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6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled
      #329473 - 19/06/19 03:06 PM



6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled

The rapid ascent of the 6.5 Creedmoor in recent years has ignited the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 debate among hunters.

Here’s what you need to know about these two cartridges.
I think most shooters agree that the .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are both fantastic cartridges for competition shooting. While the .308 Winchester has been around for a long time and also has a well deserved reputation as an effective cartridge for hunting a variety of game, many hunters are skeptical of the capabilities of the comparatively new 6.5 Creedmoor as a hunting cartridge. So what’s the real deal with hunting with the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of marketing hype as well as a few genuine misunderstandings regarding the capabilities of the 6.5 Creedmoor that complicate this discussion. For that reason, it’s easy to understand how many hunters get confused about the strengths and weaknesses of the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester as hunting cartridges.
In this article, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester so you can make an informed decision on which one is right for your particular situation.

Before we get started, I have an administrative note:
Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. Thanks for your support.

6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: History

The story of the .308 Winchester begins right after World War II when American military leaders decided to replace the venerable .30-06 Springfield cartridge and M-1 Garand rifle. Though the cartridge and rifle performed admirably in the hands of American GIs, military leaders wanted a new rifle with a detachable magazine that was capable of fully automatic fire similar to the Soviet AK-47 or the German StG-44.

After several years of development and testing, the US Army replaced the M-1 Garand with the M-14 rifle chambered in the new 7.62x51mm cartridge. Like the .30-06, the new cartridge also fired a .308″ bullet. However, due to advances in powder technology since the introduction of the .30-06, the 7.62x51mm cartridge used a shorter case (51mm vs 63mm), but had virtually the same ballistics (a 147 gr bullet at 2,750 fps vs a 150 gr bullet at 2,700 fps) as the .30-06.

If you’d like to read a more detailed discussion on the 7.62x51mm cartridge and how it compares to the .30-06 Springfield, read this article:
308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag: Which Cartridge Should You Be Hunting With?

Around that same time, the leadership at Winchester saw a lot of potential for commercial success in the civilian hunting and shooting markets with the new 7.62x51mm cartridge and rolled out the extremely similar .308 Winchester. In short, the .308 Winchester could do virtually everything the .30-06 Springfield could do with up to a 180 grain bullet, but the new cartridge could fit in a short action rifle and had a slight edge in accuracy over the .

30-06.
As a result, the popularity of the new .308 Winchester cartridge gradually increased as hunters and shooters realized the inherent accuracy, efficiency, and power of the cartridge.

For these reasons, the .308 Winchester was one of the most popular short-action rifle cartridges for many decades and eventually became the standard against which other short-action cartridges were judged. Indeed, many of the other popular short-action cartridges (like the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, and 7mm-08 Remington) were descended from the .308 Winchester.

Though the .308 Winchester was a very popular cartridge for high power rifle competition shooting for many years, Dave Emary and Dennis DeMille of Hornady Manufacturing saw an opportunity to build a new cartridge that outperformed the .308 Winchester in the early 2000s. Specifically, they wanted a cartridge that was just as accurate as the .308 at long distance, but with less recoil, less wind drift, and a flatter trajectory.

With that in mind, they modified a .30 Thompson Center (.30 TC) case to shoot .264″ bullets. The cartridge had a relatively large case capacity optimized for use with 4350 class propellants. They also built the accompanying rifle with a relatively fast 1:8″ rifling twist rate. When all was said and done, the new cartridge could accommodate long, heavy, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets in a short action magazine without intruding into the powder column.

Named the 6.5 Creedmoor in honor of the Creedmoor Matches, Emary and DeMille were quite successful in their goal of building the ideal competition shooting cartridge. The 6.5 Creedmoor does not have eye popping ballistics, but it has minimal recoil, is very accurate, and uses high BC bullets that retain energy and resist wind drift exceptionally well.
For those reasons, the cartridge has seen a great deal of success in the hands of competition shooters and has recently made the jump into the mainstream hunting community.

6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: Cartridge Sizes

You can see some of the similarities and differences between the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester cartridges in the photo below.



Both cartridges are used in short action-rifles, so they have very similar external dimensions.
The .308 Winchester has a slightly longer same case length (1.92″ vs 2.015″), but the 6.5 Creedmoor has a little bit longer overall length (2.825″ vs 2.81″).

The 6.5 Creedmoor has a sharper shoulder angle and a slightly less tapered case than the .308. Those traits allow the Creedmoor to use very long, high BC bullets without sacrificing case capacity. 6.5 creedmoor vs 308 featuredBoth cartridges have the same .473″ rim diameter, can hold almost the same amount of powder, and have the same SAAMI maximum average pressure of 62,000psi.



Note: while the case capacity figures listed below do give a good indication of the differences between the two cartridges, exact case capacities vary slightly according to the brand of brass used.6.5 creedmoor vs 308 size and pressure

6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Ballistics

The table below compares 120gr Nosler E-Tip (.497 BC) and 143gr Hornady ELD-X (.625 BC) loads in 6.5 Creedmoor to 150gr Nosler E-Tip (.469 BC) and 178gr Hornady ELD-X (.552 BC) loads in .308 Winchester.

This data is for Hornady and Nosler factory ammo using a 24 inch barrel and a 200 yard zero.6.5 creedmoor vs 308 trajectory



As you can see, the two cartridges have a very similar trajectory out to 300 yards. However, the 6.5 Creedmoor has a flatter trajectory overall, particularly at 400 and 500 yards. This due to the fact that the 6.5 Creedmoor fires a lighter bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient at a higher muzzle velocity than the comparable .308 Winchester load. Specifically, the Nosler E-Tip and ELD-X bullets from the Creedmoor have less bullet drop and hit 4.6″ and 6.5″ higher respectively than the same bullets from the .308 at 500 yards.

The .308 Winchester does start off with a big advantage in kinetic energy of 345 and 357 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle with the E-Tip and ELD-X. By 500 yards though, the ballistically superior 6.5mm bullets help narrow that gap down to 108 foot pounds with the E-Tip and just 38 foot pounds of energy with the ELD-X.

The chart below compares how much a 10 mile per hour crosswind impacts those same four loads out to 500 yards.



6.5 creedmoor vs 308 wind

The superior ballistic coefficient of the 6.5 Creedmoor helps give the cartridge a moderate advantage over the .308 Winchester in terms of wind drift. At 500 yards, the .308 Winchester E-Tip and ELD-X loads drift 2.3″ and 3.3″ more respectively than the comparable 6.5 loads.

