6.5 Creedmor or 7mm-08 for deer?

[TheWingMaster]

Hello everyone,

Just getting back into deer hunting and I want to move from a shotgun to a rifle. I’ve been using an 870 express mag for a while, but since I hunt in a lightly wooded area and/or fields, I’m wanting to switch to a rifle that can reach out and touch something.

So, my question is - what would you rifle guys recommend - a 6.5 Creedmor or a 7mm-08? I’ve also toyed with the idea of a .243 but, with a lot less frontal area, I know shot placement becomes even more crucial.

Also, what rifle itself would you recommend? I just sold an old wingmaster trap model so, I have 700 but would be willing to invest maybe 200 more for a nice rifle. I had been looking at Remington model 700’s, Weatherby Vanguards, mossberg patriot revere’s, Winchester 70’s, and Ruger Americans.

I’d prefer to keep the plastic to a minimum, especially with the trigger and trigger guard. I would also prefer a wood stock (guess I’m old school) but, that’s not a deal breaker. If I got something with a composite stock I would probably swap it for a magpul anyway.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[DMTJAGER]

Are you planning on hunting with the rifle in Indiana? If so neither caliber is legal. No calibers between .243 (larger) and .308 (smaller) are legal for deer hunting in Indiana. If out west then I would personally opt for the 7mm/08 as I am a non-bandwagon kind of guy and you can not beat a Tikka T3 factory rifle, equal it probably, but not surpass it.

 

[TheWingMaster]

Are you planning on hunting with the rifle in Indiana? If so neither caliber is legal. No calibers between .243 (larger) and .308 (smaller) are legal for deer hunting in Indiana. If out west then I would personally opt for the 7mm/08 as I am a non-bandwagon kind of guy and you can not beat a Tikka T3 factory rifle, equal it probably, but not surpass it.

From my understanding of the DNR website, if you are hunting private property (I will be) than they are legal. Are you certain?

 

[TheWingMaster]

From my understanding of the DNR website, if you are hunting private property (I will be) than they are legal. Are you certain?

Also wanna add that a lot of my dads friends (older guys who I don’t think would ever break any hunting laws) also use .243, 7mm-08, 6.5 creed for deer hunting.

I have read that what you are saying rings true on PUBLIC land though.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Either one would be fine. And you're correct about the public vs private land thing. I went with the creedmoor this last season largely because I wanted a midrange round for deer and target shooting, and the 6.5 out performs .308 by a little bit at distance.
I only had one little fellow in the scope this season, and gave him a pass, so she's not blooded yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
I was very interested in the 7mm 08 when it first came out, but other shiny things drew my attention away. What interests you about it?

 

[patience0830]

.243 and 85 gr Sierra Gamekings have worked fine for me. The 6.5 has become quite popular and the one deer I've killed with mine behaved very much like it had been shot with the .243. It died.

 

[VERT]

6.5 creedmore is way more popular and will be easier to find ammo. It can handle 95 grain bullets for varmints and 143 grain bullets for deer. In my opinion replaces .243 and .308. 7mm-08 is a good cartridge but you don’t see many of them in the wild compared to creedmore

 

[avboiler11]

Shot placement matters with a 30 cal just as much as a 6mm. Deer aren’t hard to kill when you put the bullet where its supposed to go.

That said, 6.5 Creedmoor is the new hotness with ammo increasingly available in more places. Its popularity means more production of ammo & components, but also higher demand.

7-08 is a great chambering but you don’t see as many of them these days in new rifles. Rem Core Lokts used to be pretty available in WallyMart, not sure about today.

Either chambering will easily kill deer.

 

[JEBland]

Like others have said, if you have a standard cartridge for whitetail, it'll work just fine. I wouldn't worry about performance at distance unless you plan to shoot actually shoot those distances. At the ethical distances to take game via stalking/walk-hunting, it's not really an issue. That ethical distance being determined by your gun and your ability to shoot it - I'm just an ok shot, myself, and don't see myself shooting past 300 yd for a whitetail where I hunt.

