factory ammo for 6.5 CM is also very accurate ammo and Hornady offers reloading data to duplicate the performance of their factory ammo. The Hornady ammo is also reasonably priced.

 

What do you want to do with it? If punching paper, more match grade bullet choices in 6.5. As a hunting rig, probably a toss up. Neither case has the capacity for heavy for caliber bullets for bigger game like bull elk & moose imo, but both about the same for deer size game.

 

Seems like a lot of people use the 7mm-08 on Elk from what I have read on the inter web

 

The 6.5 Creedmoor could just as easily be used for elk considering that it's the ballistic twin of the 6.5 Swede which has been used on Elk for years in Scandinavian countries.

And as for suitible hunting bullets, Hornady makes some good ones that are also very accurate such as the 143 grain ELD-x bullet. (ELD-x stands for Extremely Low Drag - eXpanding) and is a match quality, All-range hunting bullet featuring highest-in-class ballistic coefficients and consistent, controlled expansion at all practical hunting distances.

However, I wouldn't use either one on elk. I'd like something with more projectile mass like the 338 win mag, the 35 Whelen, or the 350 Rem mag. Even a 7mm Rem mag with heavy bullets would be better and recoil is milder with the 7 mag than with the 300 or the 338. The 30-06 works good, too, with heavy bulets.

 

My preference between the two would be the 6.5, and it is plenty big enough for elk.

Esse quam videri

 

Interesting other sites seem to be puro 7mm-08 fans

 

There's nothing wrong with it considering that it duplicates the ballistics of the 7mm Mauser. But an actual 7mm Mauser chambered in a modern rifle would be better than a 7mm-08 because it could be loaded with heavier bullets at faster velocities than the 7-08 is capable of launching.

It's kind of like comparing the 308 to the 30-06. with 150 grain bullets there isn't much difference. but with 180 grains and heavier, there's a big difference and that's what makes the '06 better for elk.

 

I think the 7mm-08 with 120gr Nosler BT at 3000fps will be my choice for West Texas whitetail and muleys

 

what grain do you hunt with in the 6.5?

140 grain. Just for deer. 120s would probably be fine, but I've always been a fan of sectional density. I have more confidence in a slug that will shoot through from any angle.

 

Well I got some of those too

 

Idk, a number of years ago, I built a 260 using a shilen barrel. I don't think it gives up anything against the 6.5 Creedmoor. 7-08 I have no idea since I've never fired one. I also reload, so all my ammo is tuned to the rifle.

 

My .260 Remington outperforms my Creedmore in every way...case capacity tells the story.

 

I own and shoot both. Have killed deer with both. Have shot long range with both.

People like to argue paper ballistics. They will talk about BC and Sectional Density like they are the only thing that makes a difference and you will be a a significant disadvantage if you don't buy something like a Creedmore.

The truth is not nearly that simple. The #1 factor that will determine your success with a rifle is the skill of the jerker on the trigger. No ballistic advantage of ANY cartridge will allow you to outperform a highly skilled rifleman. I'd put my money on a high master shooting a lowly .308 over a Expert with a 6.5 any day of the week and in any windage situation. I've seen WAY too many people show up in unlimited class long range events with 7mm Rem Mags and 300 Win Mags get their clocks cleaned by people shooting .308 match rifles.

In hunting situations BC and SD are likewise nearly pointless to discuss for all shots on game inside of 300 yards. The ballisitic advantages are so sight at those distances its literally arguing about 1/4" windage advantages Who cares? Put simply--if you can't fetch your deer with a 7-08 it doubtful a Creedmore will do it for you either... LOL The 7-08 has a velocity advantage over the 6.5 because it has larger case capacity. Anyone who thinks the 6.5 is the only cartridge around that now has long high BC bullets available hasn't looked very hard lately. The old 7mm 168 gr Sierra Match King with a BC of .494 won a lot of long range matches back in the day. And its no slouch against any 6.5 bullet on the market today. Hornady makes a 7mm 162 grain ELD with a higher BC than the 143 6.5 and And the 7-08 can drive it at 2,700 fps....just as fast as the 143 grain 6.5 CM... So again....where's the advantage for the 6.5 if the 7-08 can drive a heavier higher BC bullet just as fast as the lighter CM? Maybe a recoil advantage....?

In my 6.5 and .260 Remington with hunting bullets in the 120-130 gr range there's no need to fret about seating long VLD type bullets way out of the case to gain some space for powder.

In any match rifle other than an AR10 style gun where you are limited to .308 size magazines there should be no real concern there either unless you are married to the idea that a 1/2" shorter action is required for your needs....use a long action and the magazine length is no longer a constraint. Or use a short action and the 6.5CM...and make the compromises work for you..

In short...there's no huge advantage either way. I would not sell my 7-08 to buy a 6.5CM or vice versa because there simply is not a huge advantage either way.

 

I like the 260Rem a lot but I don't reload so the 7mm-08 seemed like the smarter caliber to go with to find hunting ammo at Academy, midway etc etc and I wanted a Ruger American rifle and they don't chamber it in 260Rem that I know of and I have a 25-06 too

 

I have said before if you can hunt and shoot the 308 is all you need in the lower 48. If you can't hunt or shoot it doesn't matter what you use.

The 7-08 is very similar to the 280. The 6.5 is very similar to the 270. So the debate is similar to a 270 vs 280. Not much difference.