However, the advantage isn’t as pronounced at 500 yards as it is at longer ranges. Since this article is focused on the performance of these two cartridges for hunting, I didn’t include any wind drift figures past 500 yards in the table above. Just to give you an idea how much the 6.5 Creedmoor advantage in wind drift grows during long range shooting though, the 6.5 Creedmoor ELD-X load drifts 70.1″ at 1,000 yards. This is nearly 1.5 feet less than the 87.4″ of wind drift for the .308 Winchester ELD-X at the same range.

Additionally, though the .308 Winchester is a relatively mild recoiling cartridge itself (especially compared to other .30 caliber cartridges like the .30-06 and .300 Win Mag), the 6.5 Creedmoor has a big advantage in this area as well. For example, when fired from a Ruger Hawkeye Predator rifle, the 178gr ELD-X from the .308 Winchester has about 30% more recoil than the 143gr ELD-X 6.5 Creedmoor load.

Felt recoil will vary from shooter to shooter and rifle to rifle, but free recoil energy is still a useful way to compare cartridges.picture of 6.5 creedmoor vs 308 winchester recoil




Most shooters should be able to handle the recoil of both cartridges, but the 6.5 Creedmoor has a pretty significant edge in this respect. Don’t underestimate the impact that recoil has on the ability of a person to shoot accurately either. Regardless of how well a given person handles recoil, all other things being equal, they will absolutely shoot better with a milder recoil.

The 6.5 Creedmoor also has an advantage when it comes to bullet selection.

Since it was originally built for competition shooting, the cartridge was specifically designed to use the longest and heaviest 6.5mm (.264″) bullets available. This is why most 6.5 Creedmoor rifles have a fast 1:8″ rifling twist rate. The cartridge most often utilizes bullet weights in the 95-160 grain range, with 120, 129, 140, and 143gr bullets being the most common.

As we covered earlier, those longer and heavier .264″ bullets have a higher ballistic coefficient than the most common bullets used in the .308 Winchester. They also have a higher sectional density (SD).

Sectional density (SD) is a measure of the ratio of the diameter of a projectile to its mass. All other things equal, a heavier projectile of a given caliber will be longer and therefore have a higher sectional density and consequently penetrate deeper than projectiles with a lower mass and sectional density.

For instance, it’s very uncommon to find .308 loads using bullets heavier than 180 grains.

A 180 grain .308″ bullet has a sectional density of .271 and a 168 grain .308″ bullet only has a sectional density of .253. However, a 143gr .264″ bullet has a sectional density of .293, which compares favorably to the most common .308″ bullets.

That being said, the .308 Winchester uses larger diameter bullets and consequently has about 36% more frontal surface area (also known as cross sectional area) than the 6.5 Creedmoor (.0745 vs .0547 square inches). All other things being equal, a bigger bullet will make a bigger hole, cause more tissue damage, and result in more blood loss.

Both cartridges have a long and distinguished history in the competition shooting realm and both cartridges are extremely accurate in the right hands at typical hunting ranges. However, the 6.5 Creedmoor most likely has a slight advantage in terms of accuracy as well.

In short, since it was specifically designed as a competition shooting cartridge and utilizes .264″ bullets, there is a bigger selection of high BC and high SD match grade hunting bullets available for the cartridge. That’s not to say that the .308 Winchester isn’t accurate or that there aren’t a bunch of good quality bullets available for it. It’s just that the overall design of the 6.5 Creedmoor gives that cartridge an edge over the .308 Winchester.

So where do we stand overall with both cartridges?

With a flatter trajectory and less wind drift, the 6.5 Creedmoor does have a definite, though not gigantic, advantage over the .308 Winchester in external ballistics at typical hunting ranges. This makes the cartridge more forgiving of range or wind estimation errors than the .308 Winchester. It also has less recoil than the .308 Winchester as well as a large selection of high BC match grade hunting bullets.

All things considered, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a cartridge that helps maximize the shooting abilities and maximum effective range of the hunter to a greater extent than the .308 Winchester. Proper shot placement is extremely important when it comes to ethically taking game and the aforementioned strengths of the 6.5 Creedmoor all facilitate precise shot placement. Finally, the high SD bullets used by the 6.5 Creedmoor also assist with penetration to help the cartridge “punch above its weight” in a manner similar to the 7x57mm or 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridges.

On the other hand, the .308 carries more energy downrange than the Creedmoor and has a big advantage when it comes to frontal surface area. Those traits give hunters a tiny bit more room for error in shot placement when compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor.

It might seem like I’m splitting hairs here when talking about the strengths and weaknesses of the two cartridges. That’s absolutely true to a certain degree.
While they certainly have different advantages, both cartridges are very accurate, relatively flat shooting, and hit hard enough for use on a variety of game out to several hundred yards. Regardless of whether you’re using a 6.5 Creedmoor or a .308 Winchester, no pronghorn, deer, or elk will go far if you put a well constructed bullet into the vitals.

6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: Ammunition Selection

The .308 Winchester is extremely popular among hunters and shooters in the United States and consistently ranks as one of the best selling cartridges in the country. The 6.5 Creedmoor is no slouch in this regard, but it still can’t hold a candle to the .308 in terms of widespread use. Even so, the cartridge seems to be steadily growing in popularity, but only time will tell if it becomes as popular or widespread as the .308 though.

The big ammunition manufacturers like Barnes, Berger, Black Hills, Federal Premium, Hornady, HSM, Norma, Nosler, PPU Remington, Sellier & Bellot, Swift, and Winchester all produce a number of high quality 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win factory ammunition suitable for hunting.

Most of the major bullet styles designed for hunting are available in those cartridges as well like the Barnes TTSX, the Berger VLD, the Hornady ELD-X, GMX, InterLock, SST, and V Max, the Nosler AccuBond, Ballistic Tip, E-Tip, and Partition, the Remington Core Lokt, and the Winchester Power Point.

Prices and availability vary from region to region, but ammunition for both cartridges is very common. The .308 Winchester is a much easier to find and a little less expensive than the 6.5 Creedmoor though.

Additionally, there is also still a large quantity of full metal jacket military surplus ammo in 7.62x51mm NATO out there. This ammunition isn’t as inexpensive or easy to find as it used to be, but there are still good deals to be had if you look hard enough. Surplus FMJ ammo is ideal for practice, but those aren’t great (or legal) hunting rounds in most states though.

