I’ve read about the advantages of the 6.5 over the .308 round (less recoil, less wind sensitivity, better accuracy, better range, etc.). Being that the .308 is a bigger, heavier projectile, I would have thought that it brings a bit more kinetic energy on target. But if the 6.5mm round impacts with more velocity does that equal or exceed the .308 in that regard?
Subscribing… It’s time for me to build a bolt gun in the next year or so.
I’d also factor in the availability of ammo and price. Same with components for reloading. It will be primarily be for the occasional elk/deer hunting trip. I really want to start hunting again and am limited with just my 5" .44 Magnum.
We’re knee deep in the 6.5 creedmore right now. And coming from the 175 gr SMK .308 school… 6.5 has yet to impress. For context, we shoot 500-1300 yards every weekend. Right now the 6.5 we’re shooting is an LMT gas gun, so there’s a little loss in barrel length at just 20".
The gun is suppressed, so it’s got that extra umph from the bolt speed increase when you add a can to any semi auto. That said, the recoil is reduced… but not dramatically. The Sunday before last, we really started to see the 6.5 produce. We’re 300-400 rounds into this caliber, and we started to see it make predictable hits at 1300 yards.
All in all… at this point, it’s a decent round, but there’s NO WAY I’d replace the 175 gr SMK in .308 with it. To your point… Nothing beats that big bullet thump on the target at distance. Pappabear is talking about doing a bolt gun in 6.5 which will really be interesting.
Looks like Knight’s has their hand in the 6.5mm world:
https://www.janes.com/article/83742/ausa-2018-knight-s-armament-company-unveils-6-5-mm-lamg
Don’t tell Pappabear about this!
I was looking at one of the Ruger Precision Rifles (Gen 3) in .308, and they’re also available in 6.5mm. Max range that I would be shooting is probably 300-350 yards. The guys at work that also shoot had almost got me talked into the 6.5 version (their view - “why would you even look at .308 when 6.5 is available?”). I’m leaning toward the .308 rifle because it’s a little cheaper.
Barrel life needs to be considered. How many rounds can you expect from each caliber?
For shooting out to 350 yards, not the sure the caliber matters for target shooting. I would factor in ammo/reloading costs and barrel life. Past 1000, 6.5 is a winner for me. And this is coming from someone who owns a 308. In really gusty weather, it took me significantly more rounds to get on target at 1250 vs a friends 6.5 RPR. My particular 308 with a 19” barrel runs out of steam quickly after 1000.
We’re all adults here but just in case this is meant to be tongue in cheek.
For the record I have rifles in both calibers. I’m about 200 rounds into the 6.5 and I like it so far.
6.5 CM with the right bullet and a 22-26 inch barrel will stay supersonic to 1400-1500 yards. It has less recoil. Past 500 yards it starts to really surpass 308 in wind drift and drop.
The big downside is barrel life. Expect only about 2000-3000 rounds before accuracy starts to drop off.
When I get my AI AT im getting a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel but I’m still keeping the 308 barrel.
For those distances, .223 with 77 gr OTMs is way wiser. .308 at that distance is like killing a mosquito with a sledge hammer. The .223 will do 1000 yards all day long in mellow wind. And it’s solid to 750 yards, for sure.
I see this all the time on the forum… “caliber overkill” is what I’m calling it. I can’t tell you what a pleasure a nice .223 bolt gun is to shoot.
Anyone looking at the Savage rifles in this caliber?
For that I’d look at the 223 version. 308 ammo ain’t cheap, though for 350 yards, 168gr would be more than fine. 75-80gr223 is going to smack stuff that close just fine. I agree, having a 308 bolt gun seems like something you just have to have. Barrel life is almost forever.
I am. I’ve always loved 7mm-08, and with the rise in popularity of 6.5, I’m strongly considering one.
I have one, I have yet to take it to the range. No excuses, just set it up and forgot about it.
For our 20".308 and the 20" .223 with 175 and 77 gr smks respectively, the come up is the same at 500 yards… If a shooter’s distances are restricted anywhere inside of 500, the .223 is the logical choice.
For 300-350 yards only get a .22.
A .223 will get you to 600-800 easy.
A 6.5 will get you 1200 easy.
I took a long range precision class. There were 18-20 shooters I can’t remember but only 3 of us with 6.5’s. Were were the first three to get hits past 800. I took me about 12 shots to get from 100 yards to 1000 and make clean hits. This was the first time I ever shot a long range rifle past 300 yards.
The .308 guys were having lots of trouble. My pattern was using 168 SMK in his .308 and it was no co test that the 140 6.5 was smoking his gun. They are easy to shoot.
I can take just about anyone and let them get hits at 800 yards pretty easy with my rifle.
Hell my GF was able to get first round hits at that range her first time shooting anything prone.
Also the barrel life isn’t as bad as people say. If your not running a kid that is super hot 2900 FPSshoot
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Damn phone won’t let me scroll down for some reason.
So barrel life in the 6.5 is 3000 rounds plus in my experience. Even then your talking about it still holding MOA just not a 1/4 MOA. Unless your loading super hot and using the upper node. I am running 140 eld’s at 2800-2850 out of a 26” barrel.
I will say for a gas gun get the cheapest thing you can shoot as brass cost sucks to loose. I will almost fight someone over a piece of 6.5 Lapua brass. Gas guns are also hard on good brass.
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Unless he wants to occasionally hunt with it.
Yeah. That’s true for some guys.