6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Win

This isn’t going to be an ernest comparison of the relative merits of 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308, because I don’t think there’s much point.

It all comes down to marketing these days and we think Creedmoor is the medium-range, mid-sized game hunting round of the future.

We did think Creedmoor was just a target round to give ourselves a hard-on punching paper 1000-yards away. But it has emerged as a real serious hunting round at up to 700 yards, capable of taking down White Tail on the spot. Little critters? Up to 1000 yards.

Now we still think 308 Win Mag ammo and rifles hold the edge up to 500 yards. And that is where most hunting takes place. So there are two winners here: short and long range.

Do You Need to be a Sniper Hunter?

The distance you can get with a 308 Win, then, is generally more than enough for most hunters. It is also perfect for deer and boar sized game. If you’re thinking about Elk and bears then you might want to upgrade to the 338.

The .308 has the added horsepower that comes with heavier weights, but then that limits it as much as anything. It drops off faster at long-range and beyond 600 yards then Creedmoor is almost certainly the answer.

At real world distances the 308 is generally considered the cleaner killer on medium sized game and big game in North America.

Creedmoor is Low Recoil

It’s easier on your shoulder than the .308 Win in terms of recoil and we’re starting to see more options when it comes to ammo as the caliber takes off.

Hornady Super Shock Tip is a real hunting round, despite its 129gr weight. It comes with a Polymer tip that has been designed to do nasty things at the business end of your shot. It’s designed to pierce through thick hide and fur, then expand and yaw after impact for the cleanest possible kill.

Check out some of the other scientifically devised killers here: Best 6.5 Creedmore Ammunition For Sale Now.

Lucky Gunner also has some great deals, so go there and have a look for yourself!

The average consumer, the guy in the street, is being driven towards Creedmoor. The ammo is cheaper, and really does start at around 50c a round, the guns are better priced and arguably just as good and the ballistics of the respective rounds are so close that you make more of a difference than the rifle.

You can pick up an incredible Tikka T3x Creedmoor rifle for around $500 and it will do anything you want. So will a $400 Savage Axis.

You can always spend more, but Creedmoor rifles are coming down in price thanks to an influx of competition. Ruger, Howa, Tikka and Browning all have basic 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. In the case of the Ruger Enhanced Precision, AR styling and functionality put it over the top right now.

So we think that the 6.5 Creedmoor is the new long-range hunting cartridge, and rifle, we all need. .308 Win fans will have something to say about that, I’m sure, but I’m interested to hear from people who have both. What do you reach for when you head out the door?