@@tomahawk7796 That's exactly a .260 Remington. Remington the company is the problem not .260 Remington the cartridge. It is my cartridge of choice for my next hunting rifle (if I decide to buy another one).
A retest is a must. I've hammered DRT moose, whitetail, hog, and bear with the 7-08. I've seen 4 moose drop to the 7mm-08, but only one drt, other 3 didn't go more than 100 meters. Both are fine calibers. But I have a few 7mm-08 and it became my pet round in a general purpose rifle.
@@Paul-q3m7k I've never shot a Moose but I've seen a bunch of them. My first Bull Elk was taken with a 30-06 at 210 yards, with a 180 grn. Nosler acubond. That SOB ran 140 yards after being hit right in the boiler. I can only imagine how tuff a Moose could be. I've had mule deer drop in there tracks and white tail run 80 yrds fro. Shots that should have stopped them immediately. Let's not pass judgment on other hunters unless you were there watching through the binoculars. Sometimes these critters will to live outweighs our belief in what's possible.
@tomwaits4205 only Central Nervous system shots stop immediately. No other shot should be expected to put an animal on the ground. They naturally have more adrenaline in the blood than we do so their flight or fight reasons is way more natural and rehearsed. My second shot on my was right where the spine went into the shoulder. And my 127gr barnes LRX from the 6.5x284 Norma worked well.
@@bryceatcheson5791 The difference in recoil between the two is insignificant (factory 140s), you won't notice it. However, the 7 is capable of shooting heavier bullets faster and those will recoil a tad more. I've found the 7 will do everything the 6.5 will, but not the opposite. I love my 6.5, but the 7 is my choice for deer and elk.
Wyoming here: I’m seeing some amazing results from the 6.5. I’ve just taken Mule deer with mine but my buddy took a nice 6x bull elk and a really nice 2 yo bull moose with his. I’ve taken 3 good mule deer bucks with mine and it performed perfectly. Two broadside shots and one quartering. I’m really beginning to love the 6.5
I own both in the ruger American. Both killed whitetail deer in Texas. I'm very happy with both. What this video showed me was just how well the Federal Fusion bullets work.
If I were you I would save my money and keep the 260 there’s not enough difference between these three rounds to make a difference I shot a deer with a 140 gr 260 Remington Corelokt bullet and I could have stuck a football in the exit hole
I have a rem model 7 in 7mm08 that I have owned for about 25 years that is my favorite rifle of all time. It is light, easy to carry, accurate, flat shooting and it hits hard enough to do the job on elk. Performance between the 7-08 and 6.5creedmore is so close it is hard to pick one over the other! I have owned 7-08's for a long time before the 6.5creedmore was around.
I think the 7mm 08 is a very good cartridge. With proper shot placement a deer hardly takes a step or two before they are down. Fusion is great for the money!
My Remington model 7 stainless in 7mm-08 is my favorite deer rifle I have ever owned. It's a lightweight mountain rifle, but very comfortable to shoot. I believe the 7mm-08 was based to be the equivalent of the old 7x57 Mauser or something along those lines. I started with a Model 98 Mauser in 7x57 and shot many deer with it as a young man. Sold it and got a new Remington 700BDL in 7 Rem Mag. and within a few years I wanted something more like my old 7x57 and got the Rem Model 7 in 7mm-08. It's been called the perfect whitetail cartridge by many people. Flat trajectory, plenty of energy for the job and easy to shoot and highly accurate. I believe the only thing the 6.5CM beats it at is a slightly less wind drift at long range but mostly due to bullet design as 7mm-08 as far as I know doesn't have any bullets with the BC of a 6.5CM. Either cartridge will do the job,,flip a coin.
I bought my grandson's both a 7mm08 to hunt whitetails here in Texas. Both boys took their first ones opening morning last year . Both boys made good clean one shot kills. Neither deer had to be looked for. They were right where they were standing when they were shot. My oldest grandson also took a 250lb. Wild hog just minutes later with a single perfectly placed shot also. We are all believers in the ,7mm08. Oh one was taken at about 50 yards, while the other was taken at about 100 yards and the hog at about 140 yards. I was a proud grand Dad!
Probably that hunt will be engrained in them forever.. what you did for them..and your companionship is the very best..example you could have done for everyone. What a great example of a role model .thanks for sharing your story..
The federal fusion is probably the best bonded bullet I’ve used on medium game. And one of the most consistent I’ve seen across the three calibers I use it in
Thanks for reaffirming my decision to stay in Texas after I retired. I made a 7mm/08 for my wife 30 years ago, I’ve borrowed it from her quite a few times with great success.
Squeaky crunchy snow makes my soul cry haha. Great video. Both great rounds, but I will be going with the 7mm-08. Just had my heart set on that one for a while. Was originally weighing it against a .308, but the flat shooting and resistance to wind drifting with the 7mm-08 won me over.
What does it weigh. I wanted to get an AR-10 and a bunch of uppers since I couldn’t make up my mind on a left handed bolt action. However, I’m thinking because of weight that I’ll still go with the savage.
I went the 7-08 route when friends went the 6.5C way. No regrets whatsoever. Very happy to see bigger and heavier targets get taken down with authority! 6.5C pals just shake their heads.😂
Every time I see where you live, I feel sorry for myself. Seriously ridiculously gorgeous views my gosh. I appreciate you doing these tests even more today with the cost of ammo. Thank you Sir.
Awesome versus video , Sir !!!!!!! I absolutely love my Savage Model 111 Trophy Hunter in 7mm-08. I use 139 grain Remington Core-Locks in my rifle. Now i will try some of these Federal Fusion 140 grains out. Thanks a bunch
I use 140gr Remington core Lokt in my .264 Win Mag for Elk. Harvested 3 under 200 yrds. At 300 yrds the bullet pinholed thru both lungs and I had to track over 1000 yrds until blood trail went cold. I'm looking for bonded Norma Oryx 156gr custom loaded for my .264 Win Mag. Hopefully better expansion and conetic energy with meat in my freezer 😋.
I've been using the 7mm08 for the last 35 years and wouldn't bother to change to the smaller 6.5 's , the deer won't know the difference and I won't need to buy new reloading gear , interestingly both were developed as target rounds and have become popular medium game rounds . I think you need to do another test in mid summer .
I would say their neck and neck, but of course larger bore diameter will do more damage to the game animal and achieve higher velocity’s with less pressure
True. The calibers themselves are so similar that any difference in performance comes down to different ranges or bullet construction-- not really one caliber vs another. Especially when comparing identical weights. By sectional density, the 160-class bullets in 7mm are closer to what a 140 is in 6.5. And you'll note the two calibers push comparable SDs at comparable speeds. (160 in 7-08 is basically the same as a 140 in 6.5). 7mm gives a tiny bit more recoil and a tiny bit more energy. Ultimately, I chose the 6.5 because the SAAMI reamer is a smarter design with the 1.5 degree leade instead of a 3 degree leade Remington afflicts their rounds with. The 6.5 chamber will run heavy and long bullets with a SAAMI chamber. You can't run a 180gr bullet in the 7-08 SAAMI chamber and the SAAMI twist of 9.5 is too slow for the heaviest 7mm bullets. And the freebore of the 7-08 is about half that of the 6.5. Remington basically assured you cannot run anything heavier than 160s effectively. If you don't want/need the heaviest bullets in the caliber, it's really tough to beat a 7-08. I prefer the modernity of the 6.5, as I feel these features outweigh any tiny detriment of muzzle energy. And the 160gr bullets in 6.5 have no counterpart in 7mm (nothing with SD as high). A Woodleigh weldcore at 160gr in 6.5 is a beast of penetration!
G5 sounds like you’ve studied it out pretty well, when it comes to modern firearms I’m pretty sure you’re right. personally I feel like flat point bullets do a better job on killing , they sure do have bigger entrance wounds, just shot a deer last week with my 348 at my normal range 44 yards it dropped like a rock, I was using 180 grain flat point bullet at 2700 feet a second
joe doe wonder what is barrel life is on one of those? I know if you let a barrel get hot it loses its wear resistant, and start erode away more rapidly
Great video 👍 I didn’t see anything in the description below , and I didn’t hear any mention of the rifles used here . Just curious if the barrel lengths were the same , and I would like to point out that the ballistics advertised on the box of ammo reflect muzzle velocities from a 24” barrel ( typically for most standard cartridges ) So , I would attribute the respective averages of 2713 fps/6.5 CM and 2771 fps / 7mm-08 to account for a lesser muzzle velocity due to a shorter 22” sporterized barrel more so than the cold weather itself . Regardless, I would choose the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 CM ( for all practical & ethical hunting purposes ) I’m rather partial to the 7mm caliber anyhow, and with that being said , I’ll stick to my .280 Remington, it does everything I need it to do ... not to mention that it sends those 140 grain pills between 3,000 fps - 3,050 fps and allows me to to utilize much heavier 165 - 175 grain bullets if necessary , for pursuing elk sized game ( or that angry grizzly lol 😂) when needed .
