Category: All About Guns
The 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester are two of the very best big-game cartridges, and both are more than capable at long range. But only one can win this showdown
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Because it is impossible to write enough about the 6.5 Creedmoor these days, my editors have asked me to compare it to the tried-and-true .308 Winchester, and I’ve agreed. Comparisons are not always odious. Gun writers depend on fees from cartridge comparisons to pay the mortgage and bribe officials at state agricultural and mining schools to take their kids. Some comparisons are fraudulent, for example, the .270 versus the .280. On paper, the latter has a slight edge. In real life, you could shoot every beast that has walked the planet Earth since the late Jurassic and not see a difference.
Some comparisons are both interesting and valid, on the other hand, and the .308 versus the 6.5 Creedmoor is one.
The .308 was worked up by U.S. Army Ordnance in the early 1950s for shooting people, and it has excelled at that and every other use to which it has been put. It was an immediate commercial success and perpetually rides near the top of the best-selling-cartridge lists.
The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed by Hornady for long-range target shooting, reached the market in 2007, and spent its first few years in comparative obscurity. It was made for a bullet diameter that American shooters had previously treated with massive indifference, and named for a long-vanished rifle range that hardly anyone remembers, or spells correctly.
But it was the right round at the right time. It arrived when long-range madness had arrived in its full fury, and it was very, very good at long range. Then the hunters caught on, and today there is hardly a bolt-action rifle that’s not chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Both the Creedmoor and the .308 are extremely accurate. Both are low-recoiling, “mild” rounds. Both are fine as wine in the summertime for hunting. Both are hugely popular. Is one better than the other? Let us compare.
The .308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester (or 7.62×51 NATO) was developed to replace the longer, bulkier .30/06. It’s one of the most successful military rifle cartridges of all time.
The .308 will shoot about as accurately as anything you can buy. It remains one of the rounds of choice in military-style competition, and in F-Class Tactical Rifle.
But it is hunters who likely account for the .308′s perpetual popularity. It was a hit from the first. There is .308 hunting ammo in such profusion and prolixity that just thinking about it gives you a nosebleed. You can shoot prairie dogs with a .308 (although it spoils a lot of meat), and African ivory poachers used to kill elephants with FN-FAL rifles loaded with 7.62 military ammo.
The most popular game loadings in the .308 today come with 125-, 150-, 165-, and 180-grain bullets, and of these, the 150s and 165s probably outsell everything else. In factory loads, the 150s depart at 2,800 fps; the 165s at 2,650.
Traditionally, the most popular competition bullet weight has been 168 grains, but I doubt that’s the case any longer. The new slug is either the 175-grain Sierra Matchking Boattail Hollow Point or the 175-grain Berger VLD Target. The 168s develop 2,650; the 175s in the real world about 2,550.
This reflects what cerebral trigger-pullers have known for some time: that the way to go for more range is through heavier bullets and higher ballistic coefficients, not more velocity.
The 6.5 Creedmoor
Hornady’s rationale behind designing the 6.5 Creedmoor was that there are far fewer target shooters than hunters, but that target shooters burn up far more ammo, so he who comes up with a truly superior target cartridge will need a truck to cart his profits to the bank.
And that is what Hornady did. They wanted a round that had very little recoil, fired bullets of very high BC, was cheap and unfussy to reload, did not cost a fortune, was capable of extreme accuracy, could work through a short rifle action, and offered good barrel life. They got all of it.
How good is the 6.5 Creedmoor at long range? Permit me to quote from the Wikipedia entry on the subject:
“In October 2017, U.S. Special Operations Command tested the performance of the 7.62×51 NATO, .260 Remington, and 6.5 CM cartridges out of SR25, M110A1, and Mk20 sniper rifles. SOCOM determined that the 6.5CM performed the best, doubling hit probability at 1,000 meters (italics mine) increasing effective range by nearly half, reducing wind drift by a third and having less recoil than the 7.62 NATO rounds…”
Like the .308, the 6.5 Creedmoor is loaded in a migraine-inducing variety of ammo. However, its range of bullet weights is more limited, breaking down into two groups. The lighter weights run from 127 grains to 135; the heavier group goes from 140 to 147 grains. If you made a count, you’d probably find that 140 grains is the most popular weight.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a round of modest velocity. With the lighter-weight bullets you get roughly 2,900 fps; with the heavier ones, 2,700. This is deceptive. The 6.5 Creedmoor, with 140-grain bullets, duplicates the trajectory of the far more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum out to 1,000 yards and beyond.
And so, let’s get to the comparisons.
