Ok I am not wanting to start a massive debate- just wondering what the differences are between the two.
Picked up a 7-08 that I love. My son shoots my .270 now because he just HAD to have it. Now he claims it kicks too much (he is almost 16) so I suggested a 7-08- of course dad is always wrong so that isn't an option. Have seen tons of threads on 6.5 creedmore, but to my layman eyes the two look about the same.

Also of note, I don't handload and this would be used for deer, pigs, and maybe an elk someday. Thanks in advance!

Tell him to put his big boy panties on and quit whining about the 270 recoil.

They are very similar. Both hold about the same amount gun powder, so speeds will be similar for the same weight bullets. The 6.5CM is a great round with bullets in the 120 to 140 grain weight range. The 708 can shoot a heavier bullet, and offer more energy on target, up to about the 162-168 grain weights. If recoil is an issue, then you can dial either one down with a lighter bullet to reduce the recoil some. Either will work fine to TX animals. The 6.5 CM is the newer, more "sexy" round. A 7mm-08 is just that, a 7-08. I like both, and you can not go wrong with either.

I have both, and love both. But if I absolutely had to only use one short action cartridge forever, it would be the 7-08. You can make brass from .243, .260 Rem, 7-08, and .308.

If you give the rifle a 24" or longer barrel it delivers whole lots of energy, and since you mentioned elk, I'd feel more comfortable with the 7mm, than the 6.5mm. I'm not saying a 6.5 can't kill pretty much anything elk and down, it has done it for many years, I would rather use the 7mm is all.

Recoil between the two is close, but the 7-08 has a touch more.

Physics is the law. Lighter bullets reduce recoil. A 6.5 CM or 260 with 100 - 120's will have less recoil than a 7-08 with 140's. 243 will kill stuff just as dead with even less recoil.

One other option is keep the 270 for hunting, but buy a 223 bolt rifle for practice.

I'm a firm believer in limiting the number of different calibers, if you can. Since there is almost no difference between the cartridges, go with the 7mm-08.

It would be the 7mm-08 for me.

Love mine.

Have shot my brothers 6.5, recoil is similar.

Thanks for the responses! Yes I have given him hell and back about the recoil!

It seems the 6.5 is the shiny new toy- you hear tons about it. I really like my 7-08 and look forward to shooting way more than I ever did before- also like reducing # of calibers.

Lots to consider and maybe a few guns fo sell first!

Buy him a 6.5 CM and get you some Hornady 143 ELD-X factory ammo and your problem will be solved. Very light recoil and almost any decent rifle will give him a good group with no reloading required.

Buy a 6.5 and a 7-08. That way you have 100% chance of picking the right one.

Looks like you are in town, swing by and we could but a brake on that 270 and solve your issues much cheaper than getting a new rifle.

My son shoots a Tikka Hunter in 7mm-08

I shoot a Ruger Hawkeye Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor

I reload for both.

The 7mm-08 is a very versatile cartridge. So is the Creedmoor. As far as recoil is concerned, they are almost the same. My CM has a bit less but the rifle weighs a pound more.

If you are contemplating reloading in the future, the Creedmoor is the way to go in my opinion. The stinking thing is just inherently accurate. I have never loaded a round for it when doing load development that shot over MOA. It actually became a game that we called "How accurate can you go?".

If you aren't going to reload, you can likely find more versatility in the 7mm because of the various loads that are available off the shelf. As for accuracy, it easily gets MOA or better with about everything of reason that we have tried in it.

Both guns shoot Berger 140 VLD Hunting bullets (my reloads) into ragged holes, and the Creedmoor also does it with 130 Accubonds.

I'd be willing to share what I have learned about load development for either if you decide to reload for one or the other.

Honestly how much less recoil is a 7mm08 or 6.5CM throwing 140's going to have than a 270 shooting 130's? In my opinion there is not that much of a difference. The short actions come in smaller lighter rifles and once you take that into account the difference shrinks.

If you handload I would consider a reduced load in the 270. I load 110 grain prohunters over 36 or 38 grains of H4895 in my 270 for my wife and it has planted everything shot with it and recoil is less than full house 243 with 100 grain loads.

May swing by and discuss breaks tomorrow!

Quite a bit, actually. http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Both 8# rifles, there is a fairly large difference in the 270 and 7mm/08.

I don't currently own a 270, but I hunted with one for several years. There is a very noticeable difference between it and the 7mm/08 in my opinion.

If your son finds the .270 recoil excessive, it's very likely that the gun doesn't fit him. Before changing calibers to something functionally identical, consider getting a new stock / recoil pad, etc. If a new stock / recoil pad isn't an option for whatever reason, focus on rifle fit with the new purchase rather than caliber.

buy a 6.8

As a side note, even if your son is 16, some people just don't like recoil. My son was that way initially. And I learned that you can't push them into a rifle that they don't enjoy shooting. All you can do is explain that "IF" they ever want to go hunting anything larger than what a 223 will kill they are going to have to learn to shoot the required caliber.

And as was suggested above, proper length of pull (so the gun is in the shoulder pocket) and a good recoil pad goes a long way. Fit is a huge factor.

270 recoil isn't that bad

I was shooting 270/30-06 @ 15. It's more than a 243 for sure but manageable.

That being said, I'm dying to save up enough to get another gun as well, so maybe he's using "recoil" as an excuse for that

Ok so I don't reload but am intrigued by these calibers as well. I've read on here and elsewhere that 6.5 was designed to be a long range gun and that the 7mm-08 is identical in performance to the ole 7x57 Mauser. 7mm-08 has more readily available ammo but the Hornady ELD-X factory load for 6.5 seems like a better deal (cheaper) than "premium" bullets for the 7-08. Could this be because .284" bullets are generally more expensive?

I always take old chucks table with a grain of salt. I also don't think most factory 270 ammo pushes a 130 grain a 3140 FPS. Throw in that long actions weigh more and the numbers are a lot closer than they appear to me. After shooting both they feel a lot closer that they appear to me as well. I think if a shooter finds 130 gr 270 offensive to shoot, its highly likely they will not enjoy shooting similar weight bullets out of a 7mm-08.

We'll agree to disagree on this one I suppose. Not that it matters ......

I started out, in my 20's, with a 30.06. As I got older I went to a .270. Now in my 60's I went over to 7mm08 for about 3 years now. Correct or incorrect I felt I was going down on recoil. I really did not care if someone told me to "put on my big boy pants and suck it up on the recoil." Now I enjoy shooting a lot more than just hunting a few times a year. I think sometimes we just over analyze things, maybe just to prove that we are right.

I'm 31 and I'm that way. Just don't get any enjoyment out of shooting guns with a lot of recoil. Had a 308 heavy barrel with almost none that I enjoyed and a 223 lite gun that was a blast. I don't enjoy shooting my brother's lightweight 270. I'm a big guy (5'11" and 225), but it's just not enjoyable for me.

Both are great rounds and plenty capable for anything in Texas.
I think the 708 is a better pick for a shorter barrel.

Shoot a 7/08 and a .270 back to back. You won't notice any difference. I shoot a 7/08 now but shot a .270 when I was 9 years old until I was 30.