Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5 creedmoor, 708, or 270

Looking for a second barrel for my 223 encore. All around deer use, any reason to choose one over the others?

Creed may kick less. I have all three in bolt guns, am currently using the 7-08 the most, shooting 120 NBT's for WT's and hogs.

DF

I don't own a 6.5C. I have the other two. For deer in Ohio, I'd say 708 or 6.5C. The 708 is there if you want to go light, like the 120NBT mentioned. It'll also have more punch if down the road you load heavies (150-160s) in it for Elk, etc. I've taken deer with both the 708 and 270. Both perform well, and it's hard to say one is significantly better inside 300 yards. The 270 will usually shoot a bit flatter and harder, depending on
the load. Most Ohio deer hunting I've heard of you'll be under 250 so it really doesn't matter. I've taken many deer with both, most between 150 and 350 yards. Longest deer shot was with the 708 at 435 per a range finder.

Going to be out of state. No rifles in Ohio unless it's straight wall

6.5CM or 7-08

Factory ammo? If so, I would go 6.5CM.

My bad. I can't keep the regs straight in my mind for States that I'll likely never hunt. Tell us what you decide. The journey's half the fun.

270

+1

Agree, Creed if using factory ammo.

DF

All three seem to be good deer rounds. I am not a deer hunter, but if I were wanting a deer caliber I would go 6.5 Creed. Little recoil, good for shooting long or close, lots of good ammo either loaded or roll your own components and it offers very good barrel life.

Try the new 6.8 O'Connor.............You'll like it. I hear 130 grain Accubonds work pretty well.

Or you could grow a manbun............

Your choice.

270 in the encore

LOL.

6.8 JackO/130 NAB's will be on the elk menu for me this year.

And no man bun - not that there's anything wrong with that...

This.

All three are great cartridges, but my personal choice would be the 270.

Out to 500 yards, the .270 shoots flatter and hits harder than the others. I have all three plus a .308. I tend to use the .270 the most, but that might be because I trust the rifle the most. It is an insanely accurate old M700 that I have owned since college, over 35 years now. Given you already have the rifle, and there is no downside to a long action round in a single shot, I think I would lean toward the .270. But they are all excellent rounds for shooting deer sized critters at reasonable ranges.

X2....

Been shooting and admiring the .270 since the late 60's and still do. But I find the CM to be very user friendly and therefore deadly. Several elk, deer and one antelope with it so far .

I like the creedmoor. Leaning 270 though for a few reasons. One of which is completely subjective as is our looney wont

All three are fine deer rounds. But I have a habit of checking what ammo is on the shelves at WalMart and the local gun/sporting stores. I still don't see that much 6.5 CM ammo in stock in the stores in eastern Ohio and western PA. What I see most is 30-06 and 270. If you would have to buy off the shelf for some reason like I forgot/or lost my ammo while out on the hunt it seems to me that the 270 would be the best choice.

Since I always take 2 rifles if I am overniting on a hunt, I've been using a 270 since the early '70's and something else from a 257Rbt's to a 300Wmg depending on terrain.. These days I'll take a 270, the current do all is a Baco US built M70 and a soon to be replaced M70 7x57 with a 7-08 for just the same reasons Stuck In Ohio outlined. Too much muscle memory at 50 years worth to abandon the 270 as the primary shooter no matter the rifle, but I've enjoyed the 2 year's of use in the "new to me 7x57" so the 7-08/308 is a no brainer that'll become the primary for my final years in the field.
Ron

all three of course!

I have a pile of 270's, a couple 08's and 2 Creed's