Savage 116 and Remington 700 22" barrels. Im sure i put it in the video but my bad for not making it more clear. I appreciate the feedback. Agreed the barrel length was probably more of a factor than the cold, but if you look at some of my other 6.5 Creedmoor videos, it often gets more than advertised velocity in this barrel. I'm just surprised it's this close to box velocities the cold and given the barrel lengths. I agree that I'd take the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 Creedmoor but for dinne ccx reasons i now own 2 6.5 Creedmoor's and im thinking about building an 18" ar10 battle rifle version
I don’t understand why everyone hates on the fusion ammo, as most things in life you get what you pay for, and the fusion is about the cheapest bonded ammo you can buy. For medium and up game bonded is far superior than non bonded.
I think my test proved it to be very a nice choice. I was wrong about it. It doesn't feed well in semi auto ar10s in my experience, but for a bolt gun, it's not bad. Thanks for watching and your comment.
The fusion bullets haven't been accurate in any of my rifles. They'll probably work fine if I don't have to shoot past 200 yards. None of my rifles shoot moa with federal fusion though. I tried them in 7 rem mag, 708, 270, 6.5cm and others. I normally load my own or buy hornady precision hunter.
Nathan Manley I defiantly agree that Remington core-Lokt is great inexpensive ammo, but you have to get there premium core-Lokt bonded to get a bonded bullet, which is still more expensive and much harder to find than Fusion. My #1 go to for factory ammo is Norma Oryx at twice the price per round than Fusion, but I also would prefer to load my own. I’m just saying that for what Fusion is, and the price you can buy it for, its not that bad.
My first hunting rifle was a Remington 788 in 7mm-08. Have killed lots of pronghorn, whitetail, and mule deer with one. Love the caliber so much I recently bought another.
I love both of these calibers. But, because of the insane popularity now of 6.5 CM, and the ballistic comparison just too close (testing at 500-700 yards would be far more telling), I would have to give the nod to 6.5 CM due to availability. At my local Walmart (a good litmus test), there were only 2 boxes of 7mm-08 (Reming Core Lokt) while there was an entire shelf of 6.5 CM ranging from 129 gr. up to 147 gr with several manufacturers represented and rounds for match shooting to hunting. So, while I was searching for an "in stock" bolt gun to purchase chambered in 7mm-08 around Christmas, I found none! 6.5 CM, however, was in stock in every single manufacturers available bolt. There's a lot to be said about availability.
I would try to hand load them they shoot better, have you ever tested the grand slams I’ve wondered how they would shoot and perform they seem like a good bullet from what I’ve heard
Just bought a Tikka Hunter in 7mm-08 as my hopeful go-to for deer. This video was a cool comparison. Def easier to find ammo for the 6.5 currently, but I decided to hold out to get what i wanted instead of buying creedmore. My dad shot 7mm-08 for deer often with great sucess... ballistics aside, my purchase felt like a nod to heritage. Id like to see the test with proper gel set up.
Just this video made me subscribe, I'm from NEPA where we get cold even negatives, then again I'm sure our negative is closer to your spring weather, keep on keepin on!!!!
I own a 7-08 shot 11 mule deer one pronghorn 1 oryx 1barbary sheep at 650 yards 5 elk one at 689 yards and lots of coyotes my son shot a white tail and a cow elk this year with it. 140 grain is my go too big game bullet I haven’t played with it enough for coyote but I’m sure there is a load out there ! All I can say is it works and honestly if I’d had a 6.5 instead I’d probly figured out the right load and been just as happy thank you
I have a Kimber Montana 84M in 7mm-08 I bought years ago. I had to wait 6 months for it as they had just started putting them out and mine has the original 2 position safety. My research on the 7mm-08 showed me it would be the perfect whitetail round and could even take game as large as Elk if needed. It has become my most used hunting rifle out of the dozen I have in everything from .22 to .375 H&H. The 6.5 Creedmoor will not do anything better than the 7mm-08 under 500 yards. Beyond that it has some advantages, but I would never shoot at an animal beyond 500 yards, so I have no intention of buying one. I like the 6.5x55 Swede round and if I didn't have a good whitetail rifle right now, I might go with a 6.5 Creedmoor. That's what I love about rifles. Many tools available for many different jobs.
I want to throw out other thoughts to ponder. I live in Florida. PRS is all the rage and winter is our shooting season (it's dry and 70 degrees). So, rifles chambered in 6.5 CM are outselling all the other calibers (save .308) combined. As I mentioned earlier, 6.5 CM ammo is everywhere. Tons of choices in bullet weights, manufacturers and price. Here in Florida, we mostly hunt whitetail deer and wild hogs. Personally, I hunt midwest whitetails but enjoy Florida hog hunting. ONE major advantage to 6.5 CM over 7mm-08 is the ability to have multiple platforms shoot the same cartridge. You can own a highly accurate bolt action for your big game deer needs, then, also own an AR10 Platform in 6.5 CM with 20 round mags with high rates of fire for going out on those wild hog hunts using drives. Most of that type of hunting is high speed running shots. The ability to lay down a higher rate of fire is not only desirable, it's almost required. Since 6.5 CM's popularity explosion, numerous manufacturers are chambering AR's for 6.5. I haven't seen any 7mm-08's in the AR platform.
7mm-08 AR-10s exist. They used to be made but i think they're mostly custom build these days. Both Rounds are equally available in ammo here. But i see your point and have fun on those hogs
Christensen Arms releases reports of rifle sales by caliber about twice a year and over the past 2 years their 6.5cm rifle's have outsold their 308's by about 6 to 1 on average and have outsold all other calibers combined. Basically 6.5cm has dethroned 308 as America's standard go to full size rifle caliber.
I too shoot both. The 6.5 is a fine cartridge. But that 7-08 is a real sleeper! It would be more popular than the Creed if people knew about. Thanks for the vid.
I'd like to see you run this test again at their maximum point blank ranges. Which should come in at around 300 yards or so. And for kicks toss in the 243. I'm finding, after shooting the 243, 6.5 CM, and 7-08, that the 6.5 is superfluous. The 7 will launch a higher BC bullet at a higher velocity than the 6.5, and the 243 smokes the 6.5 in recoil. The 6.5's PBR isn't any better either. I love the 6.5, but it doesn't bring anything to the table for me.
Interesting to see performance in very cold wether. Most of these kinds of videos seem to be done under good wether conditions, but when hunting at higher elevations, cold is pretty common. Along with hunting seasons for deer and elk in the northern states.
7mm08 definitely hands down. Remington Model 7, short action, lightweight to tote all day, and very powerful, a hunters dream. My rifle of choice and I have many other calibers to choose from.
Nice! I love my Creedmoor's but if target have a 7mm-08 for hunting because of the wider bullet selection. It's a ruger American compact for my son. A model 7 would be awesome
@@rickymartin7196 good job but my daughter used the same bullet at 150 yard's with a good double lung shot and the bullet didn't exit. I realize a lot of people love the 243 but I think it's just a little light for deer and I've shot a lot of deer with it up to 185 lbs, but she wanted something bigger and now she's sporting a new 7mm08 and love's it.
Well I'm glad she likes the 7mm08 and I'm glad you realize that bullets that make it all the way through are better!! Explaining that to people has been a challenge to day it nicely.
Damn I wish 7mm-08 was readily available. 6.5 Creedmoore has taken over where I stay. I have a .308 but been wanting 7-08 for a very long time. How is recoil between the two?
@@Bigfish1day .308 definitely kicks more with heavier bullets. If you're going light like 125gr, doesn't matter. 140gr 7mm-08 vs 150gr .308 the 7mm-08 is better.
Try adding a bottle of cheap vodka to your gel after you take it off the heat. Don't add the vodka during the boil and make sure you reduce the same amount of water. That should, theoretically, prevent the gel from freezing. Also, it may make the gel clearer, too.
Another very enjoyable video. To my eyes these two calibres are so close in comparison it would be hard to choose one over the other at practical hunting ranges. Thanks
I'm currently deciding between rifles in these chamberings and I've done quite a bit of research on both cartridges. I understand the ballistic chart advantage of the 7mm-08, but I've been starting to understand the design advantage of the 6.5 CM's bullet. While the 7mm-08 enjoys a surface area advantage, that advantage seems to be quickly nullified at the point of impact. The longer projectile of the 6.5mm CM would, logically, seem to allow for greater expansion and penetration (sectional density). Your video actually supports that theory in showing the greater expansion of the 6.5 CM. If my life was on the line and I had to choose between these two cartridges, I'd choose the 6.5. It just seems to perform above its weight extremely well. And it appears there is a huge advantage in ammo selection for the 6.5, and it's about 20- to 30-percent cheaper than the same ammo in 7mm-08. Just my two cents. I really don't think one could go wrong with either one. I'm thinking I'm going to get a rifle in 6.5.
I own a Rem 700 CDL SF in a Bell and Carlson stock chambered in 7mm-08.. It has become my favorite ever rifle, even after being a magnum guy for decades. The light recoil and short action make it a dream to shoot and it is super accurate .... I can ring the gong at 600 yards all day long. What really had me falling in love was where you can push the 08 to when reloading 150 grain high bc bullets. I get 2875 fps without any pressure signs and without going over book recommendations. I use StaBall 6.5 which is absolute magic with this combination. Accubond LR 150 grain bullets are still running at 2100 fps at 500 yards with 1500 foot pounds of energy. And all this from a little nudge to the shoulder. I used to never considered the 08 to be a 500 yard deer killer ... but it is. I chuckle at how many hunters still consider it a lady's or kid's gun. From my experience is kills elk very efficiently and is almost too much for deer when using the 150 grain AB LR bullets, as they make massive wounds if you hit the shoulder (so I pick lungs if I can). Here is a final thought for the magnum crowd ... it takes a 40% increase in powder in a 7mm Rem Mag, to get a 9% increase in velocity over the 7mm-08. For me, the extra weight and recoil just aren't worth it since I will never shoot at a deer over 500 yards ... I find no need to suffer the added recoil and cost.
