the 6.5CM will kick less and there will be little difference on deer sized game. The larger and heavier bullets that a 7-08 can use is of no real-world advantage for killing deer.
Of the 2 I prefer the 7-08, but I hunt elk every year and the larger heavier bullets that can be fired from the 7-08 please me a bit more for game over 400 pound'. But for deer I can't see any difference at all in the deadliness of one over the other, and less recoil IS an advantage for a smaller shooter.
