.308 or 6.5 creedmoor

[AgentP]

I know this has probably been beat to death but I wanna be convinced which way to go. I live in Colorado so the 6.5 creedmoor can’t be used on elk. I already have a 300 wsm for elk and a 7mm rem mag but my 7 mag isn’t very accurate. What I want for this rifle is accuracy and the ability to be used for mule deer and pronghorn and be a rifle my girlfriend can shoot. Not sure if she’d ever want to shoot an elk but if she did that’s why I’m considering the .308 over the 6.5 creedmoor. The rifle I’m gonna get is the tikka t3x superlite. My question is are there really that much benefit of going with the 6.5 creedmoor over the .308? The only think I see the advantage being is that it shoots flatter further but at that point we are getting into non hunting ranges

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Who said the 6.5CM can’t be used on elk?

Short answer is you can. It’s 6mm or larger.

So going back to your question, you would be well served with a 243, 6mm CM or 6.5CM. If you don’t handload, the latter is the easy button.

 

[LongWayAround]

Colorado has a caliber restriction of .24/6mm

The 6.5 Creedmoor is legal.

 

[wbpowers06]

Unless anything is changing for 2025, you can most certainly use a 6.5 cm for elk in Colorado.

2024 regs state .243 (6mm) as the minimum caliber.




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[Nine Banger]

and be a rifle my girlfriend can shoot.

is there really that much benefit of going with the 6.5 creedmoor over the .308? The only think I see the advantage being is that it shoots flatter further but at that point we are getting into non hunting ranges

The difference in recoil is not marginal.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

6.5 CM is an excellent elk cartridge. So is the .308.

.308 advantages
1. Barrel Life 5-10 times the life of 6.5 CM.
2. Very predictable in the wind with good bullets when practiced.
3. Good factory threaded short barrel options for suppressing.

6.5CM advantages
1. Better down range ballistics.
2. Less recoil affecting your accuracy.
3. Excellent heavy/high BC good killing bullet options for very long range when practiced.

Both are a good choice.

 

[ColeyG]

I couldn't decide between the two so I made the obvious choice, one of each.

I use the CM in sheep country where longer ranges and fewer bears are the norm. The .308 is my deer rifle where shorter shots and more bears are the norm.

I like the 143gr ELD-X in the 6.5 and 168gr TTSK in the .308. Both high BC, accurate bullets that seem to kill stuff very well.

 

[AgentP]

Who said the 6.5CM can’t be used on elk?

Short answer is you can. It’s 6mm or larger.

So going back to your question, you would need well served with a 243, 6mm CM or 6.5CM. If you don’t handload, the latter is the easy button.

I was told by several people it was made illegal. Just goes to show I should’ve done more research

 

[06 SB]

Easy choice for me...6.5CM. I have used the 223, 308, 30-06 and 6.5CM out to 900yds and the difference is pretty significant. I find it is much easier to predict my 6.5CM hits than either of the 30cal options. 6.5 bullets are much less affected by the wind when taking into account bullet weight. The 6.5mm 142SMK is much easier to shoot than the 7.62mm 168gr SMK. The 7.62mm 190gr SMK has a lower BC that the 6.5mm 142gr AND its recoil will be much higher.

In hunting loads, the 130gr TGK is a great bullet for the 6.5CM and is what I load. It is the perfect bullet for mule deer and pronghorn. For shorter range deer here in GA, I use the 129gr Interlock. Neither round has a lot of recoil.

OBTW, get an OCL Hydrogen K 6.5 to go on the rifle too.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I’d go 308. The recoil might be more but, I can’t tell it. It doesn’t kick at all.


I’m a huge advocate for shooting what fits. But, the difference in killing power perceived at the shot, a 30 caliber bullet will always hit harder then a 6mm bullet. Does that matter.? Not in the least as long as they both get put in the right spot. But, it’s nice to “Pole Jack” something from time to time. A 308 is better at that no doubt.

 

[Pdrechsler]

I don’t have one, but I would rather own a 6.5 PRC over a CM

 

[NealS02]

IMO you cannot go wrong with either. Like ColeyG said, get both! I own both calibers and shoot my .308 more because of barrel life. If you put my feet to the fire….I’d pick the .308 for just how steady, predictable, and durable (barrel life) those rifles are as an investment.

