Help me pick a caliber out!

[TxLite]

Im not looking for a .243 or similar caliber. I’m looking for the 120-140 grain range offerings that comes in a lightweight platform that me and my children can both shoot. From the input I’m stuck between 6.5cm and 7-08.

I think you’d be happy with either option. I’m a big fan of the 7-08 but there’s a lot more out there for factory ammo with the creedmoor

 

[N2TRKYS]

I hunt with a 7-08 and a 6.5 Creedmoor. I actually prefer the 7-08. A 140 grain Accubond is faster in my 7-08 than my 6.5 and the 7-08 has a 20” barrel. My 6.5 Creedmoor has a 24” barrel.

 

[nubbin]

I hunt with a 7-08 and a 6.5 Creedmoor. I actually prefer the 7-08. A 140 grain Accubond is faster in my 7-08 than my 6.5 and the 7-08 has a 20” barrel. My 6.5 Creedmoor has a 24” barrel.

What is recoil like between the 2? I’ve shot a 7mm-08 a few times, but have never fired a 6.5 cm. I’m not the best at judging recoil because I’m not a small guy. I can just remember the 7mm-08 as being a snappy recoil.

 

[Pharmseller]

What is recoil like between the 2? I’ve shot a 7mm-08 a few times, but have never fired a 6.5 cm. I’m not the best at judging recoil because I’m not a small guy. I can just remember the 7mm-08 as being a snappy recoil.

When my boy was 10 his first hunting rifle was a 7mm-08. Recoil for him was very manageable, not snappy at all.




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[TxLite]

What is recoil like between the 2? I’ve shot a 7mm-08 a few times, but have never fired a 6.5 cm. I’m not the best at judging recoil because I’m not a small guy. I can just remember the 7mm-08 as being a snappy recoil.

I’ve got both. They are pretty similar but the 6.5 has slightly less

 

[jjshires57]

6.5

 

[grappling_hook]

What is recoil like between the 2? I’ve shot a 7mm-08 a few times, but have never fired a 6.5 cm. I’m not the best at judging recoil because I’m not a small guy. I can just remember the 7mm-08 as being a snappy recoil.

IMO all the mid-sized calibers will be too much for a kid to spend a lot of time practicing on, even with lightly loaded cartridges. And of course recoil isn't just bad because of the blast/snap/pain/flinch (although those are certainly bad), but also because recoil reduces accuracy even for someone who isn't recoil sensitive, and impacts the shooter's ability to keep the target in the scope picture. So be sure to pick something where they won't get sore after 40-50 rounds in a practice session, but also that won't impact accuracy.

If you're set on 6.5 Creedmoor or larger, I'd consider 120 grain Hornady ELD-Ms for the kids (and having them practice with 95gr V-Max or Nosler 90gr Varmageddon), while you shoot your deer and elk with the 140gr ELD-Ms or 143 ELD-Xs; all come in factory ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor. That will have them practicing with about 2/3 of the recoil that you're getting with the same gun with the 140gr ELD-Ms.

 

[N2TRKYS]

What is recoil like between the 2? I’ve shot a 7mm-08 a few times, but have never fired a 6.5 cm. I’m not the best at judging recoil because I’m not a small guy. I can just remember the 7mm-08 as being a snappy recoil.

My 6.5 Creedmoor is a Tikka Lite with a 24” barrel, so it’s fairly heavy. My Model Seven 7-08 has a McMillan edge dill stock with a 20” barrel, so it’s way lighter.

I don’t notice that much difference, though. Definitely not enough to pick one or the other.

 

[grizz19]

7MM!

 

[miller3483]

Based on my experience I would not have a kid shoot any bullets in the 120-140 range until they are quite a bit older. I would stay more on the 75-108 bullet weight range.

 

[Mike 338]

Ehhh, as many others suggested, the 6.5 Creed seems like a nice middle of he road cartridge. Except for one or two shots a year, a hunting rifle is actually a target rifle and the 6.5's are pretty sweet to shoot for a big game rifle. Lots of fun shots downrange without a dinner plate sized bruise on the shoulder.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

@nubbin Does your state allow you to own suppressors? If so, get one. It's more the noise/muzzle blast than the recoil typically.

