6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester: Which One Should You Hunt With?
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- To learn more about popular hunting calibers like the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester, visit: thebiggamehuntingblog.com/ebook
In this video I talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor and how it compares to the .308 Winchester.
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.
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 video, I’m going to conduct a detailed comparison of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester in order to show the differences between those cartridges so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for you.
To read a more detailed comparison of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester visit:
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6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester
308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor
0:00 Intro
1:11 308 & 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge History & Development
4:46 Cartridge Sizes
5:42 Trajectory & Kinetic Energy
6:55 Wind Deflection
7:54 Recoil
8:49 Sectional Density & Frontal Area
12:51 Ammo Selection
14:30 Rifle Selection
15:42 308 & 6.5 Creedmoor: Which one is right for you? - Sport
Many shots for both hunters and soldiers/marines in theater have been under 600 yards. For me, that’s a plus for .308
.308 for me. I use it for whitetails and moose within 400 yards. More bullet options are readily available and can be found everywhere.
The CM has impressive down range ballistics in its theatre and the recoil is very modest. In my hunting/shooting theater, I will take .308 without hesitation. Like you say, “ to each his own “. Thanks for presenting 2 very popular cartridges with devout followers. One for the new and the other for the traditional.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I like shooting anything including my .308’s, but I can shoot my 6.5 longer without fatigue because it is so damned pleasant to shoot. Pricey though.
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog If I was going to get a 6.5 it would be the PRC...
This year, 2022, I did not hunt but went to help my son try and harvest an elk. Our new neighbor fancies himself to be a long range shooter and I suppose he may be. He's a Creedmoor user. He was hunting in the same area we were. During the season my son and I found a nice 5 point bull elk tangled in the barb wire fence dead. It got tangled in the fence because it could not jump the fence due to a gunshot wound. The elk was tangled trying to escape the property of my neighbor. I can only assume he shot it with a small caliber rifle from the look of the wound which I have no problem with, my first big game rifle was a 6mm Remington, but he didn't follow up. I now have a 5x5 bull rack and only one bugler tooth, he only had one and I have about 20 yards of fence that had to be repaired. If you intend to use a 6.5 Creedmoor use it ethically and don't believe it makes you a long range hunter. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed as a paper puncher.
Yea the 308 was designed as a military round so why do people use it for hunting ?
@@titomish5914 …because it works.
Many high dollar hunt guiding outfitters who have decades of experience hunting large game will not allow their clients to use a 6.5cm. That says a lot.
@@titomish5914because if it’s designed to kill and it turns out it’s good at killing, people are gunna use it to kill, pretty simple.
The .308 Winchester was released as a Civilian hunting round first before it was accepted by the U.S. Military in the form of the Nato 5.56 mm round . It works well for both . A .30 Caliber wildcat round will kill too. What you name it makes no difference.
Correction Nato 7.62 mm not 5.56 mm
I’m not even a hunter, but really enjoyed this. Much appreciated!
Very good video. This is one of few videos that state the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge limitations. Sadly, some people feel the 6.5 Creedmoor is a 800 yards elk cartridge.
If I was in the market for a new big game hunting cartridge it would be the 308 Winchester. It is capable of much more over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Plus, 308 Winchester ammunition availability for the non-reloader.
However my 7mm-08 Remington cartridge already covers my needs. I reload and it hard to beat the 7mm-08 Remington with IMR-4350 and Nosler's 140 grain Partition bullets.
I'll stick with my 308
To each his own!
Me 2 , right there with you
As a newbie I'll prob go the 6.5, I'd punch more paper then anything but when needed can take it hunting
@theactualtrokz yeah and change your barrel every 2000 rounds ?
Use both, I do. Creedmoor has less drop but i'm not sniping deer at 600 yards. At hunting range, say 300 or less, there's little to no difference. They both lay the smack down on anything breathing. The cheaper ammo and better availability of ammo makes .308 the winner for high volume shooting, but if you wanna hit the 1000 yard range, creedmoor's gonna be the choice for sure. Both are great.
So it sounds like if you're taking medium sized game like deer or hog and you want to use the same rifle for target shooting you go with 6.5 CM. I mean why buy more rifles than you need right?
Both work for me, all my shots are in the woods. I been using .308 with 165 gr bullets, got 6.5 this year, probably use 140 gr bullets. I don’t take shots past 200 yards. Close is my game.
Depends on what your hunting and how far away it is. With well constructed bullets and good shot placement from a reasonable range either is adequate for all medium and some large game.
