I have all three, and for the life of me I don't know why.

The creed is scary accurate, but from a hunting prospective, which one offers the most advantages?

Where I hunt, you could take a 700 yard shot, but I never have taken one over 367 laser confirmed yards.

I hunt deer, elk, bears and in theory, mountain lions (as in I get the tag each year and never see a cat while hunting).

Goldilocks.

For me, it would be the Creedmoor. Light to heavyweight, great SD for long range, less recoil than the heavier 7mm loads, and scary accurate.

David,

Tough to choose a loser out of those 3 Which do you shoot best, in the field?

If you're serious about 700y, even for practice only, they have similar drift if using the higher BC bullet options for their respective caliber. But recoil is something I'd seriously consider if shooting out to 700 yards, even just for fun/practice/plinking.

And what make/model rifles?

Jason

Two are tikka t3 rifles. The other a Ruger American Predator.

For me if Elk are involved the .243 goes away.

A 140 Partition in 6.5 or 7mm-08 is skookem! Suppose the .284 puts more blood to track on the ground..

A bud recently bought a Predator in 6.5 Creed. The trigger feels heavy to me, even with the spring removed, but I was able to put 4 shots into one hole. Last time out he was making solid hits at 500 and 600 with decent wind. No missed shots. Then 875 and 1050. Its a good shooter with factory 140 AMAX.

Tough to argue with performance but I'm not a big fan of the RAR ejection with the S/A cartridges. If you're lazy with the bolt it'll drop the spent case into the action. Same thing happens with my 223 RAR. If shooting game, I bet that brass goes into orbit due to excitement but its not foolproof like the L/A versions. We can't get the L/A RAR to do anything other than chuck the spent brass far from the rifle.

Jason

I sure like the Creed.....

I would agree with Shag, only I doubt you or the animal would recognize the difference in 6.5 and 7mm-08.

I bought a RAR Predator in 6.5 Creed just for a beater and loaner.

This was shot number 6,7 and 8 using the 140gr A-Max with 42.4gr of H4350 with AOL at 2.800".

About to start on some 123gr Skinners using RL-17.

The only thing I have done is float the barrel. The fore end has the reinforced pattern in it. I just ordered a Timney set at 1.5# so that will take care of the trigger which wasn't horrible after I had adjusted it.

I can see this taking out some doe's on the hunting lease this year especially with the kids behind the trigger.

I'd say that the answer aligns with whichever bullet you like the most in whichever cartridge you prefer.

I recently purchased a 7-08 with the intention of 162 Amax for whitetail - knowing I could also go 120/140 TTSX if I determined that the 162 wasn't going to do it for me.

I can't imagine any one of those 3 choices not working for you in a similar situation.

I also shoot the 105 out of my son's 243 and that's been nice so far. Larry has a pic of a darn nice bear taken with the same from a 6mm BR - it gets the job done.

Long/longer - chose the bullet you like seems to be the answer - the cartridge is a wash after that.

4th_point - I've a RAR Predator in .243W and while accuracy is just 'so,so' right now I'm sure hand-loading will make it better. Same for a Savage SS Warrior in 7mm-08.
LGS availability for 6.5 Creed ammo/components is just hit/miss (hate waiting on the big brown truck). Good as the 6.5 Creed is it needs a bigger audience and user group. It is bucking the 6.5 Swede and .260 rem after all. Homesteader

For hunting it would be the 7-08 all day. Not much you could not accomplish with a 140-gr AB. No way I personally would shoot game to 700 with any of the 3, but your call.

I know the 6.5 has been killing moose over seas for a long time now, so no flies there either.

There's not a lot I'd worry about with a 7-08 and a good 140+ grainer launched out of it. BTW, I just found that Barnes has new data on it's site for this and some other cartridges, thanks to this thread.

Currently have 2 of the 243's and a 7mm-08. Sold my Creed a few years ago and have to agree - it was scary accurate!

Of the 3, I wouldn't hesitate to use either the Creed or the 7mm-08 on game up to elk. Though I would tend to hedge my bets and carry the '-08 more often. Most likely loaded with something heavier than the 140 but that's just me.

For bears and deer any of them should do the job but I'd feel better about making a clean kill with either the Creed or the 7mm-08 in a 140 gr pill.

David,

For me, it's all about the rifle. I don't believe that you'll come up short with any of the cartridges listed in a hunting situation.

I see what guys write about the heavy, high b.c. bullets and they're not wrong. It's just never mattered in any of my hunting.
I used a bullet that's often referred to as a ping pong ball to kill my first black bear with a .243. One shot, dead right there with some spinning and thrashing.

I see guys bad mouth the .243, but all I can do is refer to my own experience.
There have been times when I wondered if the .243 was enough rifle. Never let it stop a shot, and never been disappointed with any well placed shot.

I do think that the various 6.5s offer a lot, but my experience there is all with rifles owned by others.
I've been pretty impressed with the 7-08/150 ballistic tip.

