6.5 creedmoor vs .308 for new longranger

[LVLAaron]

Getting into long range shooting. I only have experience with handgun (and USPSA) and 100/200 yard benchrest. I'm not looking to travel and do competitions right now. Just learn the mechanics of everything.


My local club has a very strong F class group with a couple of US team members. We have 200-300-500 yard berms. I’ll be shooting in their weekend competitions… I don’t care to have an official NRA score, I just want the practice and repitition of it.


I’ve settled on getting a Ruger Precison Rifle for the time being. It’s second kind of cool and I feel it’s good enough to learn (sub)500 yard shooting, and Precision Rifle is a competition I can see myself getting into.


If a year from now I decide I’m really good at F class and want to get competitive, I can invest in a proper custom rifle for the job.


For now it comes down to the 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 conversation.


308 Pros:

· Longer barrel life

· Shooting against F T/R

· Rifle in stock


308 Cons:

· Balistics

· Recoil


6.5 Pros:

· Balistics

· Recoil

· Brass life

6.5 Cons:

· Barrel life

· Shooting against F Open

· Rifle not in stock


There are a million articles about the 6.5 vs 308 debate balastics based on 1000 or 1000+ yards. Just curious what you guys and gals would do…

 

[Kimber.204]

Have you considered a Ruger Precision Rifle in .223? Great barrel life, relatively cheap ammo/components. Supposedly the RPR in 223 will have a magazine that allows for loading heavy bullets seated long. And it has a 1:7 twist. Lower recoil than either the .308 or the 6.5, so you can focus on the fundamentals. You won't give up too much to a 6.5 Creedmoor at 500 yards with this rifle.

But if you're really set on either 6.5 or .308 I'd flip a coin. I've sent thousands of .308 rounds down range and at medium distances like you're discussing, I've never felt out gun'd by anyone. If you know your rifle/load better than someone else knows theirs then you have as good a chance at winning as anyone. I will say though from shooting a RPR in .243 and a heavy barreled custom .223 a lot last fall, the lack of recoil is as beneficial to my shooting as the better ballistics. When you shoot 200-300 rounds in an afternoon out of similar guns, the lower recoiling rifle will be more comfortable at the end of the day. Recoil from the heavy .308 rounds will wear you out eventually.

 

[wholman]

For a budget gun I would get the savage
benchrest or ftr to start. or buy a used gun here.

 

[rardoin]

I have RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I bought it when I got interested in shooting at distance and possibly competing. I considered it an entry level rifle and it has surpassed my expectations. I have shot only 600yd matches in a 'tactical rifle' style, folding bipod, mag fed rules class and of a front rest in F-open (with a homemade bag rider attached to the Seekins flat handguard. This rifle was good enough to gain my High Masters classification in less than 11 months of competing and shot my first 'clean' target off a Harris bipod with that gun. I shoot a relatively mild load with a 140 berger /H4350 at 2700fps + change. I expect to get 2500 or more rounds from the barrel (my third and second aftermarket barrel). The recoil is easy to manage and follow through on the shot. No fatigue after about 75 rounds in a match. That has been my experience if that helps.

 

[scubohuntr]

The 6.5 really shines past 1000 yards. If you don't intend to shoot that far, .308 ballistics are not at all bad. If you're shooting the 155 Sierra MatchKing and not trying to keep it supersonic at 1000 yards, recoil in a properly fitting rifle is not bad at all. The difference in recoil between a 6.5 and a .308 is pretty much negligible. If recoil is a concern, you could shoot a .223 like everyone and their monkey does. 6.5 Creedmoor is getting almost that bad too. Personally, I hate being trendy. Granted, trendy rifles and cartridges are generally trendy for a reason, but I find being a lousy shot is oddly liberating that way. Out to 500 yards, ballistics and recoil are pretty much a wash between the 6.5 and .308. Go with the one that will allow you to shoot in the most classes.

 

[LVLAaron]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I should have stated before that I do have a Benchrest run built on a Remington 722 action that can drive tacks. It's no good for anything past 100 yards. I could have a proper heavy .308 barrel fitted to it and use that for FTR instead of buying something like the Savage FTR.

I do all of my own reloading so I don't take into account the caliber, etc unless it's something exotic.

I really wanted to get the RPR first because it makes me drool and I want to own it. Like I said before if I find out I really love the F class sport and I'm any good at it, I'm willing to get a custom rifle. In the mean time I wanted something to learn on, that gives me the fizz.

The way the range is set up I would only have one night a week, and competition days (every other saturday I think) to really use a proper FTR rifle. Otherwise I'm limited to 200 yards where the main covered firing line is. That's why I was leaning towards the RGR just to acclimate myself to various distances. I figured it would be better suited for 200 yard, where I'll be stuck shooting most of the time.

 

[ngb1787]

FYI, 6.5 creedmoor keeps up against many calibers at 1000, especially if winds are under 8mph, I am using and posting great scores against great shooters, especially at 600. Know ur rifle, know ur wind, know ur ammo. Something to be said about recoil versus bc especially as the day goes by and the recoil has tired folks in third relay.