I have owned many different calibers......30-06, 7mmMag, 270, and others...... I have sold all of those and now use the 7mm-08. Deer, Elk, Brown bear.......and other similar sized game, no problem.... More punch than 6.5, better ballistics than 308, each to their own..........
I'm with you, the 7mm-08 bests the CM at all distances
Is any animal ever going to notice the difference between a 7mm08, and a 6.5? No
That’s a nice breakdown of these two cartridges side by side . I’ve owned and hunted with A LOT of various caliber rifles from .300 Win Mag / .300 WSM , .30-06 , .308 Win , .243 Win and my favorite all time hunting caliber is the .280 Remington ( it seems to be my do it all GO TO rifle in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight)
But my .308 Winchester (s) yeah I have a couple of them , is the caliber I’ve harvested the most game with throughout the course of my hunting journeys, and the ammunition is ALWAYS readily available in ample variety.
The 280 Rem is my favorite as well.
I used to compete in High Power rifle comp, so I'm very used to the .308. I shot an M14 in matches, which served me very well. But , as I got better, I became interested in tighter groups, so I invested in a Rem 40XC. It shoots 1/4 inch groups. Since my high power skills had improved so much with the M14 I restocked the 40XC with a silhouette stock. It drives tacks !
I shoot 308 for most everything. I recently started 6.5 Grendel to teach novice shooters.
Damn! What a round from a micro action CZ or Howa
Had 6.5 grendel cz 527 with threaded barrel. It Shot horrible! Sent it back to CZ and I’m waiting for a factory replacement. It’s been 2 months with no ETA. Season isn’t far away. Not happy! I love their 22s though.
I would say to use the one you have. 308 ammo is plentiful and cheap. Or cheaper unless you load your own . I'd say you could handload both calibers for the same money once you have the brass.
For conventional ranges of 300yds or less I'd take the 7mm-08 and .308 both over the CM. The CM and 7mm-08 are a wash out to 500.
Very good comparison. I use both for hunting and they work really well.
I always keep my shots within 500 since I don't have any possibilities to train on further distances. I've never experienced a big difference between the two within 500 tbh.
I can only add the advantage of 308 when it comes to barrel life. I'd say 308 takes double the shots before the barrel goes south.
That's an excellent point regarding barrel life. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Interesting, what makes a .308 barrep past longer compared to a 6.5
@@KLP368 pretty much the same powder load behind a larger diameter bullet. Lower barrell pressure, longer life.
Short answer-.308 everyday allday. Availability, cheaper,been around for decades,a proven calibre and reliable. The 6.5 creedmore here in Australia are expensive and hard to get.
I own both and agree that both have their perks. One thing that surprises me though is the amount of people who think the creedmoor bullet travels too fast for deer hunting. Every time I go to buy some off the shelf ammo, that topic comes up. All because people are using the wrong ammo and are getting poor bullet expansion. I got mine for varmint hunting but I wouldn't hesitate to take it deer hunting too.
Thank you Very informative and well presented
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this comprehensive video!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. Good info. You convinced me that I now need a 6.5 bolt action. I already have a bolt and a semi-auto .308.
Right on!
I love my 308, 6.5 doesnt interest me too much. Its a little more aerodynamic than some calibers in its weight class and thats about it. My 25-06 will out perform it from the muzzle to 600y. But the 308 barrel life takes the cake for everything in my closet.
I believe that the 6.5 cm, 7-08, 308, 270, 280, &260 are all so close that if you had one you probably wouldn’t NEED any of the others for hunting. Pretty much splitting hairs looking for any sizable advantage in that crowd. Moving up to 7 mag or a 300 mag and such would put you into a different category for big game. If I had a 6.5 cm and wanted something bigger for elk, I would go into the magnum category as a 308 is only slightly better than the cm on bigger animals. As always, accuracy is king. If I had any rifle I was confident with, it’s the one I’d use.
Yes indeed. Thanks for your comment!
Great comment. Use what you are confident with. And like you said. Splitting hairs. I have been researching what deer hunting rifle to buy and it gets really murky. I used .350legend 20inch stainless barrel.in my ar15 last year. Worked like a charm since.i don't hunt anything in Maine further than 125 to 150yds, usually 50 to 100yds
Exactly. Only comment I need to read. Spot on.
You spoke of the 7mm08 and 260 remington both these do as well as the Creed. I usually shoot the same 243 Mt parents bought me in the 1970s with a 90 gr bullet. Or a 264 win mag with 120 gr bullets.
