6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 for 600 yards an in?

[ckc07]

Looking for suggestions between a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 for 600 yards and in. Looking for something a little easier to shoot for my wife. Other lower recoil calibers welcomed, but interested in the two mentioned above.

I like the 6.5 creedmoor

 

[7RemMag]

Little late to the party here maybe, but It shocks me that so many people are recommending the 6.5 Creedmoor if you're a non-reloader. There are LOTS of great factory ammo options for the 7mm-08 too, and in my experience, just as available.

I'm most definitely a 7mm fanboy, but I can't think of a single reason where I wouldn't opt for the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Looking for suggestions between a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 for 600 yards and in. Looking for something a little easier to shoot for my wife. Other lower recoil calibers welcomed, but interested in the two mentioned above.

6.5 will need at least a 20” barrel if that matters to you, .243 would be a viable option as well

 

[Barbarosa]

Either, with a well placed shot and proper bullet choice I don’t think you will notice a differance.

 

[Gargoyle]

I shoot 708 AR10 139SST and precision bolt gun 162ELDM. The 139SST are the cheapest, highest BC bullet for hogs and ringing steel 1000yds. The 162ELDM bolt gun running 2750fps is a 1000yd no worries round. If you can get the throat long enough to seat the long 162ELDM to 2.900-2.950 in a 708 then big score. I went 708AI and now realize I can just throat out a plain vanilla 708 for nearly same velocities.

With that said, the 6.5CM seems the easy button.

 

[michaelt3719]

I've got a 708 and got the Mrs a 6.5. So I've got/shot both and like them both.
The difference in recoil is not noticable.
We just shoot deer, and rarely past 300. They both drop them as well as my '06 did back when I used it, and bullet drop is basically identical out to 350 but the ballistics say the 6.5 drops a little less and hits a little harder (using comparable bullets) when you get past 450.
Wallys has 6.5 ammo but not 708. But I order our ammo off the internet (really like the Hornady American Whitetail for both, and Natchez usually has both at a good price) so that's a non issue.
I know ppl kill elk with 6.5s but it seems almost unanimous that the heavier bullets you can use in a 708 make it a little better option for elk.
So for me firsthand it's a push on recoil, how well they drop deer at normal range, and ammo availability as long as you order off the internet. From what I read, slight advantage 6.5 for long distance, slight advantage 708 for elk.

 

[Macintosh]

6.5cm factory anmo availability and selection is better by multiples. It has unarguably become one of the most popular cartridges in the US, and that shows in availability and selection. Nothing wrong with 7-08, but anyone saying availability is just as good is either fooling themselves or has a lucky situation that others may not be able to count on. Its true you can find SOME 7-08 ammo almost anywhere, but ime its rarely a broad selection, so if your gun is at all finicky or you want something specific, you might be out of luck.

Functionally, they are so close that differentiating between them is 95% in your head. I sold my 7-08 and replaced it with a 65cm, mostly because it was finicky and I had a really hard time consistently finding the ammo I wanted, even online. I think if there is any functional difference it may be that the specs on a 6.5cm seem to make them a little less finicky.

 

[Luked]

We have both. I shoot a 6.5CM a lot. Wife has a 7-08.
Same rifle platform but hers is a youth model ash she is pretty short.
I think its a coin toss personally. She runs 120gr Hornady Light Recoil rounds from hers and its a fast little thing. I run 143eldx out of mine.
Recoil wise I think is about the same. she likes her 7-08 but has shot my 6.5 quite a few times and cant tell much of a difference.

Like others said if you dont reload the 6.5 has much more options out there. But We have started to see quite a few better options for the 7-08 also. The 120 Light recoil stuff she shoots was pretty hard to find for a while. But we find it a lot more now and one of our local shops carry it.

 

[Schmo]

Man I have a big soft spot for the 7-08, but sort of a hard decision. If factory ammo, run the 6.5 with either 143 ELD-X, or a 140/147 ELD-M.

Hornady precision hunter is available for the 708 with the 150 ELD-X.

What distance is she shooting?

 

[06 SB]

Either, with a well placed shot and proper bullet choice I don’t think you will notice a difference.

I have both and would agree. About the only difference is the availability of factory ammo. The 6.5CM has more and better selection of bullets. If handloading, it really does not matter but I personally would go with the 7mm-08.

 

[LightFoot]

If you are not stuck on a short action, 25-06 and 270 are good options.

Between the two, 7mm if elk on the menu, 6.5 if not. 6.5 is adequate for elk, but I’d prefer the 7mm-08.

A good brake or suppressor and recoil will be nearly nonexistent.


>>>——JAKE——>

 

[jkoehle1]

Of your choices - 6.5 creedmoor. Way more brass and ammo options. Between the two theres not a huge difference.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I recently picked up a 7mm08 and I love it, but if I was a factory ammo guy only I'd go 6.5CM just to have the option of many different loadings I can just go buy. It may be just dependent on region but the shelves are stocked with 6.5CM and 308win where I live always.
Ive put about 500 rounds through my 6.5CM since I got it last year and I just now am beginning to load for it because factory was so good and cheap.