Well I shot 60 rounds of 150 grain 308 yesterday in a scoped bolt gun weighing 7.5 pounds loaded. Recoil never bothered me so I discount that as an issue. I am surprised you haven't caught any flak for suggesting the 308 would be a better elk round than the the 6.5 Creed but it surely is. The 308 will surely not be a worse deer gun than the Creed either. Win win. You could have your rifle rebarreled and maybe save some bucks or make a trade to someone with a like rifle in 308.

Dog I rescued in January

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