Which is Better? 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor Recoil vs. .308 Recoil
For most shooters, less recoil means better accuracy. Natalie Krebs
The less recoil you catch, the better you shoot; it’s as simple as that. A 7-pound 6.5 Creedmoor firing a 140-grain bullet at 2,700 fps imparts just under 15 ft. lbs. of kick. The same weight .308 rifle shooting 165 grains at 2,650 fps turns up 19 ft. lbs. You can go up and down in bullet weights, and the results are going to be parallel between the two cartridges.
Winner: The 6.5 Creedmoor.
6.5 Creedmoor Accuracy vs. .308 Accuracy
Two nice groups produced by a .308 rifle shooting Federal Gold Medal with 168 grain, Sierra Match Kings. Natalie Krebs
They are two of the most accurate rounds in existence. At extreme long range, you could give the edge to the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Winner: The 6.5 Creedmoor.
6.5 Creedmoor vs. 308 in Price, Variety, and Availability of Ammo
While .308 has always been more plentiful and cheaper, the 6.5 CM is dropping in price and gaining in popularity. Dave Hurteau
The 6.5 Creedmoor rates high. On the other hand, the .308 probably has more ammo, of all varieties, prices, and types, loaded for it than anything but the .30/06 or the .223.
Winner: The .308.
6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 for Effectiveness on Game
This bull elk was shot with a 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor. It ran about 50 yards and dropped. Aram von Benedikt
On paper, the .308 might get the nod because it can use heavier bullets. In the real world, since there’s hardly any difference in killing power between cartridges, that goes by the boards.
Winner: A dead heat.
6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 for Barrel Life
If you’re strictly a hunter, this is a minor factor. If you shoot a lot, or in competition, it’s important. The best estimate for a .308 is 3,000 rounds. For a 6.5 CM, it’s 2,000 to 2,500 rounds. This is first-class, competition-type accuracy.
Winner: The .308 by a nose, although it’s close enough that you can consider it a tie for all practical purposes.
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6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 for Ease of Handloading
Both cartridges are great choices for hand loaders. Hornady
Neither cartridge has any tricks of the trade, quirks, peculiarities, or hidden pitfalls. The 6.5 Creedmoor has an advantage in that it will accommodate very long bullets without their intruding into the powder space.
Winner: The 6.5 Creedmoor.
Read Next: 6.5 Creedmoor, The New King of Ammo
6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 for Performance At Long Range
With its high ballistic coefficient, the 6.5 Creedmoor is hard to beat at long range. Natalie Krebs
My definition of long range is the same as the NRA’s—800 to 1,200 yards.
Using the excellent Berger Bullets Ballistics Calculator, let us compare a 140-grain Berger VLD bullet (MV 2,650 fps, G7 BC, .304) from a 6.5 Creedmoor, at 1,000 yards, with a .308.
Long-Range 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics
- Velocity: 1,370 fps
- Bullet drop: 348.59″
- Wind drift, 5 mph from 9 o’clock: 39.18″
Long-Range .308 Ballistics (175-grain Long Range BT, G7 BC, .262, MV 2,650 fps):
- Velocity: 1,203 fps
- Bullet drop: 386″
- Wind drift, 5 mph from 9 o’clock: 48.53
Winner: The 6.5 Creedmoor.
6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Performance at Mid-Range
Any hunting rifle chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester should perform well at mid-range. Natalie Krebs
Let’s dial back to a sane distance, say, 500 yards, and switch from target bullets to hunting bullets.
Mid-Range 6.5 Creedmoor Berger Classic Hunter Ammo Ballistics (135-grain Hunter Hybrid bullet, 2,696 MV, G7 BC .303 at 500 yards):
- Velocity: 1,954 fps
- Bullet drop: 56.88 inches
- Wind drift: 5 mph from 9 o’clock, 8.34
Mid-Range .308 Berger Classic Hunter ammo Ballistics (168-grain Hunter Hybrid bullet, 2,675 fps MV, G7 BC .251, at 500 yards):
- Velocity: 1, 824 fps
- Bullet drop: 60.53″
- Wind drift: 5 mph from 9 o’clock, 10.41″
Winner: The 6.5 Creedmoor.
And the Winner Is…
Topping off a magazine with 6.5 Creedmoor Federal Premium ammunition. Federal Ammunition
Read Next: Why the 6.5 Creedmoor Might Be the Best Factory Rifle Cartridge Ever
So, who wins? It looks like the Creedmoor. But if you take away the target shooting, or the 500- to 1,000-yard element, it’s a tossup. Currently, I own zero rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I have six .308s in varying configurations and am not about to swap them for Creedmoors. Over the years I’ve probably owned 10 .308s, and when I wore a green suit and got free ammo provided by the Government (not to mention $85 per month), I carried a 7.62 NATO.
Does this mean I’m prejudiced? Yep. The 6.5 Creedmoor is every bit as good as they say it is, but I’ve had 50-plus years of shooting with the .308, and it’s never failed to get the job—any kind of job—done.
