Got the scope sorted... now just need to settle on either 6.5x55 swede OR 7mm-08...

Hi again guys :)

Years ago I owned a small ring Husqvarna in 6.5x55 and thought it was a nice calibre to shoot.

I am looking at a hunting rig in the $1000 and under category.

My dilemma is that if I stick to the 6.5 then I am limited in rifle choice but if I extend that our to 7-08 it opens up all the US brands.

This will be my do-all rifle from goat to deer. I have an old shoulder injury that precludes the likes of .308 and .270 cause they are just too hard on the shoulder.

Also, I will be fabricating an over-barrel suppressor for whichever rifle I get.

So the question I suppose is; are these calibres similar enough that it doesn't make any PRACTICAL difference which I go for??

As an example, Reloaders are doing a Howa houge combo in 6.5 for $895...which is a good deal in itself BUT they are also doing the 20" ranchland combo in 7mm-08 for $699!

also, 7-08 would give the options of the Marlin, Savage trophy hunter etc

Lastly, initially I will use factory ammo but do plan to start reloading

Really appreciate folks thoughts/experience with this.

thanks in advance
Tracy

There is a nice Ruger Mk2 in 6.5x55 on Trade Me at the moment. About $850 I think.
If you purchase, make sure the rings come with it.

Still love the 6.5swede but the 7mmo8 will do exactly the same with ammo a smidgen cheaper.
Just remember once you put a good suppessor on a rifle then the felt recoil will reduce so that step up to a 308 or similar is unlikely to be felt as you may expect it to be.

Here we go again!!!!....i read a shitload of which cal/rifle posts similar to this one before buying....ended up with a S/S Howa 1500 Ultralight in 7-08, great price for a 'recreational bush hunter' like me.......fukin love it.....20" barrel, has a DPT can on it.......my 2c

can people actually tell the difference between a 7-08 and 308 recoil with standard loads ???? :wtfsmilie:

6.5x55 but I'm biased

Muzzle brakes make everything manageable, but also make you deaf...

Depends a bit on the rifle, but I always reckoned significantly more recoil in the 708 over the 6.5x55...

How short u going barrel wise.... better with a short barrel 708 and a can... short action as well.... shorter overall..

Cans will make a 708 manageable for you I think...

I started with a Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08, and it has performed very well for me, very hard to go past for the money.

I have my mates near new one for sale in the buy/sell section at the moment - A cheap deal incl a Hardy Suppressor

Near new Marlin 7mm-08, Hardy Suppressor, Sling, Gun bag, and some ammo $900

biased here too but,

tbh most of the rifles coming out of the states look like shit. european gear pisses on it all.

nothing wrong with a sako or a tikka in either of these calibres but a 6.5x55 will allow you to make full use of the long magazine for high bc pills and great fps.

As said above, a howa might be a good choice, i think reloaders have one in 6.5. both are good on the shoulder.

Just get whatever fits you in either of those calibres no real world difference, don't buy cheap and nasty though...buy once cry once.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scouser

Here we go again!!!!....i read a shitload of which cal/rifle posts similar to this one before buying....ended up with a S/S Howa 1500 Ultralight in 7-08, great price for a 'recreational bush hunter' like me.......fukin love it.....20" barrel, has a DPT can on it.......my 2c

---

Hows it shoot? had a play with one the other day, and the barrel seemed a bit light to me. Great buying though. Much stiffer stock than about anything else in the pricerange.

I'm a pretty average shooter and got this group, howa,1500

Attachment 24342

Doubt you could tell the difference between a 708 and 308 in terms of recoil with similar loads. The numbers show a difference but i dont register one. Anything from 6.5x55 to 280 will do the deed and with a suppressor or brake all will be soft to shoot. Id say find a rifle you like and buy it. If you run the numbers for most cals you see the diference between them is less than most peoples shooting ability l

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GWH

I started with a Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08, and it has performed very well for me, very hard to go past for the money.

I have my mates near new one for sale in the buy/sell section at the moment - A cheap deal incl a Hardy Suppressor

Near new Marlin 7mm-08, Hardy Suppressor, Sling, Gun bag, and some ammo $900

---

+1

These are a great little rifle for not a lot of coin. Very similar to a Savage. If I had room in the safe that is where it would be going.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gadgetman

+1

These are a great little rifle for not a lot of coin. Very similar to a Savage. If I had room in the safe that is where it would be going.

---

Yep i still have my Marlin XS7 7mm-08 (my first centrefire) i have purchased a couple of Model 7's since (260 rem and a 7mm SAUM), but the Marlin shoots so bloody well i won't sell it. I personally think my mate is a fool for selling his one.

Savage Trophy Hunter Stainless Package 7mm-08 - fitted, serious, shooters, proud, supply, proven, ... - Serious Shooters

Damn that is cheap

And this was even cheaper! and I feel a better rifle :) which is why one is now getting acquainted with its new buddies in my gun safe :)

Howa Ranchland Compact Package 7mm08

Wasn't even planning on purchasing on saturday, I was just going to get a feel of the different options but when I saw this it was a no-brainer!. And the ranchland even comes with a threaded muzzle which saves me $80 into the bargain.

Now to settle on a good monocore suppressor design that I can make :)

thanks for the input guys

Tracy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Hows it shoot? had a play with one the other day, and the barrel seemed a bit light to me. Great buying though. Much stiffer stock than about anything else in the pricerange.

