Howa Superlite 308 or 6.5 CM

[wright brothers]

The only thing I've noticed with recoil and big game is, need more. I'd go big. My 2 cents.

 

[Bidwell]

7-08 has the advantage of being able to use your 308 brass if you. I've yet to buy and 7-08 brass since I have a ton of 308 brass. I load all three calibers mentioned.

Interesting point, thanks!

 

[simo hayha]

Get a Tikka

 

[450BM]

Looking to pick up a light hunting rifle and like the Howa Superlite (also open to suggestions) . I know the superlite has some issues and could take some fiddling to get right. This would be for deer and wild pig, that's it.

Given the sub 5 pound weight, would the lighter recoil 6.5 be a better choice? I have a 308 right now with all the reloading gear so the 308 is tempting. I've never shot a 6.5, or really anything other than my ruger 308, cz 22 lr and shotgun. The 308 also comes in a 16.25 barrel length option which also is tempting. If the 6.5 is going to help with precision because of inherent attributes of the caliber and less recoil than maybe its worth it. Any thoughts? I called Howa directly and the guy I talked to was pretty sincere and knowledgeable, he recommended the 6.5.

I have both cartridges, 308 in CVA Cascade and the 6.5 in CZ American Synthetic. If I had to choose just one, I’d have a 6.5 CM in the Cascade. The only thing you’d need for reloading the 6.5 is dies and since you already have a 308…

 

[450BM]

Ha! Yeah I expect this won't be a fun shooter. I just want to develop around 1 moa load for it and use for hunting. I have another rifle for the

I have one 308 and a few hundred lapua cases. I would like the 308 if I just wasn't slightly worried about the recoil on such a light rifle. From first hand experiences of others, it sounds like a beast to shoot. But now that im thinking about it, im not sure if anyone has specified if they were using a break. The howa has threaded barrel so its an option. That's actually a big selling point to me over the Tikka. Tikka doesn't offer a threaded superlite.

I'm also just curious about the 6.5 too so even besides the recoil advantages, it might just be fun to try something different.

The CVA Cascade comes in 6.5cm and threaded barrels and superb triggers. I have 4 of them, 450BM, 308, 350 Legend and 300BO. I may own one in 6.5CM one of these days. I’d love one in 223 also but it needs to be a faster twist than what they have.

 

[Bidwell]

Get a Tikka

The CVA Cascade comes in 6.5cm and threaded barrels and superb triggers. I have 4 of them, 450BM, 308, 350 Legend and 300BO. I may own one in 6.5CM one of these days. I’d love one in 223 also but it needs to be a faster twist than what they have.

The cva cascades look nice. I should note I'm in CA so I'll be primarily using copper. With that limitation, velocity is definitely a variable and maybe twist rate. I'd like to do some research to see if theres a twist rate that works better for longer and lighter bullets. If anyone has opinions on that let me know. Sort of considering a 243 too because of the velocity requirements and a light recoil.

 

[Bidwell]

I have both cartridges, 308 in CVA Cascade and the 6.5 in CZ American Synthetic. If I had to choose just one, I’d have a 6.5 CM in the Cascade. The only thing you’d need for reloading the 6.5 is dies and since you already have a 308…

Appreciate that! 6.5 cm is probably what I'll go with but starting to look at the 243 as well. I just mentioned in another post that I'll be using only copper for hunting so velocity is a factor. But sounds like pushing a 6.5 over 3000 fps isn't too big a deal. Anyone have experiences with the savage 110 Ultralite? The proof barrel is interesting but I've heard they have some issues, but accurate. Feel like that could be a nice hybrid bench/hunting rifle if it worked well enough. I'm sort of drifting from my plan though. Get the lightest rifle I can for hunting and then work on a range only gun instead of trying to get a do-all rifle.

 

[ebb]

7mm gives you a heavier bullet in case you want to kill some thing tougher than a deer.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

7-08 in a Tikka, sounds like perfection.

