Many writers and video producers point to the superior trajectory of 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester in an attempt to highlight a clear “winner.” The truth, however, is more complicated than a single factor. When it comes time to pick the best long range cartridge for you, keep the following factors in mind.
First, read up on the history of each cartridge, because the initial purpose and parameters can limit not the just cartridge itself, but the rifles and parts as well. For example, many magazines and other parts for short-action rifles are defined by the initial 150-grain load of 308 Win. It’s difficult to seat long bullets for 308 if you’re using a detachable magazine. That’s where the 6.5 Creedmoor shines, allowing for VLD bullets in rifles like the M1A and the AR10.
This leads to the #1 point in favor of 6.5 Creedmoor: its trajectory. The high-BC bullets available in 6.5mm slice through the air much more efficiently than all but the most extreme 308 bullets, and when you factor in muzzle velocity the 6.5mm Creedmoor remains supersonic longer and drops less. As a result, it also bucks the wind better. It’s just plain easier to get on target.
The low recoil is also a big factor to consider. It’s a good choice for young sportsmen and the recoil sensitive, but any gun owner can also appreciate the speed at which they can get back on target. Low recoil = quick follow-up shots.
HOWEVER, 308 Winchester boasts some phenomenal advantages. The cartridge has been popular with sportsmen, competitors, and militaries for a very, very long time, making it the most developed cartridge of all time. You need a bullet for a specific task? Someone has made it in 308 caliber. We’re talking about everything from simple FMJs all the way up to APIs, tracers, and sabots. This mass market extends to brass, tools, dies, powders, magazines, muzzle brakes, silencers, scopes, and various gun parts. Even the guns themselves are usually designed for 308 Winchester, with other chamberings available if the manufacturer feels like it.
Hardware aside, the knowledge base for 308 is IMMENSE. Trajectories, charts, reloading data…nothing else compares to 308. For now. If 6.5 Creedmoor continues growing at its current rate and sees further military adoption, the choice may become a bit more difficult.
In my case, I chose 6.5 Creedmoor for this 1 mile rifle because of its superior trajectory, tantamount for hitting distant targets. Your mileage may vary when choosing 6.5 vs 308.
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One must keep in mind not to shoot game with target bullets and stop trying to kill animals at long ranges and call it hunting which it is not hunting is getting closer to your game and making a good clean kill if people keep this trend with 6.5 creedmore shooting farther than they should at animals there will be a lot of wounded animals in the woods
2nd half is good, sorry i jumped the gun…lol
ranting on ,,
I want to get a new hunting rifle but I don't want to just hop on the 308 bandwagon. I'd rather have something new.
BREAKING NEWS: All rifles sold chambered in 6.5 creedmoor from this day forward will include a fake handlebar mustache, a wool beanie, a mumford & sons t-shirt, acid washed skinny jeans, a plaid scarf and a pair of blue crocs.😂
THE .308 HANDS DOWN, THE BEST ALL AROUND DO IT ALL, BAR NONE.
DO YOU HUNT..???
Build a savage 112 in a 338 lapua
Own both but you better have a pile of sealed 7.62×51 stockpiled first for what is coming. Training with family and friends on a consistent basis across multiple platforms that utilizes the same calibre .. the winner is obvious. The rest is just for fun.
I have no idea how much .308/7.62×51 I've put downrange. I can shoot that round with iron sights/blindfolded. I love my 6.5 Swede as well. My 7×57 is a rock and roll round as well, where I could see 7-08 as a master of all. Damn, so many guns, so little money…
Actually? No. 1000 yards for $1000, .308 is the better choice because you can get cheap DMR glass with a BDC that works for .308. That doesn't exist for 6.5 Creedmore yet.
The 6,5 creed has never proven more accurate or faster than 260Rem or 6.5×308, it has never proven more accurate than the .243 (nor has the 6mm Creed), the 6.5 is not more accurate than the 07-08, nor can the 6.5 Creed be bumped up to .30cal and out perform the .308, and it wont out perform the 338Win.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is barely used in PRS competitions anymore, shooters preferring .243, 6XTC, 6.5×47 etc, and its never used in the intended target market of High Power Shooters. The Creedmoor owns no accuracy records at 100yds or 1000yds. The 1000yd record is held by a 308 based round known as 6BR while the 100yd is held by a .30Grendel round.
Its also interesting that you skipped over projectile technology that allows the .308 to actually track with a 300Win Mag….perhaps you should compare that tech on the .308 with the 6.5 Creedmoor since you are willing to skip the more appropriate comparison to 6.5×308/260Rem just to create your false dichotomy.
Trom
Legit tech analysis. Might want to talk barrel life, comparative cost reloading, eld improvements to .308. What fo you really want your rifle to do for you? Target? Then why aren't we talking 6.5 prc? At what level? 10k rifle, 6k scope? Or just Ruger level precision rifle? The caliber selection isn't the whole system. Training? Range time at distance? Budget? Is the system you already own paid for?
6.5 CM is no magic wonder cartridge as the kool aid drinking advertisers/ gun writers want you to believe. 715 foot lbs of energy at 1000 yards with the 6.5 CM is not enough to humanely kill a deer or elk period.
Can you fit 6.5mm Swede bullet into 6.5 CM case ?
