6.5x55 or 7x57 or 7mm-08 (Tikka, Ruger, CZ, Winchester)

[Velo Dog]

Velo Dog the 7-08 was developed in Mexico primarily by and for metallic silhouette shooters. In one of the most awesome displays of marksmanship I've ever witnessed I saw three shooters fire 15 rounds each all knocking over rams at 500 meters OFFHAND. All three guys were using 7-08s. That was in 1986. The guys were shooting for second place as no one cleaned the rams during the original course of fire. The shots were fired by each shooter shooting after each other one miss and done. The first miss was on the 16th ram the second miss was on the 17th ram. This was shot during the Chihuahua State Championships. The reason for the 7-08 is that once fired military 308 brass was available very cheap and the 7mm bullet is ballistically superior to the .308. At least that is what I was told by my Mexican shooting buddies at the time. From my brief exposure to it in 1986 I can attest to the fact that it is a very flat shooting rifle.

Thank you for that Shootist43,

I did not know the 7-08 was developed in Mexico by target shooters, at least partly in response to reloadable brass availability.

It is good to learn something new as often as possible and it looks like today is my day.

As previously mentioned, I mistakenly figured it was just Remington crowing:
"We've developed a new and definitely better (wink, wink) 7 millimeter cartridge that, you easily-influenced-consumers simply must have".

Anyway, I definitely sympathize with target shooters and hunters who, are stuck with tyrannical politicians that obviously despise the private ownership of firearms and ammunition.

Kind regards,
Velo Dog.

PS: Sounds like those guys could shoot off hand!
I might be able to hit a barn at 500 meters off hand, if I hold my mouth just right.

 

[WAB]

I have been shooting the 7x57 for 35 years. I could not count the game I have taken with this caliber: whitetail, muley, elk, caribou, black bear, fall sheep and a fair bit of African game. Very accurate, versatile and absolutely deadly. I own three and would not be without one.

 

[ZG47]

@ZG47 you know a lot more about this so-called feeding problem that I do. I respect your opinion, but I don't necessarily agree with it. You make it sound like the developers of the 308 sat around and said, "let's shorten the '06 and whatever else we do, to heck with how it feeds." I just don't think that was the case. The point I was trying to make is the 308 reliably feeds in automatics, so why would a bolt action have any issues? I've never heard this being an issue with a 308. I have heard these type of comments associated with the 300 WSM and the other WSM.

@375 Ruger Fan The T65/7.62x51/.308 Winchester was a political response to a practical request by the end user. Yes, you can get reliable feeding but the margin of error is smaller, which is why there are so many issues with cheap magazines. both fixed and detachable, that are either absent or less of a problem with the 8.2x57, .30-06 and derivative cartridges. This is one of the reasons why so many people I have encountered who have cheaper rifles chambered for the . 308 Winchester and derivative cartridges only load three rounds into their four or five round magazines.

 

[ChrisG]

@375 Ruger Fan The T65/7.62x51/.308 Winchester was a political response to a practical request by the end user. Yes, you can get reliable feeding but the margin of error is smaller, which is why there are so many issues with cheap magazines. both fixed and detachable, that are either absent or less of a problem with the 8.2x57, .30-06 and derivative cartridges. This is one of the reasons why so many people I have encountered who have cheaper rifles chambered for the . 308 Winchester and derivative cartridges only load three rounds into their four or five round magazines.

So cheap rifles have feeding problems? I can't imagine why...

 

[Art Lambart II]

If you are limited to factory ammo neither round is a good choice, today’s factory loads (except for the Hornady Superformance) for both calibers fall far short of their designs. However if you reload they are both outstanding rounds for PG sized animals. I would give the edge to the 7x57 for large PG because of its larger and heavier 175 grn bullet.

 

[Tam Dl]

Yeah, I remember the 7-08 mostly as a silhouette cartridge. The fact it caught on from such a dead-end start is testament to the ballistics of the 7x57.