---

Hi Nick, its great as a 'bush rifle', mines ranged for 100 yds as i only hunt in the bush, the weight and barrel length were the main consideration for me, + the price and the fact its stainless and threaded....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Proneshooter

And this was even cheaper! and I feel a better rifle :) which is why one is now getting acquainted with its new buddies in my gun safe :)

Howa Ranchland Compact Package 7mm08

Wasn't even planning on purchasing on saturday, I was just going to get a feel of the different options but when I saw this it was a no-brainer!. And the ranchland even comes with a threaded muzzle which saves me $80 into the bargain.

Now to settle on a good monocore suppressor design that I can make :)

thanks for the input guys

Tracy

---

Jeese, you cant beat that price....awesome deal Tracy

I reckon!

I looked at the Savage AXIS... what a piece of crap! The trophy hunter was "better" but the stock was still woeful.

Thats the other benefit of the Howa.. although not perfectly rigid the Houge stock is streets ahead of all the other plastic jobs. If I had got one of them then it would have been another $150 or so getting a Boyds stock.

I do like the extended-type pistol grip on the Houge as well.

Seriously, what are the Yanks making their budget plastic stocks from??? the same crap they make their car dashboards from I'd guess!!!!! (see various TopGear tests of Yank cars)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scouser

Jeese, you cant beat that price....awesome deal Tracy

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Proneshooter

I reckon!

I looked at the Savage AXIS... what a piece of crap! The trophy hunter was "better" but the stock was still woeful.

Thats the other benefit of the Howa.. although not perfectly rigid the Houge stock is streets ahead of all the other plastic jobs. If I had got one of them then it would have been another $150 or so getting a Boyds stock.

I do like the extended-type pistol grip on the Houge as well.

Seriously, what are the Yanks making their budget plastic stocks from??? the same crap they make their car dashboards from I'd guess!!!!! (see various TopGear tests of Yank cars)

---

Definitely don't buy an Axis!!

Actually the stocks on the Marlins X7's are pretty good eh, nothing like those other nasty ones, and dont seem to be as flexi as the stocks on the rem 700's (Marlin owned by same company that owns Remington).

I have the Howa 1500 in 243 and love it great rifle. nothing in it between the 6.5 and the 7 apart from personal preference in saying that the swed would be my pick but they will both kill

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mucko

I have the Howa 1500 in 243 and love it great rifle. nothing in it between the 6.5 and the 7 apart from personal preference in saying that the swed would be my pick but they will both kill

---

yeah if this package/price came in 6.5 also I'd have gone with the swede but hey, as you and others have said not a lot of difference in them :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Proneshooter

yeah if this package/price came in 6.5 also I'd have gone with the swede but hey, as you and others have said not a lot of difference in them :)

---

Great buy. The 7mm/08 is a terrific cartridge only bettered by the mighty .308 :)

They do it in the swede, but not in the lightweight config. Has the standard profile barrel and is not threaded, so costs a few more buckeroos. 900-1000, still good value for a stainless rifle with a halfway decent stock.
Ive had a play with a couple of the sub 1k rifles and the stocks are to a tee friggin awfull. Looked at that savage package, and any force on the forend flexes the stock into the barrel. Starts looking less of a bargain when you have to restock/bed just to get a stable shooting platform

I just picked up a Howa in 7mm08 yesterday for a quite few dollars more than the Reloaders deal but it has the ss barrel and wooden stock. For a while I was looking into the .243 but was talked around by a few people into the 7mm and pleased I did go for this cal

My thoughts exactly. To say those budget yank stocks are nasty is an understatement... good bongo though ;)

You could stiffen the fore end and fill the rear with something but should you really have to do that to a brand new rifle just to make it usable??? me thinks not.. If you had no other options for new then I reckon taking that money and buying something good second hand would be a WAY better idea.

cheers
Tracy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nick-D

They do it in the swede, but not in the lightweight config. Has the standard profile barrel and is not threaded, so costs a few more buckeroos. 900-1000, still good value for a stainless rifle with a halfway decent stock.
Ive had a play with a couple of the sub 1k rifles and the stocks are to a tee friggin awfull. Looked at that savage package, and any force on the forend flexes the stock into the barrel. Starts looking less of a bargain when you have to restock/bed just to get a stable shooting platform

---

Other option is ask to just buy a barrelled action, gunworks were doing a howa 6.5 x 55 stainless barrlled action and then get a boyds laminated stock, will probably cost about the same, be a lot stiffer and look nicer.

Both my howa/weatherbys are now bedded in boyds stocks, and man can they shoot!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spudattack

Other option is ask to just buy a barrelled action, gunworks were doing a howa 6.5 x 55 stainless barrlled action

---

Now where did that end up? :thumbsup:

both cals are awaome hard to separate the 2 in IMO if you are shooting factory ammo go the 7mm-08 a bit easier to get
+1 on the marlin xs7 bloody great rifle for $799 ($899 for stainless) my 223 shoots as good as my other rifles that are worth twice as much if not more....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spudattack

Other option is ask to just buy a barrelled action, gunworks were doing a howa 6.5 x 55 stainless barrlled action and then get a boyds laminated stock, will probably cost about the same, be a lot stiffer and look nicer.

Both my howa/weatherbys are now bedded in boyds stocks, and man can they shoot!

---

Did you end up pillar and glass bedding, or just glass bedding? Whatd it do to the complete weight of the rifle (adding the boyds stock)?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

can people actually tell the difference between a 7-08 and 308 recoil with standard loads ???? :wtfsmilie:

---

Yep. My old tikka 7mm08 booted way harder than both my .308w and .270 lol.



Dan