7mm-08 vs. 6.5 PRC for muleys

[Newtosavage]

I have a 7mm-08 and love the cartridge. Its a sweetheart and really versatile. I bought a 6.5prc end of last season. (I love the 7mm-08 cartridge but not the rifle I have it chambered in.) If you are shooting anything at further range, wind calls are easier with the 6.5prc. As long as the energy is there with todays scopes, dialing for distance/drop really isn't much of an issue any more. Wind still tends to be an overlooked factor for many hunters. That said, at closer ranges, it really doesn't matter. Ammo avialblity for the 6.5prc is pretty great now. To practice, you can buy Norma Match for pretty cheap and end up with great brass to reload. More and more factory options for 6.5prc hunting ammo. All that said, it probably comes down to do you want to invest and learn a new cartridge. I find it fun, but it takes time. The 6.5prc is now my go to for my big country mule hunt in ID every year. But I love the 7mm-08 enough that I'm building one on a AnTi action because I love the round. That said I have killed more deer with my 30-06 than anything else and that cartridge is about as old as they get.

Good info. Yes, part of this is just about enjoying the process of learning a new cartridge. To me, that's time well spent, so I'm looking for my next one. Not much I don't know about the 7mm-08 these days. Been loading for about 8 different rifles in that round for close to 10 years now. It's still probably the best all-arounder I can think of, but variety is the spice of life, as they say.

 

[ZWA]

If you want to extend your range and effectiveness go put a 162 ELDM with H4350 in the 7-08. The BC of .67 @ 2750 is way more capable than people realize.

Below is a my chart at 40* and 8500’. Bullet is still above terminal limit and 1000# of energy at 1000yrds.

 

[Steve O]

You are going to get many different opinions on a cartridge subject and I'm sure the haters will hate my recommendation but who cares about them. The 6.5 Creedmoor is a phenomenal hunting cartridge and has technology built into it and would be my choice over both of the above mentioned. You don't need a magnum and in the mountains you won't be shooting far (500 yards would be a long shot). I hunt big mountain mule deer only and my average shot is 83 yards. I built a custom rifle for specifically 500 max yardage. If I had to choose between the two mentioned above I would chose the 7mm-08 with 120 or 140 grain bullets for mule deer. You don't need a muzzle break or a suppressor which will give you a light weight mountain rifle for mule deer. Or whatever country you chase them in. Hope this helps.

Was that custom rifle a 6.5 CM?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

If you want to extend your range and effectiveness go put a 162 ELDM with H4350 in the 7-08. The BC of .67 @ 2750 is way more capable than people realize.

Below is a my chart at 40* and 8500’. Bullet is still above terminal limit and 1000# of energy at 1000yrds.

View attachment 575926

Impressive as that 7mm-08 is exceeding a lot of 7 RM loads.

 

[amassi]

Impressive as that 7mm-08 is exceeding a lot of 7 RM loads.

Really makes you wonder the usefulness of belted magnums anymore


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[WeiserBucks]

Impressive as that 7mm-08 is exceeding a lot of 7 RM loads.

How so?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

How so?

That a 7mm-08 with the 162 gr ELDM and that specific powder maintains velocity about 200 yards or so better than many COTS 7mm RM loads (granted its at higher elevation but still exceeds them at say 5K).

 

[TxLite]

Impressive as that 7mm-08 is exceeding a lot of 7 RM loads.

Staball 6.5 hit 2720 with the 168 vldh in my 22” 7-08 with Alpha brass. 7-08 is a very capable cartridge.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I would single feed a 7prc with a 162gr ELD-M and keep the barrel 18-20".

 

[WeiserBucks]

That a 7mm-08 with the 162 gr ELDM and that specific powder maintains velocity about 200 yards or so better than many COTS 7mm RM loads (granted its at higher elevation but still exceeds them at say 5K).

What is a COTS load? Any bullet out of a 7-08 isn't going to touch a 180 at 2950 out of a 7 RM.

 

[Fire power]

7-08 is a highly underrated chambering. fun to shoot too. keep your 47L and get a 7mm08 to shoot critters with.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

What is a COTS load? Any bullet out of a 7-08 isn't going to touch a 180 at 2950 out of a 7 RM.

Commercial Off The Shelf.

The load ZWA referenced does smoke a lot of commercial loads for the 7RM.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Commercial Off The Shelf.

Thanks, learned a new term that I wasn't familiar with.

 

[Scorpion]

I have three 7mm-08’s (one is AI’d), one 6.5 PRC, and one 6.5 Creedmoor. I’d have no qualms using any of them for mule deer. The 7mm-08 is a fantastic cartridge and would work well with any quality bullet. The 6.5 PRC paired with a 143 ELD-X or similar would also be a great choice. I don’t think you’d notice much of a difference inside 300-400 yards though.

 

[EMAZ]

Since you have a 7mm-08 and like it, have reload capabilities, why not keep the 7mm-08 and add a .280AI… pretty comparable to the 6.5 PRC, and would have short/long action rifles shooting .284 bullets.

 

[grfox92]

If you want to extend your range and effectiveness go put a 162 ELDM with H4350 in the 7-08. The BC of .67 @ 2750 is way more capable than people realize.

Below is a my chart at 40* and 8500’. Bullet is still above terminal limit and 1000# of energy at 1000yrds.

View attachment 575926

This is insane. I've always considered an 08 to be a slightly faster .308

That combo if those numbers are accurate is deadly out to 1000 yards with an eldm.

I'm curious what that load would look like in a .308.

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[Newtosavage]

If you want to extend your range and effectiveness go put a 162 ELDM with H4350 in the 7-08. The BC of .67 @ 2750 is way more capable than people realize.

Below is a my chart at 40* and 8500’. Bullet is still above terminal limit and 1000# of energy at 1000yrds.

View attachment 575926

I used the 162 ELD-X in my 7mm-08 for one of my first elk loads. And it was stupid accurate. I still have a target face in my basement of a 1.8" group I shot at 400 yards at a range in Colorado. The ELD-X is certainly a great bullet for the 7mm-08 if you're willing to use lead. My load was with 8208 XBR and was about 2650 fps, but that high bc heavy bullet had great numbers out to any range I'd ever be willing to shoot.

 

[Newtosavage]

Since you have a 7mm-08 and like it, have reload capabilities, why not keep the 7mm-08 and add a .280AI… pretty comparable to the 6.5 PRC, and would have short/long action rifles shooting .284 bullets.

Thought of that many times. I've lost track of how many .280AI's I've had in my hands, but I've never been able to buy one, mostly because of that long action. If I went long action, I'd probably just go .270 for the component availability. Speaking of .277 projectiles, I've always thought the .270 WSM seemed like a logical round as well.

 

[Steve O]

This is insane. I've always considered an 08 to be a slightly faster .308

That combo if those numbers are accurate is deadly out to 1000 yards with an eldm.

I'm curious what that load would look like in a .308.

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I just got a beautiful little .308; would love to know the “optimum” mule deer load for that.

 

[jimmy33]

Thought of that many times. I've lost track of how many .280AI's I've had in my hands, but I've never been able to buy one, mostly because of that long action. If I went long action, I'd probably just go .270 for the component availability. Speaking of .277 projectiles, I've always thought the .270 WSM seemed like a logical round as well.

I really love my 270wsm. I kill everything with it. I have loads built up with the 145 eldx, 150 partition, and 130 grain etip. Brass availability can be a problem although I have plenty. When I bought this rifle I was looking for a 6.5 prc and couldn’t find one. This gun popped up and I bought it. I have been more than pleased… 130 grain bullet going about 3250 fps does the job at as far as you ever want to shoot it.