Both cartridges have good barrel life which is a plus for those of us that shoot alot..don't hunt anymore but for most game I'll grab the 270.
I HAD A FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICE , FLAT ASS A VERY LARGE COW ELK BEHIND OUR HOUSE AT 250 YARDS IN 2021. SHE HAD A 6.5 CREDMORE. Great video as im trying to figure out which one is the right one for me. More hunting then target shooting.
G'day mate, thank you very much for your comprehensive evaluation of these two cartridges, i really enjoyed the highly detailed information that you included in an impartial and easy to digest format, i am old school and i currently have two .308 caliber bolt action rifles in my collection (one for hunting and one for prs), i absolutly love them both for the very predictable, consistent and economical benefits they give me but now thanks entirely to this video i am seriously considering adding a 6.5 creedmore to my collection with the sole purpose of giving me that "edge" you speak of in my new found passion for the prs discipline.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video! There's not a darn thing wrong with owning a couple 308s AND a 6.5! :)
Have both and love them both.
Nothing wrong with that!
I have both as well but prefer 308 for general hunting as you can find surplus ammo more readily well used to be able to :)
That doesn’t make sense since “surplus” ammo would be military FMJ rounds that are not meant for hunting at all….
Both perform similarly on game, assuming similar bullets. I like both of them and each has its advantages. 6.5 has less recoil, 308 can shoot much heavier bullets.
308 for hunting and 6.5 for punching holes in paper at a 1000 yards. 7-08 for doing both.
Good video... The CM is a copy of the 6.5 Swedish Mauser from the early 1900's. I had one of the surplus carbines imported into the US in the 70's for my teen age boys to shoot. It seemed to take deer like a lightning bolt. The new 6.5 CM seems to have the same ballistics and the same effect on deer sized game.... The Swedes even used this on moose with 160 grain bullets. I have no experience with this load on larger game
I can reload my 308 easier than the 6.5 in these times of little to no components 👍🏼
Both are good for hunting. The Creedmoor bucks the wind better. I have both and I find them both great. I chose the Creedmoor when the wind is blowing extremely hard.
.308 is going to be my elk rifle this year. Good brands of ammo will keep the the ft-lbs of force over 1500 to around 400 yards.
What ammo are you planning on using for your 308?
Still need to figure out what runs best in the new rifle. I've got some sierra game changers, terminal ascent, nosler e tip, and some trophy coppers. I am trying to hunt down some eld-x and bergers to see how those run, but we shall see
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog also I used to hunt with a .300 win mag, but the reason why I moved to the .308 was because of me buying an ultralight rifle. I figure with a premium bullet and great shot placement it'll do the job.
Have you considered Nosler Partitions? Really good for Elk in .308
@@cliffordschorr Cliff, the 308 with the Hornady inter-bond ballistic tip 150gr load, is what I used on a Buffalo hunt. Animal I took was a little over 1400 lbs.
You should be good to go with the brands you listed, as always shot placement is king.
Good luck this season.
Well done. You’ve confirmed my layman’s opinion as well
Thanks!
Took my first buck with .308, went down like a sack of potato's. Now in an emergency situation, you can always find or salvage 308. in the field for its a NATO round. Good luck finding 6.5.
I shoot/hunt under 500 yards. I chose the 308 for 3 reasons (1) ammo in my area for 308 is cheaper with a better selection and I found this to be true online (2) bullet range from 100gr to 220, typical heavy bullets end at 180gr (3) proven know performance at all ranges in all environments across the globe
Your dads grandpa existed while people shot 6.5x55 tho.. super common in europe
i dunno seems like 308 is pretty hard to beat for an all around cartridge. Yah there are "better" rounds but 308 is everywhere and it will do just about anything.
A friend asked me to sight in his new rifle. It is a very good long range rifle and still produces right a 10,000 foot pounds of energy at 500 yards using a 750 grain bullet. Recoil wasn't to bad but I wasn't prepared for the muzzle blast. My bench rest was old and wooden with the table constructed of wafer board. The muzzle blast blew pieces from the surface of the bench. His intention was to use this .50 bmg as an antelope rifle. He did not harvest an antelope with it but he did harvest a white tail doe. Luckily he did not hit a large bone because damage was bad enough is it were. Ammunition is very expensive but if you want a long range rifle get one that retains energy at a long distance, and because of bullet mass even though at muzzle it is about 2800 fps it is a flat shooter.