I use 49.5 grauns. I used to own a Rem 700 SPS which got me 2950 fps, which was shockingly fast, so there is obviously a great range with this load from rifle to rifle.
I’m a bit late to the party here, but it’s amazing how folks will fight over calibers, especially these twin sisters. Practically, there’s no difference! I’ve used a .260 Remington and 7mm-08. No difference between them in the field whatsoever. The 6.5 Creedmoor might have more choices in rifles today. Around here, there’s more ammunition availability with the Creedmoor too. We certainly didn’t need the 6.5 Creedmoor, but we have it. It’s nice to have choices.
Both are good period lot of choices pic one . Deer 25-06 6.5 crd, 243, 270, 308, 260, under 300 yrds hard to figure . 500 yrds all start to change 600 yrds wind drift and bc . Under 600 Don't think to hard .
Currently going down to 1 cartridge for my deer hunting struggling to pick between the 2, I don't reload but the 7mm08 extra energy to take big deer species might wing it for me
Put the correct bullet in the right spot he won't know the difference. I've not seen factory 7mm-08 in my area in a while. So if you don't reload don't feel bad with whatever caliber you can find on the shelf
I like the 7mm08 but the 6.5 will out penitrate if shot into a tree 12 " around or 12" beam. Smaller bore, equal velosity and same gr = more penitration, 6.5.
Its funny how the 7mm-08 was considered a youth or women caliber for decades while the 6.5 Creed is touted to be a soft shooting caliber. I chose the 7mm-08 in the 80's because I wanted a light rifle that would be less punishing and allow me to practice more. It's killed deer and moose with no problems. I do limit myself to good shots on moose and keep them under 250 yards. I do wish they would load some 160's for it though. I had to reload mine and they work great. With the newest powders they could easily load them to over 2700 and it would be all you would need for moose. Wishful thinking though as everybody is jumping on the 6.5 Creed bandwagon.
I would pick the 6.5 creedmoor, not saying the 7mm isn't a good round, but many people looking at these 6.5 vs. what ever forget one very import fact about the 6.5 and that it's a long range round. The 6.5 is one of the most efficient bullets available for the general mass, sure the 7mm will have an edge in speed at the muzzle, but who the hell shoots deer at the muzzle? Go ahead and see what the speed is for both of these rounds at say 500 yards.....yeah, that creedmoor will not loose speed like the 7mm, that creedmoor at 500 yards will hit with more energy and do more damage than the 7mm.
Per the Federal website for the exact 140 grain Federal Fusion rounds they shot for the test. 6.5 V=1796 E=1003 7mm V=1791 E=997 While you’re right at 500 yds 6.5mm creeps by the 7mm-08, the differences of 5 fps and 6 lbs of energy would be imperceptible to either a shooter or an animal. At all distances up to 500 yds, 7mm-08 has more energy and more velocity. The average hunter will never shoot any animal at 500 yds. I gather from your post you are likely above average and therefore the exception. That being said, both will kill DRT most all game at ethical hunting distances. Considering the loss of energy at 500 yds in both rounds, it would probably be wise to move up to a different round if a hunter is routinely or even occasionally hunting beyond 500 yds.
Well if want the newest get a creedmore if you want something thats been around for a while get 7mm08 nothing in it really or just a get a 30-06 end of, thanks atvb Steve
7mm-08 is a very nice cartridge -- the 308 case is better suited to a 284 bullet than a 308 bullet (and better than a 264 bullet -- which is pretty close to what the 6.5 CM, a 308 necked down to 264). 284 is a real "sweet spot" both ballistically and in terms of recoil, when pushed at reasonable speeds.
My daughter uses the 7-08 in Montana for deer and elk and absolutely loves it. And she converted me. The 6.5CM is a dandy cartridge but the 7 beats it as a hunting round.
@GastonGross sure Gaston, it's ok if your experiences differ, but if 20 thousands of an inch make such a big difference that's strange, and blah blah blah.....
Two thumbs up for sharing in your video that the 7-08 failed to pass through the same thickness of meat as the 6.5 creedmoor did. Which is better? In my opinion, at the distance which these two bullets were tested, I would say it was pretty much a draw. Not to pick these two cartridges apart, but if I had to choose a winner (based on the video results) i would have chosen the 6.5. To be clear, the 6.5 penetrated to the same apx depth (or possibly more if you add the missed meat from the 7-08) while expanding to a greater diameter. If this wasn't enough to call the 6.5 the winner, I might add its performance level was nearly identical with less recoil. There is so much to like about both of these cartridges that I would be tempted to buy whichever I could find the best deal on. Thanks for another good video.
Thank you. Yeah 7mm-08 for handloaders you can get heavier bullets and a better selection of bullets throughout a range of weights, while still being less recoil than a 308. That being said i own 2 6.5 creedmoor's
Thanks for comparing these 2. I have never been a 6.5 creedmore fan. Guess 260 Remington dosen't sound as cool??? In my opinion, I can solve everyone's problem. Just get you a 1:14 twist barrel for your 308, 150gr bullet @ 3,000fps. Problem solved. No more need for a creedmore. Just my opinion! Stay Safe Brother and GOD Bless!🙏🇺🇸
With this comparison, and both cartridges using 140 grain factory cartridges and the same bullet type, both make good medium game cartridges... Myself, I'll stick with my 7mm-08. The Federal fusion is a damn good all around bullet if a guy is stuck with factory loads only! I think that both cartridges suffered a lack of velocity due to the temperature, so a re-do might be worth while when it warms up. The 6.5 does have a place in the hunting fields if used within the realm of intelligent ballistic capability, as any cartridge should be when hunting big or medium game. I just don't have any use for a cartridge that is hyped up to be something that it simply isn't and cannot be, regardless what the "infinite wisdom" that comes out of Hornady's marketing department might have to say... The 6.5 C. is first and foremost, a target round. That it can also be used to hunt some medium sized "big" game is acceptable so long as it's used within the confines of what the cartridge is truly capable of! I do not consider it a viable cartridge for Elk... I would also not use my 7mm-08 for Elk, since I also have a .30 caliber magnum that is setup with hand loads expressly developed for larger game such as Elk or moose and large bear. Hunters should also be cautious about considering "kinetic energy" figures as the ultimate guide to what a particular bullet is capable of! Kinetic energy is simply a "mass in motion" and does not take into account within the terminal ballistic equation; high rotational spin of the bullet upon impact, violent expansion of the bullet on impact and the secondary projectiles created along with the energy those contain/shock waves etc. When that bullet hits bone, it further complicates that problem!
It'll be just fine. Just use a well constructed bullet that expands but stays together. I killed a nice cow caribou at 282 yards with my 24" bergara hmr. I absolutely love the barnes lrx 127gr
6.5 Creedmoor is offered in lighter varmint rounds too so it's pretty versatile and shoots flatter for longer shots. 7mm-08 seems to be better suited for larger game, but i'd like to see more testing at distance, say 100 yards or so.
What weight is optimal for those calibers? I usually see dudes running 129’s in the creedmoor. I know little about the 7mm08 beyond really basic stuff. I’m eventually going to want a rifle that’s going to be used for deer, with the occasional black bear and the rare elk. I know creedmoor can do it, but this makes me want to revisit the 7mm08 and his other video makes me consider the .270 again too.
I took down a big cow caribou with a 6.5 creedmoor 127gr barnes LRX at 282 yards. It sledgehammered her. So yes they'll all do it. For 6.5 as a hunting round anything between 120 and 140 will be fine so long as it shoots wellin your rifle. 140 is about ideal for 7mm08 130 to 50 for .270. They'll all work
I'll take the 7mm 08 . Just haven't been able to get on board with the 6.5 Creedmoor although I am a huge 270 Winchester fan and certain weight bullets have similar ballistics at extended ranges however the 270 has been around since 1925 so not completely impressed with the new craze
@@outdoorbasicslevel1825 Handloading is not apples to apples either. I load my 7mm-08 with 162gr ELD-x with a BC of .630, going 2790fps, do the numbers. Beats your 147gr target ELD bullet (that I wouldn't use for hunting) all day at 500 yards (and beyond, and smashes it at closer distances). By 200lbs of energy...
The main difference between these 2 is the recoil. 7-08 kicks roughly the same as the .308 winchester. The 6.5 CM recoil is the same as a 7-08 equiped with a muzzle brake
Just bought a 6.5 CM several months ago and almost sold it as 7mm is a little stronger for a short action. Just love the balance it strikes. 6.5 is not close and better for ultra long range, with ammo availibility that I'll keep it but that 7-08 is a real sweet spot for efficiency and capability I feel cheated that I can't justify having both!
Nice bullet expansion(frontal area) I'd say with the Creedmoor and the 7mm-08. Not substantially more penetration and the pork ribs media is not real consistent for testing. Bullet performance is relative to velocity and construction and longer ranges (different velocities) will show a bullets expansion capabilities. I would expect similar bullet performance at identical velocities. Good to see the lead attached to the petals like that, bonded as it holds its retained weight. The 7mm-08 should be better at a slightly longer distance for expansion. My wife has killed big horn sheep, mule deer, whitetail and moose with her Creedmoor, all deader than a door nail with one shot using 140 grain. Longest shot was 315 yards.
