In the hunting industry, the 6.5 Creedmoor has quickly ascended in the past few years. Now the chatter between the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 308 Winchester has arisen. Here is what you need to know about the heated debate between these two cartridges.

In general, a majority of people in the firearm community can agree that both the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester are both excellent for the purpose of competition shooting or target shooting. The .308 Winchester has held a prominent presence in the industry, as well as a strong, trustworthy reputation for the purpose of hunting a variety of game. If you ask hunting veterans, they will probably express their trust and love for the .308. The 6.5 Creedmoor is now becoming a pick for hunting some game. Both of these cartridges possess great qualities. So what is the big debate between hunting with the 6.5 Creedmoor or 308 Winchester?

A Brief History

The .308 Winchester Overview

The 308 Winchester has a lengthy, well-known history. This cartridge is known to be the “do-it-all” cartridge. This cartridge came to light following World War II. The .308 Winchester ended up replacing the .30-06 Springfield cartridge in the American Military. The .308 Winchester also was able to make an impact in the civilian hunting and shooting scene. The 308 is such a versatile cartridge that will possibly stick around for years to come due to its efficiency, accuracy, and power.

The 6.5 Creedmoor

When looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor, you are easily going to stumble upon loads of marketing content. Many people have mixed opinions about this cartridge due to the extensive marketing pieces. It is important to get a proper understanding of the 6.5 Creedmoor’s history, capabilities, and qualities. 

6.5 Creedmoor History 

The 6.5mm Creedmoor is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced in 2007 by Hornady. Hornady looked at the .308 and saw an opportunity to create a comparable cartridge. The goal was to create a cartridge that performed as accurately but will less recoil and a flatter trajectory. 

This cartridge is deemed a quality, medium-power cartridge. Its energy is measured at 300 yards using 129-grain Hornady SST bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor has the capability to take down most medium-large game but does not hold the same trust as the .308 Winchester does. 

For a more detailed history and additional information about the 6.5 Creedmoor, read the article “About the Controversial 6.5 Creedmoor: Pros and Cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge”.

Marketing of the 6.5 Creedmoor

The 6.5 Creedmoor is notorious for a great deal of marketing in the firearm industry. It is common for firearm enthusiasts to nitpick the cartridge due to 6.5 Creedmoor over-hyping. In the contents of a forum on the 24 Hour Campfire “Tired of the 6.5 Creedmoor”, this forum interaction clearly expresses how some enthusiasts feel. The commenter says, “I am getting tired of reading about how great the 6.5 C is…Marketing, marketing, marketing. Bah humbug, I say.”

With this view being expressed, there is still a large community of people who love the cartridge despite the marketing presence. The cartridge holds a great reputation with several highly-notable companies and blogs.

The Debate Between the .308 Winchester and the 6.5 Creedmoor

These two cartridges are extremely similar. They both have a similar trajectory but the 6.5 Creedmoor has a flatter trajectory altogether. The 6.5 Creedmoor is a lighter bullet and possesses a higher ballistic coefficient at a higher muzzle velocity. 

One point to be aware of is that the .308 Winchester does have a great advantage in kinetic energy. They possess a kinetic energy of 345 and 357 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle with the E-Tip and ELD-X.

In terms of wind drift, the excellent ballistic coefficient of the 6.5 Creedmoor brings the cartridge a noteworthy edge over the .308 Winchester. 

When comparing recoil, the 6.5 has a more mild recoil than other calibers including the .308 Winchester. With that being said, recoil is felt differently by each person. 

In Conclusion

In the end, this all depends on your needs and personal preference. 

For long-range shooting, it may be a better option to choose the 6.5 Creedmoor. This cartridge outshines the .308 Winchester for long-range shooting and target practice.

If you are looking for a tried and true cartridge for the purpose of hunting large game such as moose, elk, caribou, or red stag, the .308 Winchester is a top choice. The .308 Winchester takes the cake for a large game.

The 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester both possess great qualities and have their place in the firearm industry. They do have their differences but one cannot be deemed better than another.  Be sure to evaluate your needs for target shooting or hunting to decide for yourself. For more information and help, contact the ammo experts at Virtus Ammo today. 

The .308 Accubond is incredibly consistent, precision defined. The polymer-cased .308 Winchester 165g (grain) Nosler Accubond from True Velocity makes sure you never have to sacrifice accuracy for penetration. This is designed specifically with law enforcement in mind.

The custom-molded polymer case results in an incredibly consistent muzzle velocity, delivering a match-grade performance with a bonded projectile for incredible mass retention. This is proven even when penetrating automotive glass.

In this video below, Darren talks us through a quick ballistic demo of the Nosler custom comp tip in the True Velocity .308 Winchester polymer casing. He evaluates the distance of penetration, the wound channel, and the retention of mass. This projectile is non-bonded, 168-grain.

