308, 7-08 vs 6.5cm

[john 800]

I am looking at youth rifles for my daughter, probably a mossberg because they are tbe only one that make a rifle small enough for her. I own a 308 and have brass dies, and components stacked pretty deep. I am leaning towards getting her rifle in 308 and simply downloading it if recoil is an issue. She is small enough she may end up shooting this youth rifle for a long time, possibly even as an adult. I like the308 just fine and have taken deer with it but I have never used a 7-08 or 6.5, but my impression is that they would all do just fine out to 2-300 yds and there would be little to nothing gained by going to one of the others.
Does anyone have a good compelling reason to talk me into one of the other cartridges?
Downloading a 308 could end up at 30-30 perfomance or anywhere in between, and I cant see that not working well enough.
She shot a 270 this year with 110 accubonds at about 2950 and did fine with in on targets, but haven’t had a shot at a deer yet, but the rifle itself is just to big and heavy for her to carry around, even though she can shoot it.
I would also entertain other makes and models bolt or single shot but the mossberg is the only one I found with a 12” lop, reveiws are very hit or miss as to accuracy.

 

[XTR]

Try a Winchester M70 compact in 243. That’s whAt I got for my kids.



as for The 7-08 I’d feel fine to use mine for about anything short of big bears with the right bullets

 

[Toptom]

First deer me my brother and sister shot was all with a model 70 featherweight in 7-08 that my dad bought. He bought it my brothers first year of hunting and worked great for all of us was light and didn’t kick bad at all. Accuracy was really good as well.

 

[whatsupdoc]

One day at the range there was a middle aged man and his wife shooting a bolt 308, I could see
they were a little less experienced than me so I went over to help them a little bit.

I let the wife shoot my 6.5 and she did a lot better with it than the 308, it was more enjoyable for her
to shoot the lighter caliber. Enjoyable is important.

 

[mmcu]

The 7mm-08 is REALLY tough to beat.

However, in today's market, finding reloading components should factor into your thinking.

If you're "stacked deep" in .308 components, go with H4895 reduced loads for her.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Trysome 125s bt or accubonds in the 308...
Both work and recoil aint bad or load some of the SubX hornady downloaded
they do good too with hardly any recoil

 

[K22]

All the calibers mentioned are good choices and reduced loads can be developed for reduced recoil.

However, in my opinion, one of the best youth calibers is the 243 Win. The recoil is relatively mild which will encourage a youth to practice more and will help them shoot better without flinching.

The 243 Win was my first centerfire rifle in the late 60's. I've hunted varmint, predators and eastern white tail quite successfully with it. I've owned several since then. I never lost a deer to the 243 Win if I hit it.

This caliber, in a quality rifle, could serve a youth into adulthood quite nicely. You may want to look at the Tikka T3X models.

As an old fart now with a multitude of physical limitations, I've come full circle back to the 243 Win. for the lighter recoil.

 

[lawman29]

I'm a fan of the 243/6 creed/6xc. That's what all of the wives, kids and grandkids were started on. Killed antelope, deer and cow elk.

Savage Axis compact (quit mfg... but you might find some new stock around on shelves or used) 12.75 lop?
Ruger American compact 12.5 lop
T/C Compass II compact 12.5 lop

 

[Bill Norris]

All three are great calibers no doubt. But, the .308 loaded with 125 gr. Nosler A B or B T would be pretty pleasant to shoot. Would be great for deer hunting as well.

 

[Gargoyle]

I put together a lightweight rig last year. Kimber 84 Hunter in 7mm-08. Great thing about the 7-08 is I make the cases out of 308 by running the 308 brass through the 7mm-08 die. Like, its that easy! I shoot 120gr Hammer Hunter bullets and this rig is 4-0 DRT kills on deer & hogs. No tracking. I got the 120HH moving 3080fps with 41.5gr IMR3031.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Another rifle to consider would be a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel.

 

[TrapperBR549]

I have set up a couple of the Weatherby vanguard youth models made by Howa that were nice rigs and good shooters with factory ammo.
If you have a pile of 308 components no reason not to load reduced in that.

 

[JB10]

I would look at a savage youth or a ruger. The mossberg does not have great accuracy reviews. As for a 308, i had a lightweight 308. I was shooting 168gr bullets. I did not try to tone it down but was not hot rodding it. I no longer own it. Felt like a 12ga. I guess would have been okay for a 1 shot needed hunting rig. I have not shot a 7-08 but have shot many different creedmoors. I'd go that route. 6mm or 6.5

 

[Just Say Moe]

Both of my kids started and still use 7mm-08. For the younger one, I down loaded 120grain Ballistic tips to about 2700fps and they worked great. They now use full power 140grain loads. My 89 year old dad uses the 120grain load for whitetail where 200 yards is a long shot where we hunt.

I don't see where a ballistic tip or SST mildly loaded in the 308 wouldn't work just fine for starters.

 

[TimS]

I would go with the 308 chamber that still allows you to hit steel at 600 yards with 6.5 CM ammunition.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

308, Hornady 110 cx, 125 sst, 135 ftx. Load them 2800+. 200 yards easy. All available Blue collar.

 

[rockhound78]

308. You can load it down to 30br levels if need be. As above, the 125 sst, 135 ftx, nosler 125, speer 125 HP (30-30 bullet) should all work well. Turn it into a bolt action 30-30. If a new rifle is in the works, a CVA cascade. I think they make youth versions in all the calibers you mentioned.

 

[Bill Clifton]

7-08 is awesome. Great compromise between 243 and 308 although I've never felt I've compromised any using the 7mm and actually think it's the better round.

 

[Bill Clifton]

I put together a lightweight rig last year. Kimber 84 Hunter in 7mm-08. Great thing about the 7-08 is I make the cases out of 308 by running the 308 brass through the 7mm-08 die. Like, its that easy! I shoot 120gr Hammer Hunter bullets and this rig is 4-0 DRT kills on deer & hogs. No tracking. I got the 120HH moving 3080fps with 41.5gr IMR3031.

View attachment 1383458

I can say first hand that is an absolute sweetheart of a setup, in fact I have a very nice M84 7-08 now I'm going to sell only because I have more deer rifles than I need and selling some just to fund some custom build target rifles.

 

[603Country]

The 6.5 CM, with 100 gr Nosler BTs, is light recoiling. And in use on deer and hogs, the 100 gr BT seems just as effective as the 120’s I normally shoot.

I also have a 6.5 Grendel AR which has very little recoil. But if you’ll want longer distance hunting shots in the future, the 6.5CM, loaded light, might be the better choice when ramped up to factory level velocities.