I agree on the feed issues. The idea something works in an automatic means nothing to manual systems. And the sniper reference doesn't mean much either as they have armorers in reserve; have to consider logistics; and aren't exactly running mad minute drills with their guns.

I prefer hunting rifles to be fighting rifles to some extent, maybe in a country where there are no predators in the field it would be different. However, those are style preferences and one can take those in many directions.

I think the 6.5x55 is one of those magical cartridges. You can go down the same worm hole as the 08 and consider the Creedmore. My 6.5 is on a Husky action and has only a 20 inch barrel, which came with the rifle, so I haven't done anything with it as yet.

 

[Tam Dl]

Speaking of early Silhouette stunts, I remember reading about one of the early handgun matches, and it was won by a guy shooting the 1911 in 45 ACP. The rams have to be knocked over and are set at 200m. I enjoy shooting silhouette, but I have to admit it has all been with 22 and air rifle. Quite a trick hitting the rams at 45m with the old spring guns.

 

[nztimb]

I think the 6.5x55 is one of those magical cartridges. You can go down the same worm hole as the 08 and consider the Creedmore. My 6.5 is on a Husky action and has only a 20 inch barrel, which came with the rifle, so I haven't done anything with it as yet.

Dont forget the 6.5x57 Tam

 

[Southwind]

I too have succumbed to the 77 Hawkeye African, I just couldn't resist the format. I like the Tikkas too but I am a sucker for a sighted rifle. I had looked for a Winchester model 70 for a long time but most were over priced IMO.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

Also, the 7x57 feeds reliably because it was designed to feed and extract reliably. The 7mm-08 is based on the T65/.308 Winchester/7.62x51 that was NOT designed to feed and extract reliably. If you doubt my word on that, just look at all the factory rifles that have a 5-round magazine capacity when chambered for the 6.5x55 SE, 7x57, 8x57, 7x64, .30-06, .270 Winchester, etc; and which have a 4-round magazine capacity when chambered for the .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, etc.

I don’t care what they say about Kiwis, that’s an excellent point I never thought of.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I've never seen a 7-08 in anything other than a push feed from Winchester, Remington, Ruger or Savage.

Remington hasn’t manufactured a CRF rifle in my lifetime, they imported Zastava CRF rifles for a year or two a while back but I don’t think any were 7mm-08. Savage hasn’t made a CRF rifle in my lifetime either, if they ever did. Winchester has been making 7mm-08 CRF rifles in several models for quite a while now. Same for Ruger and Kimber.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

My CZ 550 American 6.5x55 is my favorite rifle. I like CZ quality but there is no way I’m going to buy their push feed 20” barreled rifle in 6.5x55 or 7x57. I want a longer barrel. I know lots of people have good luck with Ruger rifles but I haven’t had much luck with their accuracy and can’t stand the triggers. I don’t like DBM’s so that rules out Sako and Tikka. Winchester doesn’t currently produce a rifle in either cartridge so I guess if I want one now I’d have to save up for a Montana or sell my soul to the devil for a Rigby Highland Stalker. I can always dream though of having a matched set of Stalkers in 6.5x55 and .275 Rigby.

For Texas I prefer my Swede. For the dark continent I’d want a 7x57.

 

[Dewald]

I have a Tikka M695 6,5x55. Very accurate, have taken close to a thousand animals with it up to Eland. All my Tikka T3s (.308 CTR and .243 Supervarmint) shoot very well. I have to really try to get them to not shoot sub MOA.

I also have a Brno Mod 21 7x57 and a finer rifle with a smoother action you will not find. Only equaled perhaps by my 7x57 FN.

I don't think you can make a mistake with a Tikka or Ruger in any of the calibers

What I love about Tikka is they work out of the box. No replacing stocks, bedding, etc etc etc

 

[Cousin Bongo]

Velo Dog the 7-08 was developed in Mexico primarily by and for metallic silhouette shooters.

Can you substantiate this? Wildcatters in the U.S.A. have been using the 7mm-08 since at least the middle 1950s and it was already popular as a benchrest round in the U.S.A. in the 1970s when I first learned about it, so I'm wondering how this could be. I worked in Mexico for a couple of years in the early 1980s and I don't recall it even being on the radar there then, but that could just be the people I was associating with not using it. Thanks.

