.308 Win./ 6.5 Creedmoor???

[Badger Tuff]

Been reading a lot how the 6.5 CM is a better round than the .308 Win., any thoughts or comments on this?

[Everready73]

I like the 6.5 especially after 500 yards. It's much better ballistically. Also about 1/3 less recoil than 308.

[SIGFAN86]

6.5 creedmoor all day long.
Better ballistic coefficient
Higher muzzle velocity
Better terminal ballistics at long range
Less drop, and wind deflection
Less recoil
Slightly higher price per round though.And barrel life will be roughly 1/2 of a .308 barrel

[Yellowfin]

It's best to have an AR10 with uppers for both .308 and 6.5CM or a pair of complete rifles one each.

[FJW]

Been reading a lot how the 6.5 CM is a better round than the .308 Win., any thoughts or comments on this?

I have an Enfield in 7.62/308 and I've always thought 6.5 would be the alternative, namely in a Swedish Mauser. I also have a thing for 6.5 Grendel. Just seems that 6.5mm in general has a certain sacred geometry and physics to it when applied to projectiles. Now to support that idea 6.5 Creedmore is catching on, and 6.8SPC has essentially already caught on... based the same dynamics. 6.5 kills just as dead as .308 from just as far, and does it far more efficiently. There, I said it. The only concern would be where more momentum is desired butfor soft targets I think 6.5 is the superior choice. Unfortunately the market needs to catch up to the idea a bit.

[Steeltrap]

....And barrel life will be roughly 1/2 of a .308 barrel

I'm curious as to why you have made this statement. I've been shooting the 6.5 Swede from a modern action Savage with a Shilen barrel and after two thousand rounds plus, pushing 140gr. bullets at 2900fps, I don't see where a 50% reduction on barrel life can be.

[Hawk]

SIGFAN86,
Barrel life? You mean life of a barrel before accuracy degrades for the type of shooting you're doing. Accuracy loss at 600 yards shooting iron sights will be measured differently than bench shooting with a scope at 600 yards. And shooting a scope rifle at 1000 yards, a drop in accuracy will be measured much differently than the first 2 examples. It really depends on your definition of accuracy and what's acceptable to you. One guy may shoot his 6.5 Creedmoor for 3K before he feels accuracy has degraded enough to replace the barrel. Another guy may only put 1K down his barrel before he replaces it.


However, you're not totally off base on your statement regarding barrel life on the 6.5 Creedmoor.
http://www.sincityprecision.com/6-5m...r-barrel-life/

[Steeltrap]

However, you're not totally off base on your statement regarding barrel life on the 6.5 Creedmoor.
http://www.sincityprecision.com/6-5m...r-barrel-life/

Interesting read on the link Hawk. I read the article and the author states that some barrel brands are made from a harder steel than others. He also states the 6.5 will not last as long as the .308......but what he doesn't say is why. I'm not sure if the author is saying the .308 will continue to shoot well and not lose velocity because throat erosion doesn't effect the velocity on the .308 vs the 6.5. I can only assume that's what he means.

[SIGFAN86]

I'm curious as to why you have made this statement. I've been shooting the 6.5 Swede from a modern action Savage with a Shilen barrel and after two thousand rounds plus, pushing 140gr. bullets at 2900fps, I don't see where a 50% reduction on barrel life can be.

It's been shown that 308 barrels will last between 4-8k rounds before starting to degrade its accuracy.
6.5 creedmoor with its higher pressures and velocities will start to degrade the throat of the barrel in the 2-3k rounds vicinity

[SIGFAN86]

SIGFAN86,
Barrel life? You mean life of a barrel before accuracy degrades for the type of shooting you're doing. Accuracy loss at 600 yards shooting iron sights will be measured differently than bench shooting with a scope at 600 yards. And shooting a scope rifle at 1000 yards, a drop in accuracy will be measured much differently than the first 2 examples. It really depends on your definition of accuracy and what's acceptable to you. One guy may shoot his 6.5 Creedmoor for 3K before he feels accuracy has degraded enough to replace the barrel. Another guy may only put 1K down his barrel before he replaces it.


However, you're not totally off base on your statement regarding barrel life on the 6.5 Creedmoor.
http://www.sincityprecision.com/6-5m...r-barrel-life/

I agree, accuracy of a barrel is subjective. But the inherent cost of a high pressure/high velocity round is increased barrel throat wear. And it's been shown shot for shot a 6.5 creedmoor barrel will last roughly 1/2 as long as a 308 barrel. Now at what point do you call a barrel shot out? That's up to the shooter and their preferences/wallet.
Personally if I no longer can get 1moa accuracy from a barrel that I know shot .5moa 2k rounds ago, I'll call it spent and will be in search of a new one