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

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


answer: own one

I just recently purchased a Kiimber Mountain Ascent in 7mm-08 as my primary hunting rifle. I picked it over the 6.5 CM since I already have a Tikka Hunter in 260 and like the 7mm-08 as an overall all around hunting caliber. This is personal choice more so than anything else.

This ^^^^

I have both, in exactly the same platform and scope.
What one will do, so can the other.
I find the 6.5CM more pleasant to shoot, however......

I would rather use a 7mm-08 on elk than a 6.5. Personal preference.

Agreed. We have shot a few elk with 6.5 Creedmoors and 7mm-08s the past few years - all loaded with premium bullets - and the 7mm-08 has delivered better results. The difference may only be a diameter of 0.02, but I think it is valuable on elk. Since this has mostly been women and kids shooting these rounds on elk at pretty close distances, I think the 7mm-08 produces better results on elk with a slightly larger hole and slightly higher velocities at closer ranges. In the hands of an experienced shooter making a long range shot (specially in wind), I could see where the 6.5 Creedmoor could be the better option.

If loaded correctly, the 7-08 has the advantage at LR in the wind.

The main advantage of the 6.5 Creedmoor, in my opinion, is the availability of ammo specifically made for long-range shooting by almost every ammunition producing company.

Only a few companies, and specialty firms, load ammo to take advantage of the 7-08's better BC with the long 180s and up.

So, given this very subjective logic, why not use a 308 Win over the 7-08? Should deliver “better results” than the 7-08...

In my experience, which admittedly may not be as great as some on here, the difference between .264 and .284 is where I start to notice effects on game. The 7mms kill as well as a 30-06. Well hit deer usually just fall over. That has not been my experience with 6.5s.

308 certainly carries the mail, especially with 155 Scenar’s.

My answer as well.

....which is why I recently got a 308 for future elk duty, too. Just not sure the wife or kids are ready for that recoil yet. Maybe I will try to break it in for them this year. Although I typically hunt elk with my great-grandfathers pre-64 30-06 for nostalgic reasons, though.

And yet a 6.5 CM /139 Scenar will out-penetrate the 155 from the 308 Win...

This is why we need a 6.75mm caliber in a short action cartridge. To get the best of both worlds. Something that kills with the raw power of the 7mm-08, but bucks the wind and penetrates like a 6.5 CM. That would be The Thing.

When deer just fall over that has to do with bullet placement and construction. Deer fall over by CNS damage. Shoot one in the heart with a 30-06 or 243 and see what the difference is. Substitute 243 for a 257 Roberts for those who think the 243 is way too small.

Yeah...no. Like I said, not as often in my experience.

Yup.

I prefer 7mm because it’s what I am most comfortable with. Been shooting 7-08’s and7 mags for years and they work very well for my needs. I had a 6.5 Creedmoor and it didn’t do anything spectacularly different so I sold it and kept shooting my 7’s; 7mm-08, 280 Rem and 7mm Rem Mag. Commonality of bullets for reloading, I’m a simple guy.