Should I get. 6.5 creedmoor?

I have a .308 and I'm considering getting another barreled action in the same brand that I have so I can use my stock and such.   If I did I am looking at 6.5creedmoore but I'm not sure it offers enough additional performance over the 178gr superformance

Thoughts?


By the way I don't load or reload ammo and I probably never will

the 6.5 is better in pretty much all aspects except for one, barrel life.. the 6.5 will burn the barrel a lot sooner than a .308

X2  but you will find it very easy to shoot. Not nearly the kick of standard. 308

My ballistics calculator shows a small difference between 178gr 308 superformance and 140gr 6.5cm

If you don't reload there really isn't any point in messing with the creedmoor or anything else for that matter.

I am about to build a rifle, and struggling with same question. I started off with the idea of a 308, but now I'm torn between the 7mm-08 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The barrel life is making me lean towards the 7mm-08. Good luck with your decision; I'm still banging my head with mine.

I would think that that would hold true for the 6.5x47 or 260 based on prices for off the shelf ammo, but hornady 6.5CM factory loads have delivered some good if not great results for several people. In addition, the 6.5cm match ammo can be had for less than 308 FGMM, which is the de facto gold standard. Maybe Rob01 will chime in, as I think he has ran that 6.5cm ammo in practice as well as in matches.

Yes, you should. I'm building one, so should you.

http://www.scout.com/military/snipers-hide/story/1496625-hello-2015-now-replace-your-308

why not 260rem you could use your 308 brass and save some money





nm just saw you dont reload

When you don't handload, clambering a rifle barrel for round that only has a handful of factory loads is gamble.  The down range difference between the 308 and Creedmoor is fairly pronounced, but it doesn't mean much when your barrel doesn't like the available ammo.

you forgot ammo availability and energy on target.

I'm not sure exactly where your numbers came from. Of course, there are a lot of variables, but it appears that you're comparing what I would consider a "warm" 178gr load to a rather "limp" 6.5 load, in terms of velocity. There are guys getting 2750-2850 out of their 6.5 CMs and at that speed, the difference in drop and wind drift will blow the .308 out of the water and once you get beyond ~700 yards, the energy on target is in favor of the 6.5, as well (assuming you're shooting a 140gr vs. the 178). Now, if commercially available ammo is all that you have available and/or you prefer a really short barrel, then I can see how it could be close enough to not see a real advantage. Like I said, a lot of variables.

Depending on the exact bullet, initial velocity and conditions, the 6.5's surpass the .308 in retained energy between 600 and 700 yards and the difference is fairly pronounced by 1k.

Retained energy isn't much of an advantage.  If it matters it should fall into the 6.5 column.

I use a velocity of 2700fps for 175 or 178's in the .308 and 140's in the 6.5 Creedmoor for comparison purposes.  I'm well aware that there are people that load both cartridges faster, but the OP doesn't handload.
I seems to me to be a fair number for comparison.

The .308 is. 178gr Hornady superformance which in my understanding is the hottest / best long range factory load.  The 6.5cm is a standard Hornady 140gr a-max which I have heard is the best factory load.

The real dilemma as you pointed out is whether there is enough of a performance benefit to 6.5 or whether I should save my nickels and get a 338 lapua which will have an obvious performance benefit. I would go 50bmg but I wouldn't have any place close to shoot it.  

For the most part I agree with the above statement. You can kinda get by without reloading by saving the brass after you shooting and selling it on the EE to cut your costs. However, when I got into precision shooting I concluded that buying a reloading rig was just as important as buying a scope and should just consider it a part of the cost of doing business.

To answer your question more directly, you will get a benefit from upgrading to 6.5 but if your a casual shooter (and I assume you are if you don't reload)  I don't really think it's that important of an upgrade from .308.

Unless you start reloading, don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.

What is the barrel life of a 6.5CM barrel if you don't hot-rod the cartridge? I think .308 barrel life is 5000+ rounds. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

The best part of the 6.5 creedmoor is you can get match grade ammo from hornady for a buck a round. I would take a 6.5 over a 308 without hesitation.

I did run the numbers, you're probably comparing 20'' .308 numbers to 24-26'' 6.5's. If you're running the 26'' sps tac 700 you should have no problem getting Hornady's advertised 2775fps out of the 178HPBT, If I recall snipershide did a test with that specific ammo and got an average of 2760 out of a 22'' barrel. I plugged those velocity's into JBM, along with 2800fps with the 140's in 6.5. The .308 had better energy, even past transonic.
ETA: personally I can't find 6.5CM ammo in my area, I'd have to order online or just buy components and reload for it.

Thats insane. Last case I bought was 21 for 20.

I've decided not to get the 6.5cm and just save up for something bigger.

The 6.5cm barreled action I was looking at had a 20" barrel.  I think any performance gains over my 22" .308 would be de minimis.   I can hold out for a 338lm I just need to wait until I have money for the ammo. I have a personal policy of only buying new calibers when I can buy 1000 rounds of ammo

I hear you..My whole point with the energy thing was that with all things being equal (barrel length,factory ammo)the .308 will hit harder. at 1000 it may only be 50ft/lbs, but inside 1000 say 500-600yards or even normal hunting engagements 100-200 yards,  you're no longer splitting hairs the .308 it the clear winner. WOW $42 per 20 is insane, my LGS has the 178 match superformance for $26 last time I checked. I'd never pay $42 per 20 unless it was the blackhills 190gr I let people shoot out of my 300WM.