Overkill anyone? 😆 🤣 congrats to your friend. He ain't messing around.
I used to be a 308win man but have moved on to the 6.5 creedmoor.
I hunt with the 308 win mostly. But I have killed a cow elk with one shot from my browning hells canyon 6.5 creedmore. Although I had also carried my 7mm Rem mag with me I decided to go out that morning with the 6.5
Honestly, the only reason I use 308 is just cause it's what I got....and I'm not rushing for a 6.5 gun any time soon, since I mostly use my m1a or sks. Good video, keep it up
Thanks!
I use both for elk I just have soft spot in my heart for 308
Conveniently, so does the Elk!
Enough said MIKE DROP 😎💪
I have two .308 match rifles for high-power comp. One is an M14 custom built by a great armorer for the Army team which is my choice for comp because of it's natural.
Because of it's natural feel. My other is a Rem. 40XC. which is extremely accurate, but is now in a silhouette stock and will shoot 1/4 inch groups. Neither is my bench gun, but they are everything I need for high power. And the .308 is so easy to reload. My bench gun is, naturally a 6PPC, which has shot .070. I also had a 6.5 Norma, which I believe will beat the Cteedmore at long range.
I have done quite a bit of research into the CM. I have taken a bit of Rocky Mountain game in my day mostly mule deer and elk. Granted I’m an old geezer and hunt with a 30-06. But I just bought a Ruger American 6.5 CM and am anxious to see the performance of the CM. The numbers look good. Will report on the real world performance.
My 6.5 CM just dropped a 3x3 Mule deer at 100 yards. It took 4 steps and dropped in place. The 6.5 works just fine.
Awesome! What ammo did you use in your 6.5 Creedmoor?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog hand loads 130 grn Hornady gmx with 4350 powder. That was last week. Now I am on an Archery only tag
7mm-08 is what I use
Been wanting one of those for a couple years, my jump on one in a couple years.
I’ve been eyeing one. I have a 6.5 already and a 7 mag. But I’m not sure if I want a 308 or 7mm-08. 308 ammo is way easier to find and it’s way cheaper lol
That 7 08 has superior ballistics to both 308 and 6.5 👍🏼
If you don't care that you will need to replace the barrel after 2,000 rounds then go with the 6.5 Creedmoor. But I'd rather not reblace my barrel for 10,000 rounds so I'm sticking with my .308.
I didn’t understand why. I asked about the difference and it has something to do with the pressure around the shoulder of the bullet in the bore according to someone who replied. Still I think .308 gives you a thousand more. Less than I thought.
If you only use it for hunting deers , you and your great great great great grand kids wont even shoot that many.
308 best for me. Thank you sir!
He didn't mention the 6.5 Creedmoor will burn out a barrel within roughly 3000 rounds. Whereas, it takes approximately 9000 rounds through the barrel of a .308 Winchester before it's time to replace it.
I really wanted to get a 6.5 Creedmoor, but after doing some research that was my biggest reason for going with the .308 Winchester.
Lol not likely
That's a reach. Plus, he's talking hunting not match shooting, completely different pursuits. Depends on how hot the loads are, not to mention how hot the barrel is allowed to get,etc... Hunting rifles rarely get shot more than 300 rds per year so even if your premise is correct, 10 year barrel life is pretty good
Yeah, not sure where you got your data on those numbers. Probably not comparing apples to apples on that. From what I have seen, 6.5CM probably about 90% life of the 308. But can vary extensively based on what you are doing.
@@500spectremore like 50%
Greetings from South Africa. Fantastic breakdown! I have been looking for someone to do this as I am picking up my Creedmoor next week. I want something bigger than my 243 and smaller than my 30-06 for my 9 year old son to hunt Gemsok with. I am sure he will do well with a 130gr Accubond.
This helped me a lot. Subscribed and shared.
Thanks Niel! Glad you enjoyed the video. I think you made an excellent choice for your son!
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog
And thank you for taking time to reply.
The black tail deer i hunt with my 6.5 rarely go over 200 pounds (90 kilos). It has performed almost perfectly. Small hole going in, and a small hole coming out, and everything destroyed in between
Just shoot a3006 nuf said
I hahe a ruger Hawkeye M 77 in 308 with a Hawke 3-9×40 scope ...
