It currently sits at 27.2" which spits 148 Grn Yew Tree TLRs out at 3430FPS. It's an awesome open ground rifle, and really smacks the big reds to the ground, but can be hard on smaller deer at close range.
The 20" .308 I have as a close range rifle is perfect for it's application, but I find lacks the legs much beyond 300M.
And as mentioned I find the 6.5X47 very accurate, but just lacks a bit of smack at both close and further distances.
So far I am leaning towards rebarrelling the 6.5 into a 7-08, due to the factory ammunition availability and the performance.
I will confess I have had my head turned slightly by the Steel Action offerings, which were displayed at the stalking show, and they do offer one in 7-08! They just seemed to be a very smartly built package with quality components, I just wish there was a
@PSE Rifle Stocks E-Tac or E-Lite inletted for it!
I must say I was caught by the Steel Action rifles last year. It was the stock options that put me off, although there is an Akila option I don’t want another chassis rifle.
I’ve run a 7-08 for 20 years and also use .308, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47. In all honesty, on deer-sized game they all perform very similarly. You’re generally in that 2600–2800 fps range with 120–150gr bullets depending on barrel length, and in real-world terms there’s not a dramatic difference in how they “hit.”
With my 6.5x47 I’m shooting 130gr ELD at around 2820 fps, although I’ve only taken a handful of fallow with it so far.
My view is that velocity does play a role in how quickly an animal goes down, but not in a simplistic “speed kills” sense. What higher velocity really does is increase the rate and violence of bullet expansion, which in turn increases how quickly energy is transferred into the animal.
I used to attribute this mainly to the temporary wound cavity you see in ballistic gel—where the tissue is rapidly displaced and then returns to shape—but I think a better way of looking at it is how that rapid energy transfer can contribute to central nervous system (CNS) disruption.
At higher velocities, when a bullet expands aggressively in vital areas (heart/lungs and surrounding vessels), the sudden energy dump and pressure wave can affect nearby nerve structures. It’s not guaranteed, and it’s not the same as a direct CNS hit, but it can contribute to immediate or near-immediate incapacitation in some cases. Alongside that, the bullet is still doing the primary job of destroying vital organs and major blood vessels, leading to rapid blood pressure loss and oxygen deprivation to the brain.
So in reality, it’s a combination:
• Primary mechanism: physical destruction of heart/lungs/arteries
• Secondary effect: potential CNS disruption from rapid energy transfer in high-velocity impacts
That’s likely why higher velocity setups can sometimes give the impression of being “hit by lightning,” especially compared to more moderate speeds.
I also think animal size and density play a role. For effective energy transfer, the animal needs to offer enough resistance for the bullet to expand and slow down properly. If a bullet passes through too easily without sufficient expansion, you’re more reliant on bleed-out rather than immediate incapacitation.
That’s part of why lighter, faster bullets can work well in this context—they tend to expand more readily and transfer energy quicker, provided they’re still appropriate for the size of the animal.
For example, I had a 7x64 pushing 120gr Nosler at around 3000 fps, and the effect on impact was noticeably more immediate compared to slower cartridges. There was more visible trauma, although it did come with increased bruising.
Currently I also have a 7mm SAUM, although I haven’t taken any game with it yet due to injury. I’d expect the additional 200–300 fps over something like a 7-08 to increase the likelihood of rapid incapacitation, particularly with an appropriate bullet like a 130gr non-toxic option.
For reference, my typical velocities are:
• .308 – ~2700 fps (150gr, 20” barrel)
• 6.5x47 – ~2820 fps (130gr, 26” barrel)
• 7-08 – ~2720 fps (140gr, 19.5” barrel)
• 7x64 – ~3000 fps (120gr, 22” barrel)
From what I’ve seen, once you start getting closer to that 3000 fps mark, you’re more likely to see very fast drops—though it’s still dependent on shot placement and bullet performance.
The .22-250 is a good example on roe—it’s very effective due to the high velocity relative to the animal’s size. I’m essentially applying the same thinking when stepping up to larger deer.
That’s why cartridges like 6.5x284 and 6.5 PRC stand out as good options—they operate in that higher velocity window while still offering suitable bullet weights and performance. They also have more accessible brass compared to something like the SAUM, which is worth considering for anyone starting out.
Something at the 3000fps level would sit well between the .308 and 300WSM.