Sounds like you need you some 300WM unless of course you have a spot to shoot over a mile, in that case 338LM is what I'd go for.

My 26" Criterion/Remage 6.5 Creedmoor gets 2857fps with factory Hornady 140gr Amax Match ammo; my 22" Savage 6.5 Creedmoor got 2753fps with the same lot ammo.

Lowlight over on the Hide reported 2640fps from a 18.5" 6.5 Creedmoor with Hornady factory 140s.

Suggest you learn to reload if your going to shoot often. I did when I got into 50BMG. 3 bucks a round for the cheap stuff was still to much. Now I can do it for half or less.

If your going to shoot at ranges over 500m or so then get the 6.5 CM; 308 would be just fine at shorter ranges.

Limted to factory loads I'd still pic the 6.5cm over a 308.  

The current available options are pretty solid, and I'd be surprised if more didn't show up.  I see nothing but more popularity in the 6.5s.

Academy had 5 kinds of 6.5cm on the shelf. All for around a dollar a piece.

I like my Creed. Shoots like a laser gun.

The 6.5 Creed doesn't eat barrels like a 6.5-284 or 260 Rem, but then again I don't hot-rod the loads.

You found the difference between 260 and 6.5 Creedmoor barrel life to significant?

I agree. Must be a reason he doesn't want to reload.

Factoring in the cost of the equipment, the cost of the bullets etc. and the cost of my time it will never make sense for me to reload.

If you 200k/yr this is probably true.  

You can make ammo better than the factory match for less than $500 in investment. The equipment last almost forever and has good resale value.  

In addition to increasing the quality of your ammo (incrementally, but measurably),  you are also able to tune your ammo to your rifle.  This is even more important.  You can also shoot when factory ammo isn't available, or is even discontinued.  
If you aren't going to handload, you are unnecessarily limiting yourself.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with running quality factory ammo, because let's face it, some people have more money than time and there's not anything wrong with that.

I switched from 260 to 6.5 Creedmoor, in part, because of affordable & accurate factory ammo - I simply didn't have time to load as much as I needed to in order to shoot as much as I wanted to.

I do load 6.5 Creed (my reloads are less than half the per-round cost of factory ammo, tailored to my rifle, and made with a $100 Lee press kit and Hornady dies) but it is quite convenient to buy a box of 140 Amax Match ammo for $25 and go print sub-3/4 MOA groups with it.

You must not plan on shooting much. Especially with the Lapua you mentioned you would have your whole setup payed off in a couple hundred rounds.

Don't have a 260 but based on previously reported results I'll stick with my 6.5 Creed.  Better designed cartridge imo.

I went with 6.5CM for my last bolt action.

Similar ballistics to a 300WM or 338M besides energy out to farther then you want to shoot.  Need I say more?

Okay ... Or perhaps the savings from reloading will never match the value/cost of my time.  

just because reloading makes sense for you doesn't mean it makes sense for me.

If you end up chasing accuracy, you almost end up being forced to reload. It isn't as expensive as a lot of people think -

Single Stage - $100
Dies - $75
Hand Primer - $30
Tumbler/Media - $80
Lee Powder Spoons - $10
Scale - $30
Case Gauge - $15
Micrometer/OAL tool - $30

Thats really it to get started doing decent rifle work. Then, things can get crazy.

Let me give you some friendly advice on the .338 lm as im a fresh .338 owner. it is not a cheap and easy round to get into, and I mean that in many different ways. I bought mine for the intentions of long range hunting for elk. I wanted a large bullet with plenty of energy to stretch out to 800 yards and take down a large tough animal. After buying my rifle I stated getting ideas of trying to run it for a few precision matches. Well those ideas are long gone.

As far as a precision shooting , the .338lm was designed to go past 1500 yards. it kind of laughs at 1000 yards, anything shorter then that is a waste of powder and money. In some cases the bullet doesn't even stabilize until it has reached past 100 yards, so grouping may not be all that great until its pushed past 100-150 yards.  Ballisticlly it has no advantages over the 6.5 c until it reaches extreme ranges. Another issue I found is recoil. I'm a good size guy and my rifle has a brake, so the recoil doesn't bother me much, but getting back on target does get very annoying. The rifle will jump 3-5 inches off the bench and target every shot, so forget about timed shooting. The cartridge would be at a major disadvantage in that department

I saw in a post above, you wanted to save for 1000 rounds of ammo, well 6k for 1000 rounds seems a bit much don't you think? decent 338 ammo is in the 120$ range for 20 rounds. Those prices aren't even for match ammo, just decent stuff. Dont think you can get any kind of accuracy out of the cheaper brands either. Trust me i know. I bought a few boxes of sellier and bellot, PPU, and herters just to get my rifle on paper with the hopes that one of those brands would yield me decent results. I had full intentions of reloading anyways so I wasn't too worried if they didn't work out. Well they didn't. Just last night i went to the range to try out some developmental loads. I had 3 leftover PPU rounds which i wanted to heat up my barrel on before i started testing my developmental loads. The PPU gave me a sweet 5 inch 3 shot group at 100 yards.

I would seriously look into the 6.5c over the .338 . Unless you plan on shooting 2000 yards all the time or going to be big game or dangerous game hunting, its a big pile of money to be punching paper and hitting steel.