Reloading components for all both cartridges are also widely available. Since the cartridges have the same bullet diameter as other popular cartridges like the 6.5x47mm Lapua, .264 Win Mag, .
30-06 Springfield, .300 Win Mag, and .300 WSM, there are plenty of .264″, and .308″ bullets of various weights and styles to choose from.

If you’d like to learn more about some of the various hunting ammunition choices for the 6.5 Creedmoor, read this article:

Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, And Other Big Game



6.5 creedmoor vs 308 bullets6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: Rifle Selection

Along with the massive number of ammunition choices available in these cartridges, there are lots of quality rifles manufactured in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. Just like with ammunition though, .308 rifles are the most common (though 6.5 Creedmoor rifles are by no means rare).
To an even greater degree than most other gun manufacturers, Ruger has really gotten behind the 6.5 Creedmoor and offers their American, FTW Hunter, Hawkeye Long Range Target, Number 1, Precision, and Scout Rifles in both cartridges. Additionally, the Remington Model 700, Browning X-Bolt, Mossberg Patriot, Nosler M48, Savage Avis, Weatherby Vanguard, and the Winchester Model 70 are all bolt-action rifles available in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester.
The .308 Winchester is also pretty common in semi-automatic sporting rifles like the AR-10 and M1A as well as military surplus rifles like the FN-FAL. The 6.5 Creedmoor is available in the AR-10 platform, but there aren’t many other semi-auto rifles available in that cartridge.

Though there are some exceptions, since both are short-action cartridges, rifles of the same model chambered in each cartridge are virtually identical to each other. Depending on the exact model, 22″ and 24″ barrels are very common for both cartridges.

6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: Which Is Right For You?
The 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester are both flat shooting cartridges well suited for hunting thin skinned, small to medium sized animals like blacktail deer, mule deer, whitetail deer, fallow deer, or pronghorn.

While they are excellent choices for deer sized game, these cartridges, but particularly the .308 Winchester, are also suitable for bigger game under the right conditions. When using well constructed bullets and with proper shot placement, they will absolutely work for elk and even moose hunting at reasonable ranges. They’re also acceptable choices for hunting many species of African plains game.
Don’t let anyone tell you that the 6.5 Creedmoor is too small for moose or elk. Scandinavian hunters have taken untold numbers of moose with the 6.5x55mm Swedish over the past century. That cartridge has ballistics very similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor and is a good example of what a high sectional density bullet will do on really big game animals with excellent shot placement.

That said, the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester are definitely in a different league from heavy hitting cartridges like the 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag when it comes to hunting really tough, big, or dangerous game.
Do you primarily hunt medium sized game like deer, feral hogs, or black bear at ranges within 200 yards? Both cartridges with absolutely get the job done if you do your part and there isn’t much of a difference between them ballistically inside of 300 yards.

Go with the .308 Winchester if you want the cheapest or easiest to find ammo.

Are you looking for a the better cartridge for hunting game like mule deer or pronghorn in open country where you might need to take a shot at several hundred yards? Both will also work in this role, but the 6.5 Creedmoor has a flatter trajectory, will drift less in the wind, and still carries enough energy out to 400-500 yards to cleanly take deer sized game without any issues.

Do you prefer to use a semi-automatic rifle for hunting or want a battle rifle for personal defense? Go with the .308 Winchester as there are many more quality rifles available in this cartridge than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Are you sensitive to recoil? Go with the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Do you want the cartridge best suited for target shooting out to 1,200 yards or so in a precision rifle? Again, go with the 6.5 Creedmoor, which really stands head and shoulders above the .308 Winchester for long range precision shooting.

Do you want a cartridge well suited for elk, moose, caribou, kudu, eland, or red stag hunting? The .308 Winchester wins hands down here due to the big advantage the cartridge has in in frontal surface area as well as energy under 200 yards.

Like I’ve said many times before, the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester are both excellent rifle cartridges. While the differences between them (6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester) are pretty big in some areas, one isn’t really “better” than the other on the whole. Carefully evaluate your needs as a hunter based upon the circumstances you foresee using the cartridge in, get a good hunting rifle chambered in the cartridge you select, learn to shoot it well, use quality bullets, and you’ll be all set for most hunting situations.


Nosler provided the data used to compare the recoil of the cartridges (here and here). The Lyman 50th Edition (183-184 & 241-245), and Hornady 10th Edition (317-322 & 474-484) reloading manuals were also used as references for the history of the cartridges and provided data to compare their size. Ballistic data for original 7.62x51mm cartridge was obtained from Inetres. Chuck Hawks provided case capacity data for the cartridges (here and here). The data used to compare the trajectory of the cartridges was obtained from Nosler (here and here) and Hornady (here and here). I used the Hornady Ballistic calculator and Shooters Calculator to compare wind drift and recoil for the cartridges.

https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/65-creedmoor-vs-308-winchester/

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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DarylS
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329480 - 20/06/19 02:01 AM

Decent article, but I despise the title.

Can the 6.5 mm (anything) shoot a 200gr. RN or Silver Tip .308" bullet at 2,600fps?

If the answer is no, then that sort of settles the question, in my opinion, on which is better for moose, elk or the larger ungulates.

The real debate would be over which one was better for longer range deer-class animals. I would think that within feasible range limitations, they could be VERY similar or equal.

However, these statements would not earn much money in pay per word articles.

--------------------
Daryl


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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329489 - 20/06/19 07:53 AM

The 308 and 6.5 creedmoor were/are both used a lot for long range competitions .. so lets talk long range..

Excerpt from an article I read..

My definition of long range is the same as the NRA’s—800 to 1,200 yards.

Using the excellent Berger Bullets Ballistics Calculator, let us compare a 140-grain Berger VLD bullet (MV 2,650 fps, G7 BC, .304) from a 6.5CM, at 1,000 yards, with a .308.

Long Range 6.5 CM Ballistics
Velocity: 1,370 fps.
Bullet drop: 348.59"
Wind drift, 5 mph from 9 o'clock: 39.18"

Long Range .308 Ballistics (175-grain Long Range BT, G7 BC, .262, MV 2,650 fps):
Velocity: 1,203 fps
Bullet drop: 386"
Wind drift, 5 mph from 9 o'clock: 48.53"

That's almost a foot more in wind drift and over 3 feet more in drop for the .308.. that, is substantial...

Winner: The 6.5CM

As to using the 6.5 on elk, which in my opinion are tougher than moose .. I have had no issue using a 6.5 and dropping them from 250-600+ --and that was using 140gr Nosler Accubonds.. basically an updated version of the partition as the weight retentions are very similar.. ..

