16 inch barrel light weight rifle........6.5 creedmore or 308?

[13bonatter69]

I have a box blind rifle, but I want a light 16 inch hog and deer gun to tote around the swamps of Alabama and Mississippi. It will only be used for pigs and deer at a max distance of 300 yards. My question is which caliber between the 6.5 creedmore and 308? Both calibers are offered in the gun Im looking at in a 16 inch barrel. My question is will only having a 16 inch barrel hurt one of these calibers more than the other? I know 308 does pretty good with a 16 inch barrel, but dont know much about the 6.5 creed with that short of a barrel. I know the 308 will have more recoil in a light rifle, but still shouldnt be bad with 168's i wouldnt think.

 

[Tanner]

6.5 CM is going to slap around the 308 no matter what you stick in the 308 (drop and drift) and do if with less recoil.

I love a .308 with a 155 Scenars for killing game but it can’t hang with a 6.5, ballistically speaking.

 

[MHWASH]

Anytime I hear lightweight and 308 in the same question I cringe a little. I own both in the Tikka. The 308 recoils significantly more than the CM. If you're at all concerned about spotting your shots, it will be much easier with the CM.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Have both, I favor my 6.5cm my .308 is about a 425 yrd rifle with 155 gn my 6.5cm will take me to 525 with 140 grn and do it with less recoil. This is with keeping eld-m or sst above 1800 fps for reliable disruption

 

[Luke S]

I have a 16 inch barrel 308. I like it but it is uncomfortablely loud. I pretty much only use it with a suppressor now. I think a 6.5 Creedmore would be just as loud.
If you are disciplined to only shoot with ear pro either could work. If you think you're going to forget it sometimes I would not do either caliber in a 16 inch barrel. Maybe think about electric ear pro.

If you want a short unsuppressed rifle for deer I might would suggest going a bit lighter in caliber. Our 6.5 Grendal hammers bears so it would be fine on deer. Less recoil and I assume less noise. Lots of guys here like the .223.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Potato pototo (how do you spell pototo, potahtoe?) inside 300 yards, just flip a coin or if you already have one of the calibers in another rifle get the same to share ammo stockpile. My 18" 6.5 CM shoots Superformance 129gr SST's at 2840 FPS so I'd expect a 16" to do pretty well also, if the barrel shoots it accurately. I like not losing too much speed so I'd probably choose the CM because of that.

 

[sdupontjr]

with a max of 300 yards, either. 6.5 won't overtake the 308 ballistically until well pass that 300 yard mark.

I too am in a similar situation. I have been using my Browning Abolt 7mag with BOSS since 1996 up until about 6 years ago. I stared using 308 because the long barrel made it tough to get in and out of box stands. Picked up a tikka t3 and topped it with a SB Polar. Recently I just picked up another Tikka but a CTR 20" in 308. I couldn't get use to the stock with the long mag sticking out the bottom so I sold the brand new takeoff stock and swapped it for a roughteck tikka stock. Not I have a short barrel, threaded 20" 308. This thing is nice in my box stands. Very easy to get in and out windows. I'm debating on swapping my SB Polar to the CTR for my dedicated low light woods gun, but haven't decided yet. Plus could add suppressor to the 5/8-24 threads.

T3


CTR with Roughtech Tikka stock and standard Tikka Mag

 

[KyleR1985]

What rifle are you considering?

 

[eoperator]

I had an 18"in 308, iirc it weighed 5lb12oz with scope. The scope tickled my eyebrows evertime i pulled the trigger. 3 3 shot groups was about all my shoulder could take without turning purple the next day.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I have a 16 inch barrel 308. I like it but it is uncomfortablely loud. I pretty much only use it with a suppressor now. I think a 6.5 Creedmore would be just as loud.
If you are disciplined to only shoot with ear pro either could work. If you think you're going to forget it sometimes I would not do either caliber in a 16 inch barrel. Maybe think about electric ear pro.

My 18" 6.5 is louder than my 18" 308 using the same can. If you want to eventually shoot subs go 308. I don't shoot any rifles without a can so I cant speak to performance without.

 

[mtnbound]

I have a box blind rifle, but I want a light 16 inch hog and deer gun to tote around the swamps of Alabama and Mississippi. It will only be used for pigs and deer at a max distance of 300 yards. My question is which caliber between the 6.5 creedmore and 308? Both calibers are offered in the gun Im looking at in a 16 inch barrel. My question is will only having a 16 inch barrel hurt one of these calibers more than the other? I know 308 does pretty good with a 16 inch barrel, but dont know much about the 6.5 creed with that short of a barrel. I know the 308 will have more recoil in a light rifle, but still shouldnt be bad with 168's i wouldnt think.

At the distance you mention, there will not be much, if any, ballistic difference. The only real difference will be in recoil. I used a 308 for years and only switched to the CM because I could find ammo everywhere. Even during COVID, I could find CM, but finding a 308 was challenging.

 

[wesfromky]

.223 or 6arc or 6cm might be something for you to look into.

 

[akmerle]

308 delivers a considerable amount more energy from 0-200 yards, they are about equal at 300 yards, and 6.5CM walks away from from it as the range increases from there.

Recoil advantage goes to 6.5CM, but 308 is not some super hard hitting magnum anyhow.

6.5CM is inherently more accurate (and you'll shoot it relatively better given the 25-30% less recoil), but if shooting ranges are withing 300yds the difference will be minimal.

I have rifles chambered in both, both do a great job.

If there is one gun in my safe that I inherently grab more than any other for general hunting / range work, its my Sig Cross in 308 with its 16" barrel.

 

[CHGray]

I did this a couple of years ago with a Bergara B14 Ridge SP. Not super light but not heavy. I have it in .308 but its available in 6.5 CM. Topped it with a 56mm Zeiss V4 to take advantage of every minute of light I can. Shooting Barnes VORTX 168 TTSX. Shoots about MOA and I keep it under 300 yards to keep expansion velocity adequate. Deer/hogs rarely take a step. 7mm-08 fits your build idea too.

 

[13bonatter69]

Just to answer a couple questions brought up in the responses.
I know most shots in the swamp will be less than 50 yards, however, I have a lot of gas lines and power lines in the area I hunt on the edges of these swamps.
Next, Thanks for the recomendation of 7mm-08, that is what my boy shoots and its awesome, but the rifle Im looking at is only chambered in 308 and 6.5 creed.
Last, the gun Im looking at is the Springfield 2020 Redline in 16 or 20 inch barrel. I should also say I will probably end up putting a can on it as soon as I find the right one that I like. So after the can, the 16 inch barrel will end up around 22 or so....??
I have a Springfield 2020 Waypoint in 6.5 PRC and love it for the box blind. I figured the little Redline will be a nice sidekick to the Waypoint, and easy to carry around the swaps.
Thanks for all the opinions guys!!

ALso....I guess I could go with the 20 inch barrel and get better ballistics and just forget the can. It would end up being lighter without the can as well......lol