6.5cm or 7mm

[Doc68]

Have you thought of a 7mm-08?

+ Factory available ammo
+ Much less recoil than 7RM
+ Ballistically very similar to 6.5CM
+ More thump for elk than 6.5

7mm-08 is a great choice I'm launching 162-168gr projectiles at 2800fps out of a 27" barrel. Less recoil than a 308, a bit more than 6.5 creed. There are lots of high BC bullets out there for it along with great hunting bullets.

ELD-M and 47.4gr of 6.5 Staball powder gets me that.

 

[hereinaz]

Elk gun used mostly on deer. 7mm rm
Deer gun use occasionally on elk. 6.5 cm
Best compromise, 6.5 PRC...

You are more likely to get a "lemon" that won't shoot factory ammo with a 7mm rm. For that alone, I would go with a 6.5 cm or prc. You'll have a very low chance of getting a problem child 6.5. Were you to handload, that isn't as big of an issue.

If you can only get one gun, make it a very good one for what you will be doing most of the time. Otherwise, you will be more likely to find yourself unhappy with the results most of the time. By the time you are hunting elk, you could pick up a second rifle and put your good scope on it. That is a much more appealing solution to me.

A 7mm rem with a good recoil pad shooting 160 class bullets is much easier than a 300 wm. Less powder and less bullet makes a bigger difference.

 

[Painjob38]

I own both calibers. I think they are both awesome and for deer on down they will both do the trick my 7 does have more recoil then my 6.5 but not a ton if it is primarily just a hunting gun then go with the 7 I feel like it is more versatile but you you plan to casually shoot it at the range then go with the 6.5 it is cheaper to shoot and easier on the shoulder

 

[mtnhunter22]

Both! Haha

The 6.5 with 147s is what I’m running this year. We will see how it goes. My opinion fwiw..I have a 7mm and although light and easy to pack, kicks like a bugger and isnt fun to shoot. My 6.5 on the other hand is a blast. I can shoot it all day and feel fine. Also cheaper to shoot. More enjoyable and cheaper means more practice which means more comfort behind the gun. Which at the end of the day hopefully means a dead deer come fall. I also like the 6.5 because it will force me to get closer. Yes I said closer. Although the 6.5 packs a punch at distance, using a smaller caliber makes me want to get in closer rather than take the risky long range shot just because I know my gun is capable. Just my two cents and only time will tell whether I like this set up or not.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

If the available choices include .280 Rem or 280AI; I'd seriously consider that. Excellent accuracy and distance with a 7mm, but not all the recoil of a 7Mag.

My experience was limited and some time ago; but I found the 280 Rem to be very accurate with less recoil than the 30-06. It was also quite easy to develop accuracy handloading with Nosler 120, 140, and 150gr bullets. 160's would have been next, but my Brother took his back, so I don't have anything current to share.

Good factory ammo is available for both, and the 280 can be fired in the 280AI, it simply fire forms to the AI's chamber. I suggest this factory rifle. I had the opportunity to work with pair of Ruger 77 MKI's; a Sporter, and a Varmint model. They were the most satisfying rifles I've ever had the opportunity to use.

My current LR chambering is 260, and it's a true peach; but my Large Game hunting experience with it is zilch; Deer, sure I would, Elk, probably not for me.

I've become enamored with the Speer Gold Dot bullets. They could be an answer I've been looking for; a bullet with match grade accuracy and very capable terminal performance in the single package. I am very early on with handloading projects dealing with this. I'll be working with 223 62 & 75gr, 6.5Grendel 120gr, 260 140gr, 308 and 30-06 168gr.

I do the bulk of my large game hunting (deer) with 30-06, I have no complaints; and I've not really had much opportunity for LR Big Game hunting.

Greg