My daughter turns 7 years old opening weekend and she will be shooting a Browning Micro medallion 7mm08 with Hornady custom lite 120gr. To date she's only shot a single shot 22 with scope and she's deadly on beer cans:)

To me the 6.5 CM vs 7-08 is a toss up in performance and recoil. They are pretty close arguing the finer points really gets you nowhere in the real world.

And a much much much better choice than another caliber where you essentially limited to about 100 grain bullets.

I own a few 7mm-08s and briefly looked at the 6.5 given all the hoopla. Couldn't find a hill of beans difference between the two for my intended purpose. With the availability of 308 brass, no issues ever running short for either the 7mm-08 or 243. If it's reach out a bit further, that's what the 300 WSM is for.

I'd give the edge to the 7 due to the availability of heavier bullets. Especially if you load for it. You can roll up some hot 160 grain partition and go after elk if you wanted to.

Only real difference is if you are wanting to shoot out past 500 yds. Both rounds are nearly identical in ballistics out to that far. I’ve seen all shapes and sizes shoot both calibers and no one ever said man that thing kicks

7mm-08 all day long. Dare to be different, and mine, which is a 6 pound carbine with a rubber butt pad, not a recoil pad is very tame.

7mm-08 for me. I’ve never had any problem with that caliber - also never lost a deer with it either.

Thus, this pic is fitting!

I’ve got both killed honestly 80 + deer with the ole Remington Model 7 7-08 never had one second of issues. Have. 6.5 also have killed around 10 deer and hogs zero issues either. I wouldn’t think it matters one way or another would be more of a fit the rifle what feels the best dilemma more than caliber on these two to me

Buy the 6.5 CM for ammo availability and cost if for no other reason.

When things normalize again 6.5 ammo availability and variety will be far superior to 7-08 and much cheaper.

7-08 ammo has always been overpriced and I’ve never heard a good explanation for why.

Yep it is. I always used Federal Premium but stopped when it got higher than Giraffes Coochie several years ago. I did pick up couple boxes of Norma Whitetail for 26.99 last week at Academy...

Split the difference and go 7mmGPC of course you'll need to hand load for it...

Damn, y'all bitchin about 50-75 cents a bullet??

Never have understood the logic in that given the thousands some folks spend each year for all the other chit for hunting. Scentlok clothes, 2 tons of corn, cameras, club dues, etc.

Forget about buying a bottle of old piss or a new, useless grunt call and get some good ammo.

What tickles me is a lot of times that same deer hunter that wants the cheapest ammo they can find can’t wait to stand in line and drop $50 (or more) on a 5pk of magic turkey shells.

Hell iza only bitching because there ain't no way in hell a box of 7mm08 should've been pushing $50 bucks after taxes (which is $2.50) and that was years before all this latest bulldoodoo. I have several weapons that cost over $5 to $6 dollars a round and i don't bitch about them

I’m picking up what you’re putting down. I agree with you 100%. Even before 6.5kreedmire was introduced and the 2020 price increases with people going Cray Cray ... top shelf 7-08 ammo was always more expensive than most any other regular factory ammo other than anything Weatherby branded. I’m surprised that Warbird doesn’t cost more than $5-6/rd.

7-08 always runs about $10 more per box than 308, except in American Whitetail, at least before the big ammo run.

There’s a reason I listed “availability” before “cost”. The cost is irrelevant if you can’t find it.

I'm glad I don't have to choose between the two . I aint buying either one . Lol

Solid advice. 6.5 ammo sales last couple years have been off the charts.