This was opening morning a few years back--264Win --140gr Accubonds.. 430 yards.. 1 shot..
20121020_081239 by A Hoffart, on Flickr

They BOTH will work.. My wife using her Kimber in .308 also using accubonds... 355 yards quartering away..
DSC01329 by A Hoffart, on Flickr

If an animal can't breathe they will die..bullet selection and placement are key.. the author above states how the 6.5 is so much easier to use in terms of recoil and ability to shoot accurately..I'll take that...

Excerpt from article

"All things considered, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a cartridge that helps maximize the shooting abilities and maximum effective range of the hunter to a greater extent than the .308 Winchester. Proper shot placement is extremely important when it comes to ethically taking game and the aforementioned strengths of the 6.5 Creedmoor all facilitate precise shot placement. Finally, the high SD bullets used by the 6.5 Creedmoor also assist with penetration to help the cartridge “punch above its weight” in a manner similar to the 7x57mm or 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridges."

The 6.5x55 seems to do just fine on moose in Sweden ..


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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329494 - 20/06/19 02:18 PM

Quote:

Decent article, but I despise the title.

Can the 6.5 mm (anything) shoot a 200gr. RN or Silver Tip .308" bullet at 2,600fps?

If the answer is no, then that sort of settles the question, in my opinion, on which is better for moose, elk or the larger ungulates.




How many people use a 200 gr projectile in a .308?

No doubt, Daryl, you will say, you shoot them at XXXX fps velocity. Judging by your previous posts. But I rarely see or hear of people using 200 gr projectiles in a .308. Yes in a .30-06, which is one reason I think the .30-06 is usually better than a .308, being able to use 180 gr projectiles better, and also 200 and 220 gr projectiles. Even up to 250 gr projectiles, though I have never tried them myself.

I think the .308 shines for hunting use due to its shorter case in semi auto, pump and lever actions. I like my .308 Browning Lever Action for brush hunting. A 180 gr projectile for game such as sambar where precise shots might not be possible. A 150 gr for pigs again for fast shooting. 150 gr for most deer as well.

A 6.5mm not legal for sambar in Victoria, but a 160 gr would work probably quite well. But I think I would limit the 6.5mm with a 140 gr or even 160 gr to more open country where better aimed ahots were more likely. The .308, .30-06, 8mm to 9.3mm for brush hunting and possibly running shots.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329495 - 20/06/19 02:31 PM

Quote:

The 6.5x55 seems to do just fine on moose in Sweden ..





I posted the article for a number of reasons. One because I know you like the Creedmoor. Also because the article was mostly written well with good reasoning, good arguments, using logic not unfounded opinion like a lot of lesser articles. But also because one failing of the article was the author's failure to say "why bother with the Creedmoor? Just stick with the original and better choice, the 6.5 Swede!"

Ha ha.

Seriously I feel exactly that. The article keeps saying "the almost identical Swede" etc, but in reality, the better performing, slightly longer Swede.

Old cartridges do not sell new rifles and new ammo stocks however, so the need to "invent" something lesser and "new".

I HATE the 6.5mm! Havoing a 6.5x53R, a 6.5x54 M-S, a 6.5x65 RWS, and the 6.5x55, The main one I have used is the 55mm. Need to work on the rest. I still lust after a 6.5x68mm and it still smarts Mauser stopped making a M03 barrel in 68mm. Now they have stopped the 65mm as well, but still do a 55mm barrel I think.

Irrespective of which case, the Swedes and other Scandinavians have been using the 6.5mm for Moose for a hundred years. Maybe less so now than in the past. But if it killed moose since 1891, no doubt it still does.

As Daryl says, and no doubt he has more experience than me, with my one and only Norwegian moose, moose do not seem that hard to kill. A big animal, and seem, per hunting stories to succumb relatively well to reasonably placed shots from reasonable calibres.

I actually bought my 6.5x55 in preference to obtaining the usual Aussie choice in those days of a 6mm or .243. The 90 gr to 160 gr projectiles provide a good choice of range of projectiles. And the cartridge is mild and easy to shoot. My old ex-mil M96 shoots incredibly accurate groups on paper.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
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"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Waidmannsheil
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329508 - 20/06/19 08:15 PM

Not to forget that the 256 Mannlicher was used on countless number of plains game and of course Elephant by several big game hunters not just Bell. Before the first world war the 256 Mannlicher was the favored Rifle and cartridge of many big game hunters. A 140 or 160 grain 6.5mm bullet is hard to beat.

I have three 6.5x53R, one 6.5x54MS and one 6.5x65R RWS and I would like a 264 Winchester one day.

Having said that, I do have a Model 70 Short Action in 308 Winchester which I use a lot with 180 grain bullets. Superb rifle that shoots very accurately and is a pleasure to shoot.
I have just bought some Winchester 168 grain Sub-Sonic bullets to try as I have a property that I can shoot on which is in a bit of a built up area, so hopefully these will be a lot quieter.

I do not have a lot of interest in modern cartridges, I don't hate them I just don't have a lot of interest as there are so many nice older cartridges with a lot of history which makes them fun to shoot. IMO.
However if I was to buy a rifle with a modern cartridge it would be a 6.5 Creedmoor. It looks and sounds pretty sexy and it is a 6.5 after all.


Matt.

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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329514 - 20/06/19 10:23 PM

Quote:

Quote:

The 6.5x55 seems to do just fine on moose in Sweden ..





I posted the article for a number of reasons. One because I know you like the Creedmoor. Also because the article was mostly written well with good reasoning, good arguments, using logic not unfounded opinion like a lot of lesser articles. But also because one failing of the article was the author's failure to say "why bother with the Creedmoor? Just stick with the original and better choice, the 6.5 Swede!"

I HATE the 6.5mm! Havoing a 6.5x53R, a 6.5x54 M-S, a 6.5x65 RWS, and the 6.5x55, The main one I have used is the 55mm. Need to work on the rest. I still lust after a 6.5x68mm and it still smarts Mauser stopped making a M03 barrel in 68mm. Now they have stopped the 65mm as well, but still do a 55mm barrel I think.




I am not so much a lover of the CM as I am of the 6.5 caliber in general.. the first one I used often was a 6.5/284 in a Cooper rifle..still have it actually.. Really enjoy the 264Win Mag..A LOT.. hits like the proverbial hammer of Thor.. Have taken numerous elk with it.. one or two at very long distances... at least for me... Recently purchased a 6.5PRC that I have not even had the time to put a scope on yet.. is more of a long range "modular" type rifle.. by Christenson Arms.. with a carbon fiber barrel.. so will see, but feel that is actually more of what I am looking for vs the CM...