Great gun & good calibre
I like thirty caliber 30-06, 308, 30-30 I live and hunt in South Carolina my Marlin 30-30 has killed more deer than any other caliber that I have owned I just bought a Remington 700 adl 308 I'm going to try it out this season it's light weight and it doesn't have as much recoil as my 30-30 .
Me gusta el 308 pero prefiero el 6.5
Tengo un Tikka., alto nivel balístico y la verdad por mi modo de caza se adapta mejor. Pero no tengo duda de que el 308 no carece de muy buenas condiciones y ventajas.
I too favor the .308 WIN: It makes a bigger entry wound and uses heavier bullets--and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking any shot over 250 yards (100-200 yds. would be ideal for me for better shot placement).
WOW! So much good information! I still prefer a muzzle-loaded rifle that I can't hit at 25 yards!
6.5 has a disadvantage in some countries because we have a .270 minimum calibre for larger game eg Samber deer, 308 won't be leaving any time soon,
After owning & using a large range of rifles & cartridges my pick would be the creedmoor.
Because they are so similar why not take the milder shooting one ???
Our newest family member is the 6.5 Grendel. Why Grendel ? in a mini action it’s considerably lighter & within 250 - 300 yards it does the job just fine . Everything is better IMO , 308 energy isn’t necessary my lifetime of hunting has taught me.
308 is more versatile...
.308 is cheaper and easier to find lately. That’s the real win for me.
I will always have a place for the 308 in my gun cabinet
Excellent presentation
Glad you liked it!
I use a 6.5 creed for Texas whitetail 🦌
6.5 mm ballistics is superb... I have 308 win & prefer the .260 Rem & 26 nosler
Gun store told me to get the 6.5 prc for hunting. Got one and no complaints except the cost of the ammo. Retired my 270, 3030, and 7mm 08. Love the gun hate the ammo price but one box of shells lasts a long time for me. The recoil works for me. Reminds me of my 22-250
The guy at the gun store wasn't wrong! The 6.5 PRC improves on almost all the areas the 6.5 Creedmoor is lacking
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog love the gun- Mossberg so nothing wildly expensive. Son got his buck last year at 250 yds and dropped it. I only hunt off my porch so my shots are that far also. Love it and I feel confident with it I don't miss. Wished I'd gotten one sooner. Thankyou for the video it was really good
The 6.5 mm round punches above it's class ie6.5×55sweed both rounds are great but I'll stick with the 270 win ,308 . Both are easy to find and our hunting club has a gas station 15 minutes down the road where I can buy 3030 .22,308,3006,270 ,243,12and20 gague no6.5 if you forget your ammo.
The muzzle velocity is very similar between the two cartridges between 125 gr 6.5 and 150 gr. .308 is very comparable. The 6.5 really is not that much hotter. It flies better. I have both. Like them both. I would use .308 on bigger game like Elk or Moose if I hunted these.
The difference of the two is that somewhere around 300 yards or so the 150 bullet will surpass the 125 grain bullet in velocity because the mass of the heavier bullet helps retain velocity better.
@@russellkeeling9712 It's a pretty close race out to around 600 yards with both rounds if you're using high BC rounds, farther than that you should be shooting at medium game.
For steel or military use I can see how the 6.5 is a bit superior, but out to a reasonable range for ethical hunting the .308 simply has an advantage in terms of how long it takes to put the animal down.
@@harrypeterson9287 I’m only hunting hogs and whitetails and have never had to take a shot over 150 yards. At my club we have steel out to 300 yards. With either of my bolt guns I’m ringing the steel at will rarely missing. Boringly so. Either is killing deer. .308 recoil is pleasant. 6.5 recoil is non existent. Like em both.
@@harrypeterson9287 I always grin at how one would compute the components of a constructed formula generated from a dead animal that makes one caliber better than the other.. A good example of finding fault with these assessments can be found in 1 night of coon hunting using same gun, same ammo, same distance. No 1 coon will die the same out of 20-30 of them that were just shot, just sayin.
what is interesting about elk, up close, the .308 having a larger diameter may help anchor an animal. past 150 yards and on, superior penetration of the 6.5 creedemore may put it over the .308. i cant tell you which is better for the job, just that neither are ever going to be taken with me to do that job on purpose.
So unless you are going for elk sized or bigger stick with the one you can find ammo for. Right now that 308. Before the crazy hit either was good.
