Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters So if I wanted a new deer rifle. . .

I would pretty much agree with that. I've also has a couple of 243's that didn't like 100's. I guess my real point was that I would eliminate the 243 because of the cup and core limitation. I would much rather shoot a TTSX or bonded bullet in the 243,preference toward TTSX. That leaves the 308 and 7mm-08 and I've found the 7mm-08 to be a much milder shooter recoil wise. You could go 7mm in a couple other ways but I would prefer to buy something with easily available commercially loaded ammo. Sometimes you may not be able to load or just might not want to fool with it.

Okay, 7-08 with 120gr Ballistic Tips from SPS. WWCD (winner, winner, chicken dinner).

I’ve owned and used pretty much all the above. This scenario simply screams, “6.5 Creedmoor!”

Recoil-wise, the Creedmoor is very mild, as mild as a .243. It shoots quite a bit bigger bullets, too.

And, speaking of bullets, the 7-08 is at its best with 120-140 grain projectiles. So is the 6.5 Creedmoor. Plus, the 6.5 bullets will have higher BCs and SDs, meaning they fly flatter and penetrate deeper. And they do it with about 15-20% less recoil and muzzle blast.

I’m a really big fan of the 7-08 and the .25-06. Killed a lot of stuff with both. But if I were looking for what the OP needs, I wouldn’t consider either for even a second.

IMHO, our OP has a need for the Creed!

I'll second this. I had a featherweight 7-08, roughly 6.5# all up. The recoil with factory 120 BT from the bench was noticeably less than my 9# 30-06 shooting factory 165 Accubond. So, assuming you have a normal weight rifle, 7-08 would be a pussycat.

With that being said, a 6.5 will be slightly less (admittedly splitting hairs here) than the 7-08. I'd lean toward the 7mm since it offers a bit of versatility IMO on the upper end of game weight, but that is of no concern for you, so I would lean toward minimizing recoil based on your current situation.

Since I'm assuming price is the reason for CnC bullets, don't overlook the "seconds" Nosler sells through Shooter's Pro Shop. I can't imagine the "flaws" will hurt you enough to matter out to 300 yds. Not that a 139 and 129 interlock have any flies on them, but I'd still choose a 125 and 140 Partition as the same price.

I agree with your logic but I still think 7-08. The OP stated 300 yards as a max distance with 150 and under being much more common. He also wanted to use cup and core bullets exclusively. I would shoot the heavier bullets in the 7mm-08 and not try to max out their speed to cut down on recoil. They should perform excellent at those distances at slower speeds with milder recoil.

I'm not going to argue that. I made an assumption (on price being the reason) and passed on some info. I had no clue SPS existed and what a great deal they offer until someone here clued me in. I would be 100% confident with a Hornady IL for those parameters.

I didn't know about SPS either,good info. Don't know if I would trust seconds for precision but I might pick up some Partitions to have for my close range stuff.

You already own the gun you need, the Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06.

Just get busy reloading.

If C+C bullets are a must, then the Nosler 125BTip or Accubond, or the Remington 125 CoreLokt will kill your big deer.

But let yourself live a little, and run the Barnes 130TTSX at a fast clip.
Or, the Barnes 110 TTSX black tip at whatever slow or fast rate you find manageable for recoil.

Buy some Trail Boss, Blue Dot, some XMP5744, and some IMR4198. You can load from mouse-squeekers through pretty hot deer loads with those, all with reduced recoil.

I agree - I would pass on them in a LRAB/RDF high BC sort of option that I planned to push the limits with. For a hunting bullet where 100-200 yards is realistically the outer edge, I think they're a great bargain.

You're absolutely right. It's just that ,here I am just short of 60, and I've already found the secret of the universe regarding deer rifles. It feels like there should be more to it.

Also remember, this was more about getting my head wrapped around all the 6mm- 7mm rifle offerings as they relate to my whitetail deer hunting.

Something smells fishy. You've been here for a little over 15 years with 6400 posts and you're asking if there's a difference between a 7-08 and a .308 inside 250 yards? On deer?

Are you just asking these questions to get the hens a-cluckin'? Having a little fun with these ol' arthritic coots to amuse yourself and help pass the time in the middle of winter?

I've bought a pile of bullets from SPS and haven't had any accuracy issues with these bullets. About the only difference I've seen between them and 1st is the packaging. The seconds will come in a bag, instead of a box. Buy with confidence.

I still say if you want to play with something new and use your 308 brass stash then get a 7mm08 and get on with it. Super easy.

Nosler is very clear in their statements about seconds: There is no difference in performance. Seconds are overruns, minor cosmetic blemishes, and such. For example, I have a few that have a different color plastic tip. And I have a batch of flat base 223 bullets that were left over from a run that Nosler did for an Australian company.

The 7-08 or 260 Rem in a lighter bolt action rifle would both be solid, sane choices. Either give good performance on game using c&c bullets. There's a decent selection of rifles for either cartridge. They make a lot of sense. Where's the point in that, though? A "practical" rifle, like a "practical" anything, is for the young. They can't afford to mess around with interesting things.

With that in mind, a ratty as possible Savage 99 should be procured. A great deal of time, money, and effort should be expended to have it customized to your specs. The caliber I'd suggest for it? Make it into a 270 Savage wildcat. That way custom dies would be needed as well. Heck, if you've a mind to, a form die could be part of that setup. The 308 brass stash wouldn't go to waste.

Now doesn't that sound like much more fun than a "me too" baby seven bolt gun?

Honest injun! I didn't mean to poke at any bears.

I've honestly not paid a whole lot of attention over the years. I've been pretty much of a 30-something animal with 35-something tendancies and only recently started to think outside that box. When I finally started to pay attention in the 6-7mm realm the whole thing seemed muddied.

Maybe I need to start taking more naps.

I think the only difference that matters between those cartridges will be if you have to buy factory ammo.

I spent a summer shooting factory ammo in a pair of Tikkas in 308 and 30-06, and the 308 definitely kicked less with the same bullet weights, even if those bullets were going slightly faster, which they often were. The sharpest recoil was Federal's now-discontinued 165-grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaw +P load. That load was just nasty.


Okie John

All of the calibers mentioned are great. The 7mm-08 is now thought of as a youth rifle but I’ve been a huge fan for 20 years. With 140gr GKs it’s a game killing machine. But just as a side note, as a purely deer rifle, the .257 bob is hard to beat. I know it’s smaller than you mentioned, but it’s such s mild mannered classy caliber. Just thought I’d throw it in.

I recently picked up a Winchester XTR Featherweight in .308. Classy rifle in a classic caliber. .308 can be loaded up or down pretty easy with anything from 110gr to 180 gr bullets and will kill anything from coyotes to elk (So will my pre64 30-06, but I always wanted a Featherweight). I'd say find a rifle you like in any of the above mentioned calibers and enjoy.