New deer gun

[tluns]

I'm thinking about a new deer gun. I'm down to 6.5x55 or 7mm-08. Any thoughts?

[CAMPMEAT]

I've got a Savage Model 16 6.5 Creedmoor, that'll work.

[ribka]

Partial to the 6.5 . Great BC , very little recoil.

 Either caliber would be fine as well as a myriad of other calibers.

[Axle]

Yup - 25-06

[tluns]

Don't want another. It's going to be one of these two.

[Huntbear]

I'm thinking about a new deer gun. I'm down to 6.5x55 or 7mm-08. Any thoughts?

you can not go wrong with either..  7mm-08 is much more available caliber if you need to buy some quickly...

[dontgetcrabs]

260rem        Out of those 2 I would probably go with the 6.5x55.

[CAMPMEAT]

7mm08 then.

[Ridgeratt]

I'm thinking about a new deer gun. I'm down to 6.5x55 or 7mm-08. Any thoughts?

I have a buddy who has a 6.5x55 swede and I don't think you could get it away from him if you gave him his choice of any rifle he wanted.

Then based off the 308 parent case for a 7mm-08 any of the off shoot cartridges are all good,and you will get a ton of pro's and cons.

Deer sized game I would say either will suit your needs fine.

Differance is the older folks who have shot the 6.5 will like it and the younger folks will give the 7mm-08 a nod.

[carpsniperg2]

7mm-08 all the way

[Greenhorn]

We have two 7mm-08 in the family (son and wife).  They actually kick a little compared to something with a muzzle break.  My son would rather shoot his 300 mag. A-bolt with a muzzle break than his 7mm-08.  They are very lightweight though,  and shoot great.  I don't know anything about the 6.5.

[Bob33]

Either one will work well for deer. If you do not reload 7.08's are easier to find. If you reload the 6.5 is an under appreciated gem.

[RifleRidge]

I must be old school. I really like my 30 30 winchester rifle.

That is the rifle that won the west... 

[huntnphool]

7mm-08

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I'm thinking about a new deer gun. I'm down to 6.5x55 or 7mm-08. Any thoughts?

6.5x55, 7x57, .260, 7mm-08 are all virtually the same cartridge . The .260 and 7mm-08 have a little more velocity than the two classics. If it were me I would go with the the 6.5x55 or the .260. The BC of the 6.5mm is awesome and it is plenty of gun for deer. If you are wanting it for a deer gun only there is really no need to step up to the 7mm unless that is your preference. The deer are going to die just the same with the 6.5's as with the 7mm's.... you will just have to soak up a pound or two of additional unneeded recoil with the 7mm's (not that it's really much to speak of for any of those calibers)

So unless you have a personal preference the 6.5/260 is all the deer gun you will ever need.

That being said I love all four of those calibers and would like one each...and I'm not even a rifle hunter. 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I must be old school. I really like my 30 30 winchester rifle.

That is the rifle that won the west... 

  Love 30-30's too.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I'm thinking about a new deer gun. I'm down to 6.5x55 or 7mm-08. Any thoughts?

you can not go wrong with either..  7mm-08 is much more available caliber if you need to buy some quickly...

 

This is true for North America. But if your planning on hunting with it overseas the 6.5x55 would probably be the better choice when it comes to ammo availability.

[Greenhorn]

My son's first buck with his 7mm-08.

[jess]

Dont know much bout the 6.5-55 but have seen alot of deer get killed with the 6.5-284 using a 140 grain berger is absolute murder on deer...

[drysideshooter]

It is pretty much impossible to go wrong with the 7mm-08.

As a boy growing up in Alaska my first big game rifle was a 7x57, which as has been said is extremely similar to the 08.  It was a gift from my dad and I still own it and will never get rid of it.  I have used that rifle to cleanly take mountain goat, moose, dall sheep, caribou and black bear.  With modern bullets it is probably an even more useful caliber.  Some of the old standby bullets are still good choices too. 

I would go with the 7mm08 hands down.

[coachcw]

the 260 is a sweet deer gun . If you want to step out a bit further you may want to look at the 6.5x284 or a 257wby.

[Woodchuck]

I picked up a 6.5X55 this last summer just cuz it was a smoking deal. I am quickly falling in love with it. Tack drivin little bugger and a very pleasant rifle to shoot. A good friend of mine's daughter used it to kill her first buck last month. The deer was quartering away, she shot through for the far front shoulder and DRT. I am very pleased with it. 

[brokenvet]

Go Swede

[runamuk]

I have a 7mmmmoh8 and it shoots paper really swell   


at the moment I have fallen for a gun that's not even mine and not on your list. speaking of said not my gun....I need to go shooting soon....

[yorketransport]

I'd go with the Swede if it's offered in the gun you want. The only problem is that the Swede needs to run out of a long action. If that matters to you then go with the 7mm-08.

Andrew

[prperrigo]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

Paul

[DBHAWTHORNE]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

Paul

.308 is my all time favorite cartridge... but then... I never met a round I didn't like.

[huntnphool]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

7mm-08 uses the same case as the .308 but utilizes the better BC 7mm bullet, performing better in most test as well.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

7mm-08 uses the same case as the .308 but utilizes the better BC 7mm bullet, performing better in most test as well.