The first time I ever used a 6.5CM was at a long range shooting school about 5-6 years ago.. was very surprised at its ability to place those bullets with relative easy on targets out to 1000yards..even with a very strong cross wind we were battling the last day of class.. VERY mild recoil for what it does..have seen it take come game.. no problems thus far..

I HATE THE 6.5!!! HA... that would start another 10,000 read post I suppose

As I have stated numerous times, I really don't hate any of them, however do prefer some over others.. just like the .270W, the 308 has never done anything for me..BUT, the few I have used I was very surprised at the accuracy and actual killing power on game..surprising actually...

--------------------
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xausa
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329516 - 21/06/19 01:36 AM

My love affair with the 6.5 caliber dates to 1958, when I bought a bring-back Japanese Arisaka Model 38 and had it rechambered with a .243 reamer to become what was then called the .263 Express. The same cartridge was eventually legitimized by Remington as the .260 Remington. Since then, I have owned 6.5X54 MS, 6.5X57 Mauser, 6.5X64 Brenneke, a 6.5 Creedmoor and, now that I have an appropriate action to use, I'm planning a 6.5X54 Mauser. For those of you not familiar with the 6.5X54 Mauser, let me provide a short introduction:

Cartridges of the World:



6.5X54 case dimensions:



6.5X54 factory cartridge



6.5 Creedmoor dimensions:



As noted above, it is a cartridge developed in 1900, which differs only slightly from the much touted Creedmoor, chiefly in the length of the neck and the shoulder diameter. The wheel has been reinvented!


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DarylS
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: xausa]
      #329517 - 21/06/19 02:07 AM

I know of a few lads here, from Vancouver to Fort St. John who or used to use 200gr. Silver Tip RN's for moose and deer, right here in BC. I don't know if those guys hunting elk.
Another bunch that I shot 3-position with in the lower mainland, used to pull military 147's and insert 150gr. RN's for Van. Island & Queen Charlotte Island deer. That practice was called a "Mexican Handload" in the 70's and 80's. For 100 and 200 yard prone practice, we used to pull the 147's and seat 130gr. Speers. These 'cobbled loads' would usually shoot close to an inch in our match rifles, so we called everything inside the 9ring, a 10 - practice only.
6.5's are nice - recently even bought a 6.5x55 myself - the Swedish Varberger that is in my safe right now. I had a choice between 2 rifles that caught my eye, one was a BSA .308, the other the 6.5x55 Varberger.
Since I do not shoot the largest of our big game at long range, I do prefer the .308 bore. Since I am unlikely to shoot elk or moose again (too much bloody work) and my 'sights' are more concentrated on deer, mulies and whitetails, the 6.5x55 was my preference.
I could easily have chosen the .308, but know the 6.5 will work just fine.
Yes - the 6.5x55 did fine on moose and yes, I agree that moose are not as tough as elk. I've seen that time and again, however I still have more trust in the 200gr. RN from a .308 than even a 160gr. RN from a 6.5 if used on moose or elk. Call it a large-bore preference. I also know that moose, elk, deer and grizzlies have been killed by far smaller than 6.5 cal. ctgs. They are not my choice for large game, either.
You won't change my mind, and I won't change yours.
Each to his own.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329547 - 21/06/19 10:46 PM

Quote:

I know of a few lads here, from Vancouver to Fort St. John who or used to use 200gr. Silver Tip RN's for moose and deer, right here in BC. I don't know if those guys hunting elk.
Another bunch that I shot 3-position with in the lower mainland, used to pull military 147's and insert 150gr. RN's for Van. Island & Queen Charlotte Island deer. That practice was called a "Mexican Handload" in the 70's and 80's. For 100 and 200 yard prone practice, we used to pull the 147's and seat 130gr. Speers. These 'cobbled loads' would usually shoot close to an inch in our match rifles, so we called everything inside the 9ring, a 10 - practice only.
6.5's are nice - recently even bought a 6.5x55 myself - the Swedish Varberger that is in my safe right now. I had a choice between 2 rifles that caught my eye, one was a BSA .308, the other the 6.5x55 Varberger.
Since I do not shoot the largest of our big game at long range, I do prefer the .308 bore. Since I am unlikely to shoot elk or moose again (too much bloody work) and my 'sights' are more concentrated on deer, mulies and whitetails, the 6.5x55 was my preference.
I could easily have chosen the .308, but know the 6.5 will work just fine.
Yes - the 6.5x55 did fine on moose and yes, I agree that moose are not as tough as elk. I've seen that time and again, however I still have more trust in the 200gr. RN from a .308 than even a 160gr. RN from a 6.5 if used on moose or elk. Call it a large-bore preference. I also know that moose, elk, deer and grizzlies have been killed by far smaller than 6.5 cal. ctgs. They are not my choice for large game, either.
You won't change my mind, and I won't change yours.
Each to his own.




Just so there is NO confusion, I also prefer larger calibers for elk.. have mainly used 300Win or 300RUM for most in the past 40 years... having said that, I have no problem using a 6.5 on them or any other big game animal... they do the job just fine.. But if you get them (elk), all worked up and are chasing them, hard to beat a 30 or 338 caliber for elk.. I have never lost an elk with a rifle.. but again, mostly used the 30 calibers.. and yes, prefer 200GR A-Frames.. out of my RUM... it numbs them..

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LSHopper
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329568 - 22/06/19 02:17 PM

I didn't read the entire thread, so it may be a moot point already, BUT, I would wager that a 6.5 mm bullet has killed more moose than almost all other calibers combined. Come on, the Sweeds have been killing moose with that caliber since at least 1893!

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tophet1
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: LSHopper]
      #329579 - 22/06/19 09:45 PM

I'm going to put this out there.....
A 26" 264WM with 140 Woodleigh PPSN will kill any large soft skinned game on the planet.
A 6.5cm will effectively kill deer sized game (whitetail/Impala/Fallow).
A .308W is somewhere in the middle.


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rscott
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: tophet1]
      #329582 - 22/06/19 11:48 PM

Quote:

I'm going to put this out there.....
A 26" 264WM with 140 Woodleigh PPSN will kill any large soft skinned game on the planet.
A 6.5cm will effectively kill deer sized game (whitetail/Impala/Fallow).
A .308W is somewhere in the middle.




