7mm08 6.5 creedmoor or 308

[PredatorSlayer]

I want to put together a lightweight hunting set up for mountain hunting. Will be used for elk, mulies and blackbears. I’d like to have to be able to take game out to 600ish yards with this set up. My son has a 6.5 creedmoor, but I have never owned a 308 or 7mm08 - I have always had big magnums until recently when I bought a 6.5 PRC.
What are your recommendations and why?

 

[Apollo117]

None of those three choices are preferable to your existing magnums at 600 yards. I suggest finding ways to lighten your current rifles. Replace the rifle stock with a lightweight aftermarket stock. Replace the scope with a lightweight alternative. Have the barrel threaded and install a muzzle brake to reduce felt recoil.

 

[204guy]

@ 600 the bullet you shoot is going to make a heck of a lot more difference than what the casehead says. They are all about the same case capacity.

 

[Brushhawg]

Depending on when you plan to use it, I'd consider which one you'll be able to find ammo for. I'm not sure I'd want any of those choices for a 600yd elk gun though. For deer and mid sized game the 7-08 is a fine caliber since you already have a 6.5.

 

[Trogon]

I wouldn’t want to take a shot at a big bull at 600 with any of those choices.

Pass the 300wsm please

 

[hodgeman]

The 6.5 is the easiest to shoot to 600 yards. I've taken game with all three and couldn't tell much difference in the effect on game.

But...600 yards ks a very long poke and none would be optimal on game to that range.

 

[ODB]

You have to be kidding, right? Knock 200 yards off the max and choose a 300 win mag.

I’ll never understand the modern desire to start at a disadvantage for some perceived, yet incalculable benefit.

 

[KJStechly]

Look into a 300 PRC if you wanna take big game that far away


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[PredatorSlayer]

Thanks for your input guys. Just a little background - between past training and current practice (I still shoot out to 1250 regularly), I am comfortable shooting game well past 600 yards. I have owned and hunted with everything from 7mm to 300 rum. My main elk rifle is now a 6.5 PRC - I just haven’t noticed much of a difference between between a 6.5 and a .30 cal when it comes to killing elk, so I have decided to save myself the recoil and powder. My PRC has taken big game well out past 600 yds. I hunt at 8000-10000 ft elevation, so energy and velocity is still good a long ways out. I am leaning towards a 6.5 CM or 260 rem, just because I think the 6.5s kill better than the should. My buddy swears by the 7mm08 - he bought a tikka superlite a couple years ago, and now his 300wm and 7mm RM never leave the safe. He has killed some nice bulls out to about 550 with it.

 

[KurtR]

Any of the three will work fine at 600 which really isn’t that far. I would pick the 6.5 as it has been working for me for the last decade. As you know practice and being able to place a bullet where it goes is way higher on the list of important things than head stamp.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Would any of the cartridges have an advantage over the others with a shorter, 18”-20” barrel?

 

[OldGrayJB]

I'm not sure about speeds of the 7mm or .308, but at 600 yards, the 6.5cm is still moving about 1800fps with a 20" barrel. 1800 is the minimum recommend speed for Nosler Accubond. 6.5 or .260 would be effective up to 600 yards and a pleasure to shoot.

 

[CBreeze]

With a light handy 20” barreled “sheep rifle” The 7mm08 and the 6.5 creedmoor will keep a 140 class projectile up around 1800fps @ 600. They will start that same projectile at a modest enough velocity that it will still work well at 30 yards. So 600 yards really is the operating window of those for those two in true mtn rifle configuration. 308 won’t keep a 160 class at 1800fps at 600 with 20” barrel so 600 is a little far for it.

1800fps isnt arbitrary, it’s a common minimum operating velocity for big game bullets. Slower than this and they won’t open up right.

Anyway, 7mm08 is my go to, and here’s a few I can find without having to look bery far through my camera roll. @collierrifles.. Want to talk about about a boring rifle? This one is the only part of my hunt/ shot that I don’t ever think about.

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[Yarak]

600 yds isn’t good for any of the cartridges
That distance is pushing the limits and actually beyond what they’re designed for
Yes they all 3 will shoot that far and yes you can kill with them that far but the more likely outcome is a miss or a wounded animal
If you want to shoot that far and be effective then go with a cartridge fitting the job description

 

[Mt Al]

I voted 7mm-08 only because I have one. I don't think one has any real advantage over the other in the real world. Right bullet, right setup/outfit, right wind and right practice and 600 works on any one of them. Not my cup of tea, but it's because I don't practice that far. 60 yards is too far for some people, one size don't fit all.

For my personal purposes, a lighter rifle with reasonable recoil means I'll practice a ton, which SHOULD mean more accurate, so got a Tikka T3 in 7mm-08. Got tired of my 300WM which, for what I hunt and how far I shoot, has zero advantage other than more recoil in a generally heavier rifle.

 

[WCB]

to me those 3 are 6 to one a half dozen to another. I would lean towards the 7-08.

 

[KurtR]

600 yds isn’t good for any of the cartridges
That distance is pushing the limits and actually beyond what they’re designed for
Yes they all 3 will shoot that far and yes you can kill with them that far but the more likely outcome is a miss or a wounded animal
If you want to shoot that far and be effective then go with a cartridge fitting the job description

How did you come to that conclusion?

 

[EmperorMA]

The 6.5 Creedmoor handles long, heavy for caliber, slippery, high BC/SD bullets better than the other two. It was made for them.

Easy decision.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

600 yds isn’t good for any of the cartridges
That distance is pushing the limits and actually beyond what they’re designed for
Yes they all 3 will shoot that far and yes you can kill with them that far but the more likely outcome is a miss or a wounded animal
If you want to shoot that far and be effective then go with a cartridge fitting the job description

600 yds is a chip shot for some people...when you spend a lot of time shooting at 1000 or 1250 and then move up to 600 it feels like you are shooting at 100 yards. I have always felt like out past 600 yards or so the wind starts to get trickier.

 

[Yarak]

How did you come to that conclusion?

I’ve done a lot of shooting that’s how
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
All 3 are intermediate cartridges and will shoot that far and further.....again Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
I always say to each his own..this guy ask for a opinion I gave him mine
One parting question...do you know if the OP can or has ever shot that far ?