6mm Creedmoor or 6.5 Creedmoor for Western Hunting

[sierracharlie338]

Why is the 6 creed (case capacity ~53 grains) a barrel burner and the .243 (capacity ~53 grains) not a barrel burner?
The respective chamber pressures aren't much different either 60k vs 62k.
What am I missing?
Thanks.

More powder through a smaller bore for the 6mm means more heat also known as overbore in some cases. Think 308 case of powder going down a 223 bore as a better example.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Oddly this was something I hadn't considered. Always heard barrel life of 243 was about the same as it's parent 308 chambering (aka forever or ~5k rounds whichever comes first).
Learn something every day on here
*Tips hat*

When it comes to barrel life, not much can beat a 308!

 

[mattot]

6.5 for several reasons.

1. For a secondary/backup rifle you can find ammo just about anywhere in a pinch. Every Walmart I’ve been to in the last two years or better has had multiple 6.5 options on the shelf as well as sporting goods stores. 6mm is far less common. Never seen it in a Walmart and sporting goods stores I’d put at 50% chance and when they do it’s usually just some match ammo where they’ll have a half dozen or better 6.5 options.

2. Factory rifle availability. May not matter to you but it’s less expensive and less hassle than a rebarrel.

3. It’s optimal for everything in the lower 48 and is more of a jump in size than 6mm.

4. If you ever decide to shoot an NRL hunter you have a rifle that meets MPF.

223 and 6.5CM are the only two centerfire rifles I own now, they simply do everything.

Hard to argue with that.

 

[mitchparker1980]

Not trying to thread jack...but, similar situation. Currently have (and love) 7-08. Looking at the 6mm Creedmoor / 243 or 22 Creed.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

If going tikka just go 8 twist 243. No need for added cost of aftermarket barrel. Mine shoots the 108eld incredibly. Velocities in the mid-2900s with h4350 and over 3k with h1000.

 

[Elite]

Not trying to thread jack...but, similar situation. Currently have (and love) 7-08. Looking at the 6mm Creedmoor / 243 or 22 Creed.

How come the switch now?


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[MattB]

How come the switch now?


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I am in the same boat as the poster you directed the question to and am looking at a 6mm bore to add velocity (which extends range) for monos.

 

[mitchparker1980]

How come the switch now?


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No switch - just adding another to the stable. My 7-08 shoots the 120gr ballistic tips so well, I never tried anything heavier. My thought was, if I get a lighter cal rifle, use it for whitetail, pronghorn, etc., and use the 7-08 with heavier projectiles for larger critters (that I currently do not hunt (e.g., elk).

 

[Kendall Sorensen]

They are both barrel burners

Whidden gets 3000+ rounds out of his 243s pushing 108-115s over 3000 fps. Barrel burning is relative of course, but the old saw about 243s being burners went away 20 years ago with powders like H1000, Retumbo, etc.

 

[B23]

I have a Winchester mod 70 "Coyote" model 22-250 I'm going to rebarrel for my daughter. I've got a 6 and 6.5 ACE barrel on the shelf to choose from for this project and after giving it a lot of thought 6 Creedmoor it will be. I've got a bunch of Berger 105 Hybrids and a pretty health supply of RL26 so those two together in a 6CM should make for a light recoil deer killin machine.

 

[wind gypsy]

Whidden gets 3000+ rounds out of his 243s pushing 108-115s over 3000 fps. Barrel burning is relative of course, but the old saw about 243s being burners went away 20 years ago with powders like H1000, Retumbo, etc.

Is that with set backs?

 

[J_shearin22]

So I have a 22 Creedmoor to hunt with here in Utah. I am looking for another rifle for hunting in states that don't allow 22 Cals.

My next rifle will be a Tikka Action, ROK Stock, and Scope TBD.

I am wondering if the 6mm Creedmoor is worth the extra cost of building over just buying a factory 6.5 Creedmoor. (I know the 243 is a 1/8 now. I would like to stick with the Creeds though.)

I would use the following bullets depending on which caliber I end up with.

6mm Bullets would be 108/109 ELDM's
6.5 Bullets would be 130 TMK or 140/147 ELDM's.

Are they really just too close to call? As Form might say am I "vaulting over mouse turds"?

I would just buy the 6.5 and rebarel to 6cm when needed.