That 6.5cm. must kick like a mule!!


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tinker
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: rscott]
      #329589 - 23/06/19 06:19 AM

Creedmoor is a good cartridge. It fits a niche and it works well for what it's supposed to do.

.308 is a good cartridge. We all know all about it.

I won't likely be fiddling with Creedmoor in any of my own rifles before either I wear out a .308 barrel or someone gives me a Creedmoor rifle to own and shoot.
I don't think it will be any time soon that I wear out a .308 barrel.

--------------------
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"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...


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DarylS
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: tinker]
      #329595 - 23/06/19 06:22 PM

Quote:

Creedmoor is a good cartridge. It fits a niche and it works well for what it's supposed to do.

.308 is a good cartridge. We all know all about it.

I won't likely be fiddling with Creedmoor in any of my own rifles before either I wear out a .308 barrel or someone gives me a Creedmoor rifle to own and shoot.
I don't think it will be any time soon that I wear out a .308 barrel.









My Winchester Palma Trophy Match M70 put 15,000 rounds of 147gr. HB through it's tube and smoothed out close to 8" of the breech of the barrel. At that time in 1989, I entered the World Police & Fire Games with that rifle, 168gr. MKs with 41.5gr. IMR4895, CCIBR2's and was on the winning team for a prone 200 yard match and we placed a record score that stands today (the other guys were good shots-LOL). The barrel was still shooting sub 1" prone with 168's at 100 yards with metallic sights. Later I was able to test 180's and it went 1/2" for 10 shots, prone at our local 100 meter range.

So, good luck wearing out that barrel, tinker.

I cut 5" off the bl., threaded and rechambered it for a shortened (1.6") .303 British, necked to .30 cal.,(thought I'd come up with that wildcat - wrong) and that one also shoots into sub 1/2" at 100 yards but with 130's and 125's.
The rifling is just a memory - swirling dark marks in the steel ahead of the chamber for a couple inches.

Incidentally, the shortened .303 at 1.6" is also called the .303 Pygmy in Ausieland. I used the top 1.5" of a .30/06 reamer, so shortened .35 Rem brass works in a Mauser with standard bolt face. Magnum bolt works with .303 Brit. brass. Ran the reamer in 1 1/2", then with the 1/10" for distance between the bolt face and end of the chamber, gives a 1.6" case, headspacing on the shoulder, which I prefer.

A .30/06 RCBS FL die, shortened 1", is the form die. One pass, done, trim to a .441" length of neck, 1.6" case - outside turn or inside ream and done.

Duplicates the .30BR using cheap .303 brass. 3,000fps with 125's, for gophers or target, AND - 2,465fpr with 165gr. Sierra HP Gamekings. What a terrific deer round for out to 300yards.

---------------------
Daryl


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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: rscott]
      #329602 - 24/06/19 04:08 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm going to put this out there.....
A 26" 264WM with 140 Woodleigh PPSN will kill any large soft skinned game on the planet.
A 6.5cm will effectively kill deer sized game (whitetail/Impala/Fallow).
A .308W is somewhere in the middle.




That 6.5cm. must kick like a mule!!






--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: LSHopper]
      #329603 - 24/06/19 07:50 AM

Quote:

I didn't read the entire thread, so it may be a moot point already, BUT, I would wager that a 6.5 mm bullet has killed more moose than almost all other calibers combined. Come on, the Sweeds have been killing moose with that caliber since at least 1893!




Exactly..

--------------------
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DarylS
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329606 - 24/06/19 09:59 AM

Out testing my Varberger today with a 7828 load with 160gr. Sierra SRN's. The vel. would have been about 2,550fps - 2/3" for 5 at 100 meters. I'm kinda happy with that.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Wayne59
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329607 - 24/06/19 11:31 AM

A friend of mine fired my 6.5 Creedmore the other day and commented that the harshest thing about it was the muzzle Blast if you were standing off to the side, other than that he said he hardly noticed it go off.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329613 - 24/06/19 10:20 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I'm going to put this out there.....
A 26" 264WM with 140 Woodleigh PPSN will kill any large soft skinned game on the planet.
A 6.5cm will effectively kill deer sized game (whitetail/Impala/Fallow).
A .308W is somewhere in the middle.




That 6.5cm. must kick like a mule!!









I was wondering about that comment. Why would the .264's recoil be harsh?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Wayne59]
      #329614 - 24/06/19 10:20 PM

Quote:

A friend of mine fired my 6.5 Creedmore the other day and commented that the harshest thing about it was the muzzle Blast if you were standing off to the side, other than that he said he hardly noticed it go off.




Muzzle brake ?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Waidmannsheil
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329618 - 24/06/19 10:24 PM

Note the text "6.5 cm"


Matt.

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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329631 - 25/06/19 06:01 AM

Quote:

Quote:

A friend of mine fired my 6.5 Creedmore the other day and commented that the harshest thing about it was the muzzle Blast if you were standing off to the side, other than that he said he hardly noticed it go off.




Muzzle brake ?




Would almost have to be if that post is serious..

I have shot them A LOT --incredibly mild recoil..

You want muzzle blast stand beside one of my RUM's when fired...

Blew the hat right off a buddy of mine who was picking someing off the ground in the next station off when I touched off my .257 Weatherby.. still makes me laugh to this day..

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Wayne59
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329632 - 25/06/19 06:29 AM

No thanks Ripp. I have a 338 lupua with a Muzzle brake. My 6.5 came with a brake. When you fire it the scope cross hairs never leave the paper. The brake isn't needed for recoil.

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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Wayne59]
      #329634 - 25/06/19 07:58 AM

Testing my 6.5x55 Varberger again to day. Dropped the load 1gr. of IMR7828SSC and put 5 Hornady RJN's into .75" at 100 meters.
I'm quite happy with my new "deer" rifle.

The undersized .262" 160's went into 1 1/4|" - still OK out to about 250yards I'd guess.

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Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Waidmannsheil]
      #329641 - 25/06/19 07:08 PM

Quote:

Note the text "6.5 cm"


Matt.




OK. Get it.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329647 - 25/06/19 11:52 PM

Quote:

Testing my 6.5x55 Varberger again to day. Dropped the load 1gr. of IMR7828SSC and put 5 Hornady RJN's into .75" at 100 meters.
I'm quite happy with my new "deer" rifle.

The undersized .262" 160's went into 1 1/4|" - still OK out to about 250yards I'd guess.




Groups like that...will be no problem dropping some in the kill zone on moose out past 500 yards..