That said, I've been wanting a Tikka T3X compact in 7mm-08 for a few months to pick up as a light whitetail carbine for the upcoming shooters in the family, but Tikka also makes a wooden stocked hunter model - The 7mm-08 basically a slightly under-powered .270, which is a pretty awesome whitetail round. I've also seen 10+ boxes of mid-to-high grade 7mm-08 hunting ammo on the shelf with no Creedmoor in sight.

If you come across a good deal in either that you'd be happy with. I'd say go for it.

 

[42769vette]

Which ever caliber you will practice with more. Ballistics won't matter on indiana whitetail.

I hunt with a 28 nosler. The only reason I use it is because it's my hunt everything rifle, so I practice with it more than anything else.

 

[SALJER]

7mm-08 is awesome if you handload. 130-175gr loads with mild to heavy recoil.

 

[drm-hp]

For whitetail deer I am a fan of 6mm cartridges. The recoil is low enough that becoming very familiar/ very good with your rifle is fun, and should not hurt you cost wise too much.
I built my daughter the nicest 243 Win. to hunt deer sized game with, no pain to learn the rifle.
I shoot a 6mm/284 Win. that is still soft enough to shoot and the accuracy is fantastic.

 

[Dirty Steve]

There is little difference between the 2 (3 if you include .243) on deer sized game at ranges under 300 yards. Do you intend to take this out west and do you intend to hunt elk,..... that would be my question.

Dirty Steve

 

[Mark-DuCo]

I was in the same situation a few years ago, and ended up going with the 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 has a little more energy at the ranges I will be shooting (mainly under 200 yards) and I like a bigger bullet. I know the 6.5 will kill deer just fine too.

Also when ammo started drying up, the 6.5 disappeared way before the 7mm-08 did, mainly because everyone seems to have one now.

 

[TheWingMaster]

Either one would be fine. And you're correct about the public vs private land thing. I went with the creedmoor this last season largely because I wanted a midrange round for deer and target shooting, and the 6.5 out performs .308 by a little bit at distance.
I only had one little fellow in the scope this season, and gave him a pass, so she's not blooded yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
I was very interested in the 7mm 08 when it first came out, but other shiny things drew my attention away. What interests you about it?

The main draw for me is the light recoil, accuracy it is known for, and versatility as a hunting/sporting rifle.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

The main draw for me is the light recoil, accuracy it is known for, and versatility as a hunting/sporting rifle.

Yup. Same things I was looking at.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I'm glad nobody is on here saying the 6.5 is like hunting with lightening bolts from the hand of God. It's just another cartridge. I'd go 7-08 but only because I'm getting tired of people saying the 6.5 is better than everything else. It's good, maybe great, but there's a lot of other good and great.

 

[johntheplinker]

Any of the rifles mentioned would work just fine. I recommend finding an example of each if possible and get a feel for them, see which works best for you. As an example, I like how the 700 and 70 feel, but the Ruger and Savage feel like a length of 2x6 to me.
I'd also recommend taking a look at a Tikka. Very accurate, great trigger, and smooottthhh out of the box.
Lots of good cartridges mentioned, you don't need a howitzer to kill a deer. If you may want to go with something a little different, take a look at the 6.5 Swede and 7mm Mauser.

 

[TheWingMaster]

There is little difference between the 2 (3 if you include .243) on deer sized game at ranges under 300 yards. Do you intend to take this out west and do you intend to hunt elk,..... that would be my question.

Dirty Steve

If possible but not absolutely necessary. My dad has enough hunting rifles to fuel a small militia. I might go with one of his 270s for something like that. Although, I will say - having my own weapon that was versatile for different game would be great.

 

[DMTJAGER]

Also wanna add that a lot of my dads friends (older guys who I don’t think would ever break any hunting laws) also use .243, 7mm-08, 6.5 creed for deer hunting.

I have read that what you are saying rings true on PUBLIC land though.

You sir are indeed correct I was going on older (circa 2017) no longer applicable laws.
After giving my original caliber advice some thought if you do not reload and have no plans to begin I would first check the availability of rifles and ammunition for both calibers and allow that to help in which you chose.
I reload EVERYTHING but turkey loads (still available OTC near me) so ammunition availability is a non issue or priority for me.
There will essentially be no difference in on game performance wise between either caliber unless you plan on taking shots long enough to require dialing your scope for drop and wind.