Watch the video below!

The 168g Nosler Custom Comp BTHP has been tested relentlessly. The polymer-cased AccuBond from True Velocity is ready for duty.

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When searching for information about the 66.5 Creedmoor Cartridge, there is a trend of chatter about how overrated people think it is or you’ll find the extreme opposite. Some people are in love with the cartridge. The 6.5 is of the most popular cartridges while being with the most controversial.

With an abundance of anti-6.5 blog posts, forums, and content on the internet, it is easy to find the hating perspective at the top of your search. 

It is unclear why people love to hate this well-known cartridge. We have a few ideas of why the hate is so prominent in the sportsman community. 

The Influence of Marketing

Many individuals complain about how over-hyped the 6.5 Creedmoor is. An example of this is assumption is in the contents of a forum on the 24 Hour Campfire “Tired of the 6.5 Creedmoor”. A forum commenter said, “I am getting tired of reading about how great the 6.5 C is…Marketing, marketing, marketing. Bah humbug, I say.”

Although there are many people expressing how overrated the cartridge is, you can find the so-called ‘overhyped” content. The cartridge has definitely received greater review and praise from popular blogs and highly-noted companies. Ron Spomer Outdoors shared “20 reasons to shoot the 6.5 Creedmoor.”

Loyal 6.5 Users

According to the haters, it is the community of users, not the cartridge they dislike. 

On the internet, it seems that people seem to dislike the 6.5 not only because of the product, but it is also heavily influenced by the community that aligns itself with the cartridge. This community is loyal to the 6.5. Some people solely dislike the cartridge because of its popularity status in the hunting community.

Making a Decision

It seems to be that Creedmoor critics don’t appear to dislike the cartridge as much as the people who love it.

It is understandable how overwhelming it is to decide to believe one opinion or the other. Below, you can find more information about the 6.5 Creedmoor to help better understand the popular cartridge choice for yourself. 

What is the 6.5 Creedmoor?

The 6.5mm Creedmoor is a centerfire rifle cartridge. It is considered to be a medium-power cartridge. Using 129-grain Hornady SST bullets, its energy is measured at 300 yards. The 6.5 Creedmoor sits at the top with the best-selling 6.5mm cartridges. This 6.5 Creedmoor is great for both target shooting and hunting.

When Did 6.5 Creedmoor Come Out?

The 6.5 Creedmoor was presented by Hornady in 2007.

Diameters:

• 6.5 Creedmoor Bullet Diameter: .2644 in (6.72 mm)
• 6.5 Creedmoor Case Length: 1.920 in (48.8 mm)

What’s 6.5 Creedmoor Good For?

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a trusted cartridge for target shooting and hunting. Many individuals are starting to choose this cartridge specifically for hunting deer depending on the size of the game. Usually, this ammo is sufficient for medium to large game. 

Will 6.5 Creedmoor Kill a Moose? Will 6.5 Creedmoor Kill a Bear?

With the right conditions, the 6.5 Creedmoor could possibly take down a moose or bear but it is recommended to use 222 Remington and 223 Remington rifles. 243 Winchester and 30-30 Winchester is more than adequate. Every situation is different when hunting so make a decision depending on your situation.

Pros of the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge

1. Efficiency has been proven time and time again
2. The Creedmoor is a choice cartridge that fulfills many needs
3. Versatile
4. Cost-effective
5. Low recoiling

Cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge

1. It is not the only target cartridge on the market
2. The reputation has been construed by opinions and marketing
3. Can be more difficult to find than other options

What is the 6.5 Creedmoor Equivalent to?

This cartridge is comparable to the .260 Remington, 6.5×47mm Lapua, and the .308 Winchester. 

What 6.5 Creedmoor ammo does the military use?

Hornady obtained a military agreement for its 6.5 Creedmoor Precision TAP. This is an LE/military load including the same bullet as Hornady’s 147-grain ELD Match load.

Is .308 better than 6.5 Creedmoor? Why 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308?

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a ballistically better cartridge than .308 Winchester due to the fact that the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for improved long-range target performance. In addition, it was designed with bolt action rifles in mind, using up-to-date manufacturing methods and designs. The .308 was designed for semi-automatic military rifles in 1952.

Although ballistics are great, they aren’t the only option. It’s more convenient to find a box of .308 Winchester within a decent radius. The .308 Winchester is more common to find and quite convenient. In addition, the .308 is capable of taking most North American game. If you’re looking for the best long-range, the 6.5 Creedmoor would be a perfect choice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong side to take on the feud of the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. It is all personal preference. For more information and other options for cartridges, contact the ammo experts at Virtus Ammo today.