[quote]The current popularity of 140-147 grain bullets in 6.5 Creedmoor makes for very little difference in recoil, when compared to 140 grain 7mm-08 and 150-155 grain 308 loads. As in, when I've shot similar rifles side by side the biggest difference I could detect between the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 308 was in noise level, not recoil.
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With those bullet weights the 6.5 CM has 12 ft lbs recoil in an 8 lb rifle. The 308 will have 15 and 7-08 about 14. Just for reference a 243 shooting 100 gr bullets is about 11. And with those bullet weights the 6.5 will significantly out penetrate 308 or 7-08 on game. You have to move up to 175-180 gr bullets in 7mm or 30 caliber to match the penetration you get with 140's in 6.5. And that means even more recoil. 180's in a 308 is getting close to 30-06 recoil with 150's.
That said I settled on 308 as my all around rifle some years ago. I consider the 7-08 a ballistic twin and would have no argument with someone who prefers it. But I've also played with the 6.5 CM enough to be satisfied that it'll kill anything the 308 or 7-08 will kill. And do it with less recoil, and probably better accuracy.
But at this point I ain't selling my 308's and replacing them with 6.5's. At normal hunting ranges the only real difference is recoil. But for someone just starting out I'd advise the 6.5.
Which rifle is a personal choice, but I like the Tikka a lot.
With loads I use in my rifles, at real world chronographed velocities, with 147s over 4350 and 155s over Varget, the 6.5 and 308 recoil at something like 13.1 and 14.9, in 8 lb rifles, respectively. Not enough difference to matter, as both have some decent recoil and really aren't light recoiling guns.
Penetration is dependent on bullet construction, and either have enough penetration for the big game normally shot with these sorts of rifles. SD as a metric for bullet performance is a tired trope.
I hear ya on sticking with the 308. That's my preference, also.
For someone starting out, I'd recommend something that kicks significantly less than either of the three. But that's getting pretty far off topic.