Re: 6.5x55, 7x57, and 7mm-08 - what one will do, the others will do also. I've used the 6.5x55 and 7x57 on hunts in Africa, New Zealand and various places stateside with great success. The 6.5x55 is exceptionally accurate, at least in the multiple rifles I've used it, but my preference is for the 7x57 (handlloaded) - nostalgia and all that. If you're looking to use the rifle internationally, I suggest going with the cartridge which is most readily available where you are headed. For Africa, I would think that to be the 7x57 from my experiences in various countries there. Even so, should you need 7x57 ammo while there, not all places which carry ammo are going to have it and it will probably take a couple of days or so to get it in. (308 Win and 30-06 are normally in stock.)

CB

 

[Shootist43]

Cousin Bongo, I tried looking 7-08 online. I couldn't find anything much before Remington made it a legitimate caliber. I did find info on Mexican Silohwet

 

[Shootist43]

Cousin Bongo, I was unable to complete my previous reply, I then tried to delete it but time had run out. The short answer is no. The longer answer is that the Mexican shooter and friend who told me that was the Firearms Instructor and Armorer for the Federal Customs and Immigration Department working in the State of Chihuahua. He also had a side hustle as a gunsmith. I had nor have any reason to doubt what he told me. Prior to 1948 Mexicans shot at live animals staked out at various distances, however they then switched over to using metallic silhouettes. All shots are made offhand. The rams are at 500 meters. That requires a relatively flat shooting rifle which the 7-08 is. The pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit. I will be doing some more research on this topic and let you know what I find out.

 

[lwaters]

If I was going with reloads I would go with the 7x57. If using factory loads 7mm-08

 

[leslie hetrick]

my two CZ 550,s, a .375 and a 6.5x55 American,s and my two win left handed 70,s in 7mm mag and 300 win mag and my favorite foul weather rifle a left hand rem 700 SA in 7-mm08 with a 2.5x8 leupold scope that I have killed a pile of game with, I never had a FTF-FTF and it shoots moa when I do my part with 120-140gr nosler bullets with a healty dose of varget. if I could only have one rifle it would be my left hand win 70 in 7mm mag and load it up or down as needed depending on the size of the animals hunted.

 

[John Struewing]

My CZ 550 American 6.5x55 is my favorite rifle. I like CZ quality but there is no way I’m going to buy their push feed 20” barreled rifle in 6.5x55 or 7x57. I want a longer barrel. I know lots of people have good luck with Ruger rifles but I haven’t had much luck with their accuracy and can’t stand the triggers. I don’t like DBM’s so that rules out Sako and Tikka. Winchester doesn’t currently produce a rifle in either cartridge so I guess if I want one now I’d have to save up for a Montana or sell my soul to the devil for a Rigby Highland Stalker. I can always dream though of having a matched set of Stalkers in 6.5x55 and .275 Rigby.

For Texas I prefer my Swede. For the dark continent I’d want a 7x57.

I am a new member and may be speaking out of turn. If please forgive me. The special run of Rugers that Lipseys ordered, 250 in .275 Rigby and 250 in 6.5X55 are a wonder. A 24" light tapered barrel, open sights, lightweight and probably the best trigger Ruger has ever put on a rifle. The MSRP was $1279. for either, but could be bought for just shy of a grand. Some have reported groups of sub-moa and I don't doubt that because they were using Nosler 140gr Partitions over 47.5grs of RL-22. There are no more in stock at Lipseys, however they are showing up on the auction sites. Try Gunbroker or Guns International. That load recipe is for the Swede.

 

[Foxi]

Son just bought the Tikka Hunter and I went with the Ruger African, both in 6.5X55. I like the Ruger better and so far it seems more accurate. You may have already seen these on the other thread.

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beg your pardon for a tiny,little OT question.
Sand Rat,very elegant fur rug,what is it ?
Foxi