So to throw gas on the discussion I say the 7-08 is better west of the Mississippi and the 6.5 is better east of the Mississippi.

 

270 Winchester....uttahere:

 

But soooo boring. Why I have a 280 n my only custom built rifle. Is it better, no, but it is different.

 

I have said before if you can hunt and shoot the 308 is all you need in the lower 48. If you can't hunt or shoot it doesn't matter what you use.

The 7-08 is very similar to the 280. The 6.5 is very similar to the 270. So the debate is similar to a 270 vs 280. Not much difference.

So to throw gas on the discussion I say the 7-08 is better west of the Mississippi and the 6.5 is better east of the Mississippi.

well I am waaaay West of the Mississippi so I went 7mm-08 lol

 

I have said before if you can hunt and shoot the 308 is all you need in the lower 48. If you can't hunt or shoot it doesn't matter what you use.

The 7-08 is very similar to the 280. The 6.5 is very similar to the 270. So the debate is similar to a 270 vs 280. Not much difference.

So to throw gas on the discussion I say the 7-08 is better west of the Mississippi and the 6.5 is better east of the Mississippi.

Well...you'd be wrong about both of those. Intermediate rounds like the 6.5 and 7-08 etc are decent enough in their own right. But a 270 Win has been pushing 130 grain bullets at 3150 fps for nigh on 90 years and no Creedmoor will get within 300 fps of that. And the 280 likewise will beat the pants off a 7-08 with similar weight bullets. So...close...but no cigar.

 

Well I am glad I got a 280 Remington too!....... Don't want my pants beat off!

 

I don’t have a 6.5 but from what I read on the deer hunting forums you don’t even have to fire it. Apparently the deer just die when they come into view.... IMHO it’s about as over hyped as I’ve seen in a while and I’m not just talking about rifle calibers. 6.5 cm def have a fan boy following. I have several 7mm guns but all in Remington or Weatherby mag. I love the 7mm platform mag or -08. I tend to go with bigger calibers when hunting but that’s my personal preference. If I lose some meat I’m ok with that to know I have the firepower to put the animal down if I don’t make the perfect shot. 7mm was my go to hunting rifle for over 10 years until I got a .300 Jarrett. Now I pretty much use it if I’m going for deer, elk, hog, moose, or any pretty much any game in North America. I like having 1 rifle that I can use for everything and the .300 has more than the power to allow me to do that even if I want to hunt bear, cougar, or any other dangerous game in the America’s and covers most of what I would go for in Africa.

As a hunting rifle I think you are better off with the 7mm. Short of dangerous game or moose it has that covered. Even with elk I think the 7mm-08 is more than capable until you start talking 350+ yard shots. I think the 7mm has a better chance of putting the animal on the ground over the 6.5 in the case of a shot that is jus ever so slightly off the mark. That said both will put animals down and meat in the freezer.


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I don’t have a 6.5 but from what I read on the deer hunting forums you don’t even have to fire it. Apparently the deer just die when they come into view.... IMHO it’s about as over hyped as I’ve seen in a while and I’m not just talking about rifle calibers. 6.5 cm def have a fan boy following. I have several 7mm guns but all in Remington or Weatherby mag. I love the 7mm platform mag or -08. I tend to go with bigger calibers when hunting but that’s my personal preference. If I lose some meat I’m ok with that to know I have the firepower to put the animal down if I don’t make the perfect shot. 7mm was my go to hunting rifle for over 10 years until I got a .300 Jarrett. Now I pretty much use it if I’m going for deer, elk, hog, moose, or any pretty much any game in North America. I like having 1 rifle that I can use for everything and the .300 has more than the power to allow me to do that even if I want to hunt bear, cougar, or any other dangerous game in the America’s and covers most of what I would go for in Africa.

As a hunting rifle I think you are better off with the 7mm. Short of dangerous game or moose it has that covered. Even with elk I think the 7mm-08 is more than capable until you start talking 350+ yard shots. I think the 7mm has a better chance of putting the animal on the ground over the 6.5 in the case of a shot that is jus ever so slightly off the mark. That said both will put animals down and meat in the freezer.


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I agree so I went with 7mm-08

 

Awesome choice. I don’t have children but I have a nephew that will be 9 this summer and wants to hunt in the fall. I have told my sister Im going to get him a gun to hunt with bc his father doesn’t own a gun or hunt. The 7mm-08 is on the short list along with a .25-06. I considered a .243 and I know it’s a good starter caliber for deer but would prefer a little more thump. I’ll really have to think about it as I don’t want to get him something that the recoil scares him. I’ve let him shoot at my house several times but with a .22 auto. I may try to get my hand on a .410 or let him shot my 28 gauge O/U to get him used to a little more recoil.


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.308 , 7mm-08 and 6.5 CM will all do the same job close enough that paper , steel or animals will not know the difference.

 

The 243 is a great caliber for deer. If you want to start the kid out with low recoil the 5.56 with a 77gr tmk will put deer down quick to well past most adults effective range.

Esse quam videri

 

When I was a Youth hunter there was no 7mm-08 yet so my grandfather gave me a Belgium made browning BLR in 243 and had the stock cut down to fit me when I was about 9-10 with a 6x weaver on it killed many whitetail bucks with that gun

Still have the exact gun.....