Who cares. 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

7mm-08 uses the same case as the .308 but utilizes the better BC 7mm bullet, performing better in most test as well.

I do need to get my hands on a 7mm-08. I probably won't use it much but its the next addition to the collection

[carpsniperg2]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

7mm-08 uses the same case as the .308 but utilizes the better BC 7mm bullet, performing better in most test as well.

  Nail on the head right there It is no secret that some of us love the 7mm-08

[huntnphool]

7mm-08 is a great caliber, but I'd go with a 270 or 308.  I believe they are more versatile calibers. Can be used for small and big game, still small enough for a new hunter to handle. Easy to get inexpensive ammo any where you go hunting.  Just my thoughts.

7mm-08 uses the same case as the .308 but utilizes the better BC 7mm bullet, performing better in most test as well.

LMAO, touche'

Who cares. 

[Biggerhammer]

Both are great deer cartridges, if I had to choose. It would be the 6.5 chambering. I am very fond of any case pushing a 6.5 bullet. As for the higher BC of the heavy 7mm bullets. It isn't going to matter in this case if one is camparing the two cartridges. 140gr bullets are about optimal in both chamberings. Which if one wants to start comparing BC's between a 140gr .264 diameter bullet or a .284 diameter bullet it isn't going to matter considering the case volume of both cartridges mentioned. But if it really does matter the 6.5's going to come out slightly ahead. A deer sure wont be able to tell you the difference and either will your hold.

If you wanted to go to a heavier, higher BC bullet on the venerable 7mm-08 chambering. Velocity is going suffer and of course gravity will do its part and in the end it's back to the quality 100's, 120's and 140's for optimal performance in such size cases. Personally in those two chamberings which I have shot and owned, I prefer a little lighter bullet and speed as compared to the heavier bullets. Speed makes up for mass to a certain point and both chamberings mentioned are prime examples.

Doesn't Tikka do a 6.5x55?😉

[huntnphool]

Both are great deer cartridges, if I had to choose. It would be the 6.5 chambering. I am very fond of any case pushing a 6.5 bullet. As for the higher BC of the heavy 7mm bullets. It isn't going to matter in this case if one is camparing the two cartridges. 140gr bullets are about optimal in both chamberings. Which if one wants to start comparing BC's between a 140gr .264 diameter bullet or a .284 diameter bullet it isn't going to matter considering the case volume of both cartridges mentioned. But if it really does matter the 6.5's going to come out slightly ahead. A deer sure wont be able to tell you the difference and either will your hold.

If you wanted to go to a heavier, higher BC bullet on the venerable 7mm-08 chambering. Velocity is going suffer and of course gravity will do its part and in the end it's back to the quality 100's, 120's and 140's for optimal performance in such size cases. Personally in those two chamberings which I have shot and owned, I prefer a little lighter bullet and speed as compared to the heavier bullets. Speed makes up for mass to a certain point and both chamberings mentioned are prime examples.

Doesn't Tikka do a 6.5x55?😉

Good stuff but if you read my post it was comparing the BC of the 7mm to the .30 cal bullet, not the 6.5.

[tluns]

Both are great deer cartridges, if I had to choose. It would be the 6.5 chambering. I am very fond of any case pushing a 6.5 bullet. As for the higher BC of the heavy 7mm bullets. It isn't going to matter in this case if one is camparing the two cartridges. 140gr bullets are about optimal in both chamberings. Which if one wants to start comparing BC's between a 140gr .264 diameter bullet or a .284 diameter bullet it isn't going to matter considering the case volume of both cartridges mentioned. But if it really does matter the 6.5's going to come out slightly ahead. A deer sure wont be able to tell you the difference and either will your hold.

If you wanted to go to a heavier, higher BC bullet on the venerable 7mm-08 chambering. Velocity is going suffer and of course gravity will do its part and in the end it's back to the quality 100's, 120's and 140's for optimal performance in such size cases. Personally in those two chamberings which I have shot and owned, I prefer a little lighter bullet and speed as compared to the heavier bullets. Speed makes up for mass to a certain point and both chamberings mentioned are prime examples.

Doesn't Tikka do a 6.5x55?

Yes, they do. When I pull the trigger on this, so to speak, it will be a Tkka T3 lite.

[suga]

Both are great cartridges!  If you are just going for a deer gun - 6.5 my   

[D-Rock425]

The 7mm-08 will di the job.  Ive shot a fair number of bears with mine.

[h20hunter]

What you mean is you've shot a bear a number of times right D?

[jess]

lol.. Good one h20hunter..

[D-Rock425]

 Oh yeah that too.

[tluns]

Thanks for the input. The 6.5 is what I am going to get. Just need to find one now......

[GEARHEAD]

gotta say 7mm-08 too.  mine shoots a 140 gr bullet at 3000 ft per second, very little recoil and very accurate. shot deer all the way out to 456 yards with it. this year at 365.

[coachcw]

you will lovethe 6.5 

[Big Horn]

7mm-08 Hands down My Dad, Brother, Uncle and I use them for deer 120gr Barnes ttsx = deadly, fast, accurate Just my 

[tluns]

So I went to order a Tikka T3 lite in 6.5 x 55. Found out that Baretta doesn't import them in that caliber anymore. If anybody knows of one for sale or runs across one please let me know.

[C-Money]

The 7mm-08 is a superb cartridge. They work, plain and simple.