308 or 6.5 cm

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So... for the standard east coast hunter, im thinking the 308 is a better choice than the creed, here me out. For what it's worth, I have both. Tikka upr in the creed, cva cascade xt in 308.

My argument begins with the premise that your going to be limiting yourself to the ethical range of 300 yds. Yes, many of us sling lead past 300, but what are your honest odds of an ethical cold bore hit / kill when you lengthen it out?

So... 308, shooting a 130 speer leaves the muzzle at 3,250 with energy at 3067, 300 yd energy at 1400, drop at 3, 10.91"

6.5 cm shooting a 135 berger leaves the muzzle at 2715 w/ energy at 2293, 300 yd energy 1590, drop at 3, 13"

Therefore the 308 crushes it in muzzle energy & drop out to max ethical range. At 200 yds the 308 is still up 43 pounds of energy.

What does the 6.5 win? 6.5 might be the milder recoiling cartridge, but in today's world of supressors and especially braked supressors, is that a valid point for an adult shooter?

Yes the 6.5 is the 300 yard and beyond hands down winner, but if your not using its long range abilities, the og smokes it. Honestly, the elr hunters are choosing 6.5 prc, 7prc, and the 300's anyhow...

Is marketing the only reason the 6.5 is the #2 rifle cartridge today?

Below is the 308 load development target... for holes in paper at 100, the 6.5 is gonna have its hands full there too.
 

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Inside of I would even say 400 yards, it literally doesn’t matter. The differences are negligible, and the average shooter won’t see much gain or loss. I usually say: “there is no reason today to buy a 308 over a 6.5 cm in a bolt gun. However, if you already have a 308, there’s not much, if any reason to switch over to a 6.5cm.”
I still stand by that, but I’m sure there may be someone who knows more than me that would disagree


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Inside of I would even say 400 yards, it literally doesn’t matter. The differences are negligible, and the average shooter won’t see much gain or loss. I usually say: “there is no reason today to buy a 308 over a 6.5 cm in a bolt gun. However, if you already have a 308, there’s not much, if any reason to switch over to a 6.5cm.”
I still stand by that, but I’m sure there may be someone who knows more than me that would disagree


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That's my point. I don't hate the 6.5, I don't love or hate the 308. Im new to the 308, messing with 1 for a farmer friend of mine.

He is looking for a drt deer round, and had a few 308's.

I was bored on a Sunday night and wanted a good conversation is all.
 
So... for the standard east coast hunter, im thinking the 308 is a better choice than the creed, here me out. For what it's worth, I have both. Tikka upr in the creed, cva cascade xt in 308.

My argument begins with the premise that your going to be limiting yourself to the ethical range of 300 yds. Yes, many of us sling lead past 300, but what are your honest odds of an ethical cold bore hit / kill when you lengthen it out?

So... 308, shooting a 130 speer leaves the muzzle at 3,250 with energy at 3067, 300 yd energy at 1400, drop at 3, 10.91"

6.5 cm shooting a 135 berger leaves the muzzle at 2715 w/ energy at 2293, 300 yd energy 1590, drop at 3, 13"

Therefore the 308 crushes it in muzzle energy & drop out to max ethical range. At 200 yds the 308 is still up 43 pounds of energy.

What does the 6.5 win? 6.5 might be the milder recoiling cartridge, but in today's world of supressors and especially braked supressors, is that a valid point for an adult shooter?

Yes the 6.5 is the 300 yard and beyond hands down winner, but if your not using its long range abilities, the og smokes it. Honestly, the elr hunters are choosing 6.5 prc, 7prc, and the 300's anyhow...

Is marketing the only reason the 6.5 is the #2 rifle cartridge today?

Below is the 308 load development target... for holes in paper at 100, the 6.5 is gonna have its hands full there too.
Shouldn't you atleast try and make them equivalent instead of cherry picking? If you want to use a 135g 0.264" bullet the equivalent 0.308" bullet weight is a 157.5 grain (round to a 150 or 155 for convenience sake). If you want to make the 130g 0.308 your standard, the equivalent 0.264 bullet is a 111.4g bullet. Closest is a 107 TMK or 115 Barnes TAC-TX. When you make the bullets equivalent grain/bore your numbers will change drastically. A 120gr 6.5 and a 150gr 308 loads would be better comparison using factory ammo. Something like the 120 NBT and the 150 NBT.

Jay
 
My argument begins with the premise that your going to be limiting yourself to the ethical range of 300 yds. Yes, many of us sling lead past 300, but what are your honest odds of an ethical cold bore hit / kill when you lengthen it out?
Then your argument begins with a flawed premise. There is no single “ethical range”. I know hunters that probably wouldn’t be able to hit my pickup truck with their first round at 300 (not that I’m gonna let em try!) And there’s many guys on here that actually shoot their rifles in novel environments throughout the year, to whom 300 is almost a chip shot.
So... 308, shooting a 130 speer leaves the muzzle at 3,250 with energy at 3067, 300 yd energy at 1400, drop at 3, 10.91"

6.5 cm shooting a 135 berger leaves the muzzle at 2715 w/ energy at 2293, 300 yd energy 1590, drop at 3, 13"

Therefore the 308 crushes it in muzzle energy & drop out to max ethical range. At 200 yds the 308 is still up 43 pounds of energy.
As was already said, you lost me at energy. Besides, 43 ft lbs? Even if I was worried about energy, that’s a negligible difference. And as far as trajectory goes, it’s a little unfair to pick a light for caliber projectile in the .308 amd a heavy one in the 6.5.
What does the 6.5 win? 6.5 might be the milder recoiling cartridge, but in today's world of supressors and especially braked supressors, is that a valid point for an adult shooter?
Yes, still a valid point IMO. Everyone shoots better with less recoil. But to your point, to argue that either one is better for deer inside 300 yards is ridiculous, the deer will be equally dead no matter what you choose. If I was hunting whitetails inside 300, I’d be shooting a .22 cal, or 6mm if required by law.
 
dear OP dude, I'm confused about what conclusion you're actually trying to come to. you already have rifles chambered in the cartridges mentioned. So, this isn't a discussion about what to buy... and the rest of the noise was almost manic lol. Grab one, go shoot a pile of white tail bro.
 
Get a 243 or 6 CM. Less recoil and you will kill everything you shoot at at under 300 yards. Heck, get a 6ARC bolt gun.

I jest. They all will work.

As others have said, don't buy a new rifle to switch from one to the other. If don't have a rifle,
1) Pick a rifle you like in your budget
2) Pick just about any modern centerfire cartridge you like.
3) Buy the rifle
4) Go have fun shooting and hunting.
 
It’s not marketing at all,the 6.5 is fantastic and all the gun 90 %of people need.
There’s others that fit that as well.
I would pick the 6.5 hands down.
But would also take a 308.
Pick your poison.
 
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