What caliber, 308 or 6.5 creedmoor?

[Eraser]

Hello;
The local range here has a metallic silhouette match once a month and it's a hoot.
The ranges run 550-750-850 and 950 yds. and the targets are moa.

I've been shooting a Rem 700 in 308 that I've had for a few years, it was a sporting goods store special that I put a B&C stock on and changed out the trigger. Loaded with 175 MKs we are doing just ok.
So, wanting to up my percentages I've decided to have the receiver trued, and re-barreled with something in heavy varmint weight.
Then I started reading about the 6.5 Creedmoor and it's ability and can't decide.

The question is, what would the better choice for this game, the 308 or the 6.5?

I have more questions about barrel length, chambering, free bore for bullet type and weight, but this is the start.
TIA

 

[kawzak]

I have a .308 and it shoots great. I really like it. However if I were going to compete I would buy a 6mm or 6.5mm. It looks like they have better ballistics, and easier to keep supersonic at 1000 yds (if you are going to do that). I would also think it shooting milder would be a plus. IMHO.

 

[bsumoba]

6.5 creedmoor, 260 remington, 260 AI, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6mm creedmoor, 6x47 Lapua, 243, even the 7mm-08 or straight 284 will all be better than the 308 ballistically.

If you do not reload, then 6.5 creedmoor gets the nod for the very good factory ammo 140gr A-Max. Then I would say 7mm-08 would be next for no reloading.

If you reload, then any one of the above is my choice and here is how I would rank them. All of these are capable out to 1K:

6.5 creedmoor - Im biased because I shoot a 6.5 creedmoor. 140gr hybrids over H4350 and this thing spits out 1/4" groups no problem at 100 yards. You have the flexibility of factory ammo and handloading and it will not break the bank too bad and this caliber is easy to tune. Jump the hybrids 20-40K and load somewhere around 41.5-43.5 gr H4350 and you will just shoot bugholes.
6.5x47 Lapua - A very accurate round with Lapua brass. Minor drawback would be the small primer pocket and if you are shooting a Rem700 action, you might need to get the firing pin hole bushed or some other modifications to reliably shoot this. It varies from gun to gun though.
260 Remington - Tried and true cartridge. There is Lapua brass for it as well. Ballistically identical to the 6.5 creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua in velocity and accuracy give or take.
6mm creedmoor - There is factory ammo for this and Hornady and Whidden make dies for this. Crazy velocity at 3100ish FPS shooting the 105 gr hybrids. this thing books!
7mm-08 - You can neck down 308 and shoot the ever popular and ballistically good 7mm bullets.
6x47 Lapua - You would need to neck down 6.5x47 Lapua. Getting your action modified slightly for the small primer pocket might be needed as in the 6.5x47 Lapua.
260 AI - I only ranked this here because you have to fireform. Otherwise, this caliber is awesome and if there was factory brass OR if you don't mind fireforming, then this would jump into maybe 2nd or 3rd from the top. A F-Open guy I shoot with/against shoots this caliber and it is crazy accurate out to 1K.
284 Winchester - You will need to neck up 6.5x284 brass or find the almost non-existent Remington brass. You will probably need to single feed if you are going to run the bigger 180gr bullets, but if you go through this forum, the 284 and its wildcats like the Shehane, Walker, etc are winning matches time and time again.
243 - Factory ammo, plus brass is easy, but this thing eats barrels....This is why it is low on my list. Other than that, this caliber is great.

 

[Eraser]

I have a .308 and it shoots great. I really like it. However if I were going to compete I would buy a 6mm or 6.5mm. It looks like they have better ballistics, and easier to keep supersonic at 1000 yds (if you are going to do that). I would also think it shooting milder would be a plus. IMHO.

Kawzak, thanks for the replay. I like the idea of milder shooting rifle.

 

[Eraser]

6.5 creedmoor, 260 remington, 260 AI, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6mm creedmoor, 6x47 Lapua, 243, even the 7mm-08 or straight 284 will all be better than the 308 ballistically.

If you do not reload, then 6.5 creedmoor gets the nod for the very good factory ammo 140gr A-Max. Then I would say 7mm-08 would be next for no reloading.

If you reload, then any one of the above is my choice and here is how I would rank them. All of these are capable out to 1K:

6.5 creedmoor - Im biased because I shoot a 6.5 creedmoor. 140gr hybrids over H4350 and this thing spits out 1/4" groups no problem at 100 yards. You have the flexibility of factory ammo and handloading and it will not break the bank too bad and this caliber is easy to tune. Jump the hybrids 20-40K and load somewhere around 41.5-43.5 gr H4350 and you will just shoot bugholes.

I do reload and I'm thinking 6.5 CM
Can you tell me about your rifle?

 

[WyleWD]

6.5 creedmoor - Im biased because I shoot a 6.5 creedmoor. 140gr hybrids over H4350 and this thing spits out 1/4" groups no problem at 100 yards. You have the flexibility of factory ammo and handloading and it will not break the bank too bad and this caliber is easy to tune. Jump the hybrids 20-40K and load somewhere around 41.5-43.5 gr H4350 and you will just shoot bugholes.

I do reload and I'm thinking 6.5 CM
Can you tell me about your rifle?

That's what I want to know as well. Is this a factory rifle or custom? WD

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Bryan

Thanks, that's an excellent list and analysis you've done. One question, where would you put the 6XC on your list?