I’ve got both.. each is a different tool used for different things
I’m listening 👂🏻
I can't agree more
It seems to me that we miss the reason the CM is a solid performer is the twist of 1/8 or 1/7.5 the 308 is 1/10 and the sec den of the bullets so a 6.5 130 grain would compare to the 165 in the 308 and the 264 or6.5 has been around for a very long time even way before the 308, because of that twist it has a crazy rpm, that seems to me the two different things of the CM the barrel life will slightly shorter because of that but other than that they are great penitraitors one with heavier wight the other with high sec den, so take a look at that 308 vs 264 bullets sec den,so a CM with a 140 would equal or about the 180 in the 308 so the more you go down in caliber the longer the bullets end up, so you can not use wight to compare,well anyway that's my 2 cents worth and rambling, they will both work for whatever you are going after just look at your maximum effective range and the energy for both and you will get the meat on the table, GOD bless !
I do like my 6.5 C. Spot on!
For those that say the Creedmoor is just some new gimmick you are wrong. If you look at the load data you will see a striking resemblance to the 6.5x55mm Sweedish. Which was a very sought after mil surp gun after ww2. My first rifle as a kid was one that my dad bought for 15 dollars in 1950. The Creedmoor is just a short action version of this much respected old cartridge with a few refinements thrown in for good measure. Many old hunters have appreciated the unique spot this class of cartridge holds. Haters just can't stand the fact that there is a cartridge that in some specialized metric might out perform their favorite. The performance and shootability and accuracy of the Creedmoor has guaranteed it will continue to be a popular cartridge for a very long time.
In today's market, the 7.62x51/308 Win has the advantage, availability. Go try to find 6.5 CM, none find, but 7.62x51/308 Win finding a lot in all stores. It is why I have built a rifle in 7.62x51/308 Win, but I can reload for 6.5 CM enough bullets and powders.
I do not own a Creedmoor but I do have a 308 I keep my shots inside of 300 yards because the further I can practice where I live I have taken a buck in Alabama at 327 yards dropped him in his tracks with my 308 168 grain Amax everything I've hit with the 308 falls down accurate shoots well and dependable love my 308 have taken one elk in Texas dropped her in her tracks also 🤷🏼♂️
Sir, IMO, you have the best rifle
I just shoot .30-06 and .308, none of this changes my mind. Learn to shoot. That's probably where most should start.
I cannot agree more with you regarding training. I was on a hunt a week ago and had to put down two animals from other hunters that had wounded animals because they were terrible shots. I know my 30-06 like the back of my hand and I reap the benefits of training in the field.
Greetings from South Africa
Wise words, indeed. It isn't the tool, it is the craftsman... and you'll never go wrong with the legendary 30-06. Finest general-purpose center-fire rifle cartridge ever invented, IMHO.
Retired my 30-30 336 Marlin and replaced with a 6.5 Creed Tikka Arctic T3x.
At long ranges, the 6.5 Creedmoor fires definitely a more ballistic bullet. At shorter ranges (400 ft and under the 308 delivers more energy) past that the 6.5 Creedmoor. How ever that being said, there's plenty of cartridges that have vastly more energy at much longer ranges than the Creedmoor.
I have both ; so I don't argue about it .
In BC, Canada I hunt black bear, mule deer, and moose. I have taken all with .260Rem and .308. My full confidence goes with the .308 with 165g. handloads for hunting. I love the 6.5mm calibres for competition shoots, but grab the .308 every time for hunting.
I just bought my first 6.5 creedmoore for deer season coming up wish me luck
Excellent. Good luck this year!
Same here, good luck.
Same
I feel like the 6.5 CM will perform very good with solid copper hunting bullets.
Solid copper expands optimally under high velocities. Using Swarovskis ballistic data chart comparing Barnes TTSX BT 130gr factory loads in 308 to the closest comparable 6.5CM load I could find, 127gr VORTX LRX BT; the data sheets indicate that the two rounds perform at nearly identical velocities within standard big game hunting distances (100-500y). I have not harvested game with either rifle nor have i harvested game with solid copper bullets but by performing expansion tests and referencing data sheets, IMO I wouldnt conclude that either cartridge are capable of utilizing solid copper projectiles to their optimal terminal delivery much past 200y. I hunt in the Rocky Mountains where shots twice that are not uncommon. Can never go wrong with any of Noslers bullets, id suggest Accubonds or Partitions for heavier game or BTs for lighter game. Every rifle I own loves Nosler ammo.
308 for game . Plus brass and bullets normally cheaper. It's a military round.
The expense is real, but the military is using the 6.5 for the new DMR platform I’m hearing. Neither is going anywhere.
