600 Yards Max for Whitetail: 7mm STW vs 6.5 Creedmoor

[General RE LEE]

If I was only to prepare one of the rifles it would definitely be the 6.5 Creedmoor because the 7MM STW will destroy too much meat on a whitetail. With a 600 yard max you can easily have a drop chart taped inside your scope cover.

If you were to say all shots would be 300+ yards, I would opt for the 7MM STW, but at shorter ranges this cartridge will shred whitetails.

I was curious what the wound channel created by a 175 grain ABLR going 2900 FPS would look like in a deer at 20 yards lol

 

[700Sendero]

I'd hunt with the STW. You'll be glad you have the extra energy on target if you make a marginal shot (due to whatever factor you wanna insert). Deer are tougher than a lot of people give them credit for, and after tracking 6 deer with my dog last year that we're shot with rifles, I like to use enough gun. Sure, a creed is enough if you shoot them through the lungs, but I like big guns.

 

[Tree Farmer]

7mm STW in the box blind and the 6.5 creed in the ladder stand. On days you may do both, either swap rifles or go with the 6.5 creed and accept <600 yds on the field.

 

[Murtfree]

To me, my rifles are set up to be precision instruments to do a very specific surgically precise job. On my farm I have very similar situations to yours; tree stands and box blinds in the wooded sections where 75 yards is a long shot and box blinds in the bean fields where 600 yards is very possible. I don't have a Creedmoor because, well I know this will get me in hot water, but is just not a cartridge that will do much more than any other short action cartridge. It's death ray status is BS to me. I use an 18 inch Remington carbine in 7mm-08 with a Leupold 1-5x in my woods stands(Close enough to a Creedmoor in my world) because it handles like a dream in close quarters situations and I'll grab either my .257 Weatherby with a Leupold 3-15 VX5 or 7STW for the bean fields. Both have almost a 800FPS advantage over the 7mm-08(the .257 even more); I wouldn't think of using the 7mm-08 for those long open field shots because of the correction I would have to build in to the shot, and sometimes the deer don't cooperate and hang around long enough for me to break out a calculator. Each rifle/caliber has it's place and I decide on which I am using by which location I am hunting. If I wanted to change stand location during the day I would keep the alternate rifle in my truck or UTV

 

[Antarcticchamp]

Dilemma:

I have a VX6HD 3-18X44 coming with the illuminated TMOA reticle. I have a Remington Sendero FS 7mm STW and a Tikka T3x 6.5 Creedmoor. I hunt large ag fields and the woods so I can shoot anywhere from 10 yards to 500-600 yards and the quarry is whitetail only.

I am trying to decide on which rifle to put the scope. The Sendero is heavy but spooky accurate. It's great for the box blind but I'm iffy about hauling it around in the woods in the treestand. The Tikka T3x is light and shoulders great and the 6.5 Creedmoor recoil is light. Its a great handling gun.

Comfort wise I like the Tikka in 6.5 Creedmoor vs the 7mm STW but the STW has some impressive ballistics.

Between a 7mm STW and a 6.5 Creedmoor, which would you choose as a better choice for an all around deer rifle from woods to fields? BTW I also have a Tikka T3 .308 with a 22" barrel that is a sporter rifle.

7STW because wind calling.
If you're not great at wind calls like me the ethical range of the creedmoor is about 575 and the STW about 625.
YMMV based on your wind calling ability.

 

[Gone Ballistic]

I have a 7mmRemMag that I now use for my number one hunting rifle and also have a 6.5 Creedmoor. I truly believe that a whitetail is harder to kill than any elk I have killed ( and I have taken many). Elk seem to get the full shock and drop when hit but, I haven't found any bullet out there that gives the same effect on a whitetail, as most travel many yards even with a heart shot.
A 600yd shot with a Tika is difficult and you have to get the rifle settled tightly before taking the shot. I would shoot both rifles at 600yds until the groups make the decision for you.

 

[Huntz]

We have large sections of hardwoods that separate the large ag fields. Shots in hardwoods are 10-40 yards

Use your 7STW on the fields and carry a handgun for the woods.

 

[Lycan]

Having both, I always choose the fast 7. Half the drop at your farthest range is a whole lot easier to holdover if you don't have time to dial. The extra juice helps on a possible bad hit as well.

 

[JC in Calif]

Shoot the Creed all day. STW is wasted potential at those ranges.

Wasted potential? Could you explai. Thanks.

 

[skipglo]

I took it as you need a scope for both rifles

That's the way I took it also

 

[Kodiak Special]

Recommend the Tikka in 6.5 for the profile you describe. 3 years ago I had a similar situation, needed an effective 600 yard range but didn't want a heavy rifle.

 

[Ranger Rick]

I'd lean toward putting your new scope on your Sendero, and then asking your wife what scope she would like on your (plural) 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. After you put her scope on your rifle, shoot it with her and compliment her on her choice, then celebrate by taking her out to dinner.

 

[Gpkhill2]

6.5CM and 7STW that like comparing a Peterbilt and Perius

 

[General RE LEE]

how the heck did you get that from what I said?? You have one scope for two decent rifles. You need another scope.

Disregard....your original post I thought was a Leupold bash. It's Long Range Hunting forum so it's pretty common.