Can The 6.5 Creedmoor Replace the .308 Win As A SHTF Cartridge?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 4/23/2017 | J Blaha

[w1n1]

If you’ve researched short action rifles recently, you may have seen some rifles being offered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Using a case similar, but not quite the same, as a .308 Winchester, the 6.5 Creedmoor uses skinnier, lighter bullets and sends them downrange faster. 6.5 Creedmoor has gained in popularity as a great selection for medium to long range (500-1000 yards) shooting. Ballistic speaking, the skinny 6.5mm bullets perform exceptionally well, very closely matching the ballistic profile of a 300 Winchester Magnum, but with a LOT less recoil and cost.

Its possible that for SHTF scenario the 6.5 Creedmoor is clearly the better a ballistic cartridge than 308. The 308 was designed in 1952 for a semi-automatic military rifle, while the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed in 2007 for better long range target performance in a bolt action rifle.

What do you all think? Is the 6.5 Creedmoor better than a .308 Winchester for SHTF? Read and see the rest of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Win for SHTF footage here.

[yarddog]

I have never even seen one but have read a bit about it lately. It sounds like it is better in just about every way than the .308.

Now the .243 and 6mm Remington are probably both better than the 6.5. All of them require a very fast twist which many did not have until recently.

[RC one]

I don’t think so. Not until it becomes a NATO standardized round with widespread use and availability on par with the 7.62/.308. The .308/7.62 is just so widely available and so well supported right now that it doesn’t make sense to go with a 6.5 for a SHTF rifle. If the 6.5 ever becomes as widely available as the 5.56 or 7.62, it would be worth considering. just my $.02

[NoLibZone]

Only when the number of 6.5’s exceeds the numbers of .308’s in circulation.

[NoLibZone]

See also .40 S&W.

Like bell bottoms, these fads come and go.

[null and void]

What you and RC one said...

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I see that round looking like a .45 GAP in a few years.

Everybody is trading in those pistols now.

[Newbomb Turk]

Never happen. Manufacturers always over run production on 5.56 and 7.62 mil ammo.

Specialty ammo is just too expensive.

[reg45]

Note: 6.5 cm would be an artillery round.

[shibumi]

I have a rifle chambered in .243.

I know at least one other FReeper liked it a whole lot
when he took it for a turn at TCMS.

[Cold Heart]

I want, a 7.5 Brno, but I would have to sell all my guns and the lawn mower to pay for it.

[yarddog]

OK, what is TCMS?

[Farmer Dean]

I’m not about to change calibers now,not after decades of shooting .308/7.62.My longest shot would be about 700 yards if SHTF,with most shots at 400-500 yards.

[dangerdoc]

How much money would it take to buy the platform and 5,000 rounds?

I suspect the answer to that questions will also answer whether this is a better SHTF weapon.

I’m considering changing from .308 to .223 just based on ammo availability and price.

[RC one]

The 6.5 is nice because it does have a better ballistic coefficient than a .308 projectile of a comparable weight but the trend right now seems to be shorter barrels and I don't think you really enjoy the benefits of a better ballistic coefficient from a 16" barrel the way you would in a 20"-24" barrel.

That being the case, I'm presently working on a project that involves 130 grain-135 grain .308 projectiles from a 16" barrel in attempt to address the velocity deficit that result from the heavier 168-175 grain projectiles.

Ideally, I would like to see Hornady produce a 135 grain AMAX and/or BTHP for the .308 so you could enjoy increased velocity in a 16" barrel, better ballistic coefficients, and excellent terminal results.

[Reno89519]

I am looking forward to trying my .308 Savage 10T out to 1K yards over the next week or two. Didn’t seem that much difference—the margin of difference seems more in personal opinion than results.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

It is too tough to decide between the two, therefore buy both.

[doorgunner69]

No way. Perhaps if it became as common as the .308 and found in looted armories and discarded by Federal thugs.

[Texas Fossil]

You can never go wrong on 30-06.

If long range is only object? 300 Win Mag is a great common cartridge.

30 caliber bullets? super available. Even cast lead with gas check will work for 30-30, 30-06, .308 in a pinch.

I do reload and cast bullets. I’m cheap.

[gundog]

If they don’t sell the ammo at the gas station in Powers, OR, you don’t want it.