7mm Rem Mag or 6.5 Creed

[alextheabranchial]

Hey y'all,

Brand new to this forum, and I'm planning on getting a new rifle sometime next year. Right now I'm stuck between 7mm Rem Mag and the 6.5 Creedmoor. I'd like to make some broad assumptions, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

The 6.5 Creed is kinda like a smaller version of a .308 since the case is based off of the .308 but since it's a slightly smaller bullet, it goes faster and has extremely good ballistics. It is very good for long range shooting and can be used for hunting most North American game with well placed shots on some of the bigger ones.

The 7mm Rem Mag seems similar to the .300 Win Mag, but once again has a slightly smaller bullet diameter and a different casing which allows it to have very good ballistics. It seems that it would be more suitable for hunting bigger game like moose and bears than the 6.5 Creed, but the 6.5 would be better for long range shooting.

Once again please let me know if I'm right or wrong, and now I kinda want to say what I really want out of the rifle.

I want to get a rifle that can do accurate shooting at distance, but can also hunt pretty much anything in North America with a well placed shot within maybe 300 yards. I also want to be able to snipe Kim Jung-Un from my house here in SoCal. Ok, maybe not the last one, but the other two are legit. I am by no means an expert marksman, but I plan on really honing my shooting skills with the rifle until I get much better at shooting in general before I go do something like 500 yard hunting. Recoil isn't really too much of a concern, as is price (although it would be nice if I could save a coupe bucks).

Any suggestions as to which to get? I'll post anything else on this thread if I remember something else. Thank y'all!

 

[ShootDots]

A 7mmRem. Mag. for hunting in North America, will kill anything with the new excellent bullets on the market today. It has enough horsepower to anchor animals the size of Elk without any problems. A 6.5 Creedmoor will kill the same Elk, inside 300 yards as you state, with the proper hunting bullets. There are only 2 things to consider. First, regarding Elk, the 7 Mag. puts MUCH MORE energy on an animal the size of Elk, than the much smaller 6.5 Creedmoor. The Creed will still get a good hunting bullet into the lungs of an Elk and NO ANIMAL can live without working lungs. But ENERGY also plays a BIG part in tissue destruction, which is what it takes to kill QUICKLY!

Now, as far as your practicing goes, a 7 Mag will burn a barrel up in relatively short order. On the other hand a 6.5 Creed will last a good 2000 rounds under the stress of competition! If Elk are your PRIMARY quarry, I would opt for the 7Mag. However, if it is a very sporadic hunt, go with the Creed and don't look back..

 

[jepp2]

Any suggestions as to which to get?

From what you described, it sounds like you would be happier with the Creedmoor. More target shooting, less hunting.

I personally much prefer to reload standard bottleneck cartridges than I do belted magnums. Just not as "clunky" to handle. I don't have a Creedmoor, but I enjoy shooting my 25-06 much more than my 7mm mag.

 

[Flouncer]

6.5x55 Swede. There is nor reason for the creed to exist except for Horandy marketing and fan boy buy the next new mousetrap. (.260 Rem, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5-06 and 6.5-284 excepted)

 

[mr45man]

but I plan on really honing my shooting skills with the rifle until I get much better at shooting in general before I go do something like 500 yard hunting. Recoil isn't really too much of a concern,

Can/have you shot a 7 mag hunting rifle?
Probably not the best choice for honing your skills.
A 180 gr bullet loaded hot has some recoil!
Just sayin.

 

[CKshooter]

I used to own a sporter barreled 7mm rem mag. It shot well but like these folks said, and I can attest, the recoil can be an issue. I traded it off on a 260 rem and don't have the slightest regret. Pleasant to shoot, and if you plan on buying ammo rather than reloading the creedmoor will save you a pile of money.

 

[Zero333]

You will not enjoy shooting the 7mm RemMag more than 30 rounds at a time from a light hunting rifle.

Recoil kills accuracy. And the Fun factor.
There is a reason why benchrest shooters shoot light recoiling cartridges from extremely heavy rifles.

6.5 CM will kill elk with the right bullet inside 300 yards no problem. And yea the 7mmRemMag will do it better.

If this rifle is mainly a Elk hunting rifle then the 7mmRemMag is better.

