6.5cm or 7-08

[Sakoodin1]

I’ll ask the gunsmith but I’m not sure it will fit.

Pretty sure you need a magnum bolt face for prc.

 

[Sakoodin1]

At the moment I have a second .243 which I hardly use, maybe once in the last 12 months, I used to have a 7-08 but sold it when I bought the 30-06, I’m thinking about having the 243 rebarrelled to another calibre, I’m contemplating having another 7-08 or 6.5cm, it’s a sako 75 action. Currently have, 2x 243, 6.5x55, 30-06 along with .375. I’m not really into plinking, maybe once or twice mostly deer control, from muntjac to lowland reds. At the moment really undecided to go for either another 7-08 or a 6.5cm, at the moment I’m leaning towards the 6.5 due to the availability of factory ammo, as although I do homeload I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, just looking for pros and cons.

If your scratching a itch then go for it in 6.5 creed but you might find that you get/build one realise it’s all hype and does nothing extra than most similar calibres then you’ll sell it and get something that is different

 

[Mungo]

Pretty sure you need a magnum bolt face for prc.

You do.

But I had mine built from a standard tikka action, with the bolt face opened out.

 

[Heym SR20]

Given that you already have a 30-06, I would just stick with the 243. Choice of bullet will probably allow you to cover anything that you might use 6.5cm or 7mm for. A 140 or 150gn from 30-06 will mimic a 140 or 150 from a 7-08 or CM. And a decent 85 to 100gn from 243 will do anything at the lower end.

If you are going to swap out one of the 243s go to the 223. Much cheaper to run especially for plinking , target type shooting.

 

[Deerstalker6]

If you were going to scratch that itch for ease of factory ammo 6.5 cm, for something different that you would need to load for ideally 7mm-08 rem,

I'd choose the 7mm-08 myself something about that round the nice half way between your 243 and 30 cal perfectly in the middle different,
some really good bullets in 7mm 100gr and up to 175gr, the lead free 130gr so be zipping out there with some speed.

that being said 6.5 cm not really that much more than a 243 energy wise, 7mm-08 would be the ticket and that nice sweet spot between your
243 and your 30-06

 

[big ears]

I’m a big 6.5 fan. Shot one for years. Moved to 7mm two years ago and not looked back. The 7mm is better and gives you more scope than the CM. It’s not true the 6.5 is easier to shoot 7mm is just as nice
That said both will kill.
Only thing is that I’d look at 7x57 rather than 7-08. Factory ammo not a problem as ruag and gecco cover the 7x57 as does rws

 

[375win]

As per Heym's advice above. With the 30-06 and .243 you've got it covered. Neither 7-08 or 6.5 in various guises will do anything more that is practically meanful. If you must, I would go traditional and opt for the 7x57 instead of the 7-08.

 

[scotch_egg]

I would even throw the cat among the pigeons and go for a .308 but with a 16” barrel. Great for woodland stalking with a short mod like an SL5i or even one of the Freyr and Dekic ultra light model.

Or just stick with the .243 I really like having a 6mm in the safe. Covers fox and a nice 80gr properly constructed bullet for roe and below. The lighter recoil than the 30-06 would differentiate it enough to justify.

There really isn’t much difference between creedmoor and 7-08. I have both, they knock down deer by putting holes in the right place. Recoil is similar as both work best with 120-140gr bullets and to be honest I didn’t feel much difference from a 30-05 and 165gr bullets.