I totally agree the pork media was basically too supply some extra sliwing down to catch the bullets. Good input and thanks For the comment. Godspeed, fight red flag laws and Jerry Epstein didn't kill himself.
7mm08 is another wonderful caliber. I have a nice old Remington mountain rifle in 7x57 one of my fave hunting rifles have taken a couple nice bull elk with it. My son says when it grows up it will be a 7mm mag..dang brat kid
I’ve been looking at Buying a CVA cascade in 7MM -08 as a “Hunting rifle for my wife” thank you so much for making this video. I guess I’m going to the dark side. 6.5 Creed it is. One question how often do you guys see the northern lights up there? I’ve only seen solar-flares ounce in my life while working as a Canoe guide in MN. It was way more of a religious experience then I thought. You guys should do a podcast on the realities of living in Alaska. It’s getting to crowded here in Texas. I know you guys hate lower 48’s but would love to here your guys thoughts on life up there etc.
We probably see the northern lights, once to twice every winter. More often if you go searching for them. Living in Alaska in suburbia is like living anywhere else, minus shoveling snow
Not sure if the fusion bullet is same as the gold dot but if it is not it is close. I have shot game with factory fusion 165gr 308 and with handloads with 140gr 6.5 creedmoor. One shot kills on 2 bull elk with the creedmoor and gold dots, very impressed with the results. Also the gold dot 6.5 mushrooms to around .7 in testing which is bigger than many 308 mushrooms. The 165gr gold dot 308 ends up just slightly bigger
What's really impressing me is the fusion bullets. Did they lose any weight? Makes me want to know what their low range of expansion velocity is. Pretty gnarly.
@@AlaskanBallistics Might be worth a quickie. I'm partial to the idea of some fragmenting plus a rigid base but how could that be argued with? Might be cool to compare them to accubonds and SST out of the same rifle, 6.5 or not., see if there's an order or fragility or if they're apples to apples.
@@jcarry5214 it's going to be a while because I'm moving and stuff, but that's a great idea... I've actually got a lot of that ammo for accuracy testing my new 6.5 Bergara HMR.
@@AlaskanBallistics Cool, look forward to it. The few guys that I've talked to who had bergaras were embarrassed by how much they loved them, especially the HMR.
I have a 7mm08 and a couple of 260 rem encore custom pistol barrels. First I would choose the 260 rem over the 6.5 creedmore. Then I would go 260 rem over the 7mm08. I got the 260 rem about 6 months after Remington released the cartridge in spring 1998.yes guys 23 years ago 260 was doing incredible things. The numbers for ballistics on a 140 grain 6.5 millimeter are almost off the scale. I pulled a 260 Remington bullet and I couldn't believe how long it was.back in the day I took my 15" custom heavy encore pistol and in two days I had consistent .75" 3 round groups at 200 yards.i was using both Remington 140 grain core lock and 140 grain core lock ultra. Core lock ultra are very underrated and there bonded.i assume federal copied the core lock ultra.just as creedmore essentially copied the 260 rem.the difference between the creedmore and 260 rem is almost negligible
They do. And I'd say 100 fps or so is comparable. With the same bullet weight, the 7mm-08 is going to get more speed but less Ballistic Coefficient... 7mm-08 can use some heavy bullets but they cause very high pressures and need fast twist rates in the barrel.
With out looking at this video I'd take the 7mm08...hands down
Me too, the only reason I own that 6.5 is a friend sold out to me dirt cheap
Yes I kind of wondered why, when the 6.5 Creedmoor came out.... a 6.5 on the ,308 case would be really gnarley
KathrynLiz1 that would pretty much be a 260 Remington I just don’t think it truly caught on as it should’ve
The 6.5 case's design was to create more stable bullet seating and more uniform powder burns
@@tomahawk7796 That's exactly a .260 Remington. Remington the company is the problem not .260 Remington the cartridge. It is my cartridge of choice for my next hunting rifle (if I decide to buy another one).
A retest is a must.
I've hammered DRT moose, whitetail, hog, and bear with the 7-08. I've seen 4 moose drop to the 7mm-08, but only one drt, other 3 didn't go more than 100 meters.
Both are fine calibers. But I have a few 7mm-08 and it became my pet round in a general purpose rifle.
Yes, the numbers don't lie !! More than a few relatives believe it to be the 'go-to' as well. 👍
If you have a moose going 100 yards …you’ve made a very bad shot .
@@Paul-q3m7k I've never shot a Moose but I've seen a bunch of them. My first Bull Elk was taken with a 30-06 at 210 yards, with a 180 grn. Nosler acubond. That SOB ran 140 yards after being hit right in the boiler. I can only imagine how tuff a Moose could be. I've had mule deer drop in there tracks and white tail run 80 yrds fro. Shots that should have stopped them immediately. Let's not pass judgment on other hunters unless you were there watching through the binoculars. Sometimes these critters will to live outweighs our belief in what's possible.
@tomwaits4205 only Central Nervous system shots stop immediately. No other shot should be expected to put an animal on the ground. They naturally have more adrenaline in the blood than we do so their flight or fight reasons is way more natural and rehearsed. My second shot on my was right where the spine went into the shoulder. And my 127gr barnes LRX from the 6.5x284 Norma worked well.
I have both the 7mm-08 and a 6.5 Creedmor. Both are pretty good cartridges, but I'd pick the 7mm-08 if I could have 1.
Me too, if i wasn't sold the 6.5 Creedmoor for 200 bucks, I'd have gotten a 7mm-08
What is the recoil comparison out of the 2 cartridges?
Minimal
@@bryceatcheson5791 The difference in recoil between the two is insignificant (factory 140s), you won't notice it. However, the 7 is capable of shooting heavier bullets faster and those will recoil a tad more. I've found the 7 will do everything the 6.5 will, but not the opposite. I love my 6.5, but the 7 is my choice for deer and elk.
@Don Thursby That's a fair point but my 6.5 sledgehammered a caribou this past Saturday. But in general I agree
The 7mm 08 round is one of the most versatile available.
Absolutely I was shooting it again today
Wyoming here: I’m seeing some amazing results from the 6.5. I’ve just taken Mule deer with mine but my buddy took a nice 6x bull elk and a really nice 2 yo bull moose with his. I’ve taken 3 good mule deer bucks with mine and it performed perfectly. Two broadside shots and one quartering. I’m really beginning to love the 6.5
Nice i took a caribou with mine
I own both in the ruger American. Both killed whitetail deer in Texas. I'm very happy with both. What this video showed me was just how well the Federal Fusion bullets work.
Yeah i was impressed with the fusion. Thanks for watching!! Good Hunting and Godspeed
I have a Rem. 700 in 7mm08, great rifle. Puts whitetail deer down with ease.
Great rifle
This video helped . I own a 260 , and wanted a nother gun kinda like it. I think 7mm o8 is next gun.
That's great to hear thanks for watching. Let me know how that works out with the new 7mm-08
i don't think you'd notice a bit of difference between the 2 in any hunting application.
@@surfandstreamfisher5749 agreed
If I were you I would save my money and keep the 260 there’s not enough difference between these three rounds to make a difference I shot a deer with a 140 gr 260 Remington Corelokt bullet and I could have stuck a football in the exit hole
@@2017Toy that sounds like a lot of meat damage
I have a rem model 7 in 7mm08 that I have owned for about 25 years that is my favorite rifle of all time. It is light, easy to carry, accurate, flat shooting and it hits hard enough to do the job on elk. Performance between the 7-08 and 6.5creedmore is so close it is hard to pick one over the other! I have owned 7-08's for a long time before the 6.5creedmore was around.
The model 7 7mm-08 is a great hunting rifle. Good choice.
I think the 7mm 08 is a very good cartridge. With proper shot placement a deer hardly takes a step or two before they are down. Fusion is great for the money!
Agreed with all of the above!
Splitting hairs there. They both are very effective rounds.
Very true
My Remington model 7 stainless in 7mm-08 is my favorite deer rifle I have ever owned. It's a lightweight mountain rifle, but very comfortable to shoot. I believe the 7mm-08 was based to be the equivalent of the old 7x57 Mauser or something along those lines. I started with a Model 98 Mauser in 7x57 and shot many deer with it as a young man. Sold it and got a new Remington 700BDL in 7 Rem Mag. and within a few years I wanted something more like my old 7x57 and got the Rem Model 7 in 7mm-08. It's been called the perfect whitetail cartridge by many people. Flat trajectory, plenty of energy for the job and easy to shoot and highly accurate. I believe the only thing the 6.5CM beats it at is a slightly less wind drift at long range but mostly due to bullet design as 7mm-08 as far as I know doesn't have any bullets with the BC of a 6.5CM. Either cartridge will do the job,,flip a coin.
Yeah i love the 7mm-08 in a model 7. Wish i had one
I bought my grandson's both a 7mm08 to hunt whitetails here in Texas. Both boys took their first ones opening morning last year . Both boys made good clean one shot kills. Neither deer had to be looked for. They were right where they were standing when they were shot. My oldest grandson also took a 250lb. Wild hog just minutes later with a single perfectly placed shot also. We are all believers in the ,7mm08. Oh one was taken at about 50 yards, while the other was taken at about 100 yards and the hog at about 140 yards. I was a proud grand Dad!