6.5cm with 130gr hornady match factory ammo and a suppressor.

 

[jcaud]

The 6.5 seems to be the easy way to go here with factory loads, but the 243 would be hard to argue with as others have said. I’m partial as I grew up with one, but it’s something that they can shoot forever for whatever they need.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Here is your easy button.

Tikka T3x Lite Compact 6.5 Creedmoor 20" 1:8" Bbl Rifle JRTXE382CSB

Tikka T3x Lite Compact 6.5 Creedmoor 20" 1:8" Bbl Rifle JRTXE382CSB For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

 

[Deere_Man]

If it’s recoil that worries you, just go with 6.5 Grendel. The Ruger American Gen 2 has an adjustable stock if you need to shorten the length of pull. I have not had any issues finding factory ammo. 123gr SST seems to work great, but I am trying some Nosler 120gr BT next.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I always forget about the Grendel even though I own one and love it.

OP this is a great option in a lite platform with minimal recoil. Very solid option for kiddos to hunt with inside 300 yards.

You have the option of the scary black gun platform or a bolt gun. As mentioned above Ruger makes one as well as the Howa line of mini actions.

 

[sierracharlie338]

If it’s recoil that worries you, just go with 6.5 Grendel. The Ruger American Gen 2 has an adjustable stock if you need to shorten the length of pull. I have not had any issues finding factory ammo. 123gr SST seems to work great, but I am trying some Nosler 120gr BT next.

The 123eldms are money as well

 

[MT-nuffgun]

I know you want something in the 6.5 caliber range. The 6.5 Grendel in something like a mini action would be a great combo. If it was me though, and I compare the 6.5 Grendel to the 6 arc. The arc is the clear winner if I’m starting from scratch on a new to me caliber/rifle. I understand you already have .243 and are not that big on 6mm for hunting. But if you could put your kids behind the arc and see the benefits of that cartridge and also do some research and see what some of the heavy for caliber bullets in 6mm do to animals, you might change your mind. I have gone through training with all 3 of my daughters and im telling you the flinch is real. I started my oldest daughter on a 6.5 creedmoor and that was a big mistake. If I had it to do all over again they would be outfitted with 6 arcs and either the 103eldx or the 108 eldm. From a terminal ballistics standpoint, i would prefer a long 6mm bullet like the 103eldx/108eldm to the short/light for caliber 120eldm/123sst 6.5 bullet for hunting deer and elk. But if you decide to keep it between the 7mm-08 vs 6.5 creedmoor. The creedmoor is the better choice.

 

[nubbin]

I know you want something in the 6.5 caliber range. The 6.5 Grendel in something like a mini action would be a great combo. If it was me though, and I compare the 6.5 Grendel to the 6 arc. The arc is the clear winner if I’m starting from scratch on a new to me caliber/rifle. I understand you already have .243 and are not that big on 6mm for hunting. But if you could put your kids behind the arc and see the benefits of that cartridge and also do some research and see what some of the heavy for caliber bullets in 6mm do to animals, you might change your mind. I have gone through training with all 3 of my daughters and im telling you the flinch is real. I started my oldest daughter on a 6.5 creedmoor and that was a big mistake. If I had it to do all over again they would be outfitted with 6 arcs and either the 103eldx or the 108 eldm. From a terminal ballistics standpoint, i would prefer a long 6mm bullet like the 103eldx/108eldm to the short/light for caliber 120eldm/123sst 6.5 bullet for hunting deer and elk. But if you decide to keep it between the 7mm-08 vs 6.5 creedmoor. The creedmoor is the better choice.

I don’t have anything against 6mm, i hunt with my .243 the majority of the time. I’m just looking to fill a void in my caliber range that I can use for deer and possibly elk and still be kid friendly. I see tons of people recommending the 7-08 and 6.5 for kids, so I’m just trying to get a feel for it.

 

[MT-nuffgun]

If you give your kids a “light weight mountain rifle” in 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm-08 there will be signs. Be honest with yourself and watch for them. My daughter went from shooting a bolt action .223 without a flinch to shooting a lightweight 6.5 creedmoor, after that she had a flinch with both rifles which took time and a lot of training to recover from.