6.5 creedmoor or .308??? 😖

[longrangestalker]

having had both if I was having one of them I would have a 6.5 if I was wanting heavy 30cal bullets I would go 30-06 over 308 all day long

 

[ChesterP]

having had both if I was having one of them I would have a 6.5 if I was wanting heavy 30cal bullets I would go 30-06 over 308 all day long

What would you describe as "heavy" and why for, say, UK deer stalking would the 30-06 offer any advantage at normal deer stalking ranges over a .308? I know you can launch bullets with higher MV's but given that the .308 even with the commonly used 150grn bullet is all the bullet really needed, launched at say 2750fps will kill any deer dead at all commonly shot stalking ranges, what is the advantage? Genuine question. I can and do see the advantage of higher BC, heavier bullets on the hill at say200 to 300yd distances but a decent experienced shot with a .308 would likely not be at any real disadvantage. Slight wind drift advantage with higher MVs but with corresponding slight increase in throat erosion. Swings and roundabouts?

 

[Utectok]

I'd agree with that and use both for deer. Zero difference on end result = dead deer. If hill shooting I'd be tempted to use the 6.5 in preference to the 308, not due to any MV issue but due to the higher BC bullets having less wind drift. Over 100yds it's immaterial. At 300, it's not.

I agree have shot both and slight prefer 6.5 but there was not a lot in it. I find the 6.5 easier in wind at range

 

[big ears]

Wanted 6.5, listened to sage advice about 308. Bought 308, hated it. Sold it and bought a 6.5x55 never looked back.

Buy what you want not what people tell you too.

 

[longrangestalker]

What would you describe as "heavy" and why for, say, UK deer stalking would the 30-06 offer any advantage at normal deer stalking ranges over a .308? I know you can launch bullets with higher MV's but given that the .308 even with the commonly used 150grn bullet is all the bullet really needed, launched at say 2750fps will kill any deer dead at all commonly shot stalking ranges, what is the advantage? Genuine question. I can and do see the advantage of higher BC, heavier bullets on the hill at say200 to 300yd distances but a decent experienced shot with a .308 would likely not be at any real disadvantage. Slight wind drift advantage with higher MVs but with corresponding slight increase in throat erosion. Swings and roundabouts?

I found it more of an advantage with the bigger mag when loading lead free bullets as they are so much longer I also found the 30-06 much nicer to shoot its a push rather than a punch I'm not saying the 308 does not work but In my opinion the 30-06 offers so much more I can't see why you would want to go to a 308 and limit your self

 

[rem284]

6.5 every time. Higher bc per bullet weight. Less felt recoil. 308 barrels will in theory last longer but if it's going to be used for stalking they will both last along time. If it's going to be used for long range target shooting then the higher bc of the 6.5 will be desirable

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Wanted 6.5, listened to sage advice about 308. Bought 308, hated it. Sold it and bought a 6.5x55 never looked back.

Buy what you want not what people tell you too.

Whats the recoil of the swede compared to the .308? I appreciate it might be hard to portray it through text

 

[Utectok]

Whats the recoil of the swede compared to the .308? I appreciate it might be hard to portray it through text

It really depends on load shot and weight of gun. I have shot both through the same gun as a changeable barrel system. I would say it’s slightly less recoil with the 6.5 but both allow you to keep a sight picture easily with a moderator. The 6.5 is pretty sweet to shoot through and easy to group well.

 

[big ears]

Whats the recoil of the swede compared to the .308? I appreciate it might be hard to portray it through text

Much easier. Chuck Hawkes on his site has put numbers to it (link below) but essentially it’s a push not a thump. Both are manageable but if you are worried about recoil go 6.5.

Rifle Recoil Table

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Much easier. Chuck Hawkes on his site has put numbers to it (link below) but essentially it’s a push not a thump. Both are manageable but if you are worried about recoil go 6.5.

Rifle Recoil Table

Oh no, I'm not worried . I just shoot a .308 and get on fine with it. I've heard the differenced between calibers are negligible. I was wondering about the swede

 

[norcan]

Oh no, I'm not worried . I just shoot a .308 and get on fine with it. I've heard the differenced between calibers are negligible. I was wondering about the swede

The 6.5x55 and 6.5 CM are nearly identical in every way including recoil with good factory loads, though the Swede has a larger case that can be pushed a bit further when handloaded.

Typical .308 loads give 15-25% more muzzle energy than those two 6.5s, and the recoil is more or less proportional. I personally don’t find the difference is very noticeable in a well-fitted rifle with a moderator.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

The 6.5x55 and 6.5 CM are nearly identical in every way including recoil with good factory loads, though the Swede has a larger case that can be pushed a bit further when handloaded.

Typical .308 loads give 15-25% more muzzle energy than those two 6.5s, and the recoil is more or less proportional. I personally don’t find the difference is very noticeable in a well-fitted rifle with a moderator.

I do find it interesting when people harp on about felt recoil. They must have very sensitive shoulders to be able to feel anything noticeable

 

[norcan]

Here, using a 6,5x55 Norway, its allowed to shoot Moose with 120grain Copper bullets.

Or just use a 308 shooting 130grain copper...
How much more recoil does it have over a 6,5x55 Norway?


Now, add a suppressor and cut down another 20-30% of recoil.

 

[njc110381]

Both are going to be very good cartridges for deer. I'd maybe say that the .308 might be a better choice if shooting lots of big deer, a bigger hole never hurts for that, but otherwise the 6.5 is a cracking calibre. I'd be happy with either. A lot of over thinking goes into this subject but at the end of the day if you make a hole in a vital organ, the deer will die.

We all have our favourite cartridges, and they vary massively. I'm a 6.5x55 fan because it suits my needs - mainly roe and muntjac, some fallow. It drops reds just fine but if I was shooting fallow, sika, reds or boar more regularly and wanted to stick with one rifle I would probably go a bit bigger. It would probably be something in the 7mm or .30 range and most likely a longer cartridge. As it stands, I have several so tend to pick the one most suited to the task and none of them are 6.5 at the moment! I have .25-06 and .308 for my everyday stalking activities at the moment. If the choice was there when I was buying the .308, I probably would have made it a .30-06. The extra case length allows it to handle longer heavy/mono metal bullets better.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Know this has been done to death .... I've been put in for a 6.5 creed on my grant application (11 months and counting, urgh) and heard all the pros, cons, etc. But I can't ignore the simple fact .308 is lower cost, more readily available, and up to 250 yards nothing really in accuracy. So tempted to make a change....

In my limited experience 6.5 creed is laser accurate, 308 has more bullet drop yet still very accurate, can anyone give any further constructive thoughts?

Thanks all

I guarantee you my 136gr .308 bullet pushing 2900fps has less drop inside 300m than a 6.5 143gr doing 2550 both from a 20” barrel

Drop is entirely predictable

Choose a bullet for the quarry you intend to shoot and can reliably acquire on a regular basis
Learn your drops
Go shoot

It matters not a hoot what size the pill if you don’t put it in the right place.
This chap fell to a client’s Creedmoor with an excellent blood trail.
Seen plenty fall to a .308 too