Nice hunting! Good job granddad!!!
Probably that hunt will be engrained in them forever.. what you did for them..and your companionship is the very best..example you could have done for everyone. What a great example of a role model .thanks for sharing your story..
The federal fusion is probably the best bonded bullet I’ve used on medium game. And one of the most consistent I’ve seen across the three calibers I use it in
Nice 👌
It’s good stuff!
I own 30+ bolt guns in every caliber imaginable.. They will bury me with 1 of them and that will be my Model 700 VLS 7mm08!!!!! Yea its that good..
Glad you love it!
Thanks for reaffirming my decision to stay in Texas after I retired. I made a 7mm/08 for my wife 30 years ago, I’ve borrowed it from her quite a few times with great success.
Bought a 7mm-08 savage axis II last year I absolutely love it.
Awesome... what load do you run?
Alaskan Ballistics I run Rem core lokt 140 and Hornady American whitetail 139
Squeaky crunchy snow makes my soul cry haha. Great video. Both great rounds, but I will be going with the 7mm-08. Just had my heart set on that one for a while. Was originally weighing it against a .308, but the flat shooting and resistance to wind drifting with the 7mm-08 won me over.
Good choice.
I'm definitely a 7mm-08 fan. Give me one of them for every type of game I'm going to shoot.
Lol agree... that way you don't have to re zero types of ammo
I like both but prefer the 7mm-08 in my ar10. Great video. Thanks for braving the cold to share this with us my friend.
You're quite welcome, thank you for watching. What kind of ar10 do you have in 7mm-08?
I built mine on a matrix aerospace matched upper and lower. Feeds just like 308 out of pmags. 100% reliable
What does it weigh. I wanted to get an AR-10 and a bunch of uppers since I couldn’t make up my mind on a left handed bolt action. However, I’m thinking because of weight that I’ll still go with the savage.
My ar10 6.5 has a heavy 18" and is over 9.5 lbs without a scope
Wow, I’ll be looking to get my first non milsurp bolt action then.
I went the 7-08 route when friends went the 6.5C way. No regrets whatsoever. Very happy to see bigger and heavier targets get taken down with authority! 6.5C pals just shake their heads.😂
I own both and like both. But 7mm-08 is great
Awesome test Chuck. You and Chuke are brave and dedicated guys for filming when it's that cold out!
True Grit gents. Bless your hearts. Great comparison. Both viable deer cartridges. I prefer a 7mm or 30 cal. Good job. Thanks
You're welcome thank you
Every time I see where you live, I feel sorry for myself. Seriously ridiculously gorgeous views my gosh. I appreciate you doing these tests even more today with the cost of ammo. Thank you Sir.
Thank you sir!
Come on up sometime
Omg don’t tempt me. Someday I’d love to come see Alaska with my own eyes. I sincerely appreciate that man.
Awesome versus video , Sir !!!!!!! I absolutely love my Savage Model 111 Trophy Hunter in 7mm-08. I use 139 grain Remington Core-Locks in my rifle. Now i will try some of these Federal Fusion 140 grains out. Thanks a bunch
Sweet... if the corelokts are accurate and work, don't switch
I use 140gr Remington core Lokt in my .264 Win Mag for Elk. Harvested 3 under 200 yrds. At 300 yrds the bullet pinholed thru both lungs and I had to track over 1000 yrds until blood trail went cold. I'm looking for bonded Norma Oryx 156gr custom loaded for my .264 Win Mag. Hopefully better expansion and conetic energy with meat in my freezer 😋.
You guys are good no egos just simple tests and information keep it up boys.
Thank you brother. Godspeed. New videos every Wednesday.
I've been using the 7mm08 for the last 35 years and wouldn't bother to change to the smaller 6.5 's , the deer won't know the difference and I won't need to buy new reloading gear , interestingly both were developed as target rounds and have become popular medium game rounds . I think you need to do another test in mid summer .
Definitely will do another test in midsummer. Thanks for watching
I would say their neck and neck, but of course larger bore diameter will do more damage to the game animal and achieve higher velocity’s with less pressure
Exactly. Thanks for watching brother!
True. The calibers themselves are so similar that any difference in performance comes down to different ranges or bullet construction-- not really one caliber vs another. Especially when comparing identical weights. By sectional density, the 160-class bullets in 7mm are closer to what a 140 is in 6.5. And you'll note the two calibers push comparable SDs at comparable speeds. (160 in 7-08 is basically the same as a 140 in 6.5). 7mm gives a tiny bit more recoil and a tiny bit more energy.
Ultimately, I chose the 6.5 because the SAAMI reamer is a smarter design with the 1.5 degree leade instead of a 3 degree leade Remington afflicts their rounds with. The 6.5 chamber will run heavy and long bullets with a SAAMI chamber. You can't run a 180gr bullet in the 7-08 SAAMI chamber and the SAAMI twist of 9.5 is too slow for the heaviest 7mm bullets. And the freebore of the 7-08 is about half that of the 6.5. Remington basically assured you cannot run anything heavier than 160s effectively.
If you don't want/need the heaviest bullets in the caliber, it's really tough to beat a 7-08. I prefer the modernity of the 6.5, as I feel these features outweigh any tiny detriment of muzzle energy. And the 160gr bullets in 6.5 have no counterpart in 7mm (nothing with SD as high). A Woodleigh weldcore at 160gr in 6.5 is a beast of penetration!
G5 sounds like you’ve studied it out pretty well, when it comes to modern firearms I’m pretty sure you’re right. personally I feel like flat point bullets do a better job on killing , they sure do have bigger entrance wounds, just shot a deer last week with my 348 at my normal range 44 yards it dropped like a rock, I was using 180 grain flat point bullet at 2700 feet a second
joe doe wonder what is barrel life is on one of those? I know if you let a barrel get hot it loses its
wear resistant, and start erode away more rapidly
joe doe Sounds like a good round to me👍
Love my 7mm-08. It’s my go to gun these days.
Awesome
Great video 👍 I didn’t see anything in the description below , and I didn’t hear any mention of the rifles used here . Just curious if the barrel lengths were the same , and I would like to point out that the ballistics advertised on the box of ammo reflect muzzle velocities from a 24” barrel ( typically for most standard cartridges ) So , I would attribute the respective averages of 2713 fps/6.5 CM and 2771 fps / 7mm-08 to account for a lesser muzzle velocity due to a shorter 22” sporterized barrel more so than the cold weather itself .
Regardless, I would choose the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 CM ( for all practical & ethical hunting purposes ) I’m rather partial to the 7mm caliber anyhow, and with that being said , I’ll stick to my .280 Remington, it does everything I need it to do ... not to mention that it sends those 140 grain pills between 3,000 fps - 3,050 fps and allows me to to utilize much heavier 165 - 175 grain bullets if necessary , for pursuing elk sized game ( or that angry grizzly lol 😂) when needed .
Savage 116 and Remington 700 22" barrels. Im sure i put it in the video but my bad for not making it more clear. I appreciate the feedback.
Agreed the barrel length was probably more of a factor than the cold, but if you look at some of my other 6.5 Creedmoor videos, it often gets more than advertised velocity in this barrel.
I'm just surprised it's this close to box velocities the cold and given the barrel lengths.
I agree that I'd take the 7mm-08 over the 6.5 Creedmoor but for dinne ccx reasons i now own 2 6.5 Creedmoor's and im thinking about building an 18" ar10 battle rifle version
I don’t understand why everyone hates on the fusion ammo, as most things in life you get what you pay for, and the fusion is about the cheapest bonded ammo you can buy. For medium and up game bonded is far superior than non bonded.
I think my test proved it to be very a nice choice. I was wrong about it.
It doesn't feed well in semi auto ar10s in my experience, but for a bolt gun, it's not bad. Thanks for watching and your comment.
The fusion bullets haven't been accurate in any of my rifles. They'll probably work fine if I don't have to shoot past 200 yards. None of my rifles shoot moa with federal fusion though. I tried them in 7 rem mag, 708, 270, 6.5cm and others. I normally load my own or buy hornady precision hunter.
For inexpensive bonded I prefer Remington corelock
Nathan Manley I defiantly agree that Remington core-Lokt is great inexpensive ammo, but you have to get there premium core-Lokt bonded to get a bonded bullet, which is still more expensive and much harder to find than Fusion. My #1 go to for factory ammo is Norma Oryx at twice the price per round than Fusion, but I also would prefer to load my own. I’m just saying that for what Fusion is, and the price you can buy it for, its not that bad.
Fusion, by far, was the most accurate out of my Tikka T3 Lite in .338 Federal. I bought a bunch in fear in may be hard to locate in the future.
Thanks for enduring the harsh elements to bring us these great comparisons. Your channel does it best!
Thank you very much. Please share! Godspeed
My first hunting rifle was a Remington 788 in 7mm-08. Have killed lots of pronghorn, whitetail, and mule deer with one. Love the caliber so much I recently bought another.