 

[Marble]

I don’t have one, but I would rather own a 6.5 PRC over a CM

That's what I got for my wife. It's a Savage Ultralight and I was concerned with recoil. It doesn't bother her at all and it's recoil is less than my Savage 7-08, which is another option for the OP. Anyways...after shooting it out to 450, it may be the most accurate rifle we hunt with.

I'm so impressed with the gun I may sell a couple of mine and get a matching gun.

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[mxgsfmdpx]

I’d pick the .308 for just how steady, predictable, and durable (barrel life) those rifles are

This is an excellent description of a trusty old .308.

For the guys saying they cannot tell the difference in .308 recoil versus 6.5CM they either don’t shoot often, have some slight amnesia, or are flat out lying to seem “tough” on the internet.

Let’s say you want to maximize the cartridges and shoot the heavy for caliber high BC bullets out of both.

An 8 lb bolt action hunting rifle in 308 shooting 168 ELDM with a factory level powder charge will be around 18ish ft lbs of free recoil energy.

An 8 lb bolt action hunting rifle in 6.5CM shooting 147 ELDM with a factory level powder charge will be around 12ish ft lbs of free recoil energy.


Anyone with a brain will 100% notice a 30-35% difference in felt recoil no matter their size or how “tough” the human may think they are.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I don’t have one, but I would rather own a 6.5 PRC over a CM

Why?

 

[77TMK]

Unless you're already sitting on a pile of 308 (and even then, just sell it), 6.5 Creedmoor is a far better performer. My 140 ELDM load in 6.5 Creedmoor is a 6mph gun, meanwhile my 168 TMK load in 308 Winchester is a 4mph gun. A 16" precision AR15 with 77 TMK is only a 3mph gun.

In a shifting 5-15 mph full-value crosswind at 400 yards, 308 is needing 0.5-1.5 mil bracketed hold, and 6.5 is letting me do a .4-1 mil hold.

Run the numbers. The 308 Win isn't exactly obsolete, but besides barrel life and M80 ball I cannot justify it. An 18" to 22" 6.5 Creedmoor Tikka T3X with lightweight suppressor and quality adjustable scope, loaded with 140 ELDM or similar, is going to kill literally anything on the continent with ease at medium range.

Just avoid the 147 ELD-M like the plague; it's a terrible projectile and I wish Hornady would can it.

 

[Rotnguns]

I know this has probably been beat to death but I wanna be convinced which way to go. I live in Colorado so the 6.5 creedmoor can’t be used on elk. I already have a 300 wsm for elk and a 7mm rem mag but my 7 mag isn’t very accurate. What I want for this rifle is accuracy and the ability to be used for mule deer and pronghorn and be a rifle my girlfriend can shoot. Not sure if she’d ever want to shoot an elk but if she did that’s why I’m considering the .308 over the 6.5 creedmoor. The rifle I’m gonna get is the tikka t3x superlite. My question is are there really that much benefit of going with the 6.5 creedmoor over the .308? The only think I see the advantage being is that it shoots flatter further but at that point we are getting into non hunting ranges

Both will be fine. As many have mentioned in this thread, you can use your 6.5 Creed on elk in Colorado. If this is primarily a hunting rifle, you won't shoot the barrel out. With either caliber, consider a muzzle brake to mitigate the recoil on your light rifle - they really help!

 

[bergie]

Just avoid the 147 ELD-M like the plague; it's a terrible projectile and I wish Hornady would can it.

how come?

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

So little difference in practical effectiveness that unless you really plan on 500-600 yard shots or further, the choice is a toss up. 308 has a more versatile stable of bullet weights and ammo options, along with just cheaper bulk target ammo.

Recoil is heavier from 308 due to heavier bullets generally being used, but you can just grab 125gr or 130gr copper offerings and it brings the recoil down to pretty similar levels.

You have a 308 shooting a 130gr Barnes TTSX at 3,000+ fps with about 15-16lb of recoil in a 7-8lb gun, and you have a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting a 130gr TTSX at around 2750fps with about 13-15lb of recoil in the same weight gun.

So yes, a little more with the 308, but quite similar when you use the same weight bullets.

 

[dsotm]

6.5CM and it's not even close