FWIW - I can find ammo for all 3 in podunk places.

There's a store up the road from camp - it's maybe the size of a 2 stall garage. 6.5 Creedmoor in stock along with the rest.

This is in a town of 431 people and where the M1899 and Rem pumps are still considered new technology...

One of those for the game mentioned, 7-08. Though I wouldn't shoot at elk at 700 yards with any of them. Deer yes.

I just bought a 243, but only because I have a 280AI

Sometimes less is moor

I prefer my elk rifles be a min of 27 caliber, tho I'm sure a 65cm would be fine if that's all I had.

I'd like to see you shoot a 65cm.

now that's moor...

Here's an 80 cm. Probably pretty expensive to reload for.

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/videos/gustav-worlds-biggest-gun

DF

David

David, dropped a deer at 400 yes - LRF
6BR Amax

Flip a coin but if you are going far and on large game more will hedge

Otherwise they will all do well on deer to 1/4

A couple weeks ago people were predicting that factory 140gr AMAX ammo would get scarce, especially with the release of the Ruger Precision rifle. Rumor had it that Horny was getting ready to make another batch but current inventory at that time was low everywhere. We literally watched it evaporate off of local shelves and online in a couple of days. Not sure if the Precision rifle has anything to do with it, but the Creed seems to have a decent following right now.

Personally, I like the 7mm-08 with 162 AMAX. And 243 on the low recoil end. I don't see myself getting a 6.5 Creed but can see the appeal.

I have a vintage ADL .22-250 M-700, probably from the seventies, with a tired barrel. I'm thinking about a rebore to an 8 twist 6.5 Creedmoor.

A friend has a Savage Creed and says it feeds rough, although it's a tack driver. He thinks it feeds like that because of the Creed shoulder angle.

I'm thinking a vintage M-700 should feed slicker than a new Savage.

I bought a used SA HS stock and take off BDL bottom metal to convert ADL to BDL.

Appreciate input.

DF

I bought a barreled action from SAS in 6.5CM built on an old Rem 700 action. No feeding issues at all, very slick.

David

Should feed like a fat boy at a buffet. I use and have used more than a few with sharper shoulders with no issues.


Why is it that you never hear about feeding issues with the 300 Savage.

Some may disagree, but for long range not a .243 fan. Nice and flat shooting, but those 100 gr bullets (at least in my experience) lack the mass for a consistent exit wound. If elk were even in the equation, yet another strike against the .243.

No experience with the other two calibers so no comment on them.

7mm-08 for game. Great selection of bullets, ballistics similar or better than the 7x57 which Mr. Bell used on elephant. Can be used for LR target/varmint work.

6.5 would be next on my list. I have heard a few make the point that the moose in Sweden are not the size of the moose in the U.S.? Not sure if that would change the outcome of the 6.5 on them as long as it reaches the vitals it would kill them.

Either of these would be my choice for the game you plan on hunting, with a little bias going towards the 7mm-08.

6.5 or the 7-08.

In a Tikka.

Hard to answer. To me, it would depend on what you already have and how this one fits in. And, intended use.

I'm going 6.5 Creed because I have a good collection of 7mm's.

Well, I guess I have a pretty good collection of 6.5's, as in 6.5x55, 6.5-284 and 26 Nosler.

Hard to have too many 6.5's...

DF

In a factory 10 twist barrel I wouldn't even really consider a .243 Win. With a factory 9.25 twist (Savage or Rem) shooting 105 Amax, well that's a different animal all together. Custom 7-8 barrel and I'd run it against anything the CM OR 7-08 has to offer at long range.

For what OP is shooting the 6.5 CM RAR Predator is a no-brainer. It's the only rifle twisted right to maximize his use of bullets available for the 6.5mm. Put a custom 8 twist tube on the Tikka's and it changes the dynamics of things greatly.

Just because it worked doesn't mean it was a good choice. The 243 has no place for elk at 688 yards

no matter what you 'think', you've just been proved wrong......

Proper shot placement of a .243 caliber hunting bullet will work as well as any other larger caliber on elk.

6MM Rem or 243 Win for me

I love that video

I have a 7-08 in a Tikka, and had a 6.5X55 in a Tikka.

I wish Tikka/Sako would get with the program and offer the 6.5 Creedmoor in a T3.

If Tikka ever sees fit to chamber the Creedmoor in a T3 Lite, I will own 2.

If Ruger ever sees fit to chamber the Creedmoor, I will own 3.......

ba dump bum

You got another one?

Nope. Again, just because it worked that time still doesn't make it a good choice for 688 yard shots on elk. Has no place for it, are much better options.

yeah. For those that can't shoot.

How much deader would it have been if something "much" better had been used in that video?

How does a .308 hole through the heart kill better than a .243 hole? Does the critter live with a .243 hole but die with a .308?