That's awesome. Glad you love that caliber. I have two 6.5s and a 7mm08. Love them both
I love both of these calibers. But, because of the insane popularity now of 6.5 CM, and the ballistic comparison just too close (testing at 500-700 yards would be far more telling), I would have to give the nod to 6.5 CM due to availability. At my local Walmart (a good litmus test), there were only 2 boxes of 7mm-08 (Reming Core Lokt) while there was an entire shelf of 6.5 CM ranging from 129 gr. up to 147 gr with several manufacturers represented and rounds for match shooting to hunting. So, while I was searching for an "in stock" bolt gun to purchase chambered in 7mm-08 around Christmas, I found none! 6.5 CM, however, was in stock in every single manufacturers available bolt. There's a lot to be said about availability.
Availability is an issue. My local cabelas has a lot of both
Sometimes the one not available is more popular and sold out.
Good video. I would like to see you do this test on the 300WSM.
I don't have access to a rifle in that caliber right now...
Love checking out your old videos!!! Hope all is well
Thank you very much!
I never was a big fan of the federal fusion myself until I tried it it’s awesome round performs good on game and holds together
Good video
Thank you. Wish it shot better in my 6.5 prc
I would try to hand load them they shoot better, have you ever tested the grand slams I’ve wondered how they would shoot and perform they seem like a good bullet from what I’ve heard
I've not tested the grand slams
Just bought a Tikka Hunter in 7mm-08 as my hopeful go-to for deer. This video was a cool comparison. Def easier to find ammo for the 6.5 currently, but I decided to hold out to get what i wanted instead of buying creedmore. My dad shot 7mm-08 for deer often with great sucess... ballistics aside, my purchase felt like a nod to heritage. Id like to see the test with proper gel set up.
Gel was proper. Just not at -15°F
I use my 7mm-08 in South Africa and it is an amazing caliber
It is, what species do you hunt with it?
Just this video made me subscribe, I'm from NEPA where we get cold even negatives, then again I'm sure our negative is closer to your spring weather, keep on keepin on!!!!
Thank you sir
I own a 7-08 shot 11 mule deer one pronghorn 1 oryx 1barbary sheep at 650 yards 5 elk one at 689 yards and lots of coyotes my son shot a white tail and a cow elk this year with it. 140 grain is my go too big game bullet I haven’t played with it enough for coyote but I’m sure there is a load out there ! All I can say is it works and honestly if I’d had a 6.5 instead I’d probly figured out the right load and been just as happy thank you
Thank you. That's quite a lot if accomplishments! Good hunting!
Thank you good luck out there as well
I have a Kimber Montana 84M in 7mm-08 I bought years ago. I had to wait 6 months for it as they had just started putting them out and mine has the original 2 position safety. My research on the 7mm-08 showed me it would be the perfect whitetail round and could even take game as large as Elk if needed. It has become my most used hunting rifle out of the dozen I have in everything from .22 to .375 H&H. The 6.5 Creedmoor will not do anything better than the 7mm-08 under 500 yards. Beyond that it has some advantages, but I would never shoot at an animal beyond 500 yards, so I have no intention of buying one. I like the 6.5x55 Swede round and if I didn't have a good whitetail rifle right now, I might go with a 6.5 Creedmoor. That's what I love about rifles. Many tools available for many different jobs.
The 7mm-08 is an awesome cartridge. That kimber sure would be nice to carry!
Godspeed Good hunting!
I want to throw out other thoughts to ponder. I live in Florida. PRS is all the rage and winter is our shooting season (it's dry and 70 degrees). So, rifles chambered in 6.5 CM are outselling all the other calibers (save .308) combined. As I mentioned earlier, 6.5 CM ammo is everywhere. Tons of choices in bullet weights, manufacturers and price. Here in Florida, we mostly hunt whitetail deer and wild hogs. Personally, I hunt midwest whitetails but enjoy Florida hog hunting. ONE major advantage to 6.5 CM over 7mm-08 is the ability to have multiple platforms shoot the same cartridge. You can own a highly accurate bolt action for your big game deer needs, then, also own an AR10 Platform in 6.5 CM with 20 round mags with high rates of fire for going out on those wild hog hunts using drives. Most of that type of hunting is high speed running shots. The ability to lay down a higher rate of fire is not only desirable, it's almost required. Since 6.5 CM's popularity explosion, numerous manufacturers are chambering AR's for 6.5. I haven't seen any 7mm-08's in the AR platform.
7mm-08 AR-10s exist. They used to be made but i think they're mostly custom build these days. Both Rounds are equally available in ammo here.
But i see your point and have fun on those hogs
Christensen Arms releases reports of rifle sales by caliber about twice a year and over the past 2 years their 6.5cm rifle's have outsold their 308's by about 6 to 1 on average and have outsold all other calibers combined. Basically 6.5cm has dethroned 308 as America's standard go to full size rifle caliber.
I too shoot both. The 6.5 is a fine cartridge. But that 7-08 is a real sleeper! It would be more popular than the Creed if people knew about. Thanks for the vid.
I think a lot of people know about the 7mm-08. It sells out here before the creedmoor
@@AlaskanBallistics So 7-08 shooters don't sit on the fence and crow about it? They just smile, grab their rifle, and go hunting? Now I get it.
LoL that's exactly what I do with my 6.5
I'd like to see you run this test again at their maximum point blank ranges. Which should come in at around 300 yards or so. And for kicks toss in the 243. I'm finding, after shooting the 243, 6.5 CM, and 7-08, that the 6.5 is superfluous. The 7 will launch a higher BC bullet at a higher velocity than the 6.5, and the 243 smokes the 6.5 in recoil. The 6.5's PBR isn't any better either. I love the 6.5, but it doesn't bring anything to the table for me.
Interesting to see performance in very cold wether. Most of these kinds of videos seem to be done under good wether conditions, but when hunting at higher elevations, cold is pretty common. Along with hunting seasons for deer and elk in the northern states.
Thank you for watching! My buddy i borrowed the 7mm-08 from didn't think I was coming to get it that morning
7mm08 definitely hands down. Remington Model 7, short action, lightweight to tote all day, and very powerful, a hunters dream. My rifle of choice and I have many other calibers to choose from.
Nice! I wish i could find a model 7
@@AlaskanBallistics I got one and love it; stainless steel with factory gray composite stock & silver 4X12 scope.
Nice! I love my Creedmoor's but if target have a 7mm-08 for hunting because of the wider bullet selection. It's a ruger American compact for my son. A model 7 would be awesome
I'd love to see some more videos with bonded bullets. Particularly with weight retention info. I enjoy your videos. Thanks
I'm putting retention numbers on all my newer videos
Looks like the fusion did a pretty good job. I wouldn't be afraid to hunt with it.
Not at all... i liked it a lot...
I shot a nice 8 pt 170 lbs good deer for SC, using 95gr Federal Fusion,.243 approx. 50yd shot bullet penetrated both shoulders
@@rickymartin7196 good job but my daughter used the same bullet at 150 yard's with a good double lung shot and the bullet didn't exit. I realize a lot of people love the 243 but I think it's just a little light for deer and I've shot a lot of deer with it up to 185 lbs, but she wanted something bigger and now she's sporting a new 7mm08 and love's it.
Well I'm glad she likes the 7mm08 and I'm glad you realize that bullets that make it all the way through are better!! Explaining that to people has been a challenge to day it nicely.
Would love to see a summer video. As for the short action vs video, this is great. Both seem like they would be good Continental 48 deer rounds.
7mm ftw! Great video! You deserve more subscribers, this is a great channel.
Thank you. Please share as RUclips doesn't often
I thank it would’ve still went deep as it did the 7mm-08 yeah I’d like to see that video in the summer time GOD BLESS
Yeah we'll redo it in the summer time
Nice testing and results....Glad you found both bullets....Nice job battling the cold....Longer range distance would be nice....Good stuff....
Thanks brother
Damn I wish 7mm-08 was readily available. 6.5 Creedmoore has taken over where I stay. I have a .308 but been wanting 7-08 for a very long time. How is recoil between the two?
Minimum difference. Slightly more in 7mm-08
@@AlaskanBallistics How is recoil on 7mm-08 vs .308. May just get 7mm-08 and order what I need for ammo.
@@Bigfish1day .308 definitely kicks more with heavier bullets. If you're going light like 125gr, doesn't matter. 140gr 7mm-08 vs 150gr .308 the 7mm-08 is better.
Try adding a bottle of cheap vodka to your gel after you take it off the heat. Don't add the vodka during the boil and make sure you reduce the same amount of water. That should, theoretically, prevent the gel from freezing. Also, it may make the gel clearer, too.
I have a 6.5 creedmoor an a 7mm08 and i love them both!!! pick them over a 308 cuz i was a 308 shooter for years n them other to cals are way better
Another very enjoyable video.
To my eyes these two calibres are so close in comparison it would be hard to choose one over the other at practical hunting ranges. Thanks
True. I own both. Thank you for the kind words.
I'm currently deciding between rifles in these chamberings and I've done quite a bit of research on both cartridges. I understand the ballistic chart advantage of the 7mm-08, but I've been starting to understand the design advantage of the 6.5 CM's bullet. While the 7mm-08 enjoys a surface area advantage, that advantage seems to be quickly nullified at the point of impact. The longer projectile of the 6.5mm CM would, logically, seem to allow for greater expansion and penetration (sectional density). Your video actually supports that theory in showing the greater expansion of the 6.5 CM. If my life was on the line and I had to choose between these two cartridges, I'd choose the 6.5. It just seems to perform above its weight extremely well. And it appears there is a huge advantage in ammo selection for the 6.5, and it's about 20- to 30-percent cheaper than the same ammo in 7mm-08. Just my two cents. I really don't think one could go wrong with either one. I'm thinking I'm going to get a rifle in 6.5.