Thanks

JCS

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I am currently in the process of changing from .308 Winchester to 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the cartridge to get, forget the .308. I competed in about 25 competitions in the last 2 years and have seen how poorly the .308 performs at ranges past 800 meters. I would just go to 6.5 Creedmoor because brass is readily available (I just bought mine on Amazon), match ammo is abundant, and you get a little more horsepower from the 6.5x47 Lapua. The 260 Remington is nice but then you have a more sloped shoulder, leading to more brass growth and then limited brass options (the 260 seems to cater more to hunters).

 

[boltman13]

I shoot both rounds in F class. The 308 in F-TR and the Creed in F-Open. The 6.5 shoots so much flatter at long range and with the 140 gr bullet is much better in the wind. As Eraser noted, 140 gr match bullets, H-4350, you are good to go. Best of luck.

 

[Ringostar]

Punching paper, hitting steal plates and silhouette where you have to tip over steal plates are all different games. Are you just hitting plates, or having to tip them over? It true silhouette comps, you need enough bullet weight to tip the plates at long distance. The 7-08 with a 162 is a better idea there. If your only hitting the plate, then any of the above mentioned will work. IMHO I would prefer being able to use Lapua brass over Hornady.

 

[DennisH]

F/TR . . . you can only shoot a 223 or 308.

So if your shooting F-open, then the Creedmoor is a very good choice.

Dennis

 

[DataSmith]

It true silhouette comps, you need enough bullet weight to tip the plates at long distance.

You beat me to it. Those plates can be heavy and you need the kinetic energy (mass and velocity) to knock them down. Remember, this is a sort of hunting simulation where the same thing is a factor.

Check to see what other people are using for this same sport.

 

[Sniper338]

The only problem with the 6.5 creedmore is brass... Only hornady brass that I know of.

I shoot a 260 TACTICAL chamber. It's a reamer that was designed by Dave Kiff at PTG to allow for being able to seat 140gr bergers longer than a normal 260 chamber would allow. (Basically a little bit more freebore)

I am bias to this chamber now. With a 28 inch barrel, H4350, lapua brass, it pushes a 140 berger at 2950ish... and that is my accuracy load, not a hot load. I'm not sure how many people do it, but those extra 2 inches over a standard 26 inch barrel make a huge difference with this 6.5 cal.


The 6.5 creed, 260, and 6.5x47 are all very similar... You just gotta read up on them, they all shoot good, just depends on which road you want to go own.

 

[Tony B]

Nosler also makes the brass. Winchester sells match ammo so they must make the brass as well. Unless they're stamping win on someone else's brass

 

[jamesh]

Hello;
The local range here has a metallic silhouette match once a month and it's a hoot.
The ranges run 550-750-850 and 950 yds. and the targets are moa.

I've been shooting a Rem 700 in 308 that I've had for a few years, it was a sporting goods store special that I put a B&C stock on and changed out the trigger. Loaded with 175 MKs we are doing just ok.
So, wanting to up my percentages I've decided to have the receiver trued, and re-barreled with something in heavy varmint weight.
Then I started reading about the 6.5 Creedmoor and it's ability and can't decide.

The question is, what would the better choice for this game, the 308 or the 6.5?

I have more questions about barrel length, chambering, free bore for bullet type and weight, but this is the start.
TIA

I would go with the 6.5 and I am also partial to the Creedmoor.
I specked my reamer specifically for the 140 Hybrids the neck is .295 ( SAAMI spec is a taper from .297 to .296) and a .200 lead ( SAAMI spec is .1992)
So you would be ok using a standard SAAMI reamer.
I would go with a 28" Barrel.
James

 

[Eraser]

Thank you all for the great replies.

Ringostar & DataSmith,

The plates are reactive, you hit one, it goes down and springs back up. Primarily all you have to do is just hit it, it does not have to go down.

 

[Ringostar]

I assume that your shooting either prone or from a bench. I think that a 26" barrel might be a little short for getting 950 yds, with a 6.5. If your using a rest or bipod, then I would definitely start with a 30" barrel. It doesn't cost anymore than a shorter barrel. Plus after 2000 rnds, you can shorten and re chamber it. True silhouette is shot standing off hand from 200-500 meters. There you don't want the long heavy barrel, and the 260, 7-08 or 308 are preferred. I built a combo pronghorn/silhouette rifle. Rem 700 SA ss, 26" #5 fluted Brux barrel, B&C varmint stock, 260 Rem w/140 bullets.

 

[WyleWD]

Nosler also makes the brass. Winchester sells match ammo so they must make the brass as well. Unless they're stamping win on someone else's brass

Norma also makes brass for the 6.5 Creedmore. At least Huntington's lists it on their site. WD

 

[Eraser]

Nosler also makes the brass. Winchester sells match ammo so they must make the brass as well. Unless they're stamping win on someone else's brass

Norma also makes brass for the 6.5 Creedmore. At least Huntington's lists it on their site. WD

What can you tell me about Norma brass, is it better then Hornady? I see it cost a good bit more.

 

[WyleWD]

Nosler also makes the brass. Winchester sells match ammo so they must make the brass as well. Unless they're stamping win on someone else's brass

Norma also makes brass for the 6.5 Creedmore. At least Huntington's lists it on their site. WD

What can you tell me about Norma brass, is it better then Hornady? I see it cost a good bit more.

I don't have a Creedmore yet, but the Norma brass I use in my Swift, 243, 6xc is second to none, WD