Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles what would you do with a 708 that you wouldn't with a 6.5?

Was having this conversation with someone earlier. Obviously the 708 can bump up to bigger bullets (160 a-frame or 150 AB), but I'm curious where y'all would draw the line on game animals. Part of what started our chat is the idea that people have of the 708 as a "kids only" cartridge but the 260/6.5 is for grownups. (I have both and don't subscribe to that idea, but know lots of folks who do.)

We kill elk out to 400 yards with our 7mm-08s and 150 gr bullets.

I built a 7-08 and wonder why I have anything else. To me the 6.5s are small calibres that punch above their weight. The 7-08 stands on its own feet

Load .284 bullets in it.


Bb

"would draw the line on game animals."

Bad jokes could at least answer the question...

If I wanted to throw 120gr bullets at deer I'd use 6.5mm For 130gr, .277. For 140gr, 7mm. Big jump to .30 at 165gr. It goes on like that.

The 120gr class runs faster on multiple shots than the 140gr.

For me it's simply a matter of wind drift and impact velocity. Either will kill anything I'm shooting at.

There is quite simply nothing I wouldn’t use a 6.5 CM on that I’d use a 7-08 on. They’re killing twins.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^

MM

A 7mm-08 with a 140gr vs a 6.5cm with a 140gr. I'll take the 7mm-08 anyday, been many elk dumped with a 7mm-08 over the years. Still looking at 1200-1300 ftlbs at 400 yards.

I've been trying to decide if there's something I would shoot with the 708 but not the 6.5. I start to go back and forth with myself when it gets to elk, but I think a 140 partition or 130 TSX in 6.5 would take care of business as long as you didn't take a dumb shot. I just saw Berger has a 156 hunting bullet in 6.5 now, but I've also seen people questioning its length in factory rifles.

A 6.5 142 ABLR load I have gets only 2750 fps at 10 yds but is still at 1556 ft lbs at 400 yds, 1373 ft lbs at 500 and 1208 ft lbs at 600. This is using a Brian Litz recommended BC. Just sayin...

The 140 / 6.5 of equal construction to a 140 / 7mm will out-penetrate the 7mm all day, every day.

So you would take a CM over the 7mm-08?

It’s a flip of the coin. For the non-hand loader, the CM is the way to go. Me, I’d take the CM regardless.

Both are excellent cartridges. With good bullet choices, one will do what the other does, and do it just as well. At the ranges I shoot anyway. And for what it’s worth, I have and shoot both.

Get rid of it.

I have both, depends on what I feel like when I open up the safe. Either one will kill deer and pigs. If I was hunting Elk, I’d take a 7 mag.

What is your "sales pitch" for the CM over the traditional .308 or 7mm-08? PM me if needed

"would draw the line on game animals."

Bad jokes could at least answer the question...

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I didn't think it was a bad joke...... I chuckled !

? is what would you do with a 7-08 that you wouldn't with a 6.5...

I'd KEEP it.


Actually I have a 6.5X55 and have NOT owned a 7-08 so, there's that.


Jerry