As a novice deer stalker who learnt on a .243 I asked at the local gunshop if there was another caliber with low recoil and a bit more power. He said the 6.5x55. This was 20 years ago. I have one, I load for it. It’s great. In the mean time I tried a .308 with moderator. The recoil is now acceptable to me. When I mean acceptable I don’t mean the one shot to kill a deer - I mean all the shots at the range where you enjoy using your rifle, sharpening your technique and testing new loads. Does that make sense? Btw I have a moderator on my 6.5 for the same reason.
Love 6.5x55
Your a man who knows his stuff about the 6.5x55 I have one and killed more white tail deer with it than anything else. The recoil is mild and you get pretty good range say out to 300 yards , I love mine. It’s been here since 1890 and still killing moose in Scandinavia , how dead is ☠️ dead. I have a .308, a 30.06 and a 280 Remington These are my favorite cartridges I reload most of my ammo for these. The recoil has todo with the balance of the rifle and your recoil pad and it the stalk is cut to fit you also, it does make a difference. How ever I will alwas have a warm spot for my 6.5x55.
6.5 CM is a Hornady hype. The biggest plus is in the foreign market where military based rounds have been banned in Europe, Australia and Africa. So basically with a strong PR campaign people are unwittingly getting rid of there 308's and buying 6.5 creeds that have no dual use. During the shortages I was still able to aquire 308/7.62x51 ammo and primed cases. My best 308 bolt action load is my bets AR-10 load. My 308 will have twice the barrel life of the 6.5 creedmore. The biggest advantage of the 6.5 is 1000 yards. Palma which is based out of Canada limits bullet weights to 156 grain killing the 308's best weapon the 175 grain bullets.
Hornady has brilliant marketing for this flash in the pan.
What 6.5 round would you use for self defense?
I have taking Moose, Caribou, and Black Bear with the 308. I have both calibers but hunt more with the 308, simply because I train more with it. Both are good!
What ammo did you use to take your moose, caribou, and black bear with your .308?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Hornady 165gr GMX
I haven't hunted with that bullet personally, but I've heard it's really good. If I were to use a 308 for really big creatures like moose, I'd certainly be using something like the 165gr GMX (Barnes, Nosler E-Tip, etc)
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog barnes ttsx 168 is a wicked lil round. I know from experience. Though im sure any of the other high quality copper rounds out there should do nearly the same damage and full passthru.
I’ve considered this and at this time, I really don’t need either since my deer don’t usually come out beyond 50 yards. If I had to choose and wasn’t getting an AR-10, I’d get the first one that had a left handed one in stock. There’s plenty of overlap. I’d probably be better off with the .308 because I’d be wanting a deer rifle that is appropriate for elk too.
Paper ballistics can be a little deceiving as far as killing power, look at the 45-70 405gr. bullet loaded by Remington, Muzzle Velocity1330 Feet Per SecondMuzzle Energy1590 Foot Pounds.
And it kills way out of proportion to its paper ballistics at reasonable ranges.
There is something to be said about a larger diameter and heavier bullet.
I own both .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor and enjoy them equally, but I'm going with the larger caliber for anything large than whitetail deer.
(And if I need a larger caliber I'll use my 45-120 Sharp's rifle, 610gr round nose soft lead bullet.
Backed by 110grs. 2ffg black powder. Haha 😄)
Call me old dog, but I decided to stick to a calibre I was familiar with from my few years in the army. So, I built a custom long distance target rifle and a lighter hunter rifle in .308 this past year.
Nothing wrong with that!
Qué opinas del 25-06 y el 308?
Desde ya muchas gracias!!!
In my opinion, ethical hunting ranges considered, they both do the job well .(400 yds is the max range I would consider ethical.)
With a 200 yard zero and 2700 muzzle vel., at 400 yds, a 6.5 143 eld-x will drop -22.43, drift 9.47 and have 1467 energy.
A 308 178 eld-x at 2620 muzzle vel., at 400 yds, will drop -24.83, drift 11.36, and 1603 energy
I dont think a deer, elk, hog, or etc. would notice a difference. The main thing is Recoil (6.5 =11.87) vs (308 = 18.27) and S.D. (6.5 = .293) vs (308 = .268). In both cases, the 6.5 wins.
For 100+ yrs, people in Europe have used the 6.5x55 to take elk. I have never seen bullet proof vests on elk yet and they are the same size as they have always been.