If this rifle is mainly for shooting fun and the occasional Elk, then the 6.5 Creedmoore is better.

There is no Factory 7mm RemMag Match ammo.
Tons of 6.5 CM factory Match ammo and hunting ammo.

If you reload, 6.5 CM will cost less per shot and have better quality brass.

 

[hogpatrol]

Even though there are better choices, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, I will stick with those two calibers. Between the two, for your MAIN purpose, the 6.5C would be my choice. Less recoil, way better barrel life, better factory ammo selection, more reloading load data, good BC bullets and last but not least, BLING!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Not that a 6.5 can't do the job and I have no idea about other states, but Ky has a minimum caliber requirement for elk of
.270.

 

[Rob01]

6.5x55 Swede. There is nor reason for the creed to exist except for Horandy marketing and fan boy buy the next new mousetrap. (.260 Rem, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5-06 and 6.5-284 excepted)

And yet it does exist and it grows yearly with leaps and bounds in new rifles and ammo and components since it's 2007 inception unlike the others listed. Hmm wonder why? And it's not just "fan boys". LOL

Yup OP the 6.5 Creedmoor will do what you want. It can take down anything from varmints to elk. Buddy dropped an elk at 750 yards with a 140 through the chest. Inside 300 you would have no issues. The 6.5 Creedmoor comes in a vast amount of rifle configurations as well as a lot of ammo configurations from hunting to target and reasonably priced. The 7mm RM is an excellent cartridge, I have one as well, but it's not what you want or need from your description.

Also the Creedmoor is not based off the .308 but the parent cartridge is the 30TC.

 

[sbhooper]

I know that you say that you are stuck on those calibers, but it sounds to me like you need a .308. Tons of ammo, great hunting round and good for long range. I have all of the above. I really like my 7 mags, and my 6.5s, but if I had to pick a do-all, it would be a .308 short action, or a 30-06 in a long action.

 

[WEL]

I have both. The creed is a joy to shoot and inherently very accurate. My 7 mag is a custom built off a sako action with a 4 contour barrel. Not a lightweight gun and it still has a good bit of recoil. With the lighter bullets it's not bad but it sneaks up on you after a while. As purely a hunting rifle 7 mag hands down. For a target/ hunting rifle creed especially if elk is not the main quarry and an occasional deal. If you go after elk with the creed the 140 gr partition would be my choice.

 

[alextheabranchial]

Thanks for all of the help guys. I'll probably go with the 6.5 Creed since 99% of my shots will most likely be on paper. Deer is the main animal I'll hunt, so if the 6.5 is good for elk, I'm sure it'll be good for deer. The only competition I'll be shooting is against my dad's .300 Win Mag, so we'll get to see how that goes. Much gratitude to each and every one of you; I read all the replies and have given each some thought.

 

[Rob01]

Good choice. The Creedmoor will drop deer without issue. You will also enjoy shooting it more as ammo is more abundant and cheaper. What rifles you looking at buying?

 

[alextheabranchial]

Currently I've got my sights set on a budget rifle, the two top choices being the Thompson Center Compass or the Remington 783. Have heard/seen lots of positive reviews on the guns for their price ranges. Anyone here have hands on use of these ones?

 

[mikegaiz]

There are better 6.5 on the market......

 

[Rob01]

I would not buy a Rem 783. It really is their cheap budget rifle. What's your price range?

 

[alextheabranchial]

My price range is under $500 for the rifle itself.

 

[JBT47]

I would strongly recommend going with a Model 700 rather than a cheaper model. Down the road you will be able to customize the rifle. Overall I believe one would be much happier spending a little more on the front end.

 

[WEL]

My price range is under $500 for the rifle itself.

Savage is hard to beat for the money. Remington has more upgrade options available but rebarreling a savage is cheaper. I recently purchased a savage 12 fcv at cabelas on black friday. The sale price was $319 and after rebates I have $200 in it.The 12fcv has a heavy varmint barrel and weighs 10# loaded. It is great on the bench and for hunting it is a greenfield rifle for me so the weight is not bad. Mine shoots sub moa with factory ammo. The tupperware stock is not great,especially off a bipod. I was planning on changing mine and eventually will. But it shoots good off bags as it is just support it back from the forend.The accutrigger on mine came at 2#. Much better than the Remington trigger Imho.