But my eyes are fixed on the past, and yours, presumably, are on the future, so you decide. Or buy one of each.
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Medieval Tech – Roaring Meg
Mid-80s gear flashback: Pachmayr grips, kubaton keychain,
speed loaders, speed strips and wheelguns. Winchester +P 158
grain SWC HP ammo, known as the FBI load, was our duty load.
On September 23, 1985, I entered the portals of the Montgomery County Police Academy, as a fresh young police recruit. We were told to report to the main lobby, later affectionately called “hitting the bricks” due to the brick floor it had. Here, we were indoctrinated to becoming police officers. Hopefully …
Shooting
Our instructors were police officers themselves, comprised mostly of 10+ year veterans. They seemed ancient compared to a bunch of raw recruits. They were a salty, savvy bunch of old-timers who seemed to know it all. Looking back now, being in their early to mid-30s, they were nothing but kids themselves. Isn’t it funny how perspective changes over time?
After going over the four basic cardinal rules of firearm safety we went over the basics of grip, stance, sight alignment, trigger pull and follow-through. Then, we were each assigned a shooting lane on the range, with our own box of cartridges and issued revolver. Remember now, this was 1985.
Our service gun was a 4” Ruger Service-Six chambered in .38 Special. Commands were given to load and holster. Oh, boy! This was it. Shooting BB guns since I was 5, then progressing to a .22 rifle and several center-fire rifles, I was familiar with the concepts of sight picture and had a pretty educated trigger-finger. But I’d never applied these skills to the revolver.
Commands were given to “watch your targets” as the bladed targets turned broadside, and the range erupted in gun fire.
DA Only
We were taught to shoot double action only. After all, we were going be cops, and that’s how cops shot. We shot thousands of rounds of ammo during firearms training. I don’t remember the brand of ammo, but it was dirty, leading fiercely, obviously low bid.
Our barrels leaded so much the bullets eventually keyholed on target. I was introduced to the Lewis Lead-Remover, which efficiently removed the lead from the barrel’s grooves.
After every shooting session, our guns and hands were covered in black soot. The smell of burnt powder, oil and Hoppes #9 was forever etched in my brain, as we scrubbed our guns. It was during this time. my love for revolvers and double-action shooting was ingrained in me.
Rules to Live By
We were told, under no circumstances, to clip any springs or work on our duty guns, to give them a better trigger or slicker action. Also, any ivory, stag or “flashy” replacement stocks were also prohibited. As time passed, I began to understand why.
Tank’s department had their badge engraved onto
the side-plate for a nice personal touch.
“Just Shoot It!”
The Ruger Service-Six has fixed sights, unlike the Ruger Security-Six, which has adjustable sights. You’re stuck with the point of impact with a Service-Six, but its fixed sights are much more durable. My gun tended to shoot 2” left with the ammo we shot at 25 yards. When I raised this point, it was confirmed by a grizzled instructor. His stare made me feel foolish, as he grunted, “aim a little right, you’ll be alright” and walked away. The code back then was, a good shot didn’t complain, or make excuses, they just shot.
Other issues arose from other candidates and the answer was always the same,” Just shoot it! You’ll figure it out.” I guess this is where my “out of the box” philosophy comes from, just shoot the gun … you’ll figure it out …
Qualification
We shot a modified version of the PPC course for qualification since we only had a 25-yard range. A 70% or better average for three courses of fire on the B-27 target was needed to graduate.
Back then, we carried six rounds in the gun and two speed loaders, for a total of 18 rounds. I still hear the range master’s muffled voice over the intercom, through my earmuffs, “This first course of fire is 12 shots in 20 seconds … watch your targets!” Like coiled springs, we waited for the bladed target frames to turn …
Tank’s old police credentials. What happened?
Symphony of Skills
Shooting 12 shots with a revolver entails firing your first six rounds, placing your revolver in your weak hand, dumping brass, grabbing your speed loader, lining up six bullets to six chambers, releasing them, then closing your cylinder, returning your gun to your strong hand while re-establishing your grip and firing your final six rounds.
It’s a complex symphony of both gross and fine motor skills. Shear repetition made us masters at it. The total course of fire was 60 rounds, consisting of kneeling, prone, left- and right-hand barricade positions, from 7-, 15- and 25-yard distances.
Progression…
Afterwards, our instructors came up with a more practical course of fire for qualification. We started shooting on the move, taking advantage of cover and concealment, while doing “hot” tactical re-loads and real-life scenarios. The training improved, getting us to think, “what if…”
Finally …
Shooting is a perishable skill. You need practice to stay proficient. Shooting is the least used skill in police work but the most important. Conversely, some of the best street cops I worked with were terrible shots while some of the best shots were terrible street cops. Like life, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense at all.