C'mon, teal. Don't steal his thunder.

Well, it's settled then. Taco says the 243 is too anemic/anaemic, however you spell it. And the Creed is only good for prairie dogs. That leaves only the 7/08, I reckon.

Neat!

How about a run down on those...

DF

American Predator, Hawkeye Predator, and RPR. They're all shooters....

but, alas.... Only good for prairie dogs, like I alluded to earlier.

I'm just tryin to keep up......

I guess 900 yard head shots are a good idea too, except "for those that can't shoot"


laffin...


loved your video, btw

Curious, where do you think the cutoff is for a 243 on elk? Obviously think it is a great choice for 700 yards. What about 1000? Or 1200? Or why stop there if you're accurate enough, like you said. How about 2000 yards?

I like the 243, but not for 700 yards on elk

JFC......give it a break. We know where you stand.

Or ignore the question entirely. What is your cutoff? I've been clear on my stance. To me the 243 is a poor choice for 700 yard elk shots. Very clearly stated.

Yes, we know.....

Thanks for that education and inspiring post, we've all learned something from you.

You're welcome.

Is too much to actually state something of substance and support your position, maybe show me where my thinking is wrong.

lol I expected a jackass response like that and you didn't disappoint. TFF

I was going to accuse you of being a "gut shooter" , but then there was that last pic. So, well...

To the OP, I would use the Creed given the rifle that you have, and your abilities with it.

'


Great point.

I've hunted extensively with a .243 and a .308. I have heart shot a ton of fairly heavy Wisconsin whitetails with both. The thing with the .308 is I always get an exit. With the .243 sometimes do, sometimes don't. Had one buck I heart shot with the .243 thru the heart at somewhere between 250 and 300 with 100 grain partitions. Bullet destroyed the heart, but didn't exit. This was in a hilly CRP field and the buck ran up and over the hill in knee high grass. Almost didn't find him because there was no blood.
The .308 wouldn't have "killed better" dead is dead, but a blood trail is nice to have, as heart shot animals can run a bit.

I would think the 7/08 or 6.5 with heavier bullets under the same conditions stand a better chance of exiting than a .243.

As to the video, don't think that elk was heart shot, more like spine shot, as the back legs go out from under it first. Don't think what caliber you spine shoot an animal with is going to be too crucial.

Thats a SWEET pic Don.

Don,

I have a RAR in 6.5 Creed, but a lessor scope.

I just couldn't put the great glass on mine, although I terms of accuracy, it certainly deserves good glass.

That combo looks like whipped cream on [bleep]

Sounds like you have a fine prairie dog rig, DW.....

Don't know what to do now with these 22CFs I have. Guess chipmunks?

I'm sporting the SS 10xMQ. I'm going to fling a few 120 and 123 AMAX at the deer population this year and report back.

I really like being able to top off the magazine while in the rifle. Can't do that with my Tikka.

A local girl just got her elk with a 123 amax from a rar predator in 6.5 creedmoor. One shot and it was done. I have a load of 162 amax over h4350 that does about 2700
From a 22" 7-08. I does well on game. The 105 vld from a 243 can do some impressive stuff too, if tikka just made an 8 twist 243....

Bb

I'm in this same boat! I've got a nice .243, got rid of a custom .257, dropping back to the 6.5 or .243. I wanna do more with less.

Anyone know who can rebore my Tikka 243 to a 6.5 Creed?

The 243's 1 in 10 twist just about kills it for my purposes.

I know the barrel will have to be set back.

Or maybe a 6.5-06 Ackley?

I'd not rebore a factory barrel for an accuracy rig, but that's just me and I have zero personal experience with reboring.

The 6.5's do hold a certain charm these days. My main deer rifles this year will be a sporter .260 and a varmint-ish 6.5x47L. Both are 8 twist 700's.

You got a favorite?

DF

the hawkeye pred.

Looks interesting.

Have not handled one.

DF

David

I have heard nothing but good about rebored barrels, but it would still be hard for me to go that far and not just get a new barrel.

David

It's about half the price of a new one.

DF

I'm aware.

I don't really care what the multiplier is (1/2, 1/4, 1/10) - a new top tier barrel is relatively cheap.

I would get a new barrel, twisted exactly the way I wanted it. It's just not enough money to justify "almost as good" in my mind. Just my opinion...

David

Check out this site. Danny Pederson can make a barrel as good as about anyone. His rebores shoot great.

I've never done a rebore, just thinking I'd give it a whirl.

http://www.cutrifle.com/

DF

Have you tried the Hornady 105gr HPBT?

Been thinking about it.

I think I can have a SS Shilen Match installed much quicker than a rebore and I know what a Shilen Match will do.

Shilen seems to have great turnaround time lately, but I guess that depends on the barrel. We'll see about an 8 twist 6.5. Either they're making a lot of those to feed the Creed demand or that demand has depleted their stocks. Won't take long to find out.

DF