Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 6.5cm or 7mm-08

I agree. I've seen plenty of evidence on what "light" 95gr ballistic tips launched from the landowner's son's 243, will do to big mule deer bucks.

Of course that IS the answer, might as well throw a 6mm of some type in there too.

That’s the spirit!

It’s the answer the OP was looking for, too. Give the people what they want.

Do I need to go buy both to see if either is better than a .257 Roberts or .275 Rigby?

I’m thinking not….

That would depend on your definition of better.

Figure here, I've heard of enough moose shoot-throughs with a 6.5mm bullet that I'm not sweating it. 6.5 CM it is. I don't want to test a heavy leg bone with it but that holds true with bigger cartridges/calibers too.

Guessing there won't be a lot of on game difference between a 130-140 gr 6.5mm bullet of good construction vs a 150-160 gr bullet of the same in 7mm but I haven't used either enough to say much besides they kill deer just fine.


Some day, I hope.

Just bought a 7mm-08 going to experiment with that for a while.

One is pragmatic and the other is idealistic a 7mm-08.

Yep2 y’all. A 100gr Hornady at 2500 to 2600 does more than you might think. That’s the speed a lot of folks are getting out of 5.56 ARs with the mind numbing and magical 77gr TMK. And in a 20” Model 7 the recoil is cream puffish. At 100 yards the crosshairs don’t leave the target. In a couple years as she becomes more tolerant just ease up to full charge 100gr TTSX and shoot whatever presents itself.

Thanks for all the info. Grand daughter turned 12 Friday and said she is ready to learn gun safety and start shooting. As soon as our cold winter breaks we'll head to the range and start burning 22lr. We can go 223 rem ,6.5cm , and 270 win from there until she finds a load she is comfortable shooting. then Grandma can pop for a new rifle. (I hope not pink). I'm thinking reduced creedmoor loads since I already reload and have a rifle she can shoot. Again , thanks for all the imput , NDH

I think you are right.

This little Tikka T3x compact is right on 7lbs with the heavy Warne verticals. The 127gr LRX & 129gr HIL oughta take most of what my daughter is interested in. Recoil is pleasant but indeed more than a .243 of equal weight. You might not really need that 270 you mentioned…😜



Have a great day! Fun thread to read.

i just got my grandson a used 257 Roberts Ruger #1 1-B off of here the 24 hr. campfire that`s what he will use next fall . last year because his other rifle had a problem so grandson used my 257 Weatherby mag. Ruger #1 i gave him a choice either watch the deer or shoot ? 10 yr. old grandson said i `m shoot`n and shot a nice doe at 125 yards and he was very proud as i was ,but grandson did say grandpa your rifle kicks to much, the shot was a bang,flop doe and grandson pushed back hard .it was kinda funny !

Personally I like the 7mm-08 better, I had a 6.5 creedmoor, but honestly they are really close and recoil is very mild.
My son is turning 8 this comming year and will use the 7mm-08. He would have used it the past 2 years, but killed his bucks with grandpas crossbow.
Either caliber is good for youth

They're also good for grown men who don't have a need to drive a monster truck to the corner store.

Yep. That’s me these days. Leaning on efficient performance is fun in its own right.

708, my 10yo has been shooting a model 7 for the last two years, graduated from a ruger compact in 260. I also shoot a 708.

I shot a 6.5 with 120bts in a kimber hunter and it would stomp you, my model 7 708 synthetic is much sweeter shooting with 120s. Both have similar recoil pads. I was really surprised by the recoil of the 6.5. The guy that bought it was shooting a 708, he is now back shooting his old 708.

That's more than likely because of how the stocks fit the shooters.

Good on you for doing this. That is something I would have brought up, had you not said it. I've seen some kids ruined because their dads started them out on something that recoils too much for them. They develop bad habits that are hard to break, like flinching and losing focus when they should really be learning marksmanship without getting beat up. A 223 is an excellent stepping stone. A 243w is also a great choice in cartridge for deer hunting as well. You may also want to consider low recoil factory ammo for either of the cartridges you are thinking about buying. Like someone else said, the 2 cartridges are like 2 peas in a pod. I have some of each and love them. If elk were on the menu, I'd probably lean more towards the 7mm08 with a mono metal like the 140gr TTSX. Worked great for me last season on the bull I shot. The creedmoor would probably do about the same with the right bullet, but for some reason my preference was for the 7mm... Good luck with it!!

DF, its a good subject matter. What bothers me in the other thread is the guys that are so totally against the creedmoor, yet have never tried one. I have both and love them both. Both excellent cartridges. The creedmoor edges out the 7mm08 in consistent accuracy, but the 7mm isn't far behind it. As for recoil, they are 2 peas in a pod. The creedmoor has more factory ammo available at different stores I've visited and that may be a consideration to someone that doesn't roll their own. I also like seeing the 7mm08 holding its own against the creed as far as popularity is concerned. Both great cartridges that guys need to give a fair shake to and quit being offended by some new cartridges coming out, because some points are very valid. Like the inherent accuracy of the creed. Its real and not all hype. Guys that use them know this.. A lot of guys posting in this thread have and use both, so that is great to see. I have respect for both cartridges.