I am headed to Alaska in a couple days for some King Salmon Fishing on the Nushagak river..one of the best King Salmon fisheries in the world..but when I get back will fire up my 6.5PRC... curious how it will be compared to my 6.5CM... in terms of accuracy, recoil and distance ...

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rscott
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329649 - 26/06/19 12:14 AM

"I am headed to Alaska in a couple days for some King Salmon Fishing on the Nushagak river..one of the best King Salmon fisheries in the world..but when I get back will fire up my 6.5PRC... curious how it will be compared to my 6.5CM... in terms of accuracy, recoil and distance ... "


here's a 6.5cm gun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannone_da_65/17_modello_13

notice the projectile weight. guessing recoil would be unmanageable if shoulder fired!


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DarylS
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: rscott]
      #329651 - 26/06/19 01:28 AM

lol - centi-meter or creed-moor? HA! good one

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Rothhammer1
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329654 - 26/06/19 02:20 AM

Quote:

lol - centi-meter or creed-moor? HA! good one




Lets see... 6.5 centimeters = 2.559 inches.

Would this do?



'Original British RML 2.5 inch Jointed Mountain Cannon - The Screw Gun' can be yours for just $32,995.00 USD, from IMA:

IMA

Item Description
Original Item: Very Few Available. Antique mountain cannon, fully functional, not de-activated. Finally approved by the U.S. BATF as an unrestricted antique; this is an exceptional, rare and very desirable British Empire "Screw Gun" dated 1902. The Screw Gun was a British development from the 1870’s. An artillery piece was fitted with a two-part barrel that "screwed" together for use. The idea was to make such a substantial weapon transportable by mule train in mountainous regions.

It took a minimum of four mules to carry just the gun and mount. Two mules each to take half of the rifled barrel, one mule to carry the mount and a forth mule to carry the pair of 36" spoke wheels. Additional pack animals were required to transport the ammunition, which consisted of bagged powder and separate studded projectiles with quill-fused primers. There has always been tremendous romance associated with these cannons of the Empire. The English storyteller and poet Rudyard Kipling even penned a lengthy poem dedicated to the Screw Gun. Transport by Freight Collect from IMA Warehouse (our mule caravan).

Every example in our inventory has been expertly cleaned, restored and painted by Curtis Wolf of Ordnance Research who has been involved in the firearms manufacturing field for more than 30 years. His work in restoring antique ordnance is world renowned as being second
to none.
The Ordnance RML 2.5 inch mountain gun is a British rifled muzzle-loading mountain gun of the late 19th century designed to be broken down into four loads for carrying by man or mule. It was intended as a more powerful successor to the RML 7 pounder Mountain Gun. Some writers incorrectly refer to the 2.5 inch gun as a "7 pounder" because it also fired a shell of approximately 7 pounds, but its official nomenclature was 2.5 inch RML.

In 1877 Colonel Frederick Le Mesurier of the Royal Artillery proposed a gun in 2 parts which would be screwed together. The Elswick Ordnance Company made 12 Mk I guns based on his design and they were trialled in Afghanistan in 1879. Trials were successful and Mk II with some internal differences made by the Royal Gun Factory entered service.

The gun was a rifled muzzle-loader. Gun and carriage were designed to be broken down into their basic parts so they could be transported by pack animals (4 mules) or men. The barrel and breech were carried separately, and screwed together for action, hence the name "screw gun".

The gun was used in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) on its standard mountain gun carriage, and also with the Natal Field Battery at Elandslaagte and Diamond Fields Artillery at Kimberley on field carriages which had larger wheels and gave greater mobility.

A major defect in the war was that the gun's cartridges still used gunpowder as a propellant, despite the fact that smokeless cordite had been introduced in 1892. The gunpowder generated a white cloud on firing, and as the gun could only be aimed using direct line of sight, this made the gunners easy targets for Boer marksmen as the gun lacked a shield.

It proved to be ineffectual and outclassed by Boer ordnance and was replaced by the BL 10 pounder Mountain Gun from 1901.

Either 4 or 6 guns (sources appear imprecise) were returned to service from Southern African garrisons in 1916 and were employed by the Nyasaland-Rhodesian Field Force in the campaign in German East Africa. Writers who refer to "7 pounders" in WWI are in fact referring to this 2.5-inch (64 mm) gun.



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Ripp
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: DarylS]
      #329668 - 26/06/19 08:38 PM

https://thegunzone.com/6-5-creedmoor-vs-308-winchester/




6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Winchester

by Norman Turner - Last updated June 25, 2019


When you are looking for a long range rifle caliber, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester are both very popular options. Almost every shooter can agree on the quality of both rounds.

However, what are the key differences between the two?

6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Winchester
Source: huntinggearguy.com

In this article, we will compare the two rounds in terms of ballistics, terminal performance, and cost. Then, we will make some recommendations dependent on what kind of shooting you prefer to do.

A Brief History

Before we get into the comparisons, we will talk about the history of both rounds. As you will see, one of these rounds is new on the scene, while the other is one of the most popular rifle rounds of all time.

.308 Winchester was first developed over 50 years ago. 7.62x51mm NATO, which the military uses in its machine guns, was based off of .308 Winchester. The .308 Winchester round is also used in military and police sniper rifles.

The round is used for way more than just the military though. It is the most widely used big game hunting cartridge all over the world, due to its deadly performance. More on that later.

It also gets a good bit of use in tactical rifles, such as the AR-10. These rifles are commonly used for hunting, home defense, and other tactical uses.

6.5 Creedmoor was introduced just over a decade ago. Hornady created the round for long distance target shooting, but it is getting more and more popular in the hunting and home defense scenes.

In all honesty, the rounds are very similar. 6.5 Creedmoor is extremely similar in size, and is sort of the grandchild of .308 Winchester. The parent cartridge is .30 TC, which was based off of .308 Winchester.

But, what are the differences between the two? Let’s get into it.

Overview: Ballistics, Performance, and Price

.308 Winchester cartridges are 2.8 inches long. The bullets are 7.8 millimeters in diameter, and they weigh around 150 grains. Dependent on the exact cartridge, these projectiles are fired at 3000 feet per second.

308-winchester



6.5 Creedmoor cartridges are 2.825 inches long. The bullets are 6.72 millimeters in diameter, and they weigh in the ballpark of 120 grains. Once again, it is dependent on the exact round, but they are fired around 3010 feet per second.

6.5 Creedmoor



So, what does all of this mean?