Yup,. it, almost,. IS !
The 6.5 Creedmoor ( real, Perfection ) can be, hand loaded from, the 107 grain Sierra, TMK's up to, the Hornady 143 ELD-X's or, 147 grain, ELD-M's for some, SERIOUS "Diversity" of, Ranges for, LR Steel Targets, Varmints, Deer, Antelope and even, Elk,.. IF, you know How to, "Hunt" and can Do, "Good", Shot Placement !
Two of the Biggest Bull Elk, killed in Idaho, were shot By, 2 Ladies, both Elk were in, the 340 to 385 Yards "Range",.. ONE Shot each, with Factory 143 gr., ELD-X ammo. ( both, DRT within, a Few Seconds ! )
After giving my Tikka .243 Win. to my grandson, I promptly replaced it with, another Tikka T-3 Lite, 1-8 twist, 24 inch SS barrel, in 6.5 Creed, as My "Do All", Hunting / LR Target, Rifle and I'm GLAD that, I went with,.. It !
But, the 7mm-08 is, "Nice",.. also

 

[450BM]

Appreciate that! 6.5 cm is probably what I'll go with but starting to look at the 243 as well. I just mentioned in another post that I'll be using only copper for hunting so velocity is a factor. But sounds like pushing a 6.5 over 3000 fps isn't too big a deal. Anyone have experiences with the savage 110 Ultralite? The proof barrel is interesting but I've heard they have some issues, but accurate. Feel like that could be a nice hybrid bench/hunting rifle if it worked well enough. I'm sort of drifting from my plan though. Get the lightest rifle I can for hunting and then work on a range only gun instead of trying to get a do-all rifle.

I like the 243 too for deer and they are mild enough to shoot more on the range. If you’re really headed for two rifles though, I’d go for the 6.5CM or 7mm-08 as others have suggested. Recoil, imo, isn’t a factor while hunting. Then for a range rifle, I’d get a smaller cartridge that uses less powder with a faster twist barrel for longer bullets. Budget friendly with less recoil. A 223 with 1-6 or 1-7 twist barrel would be the rifle I would be looking at. Lot’s of other options too. My favorite center fire bench gun now is my 17 Fireball! It’s accurate, zero recoil, quiet and cheap to load, a pure pleasure to shoot!

 

[Walt Krafft]

I bought a Sig Cross when they first came out. Got a 6.5. I changed the barrel to a 20 inch carbon fiber wrapped Bartlein in 6XC. Very nice and light that is easy to shoot. I no longer handle recoil well.

 

[Bidwell]

I like the 243 too for deer and they are mild enough to shoot more on the range. If you’re really headed for two rifles though, I’d go for the 6.5CM or 7mm-08 as others have suggested. Recoil, imo, isn’t a factor while hunting. Then for a range rifle, I’d get a smaller cartridge that uses less powder with a faster twist barrel for longer bullets. Budget friendly with less recoil. A 223 with 1-6 or 1-7 twist barrel would be the rifle I would be looking at. Lot’s of other options too. My favorite center fire bench gun now is my 17 Fireball! It’s accurate, zero recoil, quiet and cheap to load, a pure pleasure to shoot!

Good call on the smaller caliber range gun. The 223 components are pretty affordable.

Does seem to be between the 7mm 08 and 6.5. One checkbox for 7mm 08 is that they have barnes ttsx projectiles in stock at our local sportsmans warehouse more often.

 

[Bidwell]

The CVA Cascade comes in 6.5cm and threaded barrels and superb triggers. I have 4 of them, 450BM, 308, 350 Legend and 300BO. I may own one in 6.5CM one of these days. I’d love one in 223 also but it needs to be a faster twist than what they have.

Appreciate the note.

I'm sort of starting to lean towards the 308 again, if only because the velocity for copper bullets is a little more demanding. Just looking at the Barnes data and only the 100 gainers are relatively easy to get to 3000 fps with the 6.5. With a 308, I can get 110 and 130 grains to 3000 fps with minimum loads. Seems like my range is fairly limited with copper rounds on a 6.5

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I also say get a tikka. 6.5 or 7 08.

 

[JBT47]

I’d go 6.5. Even with lighter recoil I would not use it without recoil dampening device such as a brake or suppressor…even in 6.5 Creedmoor. The hop off a bipod or a pack would be ridiculous with no muzzle brake or suppressor. Only my opinion. I don’t like recoil or light hard to shoot rifles.

 

[Bidwell]

Just to go full circle on this thread, I ended up going with the 308 20 inch. Even without the muzzle brake, the recoil is fine. With a brake, it's lighter than my ruger american that's over 2lbs heavier. It fits me well though and that probably makes a significant difference. I'm wondering if the carbon fiber absorbs the recoil a bit more than a polymer stock too.

Shooting pretty darn good with barnes ttsx 110 grains, 50.2 grains tac. .9 inch 3 shot group and 1.5 inch 7 shot group. 5 shots in that group were sub moa. The Barnes 130 grain opened up a bit but that's with no load development.

I did have to use a .025 inch shim under the recoil lug and under the flat base behind the lug to free float the barrel. Sanded the barrel channel a little. I may still get a proper bedding soon. But I know this thing can shoot now and glad the recoil is not an issue at all.