Personally, I own both calibers in rifles and encore 12" pistols. I enjoy hunting with the encore 12" 6.5 creedmoor using the 143 eld-x. At 2350 muzzle vel., it has >1300 energy at 300 yds. That is more than enough for deer and elk.
About the 6.5x55 and moose/elk, I have read of a number of people who said that they hunted with scandinavians and asked the scandinavians about their hunting with the 6.5x55. The scandinavians said that they used it because it was what they had, but many of them have switched to cartridges like the 308 and 9.3x62. Apparently the 308 is used as much as the 6.5x55 now and is still gaining.
Folks, the Creedmore is a profile of chamber reamer more than a cartridge. It reams for a long neck and freebore to allow you to use a long-for-caliber high BC bullet. It’s that simple. It’s not the 6.5 that is the magic size, but rather it’s ANY bullet that is a Spitzer and 4.3 x it’s diameter to give a great BC number.
Wow! That's a lot of information 😄👍🏼
Glad it was helpful!
Hi John, I’ve had a total shoulder replacement. What caliber rifle can I use for deer, black bear, maybe an elk that doesn’t have a bad recoil. Shoulder replacement is no fun.
Very good question Gary. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a pretty mild recoil in a well designed rifle with a good recoil pad. Recoil drops off even farther if you have a muzzle brake or a suppressor on that same rifle. I think the 6.5 Creedmoor is just about perfect for deer. You can also use it on black bear and elk with the right bullets (like a 127gr LRX or a 140gr Partition). You'll have to be very careful with your shot angles and shot distances on bigger game like that, but it will certainly work. Unfortunately, I know your options are fairly limited with your shoulder, so that's probably the route I'd go if I were you. Hope this helps!
7x57 - low recoil, high sectional density. A pleasure to shoot.
Consider the .350 Legend. Good for 250yds. The 180gr cartridges in .350 Legend are black bear rated. I own .22lr, .270 Win, 6.5 Creedmore, .308 Win, .350 Legend, and also a 9mm PCC. I bought soft shooting guns for teaching my grandkids shooting skills. My military surplus heavy rifles are not okay for the kids. The bolt action guns are gentler on the body. So try moving the action on a bolt action rifle in the gun store. I bought 2 .350 Legends. A Savage Axis 2 with the scope. And a Ruger American Ranch rifle, with the scope bought seperately. They are both 18" barrels, but 22" and 24" barrels are available. The 18" barrel may be easier on your arms and shoulder.
My 6.5 Creedmoor is a Ruger American Predator. I changed the stock to a Magpul Hunter stock. The Ruger American Hunter can sometimes be found in a rifle and scope combo. A muzzle brake is included with the Hunter rifle. You would probably find the RAH acceptable for your situation. One of my nephews has a Wetherby Vanguard in 6.5 PRC. The 6.5 PRC has lighter recoil than the 308 Win. And can reach further down range.
When I shoot with grandkids. They use sand bags, and a table to steady the gun. Consider some kind of steady rest, with one, two or 3 legs.
06 or 308 semi auto, smooth as silk!
7mm creedmoor from Hornady is out soon. Will be the best of both worlds
To learn more about popular hunting calibers like the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester, visit: thebiggamehuntingblog.com/ebook
I think many people who buy the 65CM do so believing it's got a huge advantage over many other cartridges. These hunters in my area would rarely shoot over 200 if ever at 300 yards. Seeing this video makes me think the 65CM biggest advantage 309 and in would be lower recoil otherwise not a ton of other advantages. Similar bullet drop .
If you shoot at longer ranges, the chief advantage of 6.5 CM and the other .264-caliber projectiles versus .308 is that they perform very well in the wind. Regarding the 6.5 CM itself, I'd be just as happy with 6.5x55 (Swedish Mauser) or .260 Remington, both of which offer very similar performance to the new kid on the block. And apart from somewhat stiffer recoil, the venerable .270 Winchester does pretty much everything that the 6.5 CM can do, at least when it comes to hunting... and some things that it can't, too.
I’ve seen more than once the need to have to take shot after shot on a deer with 6.5 which makes me think it’s less than ideal unless you are very careful on your bullet selection. I’ve never had to take more than one shot on a deer with my 308 with off the shelf ammo. To be fair I’m keeping it under 150 yards where I hunt
Where have you seen that??
From what I'm seeing is that the 6.5 cm will make a better shooter because the 308 is more forgiving on shot placement.
.308 all day for hunting. But don't forget about .260 Remington when talking 6.5.
the betamax of rifle calibers 😁
.25-06 as well