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

7/08 with Nosler 150g LRAB is beyond wicked.

I've killed deer with all 3, probably 50 times more deer with the 270 than the 6.5CM and the 7-08 put together. Any of the 3 will do the job, and do it without a lot of fuss. Having said that, I've gotten more DRT kills with a 270 and the 130 Sierra Gameking, than any other cartridge I've ever used on Whitetails. My 270 is Remington 700 Classic, 1979 edition, and it doesn't have much in the way of a recoil pad. With 60 grains of H4831, my arthritis and damaged rotator cuff shoulder feels the kick when I'm shooting, especially at targets, where I might shoot a number of times. Nothing I can't handle, but to put it simply......my right shoulder is not what it used to be, and the left one is even worse. The 7-08 in a Remington Mountain Rifle, with a good stiff load and a 140 grain bullet was comparable to the 270. Again, nothing I couldn't handle, but noticeable. The 6.5 Creed, for whatever the reason, is mild shooting, comparable to a 243. That's shooting 120-140 grain bullets.

I might take the 270 out again sometimes for the sake of nostalgia, and n remembrance of all the good hunts it and I had over the years. But, from here on out, most of my deer hunting will be done with something along the lines of the 6.5CM.

Our 7mm-08s kill deer elk and antelope. I’m a believer.




P

They kill WT's too. The factory 120 NBT load is a good one, easy MOA is a good rifle. Shooting factory until I have time to work up some loads, of course, with Big Game....

I'm taking my Creed to the camp this weekend, 136L Scenar over 43.5 gr. RL-16. Sub inch with .02 jump. Didn't take the time to clock it, should be running around 2,800 fps.

For really long shots, I'll have my 26 Nosler, 127 LRX over 91 gr. 869, MOA @ 3,400+ fps. I need to clock that one, too. Z5 turret set up for this load.

If I drop one, I'll report.

DF

Given that you currently shoot a .223 and that your hunting deer I would say 6.5 Creedmoor. Reason is that if you’re accustomed to shooting a .223 a Creedmoor won’t be a bunch more blast,recoil etc. Not saying you can’t handle a 270 but it’s a noticeable step up from a 223 and a Creedmoor is like shooting a 243. Ammunition is readily available and I can find it at any Walmart or Mejier store here in Michigan. 7-08 is a great cartridge but you can’t find ammunition everywhere like a 270 or Creedmoor. I have (had) all three and they’re all great cartridges. Whichever one you pick you’ll make a good choice.

In a box stand with the Creed. Longest possible shot around 300, don’t need the 26 Nos for that.

Beautiful morning, around 50*. Sun starting to come up.

Nice place to be.

DF

Good luck Robert!

I envy you . . . our season is still about 3 weeks out.

If you are only shooting deer, and as stated in the thread, the ranges are not particularly long, then the performance on game is going to be so similar between the three that unless a person were to inform the shooter which one he just used on a buck, I doubt the anyone could tell the difference @ typical ranges.

That said, if you were hunting elk in Wyoming or taking a 500 yard shot on a big Muley, I would definitely prefer a .270.

For the rest of the time, the easy recoiling characteristics of a lesser cartridge such as the 6.5CM may aid in precise shooting, so that may be something to consider.

Have you considered the 6.5x284? There you would have something that provides a balance of both.

Thanks.

Already have one in the freezer.

DF

No doubt about it; the one you can find on sale.

I've been hearing it for a while. My first outfitter experience in '75 he was talking about his .338 mag with Speer bullets all the time, I asked him why he liked it so much and he said "I'm tired of chasing them with a .270".

I have been involved with a few searches of .270 hit animals also, the results were we usually found they had not gone very far in the thick stuff, or they were never found so we didn't know if they were hit well.

The .270 seems to be the butt of jokes around here, being ghay and all...

And, I'll admit to contributing a few comments...

But, in the right hands with the right bullets, It'll kill WT's and similar with authority, about as well an anything..

Sorta reminds me of Phil Shoemaker's by line: "Anyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship"

The same thing could be said about the .270, in it's weight class, of course. May not be the best choice for DG, etc., but pretty effective for most everything else.

IMO,

DF

Did yor say kick less, or kick azz? . Mine does both.. just sayin..

The Creed will kick less, which might be a factor in the Encore. They have a reputation for "kicking above their weight", or so I've been told, but mostly about MLs and slug guns. I honestly don't think any of them would be noticeably better for ordinary hunting in that platform. Like I said before, buy the one on sale. I see sale prices online from all the big dealers pretty regularly.

A single shot .......why would the " short" action be of much benefit?

Me thinks 270.

But I also agree

Cash is king.

Which ever is on sale....or 4 sale used.

Are you really suggesting that the 6.5x284 is anywhere near as good as the 6.5 CM, 270, or 7-08 at killing things or availablity, whether hand loading or factory...? ROFL! Sanka-mon, whatcha smokin'..?

If recoil is an issue at all, just be aware that the .270 burns significantly more powder and will kick more. An online recoil calculator will let you know what to expect with various loads.

Based on some experience with all three rounds, and lots of experience with other, similar rounds such as the 6.5x55, .260 and 7x57, I'd guess somebody could use any of them and never tell any difference in on-game performance in a lifetime of hunting.

Of course, that would exclude opinions arising from the infamous "examples of one" we often read on the Internet, and recoil. .270's do kick a little more than the smaller rounds.

Both...

DF

Odds are most handle any 270 loads recoil fine for the round count many hunters use on routine sight-in's, and light practice, let alone a hunt.

I've shot my share of all those rounds, and the beauty of say a 6.5CM is you can practice a lot, for probably less money, and no doubt recoil.

Not much replaces range time learning one's gear, that includes getting off the bags to practice as well, seeing how POI may be affected when not resting on bags, or however folks shoot off a bench.

They all work, when you thread the vitals with a reasonable hunting bullet.

Indeed, on deer/hogs, those 120s have racked up a nice history, in various 6.5s from TCU and JDJ, thru larger rounds, as well as in 7s.