I totally agree with your assessment
I killed a caribou last weekend with the 6.5 creedmoor. 282 yards. I shot. Barnes 127gr lrx sledgehammered her.
I own a Rem 700 CDL SF in a Bell and Carlson stock chambered in 7mm-08.. It has become my favorite ever rifle, even after being a magnum guy for decades. The light recoil and short action make it a dream to shoot and it is super accurate .... I can ring the gong at 600 yards all day long. What really had me falling in love was where you can push the 08 to when reloading 150 grain high bc bullets. I get 2875 fps without any pressure signs and without going over book recommendations. I use StaBall 6.5 which is absolute magic with this combination. Accubond LR 150 grain bullets are still running at 2100 fps at 500 yards with 1500 foot pounds of energy. And all this from a little nudge to the shoulder. I used to never considered the 08 to be a 500 yard deer killer ... but it is. I chuckle at how many hunters still consider it a lady's or kid's gun. From my experience is kills elk very efficiently and is almost too much for deer when using the 150 grain AB LR bullets, as they make massive wounds if you hit the shoulder (so I pick lungs if I can). Here is a final thought for the magnum crowd ... it takes a 40% increase in powder in a 7mm Rem Mag, to get a 9% increase in velocity over the 7mm-08. For me, the extra weight and recoil just aren't worth it since I will never shoot at a deer over 500 yards ... I find no need to suffer the added recoil and cost.
That's a fair assessment. What load are you using with staball 6.5?
I use 49.5 grauns. I used to own a Rem 700 SPS which got me 2950 fps, which was shockingly fast, so there is obviously a great range with this load from rifle to rifle.
A 9% increase in velocity does translate, roughly, to an 18% increase in power. IMHO, that would be a better comparison.
Power defined as? Ft lbs of energy?
@@AlaskanBallistics Yes.
I’m a bit late to the party here, but it’s amazing how folks will fight over calibers, especially these twin sisters. Practically, there’s no difference! I’ve used a .260 Remington and 7mm-08. No difference between them in the field whatsoever. The 6.5 Creedmoor might have more choices in rifles today. Around here, there’s more ammunition availability with the Creedmoor too. We certainly didn’t need the 6.5 Creedmoor, but we have it. It’s nice to have choices.
Yep i line both calibers and own both
Both are good period lot of choices pic one . Deer 25-06 6.5 crd, 243, 270, 308, 260, under 300 yrds hard to figure . 500 yrds all start to change 600 yrds wind drift and bc . Under 600 Don't think to hard .
Currently going down to 1 cartridge for my deer hunting struggling to pick between the 2,
I don't reload but the 7mm08 extra energy to take big deer species might wing it for me
Put the correct bullet in the right spot he won't know the difference. I've not seen factory 7mm-08 in my area in a while. So if you don't reload don't feel bad with whatever caliber you can find on the shelf
7mm 08 120 gr Barnes TTSX, 44 gr Varget .
Sounds like a great load
I love the 120gr ttsx for in my model 7 and encore, no need for 140gr for pa whitetails
Are those Fusion bullets the same as Speer Gold Dot? I am assuming they both are an electroplated lead of identical process.
They're close but i believe even better bonded than the gold dots
I like the 7mm08 but the 6.5 will out penitrate if shot into a tree 12 " around or 12" beam. Smaller bore, equal velosity and same gr = more penitration, 6.5.
which would be better for short range white tail? 50-100 yard shots
Close but I'd give the edge to 7mm-08
Its funny how the 7mm-08 was considered a youth or women caliber for decades while the 6.5 Creed is touted to be a soft shooting caliber. I chose the 7mm-08 in the 80's because I wanted a light rifle that would be less punishing and allow me to practice more. It's killed deer and moose with no problems. I do limit myself to good shots on moose and keep them under 250 yards. I do wish they would load some 160's for it though. I had to reload mine and they work great. With the newest powders they could easily load them to over 2700 and it would be all you would need for moose. Wishful thinking though as everybody is jumping on the 6.5 Creed bandwagon.
The 7mm-08 is a great caliber. I own one of each
I know you probably get this question all the time. But if I'm using an 18in Barrel 308 what round would you recommend for big black bears??
All copper ballistic tips... check out my 6.5 vs .308 in 18" barrel video
I would pick the 6.5 creedmoor, not saying the 7mm isn't a good round, but many people looking at these 6.5 vs. what ever forget one very import fact about the 6.5 and that it's a long range round.
The 6.5 is one of the most efficient bullets available for the general mass, sure the 7mm will have an edge in speed at the muzzle, but who the hell shoots deer at the muzzle?
Go ahead and see what the speed is for both of these rounds at say 500 yards.....yeah, that creedmoor will not loose speed like the 7mm, that creedmoor at 500 yards will hit with more energy and do more damage than the 7mm.
Per the Federal website for the exact 140 grain Federal Fusion rounds they shot for the test.
6.5 V=1796 E=1003
7mm V=1791 E=997
While you’re right at 500 yds 6.5mm creeps by the 7mm-08, the differences of 5 fps and 6 lbs of energy would be imperceptible to either a shooter or an animal. At all distances up to 500 yds, 7mm-08 has more energy and more velocity.
The average hunter will never shoot any animal at 500 yds. I gather from your post you are likely above average and therefore the exception.
That being said, both will kill DRT most all game at ethical hunting distances. Considering the loss of energy at 500 yds in both rounds, it would probably be wise to move up to a
different round if a hunter is routinely or even occasionally hunting beyond 500 yds.
Well if want the newest get a creedmore if you want something thats been around for a while get 7mm08 nothing in it really or just a get a 30-06 end of, thanks atvb Steve
30-06 for Alaska
260 Remington is the same thing as the 6.5 and it's been around longer than the 7mm-08
Luke Tilley 260 rem is a undrated round I’ll stick with my 264 win mag
7mm-08 is a very nice cartridge -- the 308 case is better suited to a 284 bullet than a 308 bullet (and better than a 264 bullet -- which is pretty close to what the 6.5 CM, a 308 necked down to 264). 284 is a real "sweet spot" both ballistically and in terms of recoil, when pushed at reasonable speeds.
Totally agree
The 6.5 is necked down from a 30TC cartridge. Not a 308
How about a comparison between the 7mm-08 vs the .308.
Thinking about that for sure
Just wondering will it take down a moose with 7mm-08???
Probably
If a 243 can than that 7mm08 have no problem as will.. and yes it can
Both are great calibers great accurate projectiles good test
Thank you kindly.
Killed my moose with a savage 7mm-08 youth model. (Cause I’m a short girl) it’s a great gun. Nice flat shooting round
Nothing wrong with a 7mm-08 thanks for watching!
My daughter uses the 7-08 in Montana for deer and elk and absolutely loves it. And she converted me. The 6.5CM is a dandy cartridge but the 7 beats it as a hunting round.
@GastonGross thats weird because my 6.5x55 has killed well over a dozen deer and it works just as good as my 06 did, strange......
@@jimenagulla9081 the 6.5 creedmoor case dimensions fall short, at 6.5x48mm against the 6.5 swedes.
@GastonGross sure Gaston, it's ok if your experiences differ, but if 20 thousands of an inch make such a big difference that's strange, and blah blah blah.....
You guys are badass for filming in those temperatures.
I shoot all year around and I don't mind -10 f,.. but I wouldn't be filming in that freezer.
Thank you for saying so...
Two thumbs up for sharing in your video that the 7-08 failed to pass through the same thickness of meat as the 6.5 creedmoor did.
Which is better? In my opinion, at the distance which these two bullets were tested, I would say it was pretty much a draw.
Not to pick these two cartridges apart, but if I had to choose a winner (based on the video results) i would have chosen the 6.5.
To be clear, the 6.5 penetrated to the same apx depth (or possibly more if you add the missed meat from the 7-08) while expanding to a greater diameter. If this wasn't enough to call the 6.5 the winner, I might add its performance level was nearly identical with less recoil. There is so much to like about both of these cartridges that I would be tempted to buy whichever I could find the best deal on. Thanks for another good video.
Thank you. Yeah 7mm-08 for handloaders you can get heavier bullets and a better selection of bullets throughout a range of weights, while still being less recoil than a 308. That being said i own 2 6.5 creedmoor's
Why is the 260 Remington mu ch less popular than the 6.5 Creedmore?
Marketing. Target Shooters love the better designed casing target than a necked down .308 casing. Better shoulder angle, consistent neck with
Thanks for comparing these 2. I have never been a 6.5 creedmore fan. Guess 260 Remington dosen't sound as cool??? In my opinion, I can solve everyone's problem. Just get you a 1:14 twist barrel for your 308, 150gr bullet @ 3,000fps. Problem solved. No more need for a creedmore. Just my opinion! Stay Safe Brother and GOD Bless!🙏🇺🇸
True
is the 9,3mm used in alaska or is it only north europe thing, i love my 9,3*62 mauser
Only northern Europe. No one makes guns for that caliber here.
With this comparison, and both cartridges using 140 grain factory cartridges and the same bullet type, both make good medium game cartridges... Myself, I'll stick with my 7mm-08. The Federal fusion is a damn good all around bullet if a guy is stuck with factory loads only! I think that both cartridges suffered a lack of velocity due to the temperature, so a re-do might be worth while when it warms up.