Speer loads the 150 grain gold dot as loaded ammunition in 308
What do you think of the 264 win mag for long distance
Lower velocity on 6.5? I what is would say yes if you compare exact bullet weights you can squeeze an extra 50-100 fps out of a .308 however the reality is if you are shooting the average bullet weight in both calibers the 6.5 is going to win out on velocity. I don't know a lot of shooters shooting 140gr out of .308 most .308 shooters are likely shooting a 168gr bullet traveling at 2500-2650 while most 6.5 creedmoor shooters are likely shooting a 140gr bullet which leaves the barrel at 2650-2700. I definitely get trying to compare exact bullet weights but I figured I would at least drop me .02 as if you goto a sporting goods store right now you'll likely find .308 loaded in the 165-178gr projectile weights and 6.5 loaded in the 120-140gr projectile weights. You can load outside those averages yes but the common loadings fall within those weights.
Great informative video keep up the great work
They got a 22 creadmore now
The 6.5 Creedmore is a cool round. However it was a answer to a question that had already been answered many times over. Nothing new under the sun as is said.
In a debate about 6.5mm and .308 cal. the answer is …….. 7mm!
https://www.quora.com/Before-WW2-research-determined-that-6-5mm-ca-26-caliber-was-the-perfect-sized-round-Italy-Sweden-and-Japan-even-changed-their-main-battle-rifles-to-that-caliber-Come-WW2-however-almost-everybody-went-back-to-30
military adoption? Haven't heard anything about that. What have you heard?
Nice Savage bro!!
.308 is cheaper easier to find and can be used for big game hunting like elk. I’ll stick with that thanks.
Excellent review. I shoot both and like both. I do find 6.5 Creedmoor easier to shoot.
Really glad you made this video. I had a guy at a lgs try to tell me the 6.5 was good to take down any game in north america out to 1000 yards and 308 was only good to 500….yeah. i didnt listen to anything else he said. Goes to show how much misinformation about the two is out there.
Can anyone explain why he compares everything to the 7mm mag and not the 270 Winchester or even 270 Winchester magnum? They are almost exactly the same, but 270 wsm still comes out on top. It’s cheaper and easier to come by.
I'm waiting for the 7mm Creedmoor or the 6X45mm……
I used the M-14 in the service. 308/7.62×51 NATO. Now almost 50 years later I use the 308 in a bolt action and have since I got out of the service. The 308 is accurate out to 900 meters and further in the right hands. I see no good reason to concern myself with the 6.5 Creedmoop!
For a true long range ( 700 yards and up ) cartridge, the 6.5 is superior. But for hunting, DMR rifle, and the availability of ammo and the price of ammo, the .308 is superior. If you are not going to shoot at more than 700 yards, .308 is better.
+1 for the 7mag
you can make a 308 do anything a 6.5 can do end of story
7mm, bigger, slicker bullets going as fast or waaaaay faster. 308 isnt the best at anything, but its damn good for everything, the big heavies dont shoot as flat but they buck the wind easily and the bigger meplat and ogive give better terminal performance. The creedmoors dont do anything the 260 and 243 dont already do, with less velocity
6.5 is a superior round in many ways but with the even the slightest possibility of civil war looming, I'll hang onto my 308 and my 5.56 😉
I just did a long range build in 260 Remington. Slightly hotter than the creedmoor and the added benefit of surplus military 308 brass being cheap and converting it to 260 saves a ton if money. Running 147gr ELD-Ms (.697bc G1) at nearly 2750fps. Supersonic to almost 1550 yards. For a mile, I would do 6.5 SAUM. That gives you the ability to run the 147s at 3000fps without tearing up your barrel. 6.5 SAUM achieves those velocities with a lower pressure than 26 nosler, 264 win mag, 6.5-284 Norma, etc etc due to the shape of the casing. Also a lot less recoil than 7mm 🙂
Well done video. There is no winner, they are both great rounds and not many people going to hunt game animals past 600 yds where the differences start to shine for the 6.5cm. You shoot a deer behind the shoulder with either one under normal hunting ranges and a good hunting bullet, they will all die equally fast. It’s all the other things you pointed out that make the real difference, ammo costs, availability, recoil, available data etc. thank you!
Two questions. 1)Why does a smaller hole all else being equal result in less barrel life? 2) What about the new 308 bullets that equal 300 Win Mag Trajectory? (See Tibasaurus Rex u tube on this 308 equals 300 Win Mag). And given the amazing trajectory from those bullets, do you envision a whole new category of 308’s with BC exceeding .600? The only limitation would be chamber and mag length. Seems like a cash cow for bullet makers. Wait until everyone buys 6.5 Creed then give them an equal in 308 going the other way. Priceless! Great review! Thanks!
In europe 6,5×55 SE is still doing very well. If the length of the cartridge does not matter in can do the same like 6,5 creedmoore with lower pressure so it's less destructive to the barrel. And one thing – it cost the same like .308 win 🙂
The answer to the question 6.5 or 308 should be easy for the People in USA.
You should have BOTH of them.
Beacause you can. You are free, I am not.
6 hunting rifles is the standard limit here in Sweden. So I can Also have both , but they are to similar to make sens. Enjoy your freedom.
I hope we can all follow the American way in the future.
Skål vänner.
Great video. Tons of into. I have been mulling over this decision in my head for a long time and an change between them as much as the wind changes direction. Not pulling the trigger on one vs the other at this moment, but every little piece of info helps.
Why would anybody use the six five big boys Part 264 Winchester Mag
the deer never knows what it gets hit with All the hype is for foolish people who are clueless ,like me hahaha
Slick!😃
One of the best 6.5 vs. .308 comparisons all around !!!