7m-08 or 6.5 CM?

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This year, I get tp take my 16 y/o daughter on a Cow Elk hunt in New Mexico. She is small, 5’ and 100lbs. She shoots my .243 sub MOA and is confident out to 200 yards (today). On this cow hunt, I know typical shot is 300+ yards, but under 400. So, I can easily re-barrel that 243 to a 7mm-08 and get her proficient to 300-500 yards by the time we go hunt. Or she can can use my 6.5 Creedmore. LoP will be a bit of an issue on the 6.5 as I can’t make it shorter than it is, which is already 12.75. She needs 12.25-12.5. So its not horrible, but she will be blading just a bit.

So here is the question:

Should I re-barrel and get her on a platform she knows and is comfortable with with a 7mm-08 which I know for certain is enough for a Cow Elk. Or do I put her on my 6.5 Creedmore which is probably enough for a Cow, but there is that question.

Barrels would both be 22" and both would have the Banish 30 V1 attached.

The 7m-08 would be a 10 lbs gun
The 6.5 would be 12 lbs.

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In general, not knowing weights of rifle or bullets, the 7mm-08 is going to have a 5-6 ft-lb increase in recoil (mitigated to a degree with suppressor). Is that going to be too uncomfortable for her? Can you find 7mm-08 for her to try? The option for the 6.5CM is like 3 ft-lb increase which she probably wouldn’t even notice. But, as you stated the 6.5CM is controversial for use with elk. You don’t want to waste money on the rebarrel. Other thought is to buy a Savage or Ruger in 7mm-08. If it doesn’t work you aren’t out a lot of money and can sell it or trade for another rifle. This would be less costly than a rebarrel. You still would have the 243 win for deer. You can never have too many rifles. Just my thoughts.

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Thanks for your thoughts, I didn’t consider a new or new to me rifle in 7mm-08. Problem there again would LoP.

I did have rifles weights listed. I was think apples to apples by using the Nosler Accubond at 140gr.

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Man, I just had a friend go on a bull elk hunt in Utah, and I discouraged a 6.5cm, and she took it because she shot it best, and to my surprise, took a huge 350” 6x6 at 325 yards with an accubond, one shot kill @ 325 yards.

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Wow, any chance you get the specs on the gun and which Accubond she shot?

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I think for a cow elk hunt, 6.5 creed will be fine within certain distances, which it seems like she is comfortable inside certain ranges, especially with a heavier rifle, should be chillin!

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Ya, it was a Christiansen Arms Ridgeline & 140g accubond handload.

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Just curious, any idea of what the impact or muzzle velocity was?

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Great question, not sure on that one.

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I think going in on a new gun, is a better way then re-barreling a riffle, quicker anyways. The Tika compact is a 12.5 length of pull and Licked and loaded has it about $670-ish when you email them for a price

https://lockedloaded.com/product/tikka-t3-lite-7mm-08-22-threaded-synth-blued-compact?source=gundeals&utm_source=wikiarms&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=deallistings&utm_campaign=wikiarmslistings

But realistically both calibers are fine both shot similar grain bullets… 7mm-08 is nice that you can get in that 160grain class.

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My daughter took her first cow elk with 7-08 youth rifle. You may need to scour the internet to find one, but they are out there. Good luck and happy hunting!

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How about a 270? Almost as big of a caliber, more flat shooting, about equal on recoil.

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Have your boys shot a 270? I was under the impression that the 6.5 PRC was at their limit for recoil management, or at least it was a year or 2 ago. Should be about the same as the 270, right?

I do have a buddy with a 270 we can go experiment with, so I think we will do that.

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Recoil should be similar.

My 270s were not fun to shoot, but they were older designs. Pre-64 M70 and older Sauer. As opposed to my modern designed 6.5PRC.

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My daughter has a 270 win that her husband bought her because he had one and didn’t want to have 2 kinds of ammo. It it a Tikka 3X and it was not fun. That plastic stock left a lot to be wanted. I put one of Jim’s pads on it which helped. I finally sprang for a new stock for her.

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I think we are just going to rock with my 6.5 CM. I’ll throw the Banish 30 on and get some number. I think the 143 eldx hits the hardest from what I’ve researched. I hope it groups.

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