 

[LVLAaron]

FYI, 6.5 creedmoor keeps up against many calibers at 1000, especially if winds are under 8mph, I am using and posting great scores against great shooters, especially at 600. Know ur rifle, know ur wind, know ur ammo. Something to be said about recoil versus bc especially as the day goes by and the recoil has tired folks in third relay.

Are you shooting matches with an RPR?

 

[ngb1787]

Are you shooting matches with an RPR?

Negative, 6.5 creedmoor, panda action, have set my .284 aside for a while because the low recoil is out lasting everyone else as the match and weekend go on. Guys are scratching their heads. I am definitely shooting matches with it.

 

[rardoin]

Are you shooting matches with an RPR?

I am...Field Precision Rifle (F-class 600yd target) and have shot F-open until I had a dedicated rifle built. I have match wins and shot my only clean (200-14x) with the RPR (Bartlein 26" barrel chambered by Chad Dixon).

 

[ngb1787]

I am...Field Precision Rifle (F-class 600yd target) and have shot F-open until I had a dedicated rifle built. I have match wins and shot my only clean (200-14x) with the RPR (Bartlein 26" barrel chambered by Chad Dixon).

Most guys have some sort of an excuse why they are not shooting well, my opinion, they are not reading wind correctly and knowing their equipment. Fatigue is a major factor as day rolls on, most never recognize this. I love my .284 but the creedmoor with low recoil really shows up late. BTW, run a nylon brush thru after second relay and then 2 dry patches, u will pick up a higher x count at end of day. Nice shooting!

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

If you got the RPR in .308, you could go play in F-TR right away. If you get it in 6.5CM, you're now in F-Open.

 

[LVLAaron]

If you got the RPR in .308, you could go play in F-TR right away. If you get it in 6.5CM, you're now in F-Open.

That's one of my items for consideration. Same deal with precision matches. 6.5 puts you in Open.

 

[LVLAaron]

I am...Field Precision Rifle (F-class 600yd target) and have shot F-open until I had a dedicated rifle built. I have match wins and shot my only clean (200-14x) with the RPR (Bartlein 26" barrel chambered by Chad Dixon).

Nice work! Right now I'm leaning towards a 308, I can always swap in a 6.5 barrel later. I'm a lefty so if I'm going to spend money on a purpose built single use rifle like an F class, I'm going to get it left handed.

Mind sharing what optic you used?

 

[swd]

If your only shooting to 500 a 308 is fine and you'll be shooting against like kind. Although some of those TR guys are tough!!

 

[Shynloco]

Though my 6.5 is NOT a Ruger Precision Rifle or a Creedmore (but a Ruger 260 Rem bolt gun) I'd choose the 6.5 hands down over the .308 at any distance over 200 yds. Don't get me wrong, I have a .308 BR which is one of my oldest and most dependable rifles and is accurate as hell. But for distance shooting, the 6.5 has proven to be the more accurate rifle for many of the reason stated above. The accuracy factor is also one reason why the military is considering going to the 6.5/260 caliber for its weapons. If I wanted accuracy out of a .30 caliber, I'd be looking at a 30BR. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[billlarson]

Look at equip. lists for big "F" class matches...........
7mm most popular in F open.....
.308 in FTR......rules dictate .223 or .308....308`s dominate
lotsa calibers will go 1000 yds....... but most who win shoot 7mm`s...... good 180 gr. bullets at around 3000 ft/sec.....
if you want to someday put money down and compete......use what most are using..... unless you feel you are smart enough to reinvent the wheel........
omho........
let the flames begin........
bill

 

[Wingnut00]

Just a thought! It sounds like you are a little new at this possibly and I mean no offense but get the 308. Really easy to learn with and that SOB will make you learn how to read the wind. Get good with the 308 and the get yourself a barrel from LRI for the creedmore and up your game.
I personally don't have a rpr but heard good things. 308 is a excellent caliber that is excellent to shoot and it will teach a guy how to shoot distance and fairly reasonably priced to shoot. Start with the ol 308 and step up to the creedmore and you will be happy you did.
But either way you will be happy. Good luck. Hard choice really.

 

[David247]

What I always do in a case like this is get one of each and then tell my wife that I will sell the one that I like least... and then don't!!!

 

[LVLAaron]

Just a thought! It sounds like you are a little new at this possibly and I mean no offense but get the 308. Really easy to learn with and that SOB will make you learn how to read the wind. Get good with the 308 and the get yourself a barrel from LRI for the creedmore and up your game.
I personally don't have a rpr but heard good things. 308 is a excellent caliber that is excellent to shoot and it will teach a guy how to shoot distance and fairly reasonably priced to shoot. Start with the ol 308 and step up to the creedmore and you will be happy you did.
But either way you will be happy. Good luck. Hard choice really.

That's what I've been thinking. I just want a great general purpose rifle to shoot at various distances for now while I learn.