The 6.5 does have a place in the hunting fields if used within the realm of intelligent ballistic capability, as any cartridge should be when hunting big or medium game. I just don't have any use for a cartridge that is hyped up to be something that it simply isn't and cannot be, regardless what the "infinite wisdom" that comes out of Hornady's marketing department might have to say... The 6.5 C. is first and foremost, a target round. That it can also be used to hunt some medium sized "big" game is acceptable so long as it's used within the confines of what the cartridge is truly capable of! I do not consider it a viable cartridge for Elk... I would also not use my 7mm-08 for Elk, since I also have a .30 caliber magnum that is setup with hand loads expressly developed for larger game such as Elk or moose and large bear.
Hunters should also be cautious about considering "kinetic energy" figures as the ultimate guide to what a particular bullet is capable of! Kinetic energy is simply a "mass in motion" and does not take into account within the terminal ballistic equation; high rotational spin of the bullet upon impact, violent expansion of the bullet on impact and the secondary projectiles created along with the energy those contain/shock waves etc. When that bullet hits bone, it further complicates that problem!
Your opinions on 6.5 creedmore on white tail deer
It'll be just fine. Just use a well constructed bullet that expands but stays together. I killed a nice cow caribou at 282 yards with my 24" bergara hmr.
I absolutely love the barnes lrx 127gr
6.5 Creedmoor is offered in lighter varmint rounds too so it's pretty versatile and shoots flatter for longer shots. 7mm-08 seems to be better suited for larger game, but i'd like to see more testing at distance, say 100 yards or so.
Come summer
Summer 500yar same target
What weight is optimal for those calibers? I usually see dudes running 129’s in the creedmoor. I know little about the 7mm08 beyond really basic stuff. I’m eventually going to want a rifle that’s going to be used for deer, with the occasional black bear and the rare elk. I know creedmoor can do it, but this makes me want to revisit the 7mm08 and his other video makes me consider the .270 again too.
I took down a big cow caribou with a 6.5 creedmoor 127gr barnes LRX at 282 yards. It sledgehammered her. So yes they'll all do it.
For 6.5 as a hunting round anything between 120 and 140 will be fine so long as it shoots wellin your rifle.
140 is about ideal for 7mm08
130 to 50 for .270.
They'll all work
I forget what length the creedmoor I want is.
I just put a Savage axis 7mm 08 on layaway, yesterday.
Good... enjoy
If you were only going to shoot whitetail at less than 400 yards does it matter which one?
Nope.
I'll take the 7mm 08 . Just haven't been able to get on board with the 6.5 Creedmoor although I am a huge 270 Winchester fan and certain weight bullets have similar ballistics at extended ranges however the 270 has been around since 1925 so not completely impressed with the new craze
They're all good calibers. Thanks for watching and commenting...
Kudos to you brother for getting out in sub zero. 36 in Ohio today. Was a killer review and some sweet hardware. Thx🤙🤙
Thank you sir
Shout out from Licking County Ohio!
brett black heck yeah. O-H-I-O
The 7mm-08 is the superior round the one down side is at 1000 yards the 7-08 drops 10 inches more than the 6.5
Factory ammo comparison is not apples to apples. I get 147 with bc of 0.697 at 2700 due the numbers.
@@outdoorbasicslevel1825 Handloading is not apples to apples either. I load my 7mm-08 with 162gr ELD-x with a BC of .630, going 2790fps, do the numbers. Beats your 147gr target ELD bullet (that I wouldn't use for hunting) all day at 500 yards (and beyond, and smashes it at closer distances). By 200lbs of energy...
More drop but less drift. Drift is more important than drop.
No we shoot 150 grain and it will lay waste to 6.5
Heck ya keep um coming. It's very helpful.
The main difference between these 2 is the recoil. 7-08 kicks roughly the same as the .308 winchester. The 6.5 CM recoil is the same as a 7-08 equiped with a muzzle brake
When you're wearing thick winter clothing... you can't tell a difference
Just bought a 6.5 CM several months ago and almost sold it as 7mm is a little stronger for a short action. Just love the balance it strikes. 6.5 is not close and better for ultra long range, with ammo availibility that I'll keep it but that 7-08 is a real sweet spot for efficiency and capability I feel cheated that I can't justify having both!
I've got both. Perfectly justified 😁🤔😜
Nice bullet expansion(frontal area) I'd say with the Creedmoor and the 7mm-08. Not substantially more penetration and the pork ribs media is not real consistent for testing.
Bullet performance is relative to velocity and construction and longer ranges (different velocities) will show a bullets expansion capabilities. I would expect similar bullet performance at identical velocities. Good to see the lead attached to the petals like that, bonded as it holds its retained weight. The 7mm-08 should be better at a slightly longer distance for expansion. My wife has killed big horn sheep, mule deer, whitetail and moose with her Creedmoor, all deader than a door nail with one shot using 140 grain. Longest shot was 315 yards.
I totally agree the pork media was basically too supply some extra sliwing down to catch the bullets. Good input and thanks For the comment. Godspeed, fight red flag laws and Jerry Epstein didn't kill himself.
And congrats to you and your wife on the game well taken!
I would definitely like to see you shoot a pork loin at 500 yards ;-) I recently got a Labradar, so far I'm not having much luck with it.
Interesting. The guy at the range next to me the other day loved his
7mm08 is another wonderful caliber. I have a nice old Remington mountain rifle in 7x57 one of my fave hunting rifles have taken a couple nice bull elk with it. My son says when it grows up it will be a 7mm mag..dang brat kid
I love my 7mm Rem mag too now. Great up here in Alaska
The much older 7x57 can be loaded to beat the 7mm08 , why reinvent the wheel ?
@@billfrederickfrederick2791 yes sir 7x57 is a wonderful old caliber. Actually if ya think about it a 7mm08 is technically a 7x51
I’ve been looking at Buying a CVA cascade in 7MM -08 as a “Hunting rifle for my wife” thank you so much for making this video. I guess I’m going to the dark side. 6.5 Creed it is.
One question how often do you guys see the northern lights up there? I’ve only seen solar-flares ounce in my life while working as a Canoe guide in MN. It was way more of a religious experience then I thought. You guys should do a podcast on the realities of living in Alaska. It’s getting to crowded here in Texas. I know you guys hate lower 48’s but would love to here your guys thoughts on life up there etc.
We probably see the northern lights, once to twice every winter. More often if you go searching for them. Living in Alaska in suburbia is like living anywhere else, minus shoveling snow
Props to you guys... Great comparison.
Thanks brother
Not sure if the fusion bullet is same as the gold dot but if it is not it is close. I have shot game with factory fusion 165gr 308 and with handloads with 140gr 6.5 creedmoor. One shot kills on 2 bull elk with the creedmoor and gold dots, very impressed with the results. Also the gold dot 6.5 mushrooms to around .7 in testing which is bigger than many 308 mushrooms. The 165gr gold dot 308 ends up just slightly bigger
Thanks... i love the real world experience with this comment. Good to know. Thank you.
"The gel blowed up!"
"Yep, It blowed up REAL good!"
Doesn't act right at -15°
What's really impressing me is the fusion bullets. Did they lose any weight? Makes me want to know what their low range of expansion velocity is. Pretty gnarly.
I didn't weigh them, but I do that in every video now, maybe I should go back since I have a few of those left in 65 Creedmoor and shoot them again
@@AlaskanBallistics Might be worth a quickie. I'm partial to the idea of some fragmenting plus a rigid base but how could that be argued with? Might be cool to compare them to accubonds and SST out of the same rifle, 6.5 or not., see if there's an order or fragility or if they're apples to apples.
@@jcarry5214 it's going to be a while because I'm moving and stuff, but that's a great idea... I've actually got a lot of that ammo for accuracy testing my new 6.5 Bergara HMR.
@@AlaskanBallistics Cool, look forward to it. The few guys that I've talked to who had bergaras were embarrassed by how much they loved them, especially the HMR.
Im not embarrassed about living my bergara
I have a 7mm08 and a couple of 260 rem encore custom pistol barrels. First I would choose the 260 rem over the 6.5 creedmore. Then I would go 260 rem over the 7mm08. I got the 260 rem about 6 months after Remington released the cartridge in spring 1998.yes guys 23 years ago 260 was doing incredible things. The numbers for ballistics on a 140 grain 6.5 millimeter are almost off the scale. I pulled a 260 Remington bullet and I couldn't believe how long it was.back in the day I took my 15" custom heavy encore pistol and in two days I had consistent .75" 3 round groups at 200 yards.i was using both Remington 140 grain core lock and 140 grain core lock ultra. Core lock ultra are very underrated and there bonded.i assume federal copied the core lock ultra.just as creedmore essentially copied the 260 rem.the difference between the creedmore and 260 rem is almost negligible
Yeah I wish Remington had marketed the .260 as well as hornady marketed the creedmoor
Will the 6.5 CM be more comparable if they produce heavier bullets?
They do. And I'd say 100 fps or so is comparable. With the same bullet weight, the 7mm-08 is going to get more speed but less Ballistic Coefficient... 7mm-08 can use some heavy bullets but they cause very high pressures and need fast twist rates in the barrel.
@@AlaskanBallistics thankyou.
Thank you for watching and your question