The case of a 6.5 Creedmoor is significantly shorter, which means that this round has a longer bullet. This explains why this cartridge has a greater overall length than .308 Winchester. However, these 6.5 Creedmoor bullet are also around 30 grains lighter, despite the fact that they are longer. Putting these two facts together gives you a longer, thinner bullet.

This bullet shape is more aerodynamic, which allows for the bullet to maintain its velocity over a longer distance. At 500 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor is moving around 2078 feet per second, while .308 Winchester has slowed down to 1963 feet per second. For long distance shooting, this is excellent.

6.5-Creedmoor-vs-308-vs-30-06
Source: huntinggearguy.com

But, remember that .308 Winchester deadliness we talked about before? .308 Winchester is one of the most effective big game rifle cartridges in the world. This deadliness comes from the larger bullet diameter and the greater initial energy produced.

The larger bullet diameter allows the round to damage more tissue in the animal. The greater initial energy is a result of the fact that the case is longer in .308 Winchester, meaning that there is more room for propellant.

However, both rounds are excellent choices for hunting, as long as you are using the right ammunition.

Speaking of ammunition, let’s talk about the price of ammunition for both rounds. First things first, keep in mind that Hornady introduced 6.5 Creedmoor. As a result, they are able to produce the ammunition much cheaper than the competition.

When looking at Hornady ammunition, the difference in price between .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor is practically nonexistent. However, with other brands, .308 Winchester is commonly 10 cents cheaper per round.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that .308 Winchester is much older. As a result, there is a much wider selection of ammunition available. Similarly, there are plenty of options for reloading.

Comparison: Pros and Cons

The pros of 6.5 Creedmoor are the increased effective range and accuracy. As we already talked about, 6.5 Creedmoor can travel further due to the shape of the projectile. However, another added pro of this bullet shape is that it isn’t affected much by wind.

Additionally, the weapons that shoot 6.5 Creedmoor are very often precision rifles, since it was originally designed as a long range target round.

The cons of 6.5 Creedmoor are the added cost, and slightly less deadly performance. Both the weapons and the ammunition available in 6.5 Creedmoor are expensive, when compared to similar products in .308 Winchester.

Remember that skinnier projectile like we talked about? This doesn’t perform quite as well within a living target. However, there are hunting rounds available, such as Federal Fusion.

The pros of .308 Winchester are the performance and price. The added bullet diameter damages more tissue, and there is an absolutely huge selection of ammunition available. Most of the ammunition, and the weapons that fire it, are affordably priced.

The cons of .308 Winchester are limited to mostly the range. Don’t get me wrong, .308 Winchester is an excellent cartridge, and it performs well at longer range. But, for the sake of this comparison, it is outperformed by 6.5 Creedmoor.

Recommendations

As tough as it is to do, we give the overall edge to 6.5 Creedmoor. Rest assured that both of these cartridges are really great choices. However, we will make some more specific recommendations.

If you are looking for a precision rifle to shoot competitively with, 6.5 Creedmoor is the best choice for you. Any application that requires high levels of accuracy will call for 6.5 Creedmoor.

If you are hunting within 500 yards, .308 Winchester is a good choice for you. Up to this range, both weapons perform very close to one another. The added deadliness of .308 Winchester make it a slightly better cartridge within this range.

However, once you are shooting out past 500 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor becomes the better option. It drops less, isn’t affected as much by wind, and remains more accurate.

Conclusion

As you can see, both of these short action rifle cartridges are excellent choices. In terms of performance, these are two of the best cartridges out there. When it comes to choosing between them, it can be very difficult.

While we do give a slight edge to 6.5 Creedmoor, we want to reiterate how great .308 Winchester is. Both of these cartridges are truly excellent.

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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3DogMike
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Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1404
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Ripp]
      #329705 - 28/06/19 09:42 AM

Just an observation on the 6.5 Creedmore and the much publicised long range capabilities.
DISCLAIMER: I do not have a 6.5mm anything.....and the only .308 I have is a 7.62mm FAL. My smallest hunting rifle caliber is the good old .30-06

At least amongst my more wild eyed Colorado friends and acquaintances that are totally enamored by the 6.5 Creedmore paired with a ballistic compensating scope as a long range cartridge, there is (to me) a disturbing trend of thought that the cartridge is THE newest hot setup for shooting at Elk size game at 800, 900, 1000 yards.
I wish this were not so; I'm guessing such foolishness and bravado is going to result in more wounded and lost game.

Just my 2 cents....
- Mike

--------------------
"Here's to killing people you don't like with people you do"

"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields


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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 4896
Loc: Woodford Qld
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: 3DogMike]
      #329709 - 28/06/19 05:06 PM


"At least amongst my more wild eyed Colorado friends and acquaintances that are totally enamored by the 6.5 Creedmore paired with a ballistic compensating scope as a long range cartridge, there is (to me) a disturbing trend of thought that the cartridge is THE newest hot setup for shooting at Elk size game at 800, 900, 1000 yards.
I wish this were not so; I'm guessing such foolishness and bravado is going to result in more wounded and lost game."

3 dog Mike I agree


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39063
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: Rule303]
      #329710 - 28/06/19 07:36 PM

Quote:

for shooting at Elk size game at 800, 900, 1000 yards.
I wish this were not so; I'm guessing such foolishness and bravado is going to result in more wounded and lost game."

3 dog Mike I agree





For the shooting of any animal at such ranges.

Really such irresponsible practices would not exist if such laws existed as in some countries where a "hunting licence" is cancelled for life if you get certain transgressions, such as wounding game.

Yes we all can wound an animal. the chance of it is very high at such ranges. Irresponsible.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Rule303
.416 member


Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 4896
Loc: Woodford Qld
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester Debate Settled [Re: NitroX]
      #329715 - 29/06/19 10:04 AM

Quote:

Quote:

for shooting at Elk size game at 800, 900, 1000 yards.
I wish this were not so; I'm guessing such foolishness and bravado is going to result in more wounded and lost game."

3 dog Mike I agree





For the shooting of any animal at such ranges.

Really such irresponsible practices would not exist if such laws existed as in some countries where a "hunting licence" is cancelled for life if you get certain transgressions, such as wounding game.

Yes we all can wound an animal. the chance of it is very high at such ranges. Irresponsible.





I do not doubt for one second there are people who are very capable of making these long range shots with good hits most of the time. Yes they can read the wind or do not take the chance if they are unsure of the wind. The big difference to a steel plate at these ranges is, an animal can move. With the time to target an animal can move after the bullet has left the barrel and result in a wounding shot.


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