Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Biggest return on your investment 6.5mm or 7mm?

Since I haven't seen a 308 vs 30-06 thread in awhile, I figure a good brawl at the campfire is in order for the holidays! So let's get to it!

9 out of 10 Internet geniuses say, the golden ratio for what you get back for what you put in falls on the shoulders of the 6.5mm or 7mm? (Yes, I know the .270 is between these two but please don't...)

So which one offers the most for all the constraints we badger ourselves with - recoil, long range effectiveness, effectiveness on game, works great in every cartridge, gets you laid, bucks the wind, easily hits steel at 1000 yards with iron sights, etc. etc. etc.!?

I am asking mostly because I've been sniffing around getting a 6.5x55 or 6.5 Creedmoor; 280 or a 7 mag of some flavor.

What say ye?

Get both and decide for yourself.

Strictly as a caliber for BG hunting, 7mm.

For long range play,gong matches, serious NRA match shooting, general shooting fun, and some BG hunting, 6.5.

Of course there's nothing saying you can't use a 7mm for the same stuff but it's bucking a trend to the 6.5's and 6mm's from what I see.

I am new to the 6.5 thing...I have both. But I would take the 7mm all day long for NA BG hunting.

Bob,

Where do you think the 7 really shines? 280 or something bigger?

I've used 7 RM and 6.5X55 for a number of years. For my purposes it's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other as far as effectiveness goes. I've actually killed (by a slight margin) deer at greater distance with the 6.5X55, but that's a product of circumstance.

I like shooting the 6.5X55's better, they use less powder, make less noise, are more accurate (in my experience and rifles) and are generally better behaved.

4winds: 7mm shines everywhere from 7/08 to 28 Nosler....IMHO...

If I were choosing, it would be a boring old 7mm Rem Mag or 280 Remington.

If you want to be more contemporary the 280AI.

Without question my favorite is the 7mm Mashburn Super but it's a wildcat so not to be recommended for everyone.

The nice thing about 7mm as a caliber is we have so many choices no matter how you want to roll.

I'd hunt the continent with a 280.

I agree with Bob. I've owned both a 280 and various 7 mags since the early 1980s. It's tough to beat a 140 for deer size creatures and a 160 for about anything else. I used to set up my 280 with a 145 Speer for deer and a 160 Speer for anything else. And of course shot deer with the 160. Both have enough velocity to make a mess with softer bullets. I wish I would have used Partitions in the early days. I threw away alot of shoulder meat with both guns. If my 270 didn't shoot so well, it be a 280 AI. I still may get one just because the 280 is magic. At least to me.

I can't comment on the 6.5 as a out the only one I've shot much is the 6.5x55. The ole MS is deadly at its sedate vels. All the kids shot either a 243 or 6.5 for their first rifles.

I figured so on the 280, my Mauser may just be fitted with a new barrel in a 280 after the holidays. My other thoughts for it was the 6.5x55.

I've had a cz 550fs in 6.5x55 and thought it was a fine cartridge, but the rifle wasn't all that pleasant to shoot due to the stock not fitting me. The Creedmoor fad has certainly peaked my interest as I have a 308 in a Kimber 84M Montana that I have been toying with changing to a custom tube. I'm really looking for a light rifle to scurry up and down the hills with, but with a lot less recoil to keep it pleasant to shoot.

I have other rifles for elk, so, critters below their size need only apply.

So we narrow the criteria......

I'd get a custom tube for the Montana chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor and leave the elk sized stuff to the other rifles in your battery.

There would be nothing wrong with getting a custom tube in 280 for the mauser, as well.

I'm SO relieved.

But what bullet does one choose for a continent?

North Fork solid. Deep penetration is required to stop a continent.

Ok Ok you guys are funny haha!

You know what i meant.

I'm with the 280 - 7mm RM crowd. Of course if you were to hunt coyotes then:

YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TOO INCLUDE THE COYOTE CARTRIDGE, THE 270.

My two favorite rifles in my cabinet are a .260 and a 7x57. most used gun in the cabinet............... .243 winchester.........

I'm a 260 Remington guy, but I'd pick the 6.5 Creedmore today.

What size game are you hunting?

If you're looking at the most performance for the least recoil on paper and steel, I'd say neither and suggest a 6mm Dasher. For game, unless you're looking at elk, moose and large bears, I'd still say stick with the six.

6.5, with the Creed filling your criteria....

These days I own and hunt with twice as many 6.5mm rifles as 7mm's. They're both great calibers, but I would hesitate to hunt Montana with any of my 6.5's.

Yeah, I know Montana's not as big as "the continent," but that's part of why I'd go 6.5--their well-known precision would make it easier hit the smaller vital zone of Montana. No doubt a 7mm would do okay on something as large as North America.

Never ceases to amaze......
all the love for a cartridge loaded to 60,000psi to accomplish what has been done by another cartridge at 51,000psi for over 100 yrs.???