If you have browsed through or looked at short action rifles lately, you have likely seen some chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It's not the new kid on the block, as it's been around since 2008ish. It's also not one of the new funky calibers that will likely be obsolete in a few years. Nope, I think that 6.5 Creedmoor is here to stay. Folks like to compare it to the old, faithful .308 Winchester that die-hard fans still cling to to this day. They are honestly somewhat similar, but on the other hand, not really. While the 6.5 Creedmoor uses a similar case, the slimmer and more lightweight bullets simply travel downrange faster than the .308. Cheaper and with a considerable reduction of recoil, the 6.5 Creedmoor actually has a ballistic profile much like that of the 300 Win Mag. But the most common comparison is still with that of the .308. Although there are a couple of calibers that I think are more comparable to the 6.5 Creedmoor, it seems as if the 6.5 Creedmoor / .308 debate has become the standard in comparing cartridges in this caliber class. So, let's go at it! We're going to touch on some comparison points that lead toward either 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester. I could make a reasonable argument for either caliber, depending on what the topic for comparison is.

THE SHORT ANSWER

So, which is better, the 6.5 Creedmoor or the .308 Winchester? If you want to cut to the chase, here are the short answers: Why would you choose 6.5 Creedmoor over .308 Winchester?
  • It's more powerful at long ranges
  • It's more accurate at long ranges (800 yards or more)
  • It has less recoil
Why would you choose .308 over 6.5 Creedmoor?
  • It's a more powerful round up to 400 yards or so (great for big game)
  • It's just as accurate around 400 yards.
  • It's more available and more affordable


FN Scar 20S .308/7.62NATO Semi-Auto Rifle

AND, THE LONG ANSWER

Cartridge Case Comparison: While the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .308 Winchester look somewhat alike, the design for the 6.5 Creedmoor is actually derived from the .30 TC. Physically looking at the cartridges, side by side, you can see that the 6.5 Creedmoor has a sharper shoulder, 30 degrees to be exact, compared to the .308's 20-degree shoulder. For reloaders, 6.5 Creedmoor brass is pretty limited and not as readily available as the easy to find, better value 308 Winchester brass. Case Length - 6.5 Creedmoor = 1.92" // .308 Winchester = 2.015" Bullet Comparison: 6.5mm bullets have more lead behind less surface area than bullets used in .308 cartridges. While it may not sound like that would make much of a difference, in theory and in trials the bullet used for 6.5 Creedmoor has better penetrating potential at long ranges. Although the cartridges of the two calibers are similar, the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge utilizes a lighter bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient, and at a higher muzzle velocity than the .308 Winchester. Up to and between 300 - 400 yards, the two have a similar trajectory. Past 400 yards, the 6.5 Creedmoor has a proven flatter trajectory than the .308. 6.5 Creedmoor ammo also has less bullet drop than the .308 Winchester. At 500 yards, the Creedmoor hit the target up to 6.5 inches higher than the same bullets from a .308 Winchester. Bullet Diameter - 6.5 Creedmoor = .264" // .308 Winchester = .308" As the argument is starting to favor 6.5 Creedmoor, we have to remember that .308 Winchester uses bullets with a larger cross-section area. With about a 36% more front-facing surface, big game hunters still prefer their .308's at closer ranges. Bigger bullets make bigger holes, after all. Ballistic Comparison: Comparatively, as far as ballistics go, I have to say that I think that the 6.5 Creedmoor has the edge over the .308's. Within 400 yards, there is not much difference between the two. After that, the differences become more obvious. We have already talked about trajectory and drop, so let's focus on wind interference. 6.5 Creedmoors are much less likely to drift and they have a higher resistance to changing winds. Both cartridges can bolster a prestigious history of accuracy. Both offer the shooter sub-MOA performance and have proven extremely accurate for hunters. All factors considered, the 6.5 Creedmoor has a slight advantage over the .308 as far as accuracy goes. 500 Yard Wind Drift - 6.5 CM w/143gr. = 15.1" // .308 w/150gr. = 20.5" Recoil: The 6.5 Creedmoor definitely offers lower recoil, so much so that instructors are recommending this caliber for new, youth, or senior shooters. In part, this has to do with the aforementioned lighter bullet. While the .308 Winchester is known for being a relatively mild recoiling hunting cartridge in comparison to its hunting counterparts, the 6.5 Creedmoor, originally designed for competition and target shooting, has an advantage in the recoil category over the .308. In this comparison, recoil goes back to the improved accuracy advantage for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Shooters will recover easier and get on target quicker with low recoil. Depending on a few factors, as well as how one handles recoil, lower recoil generally makes for a better shooter. RECOIL VELOCITY - 6.5 Creedmoor = 10.47 fps // .308 = 12.06 fps FREE RECOIL ENERGY - 6.5 CM = 13.8ft-lbs. // .308 = 18.08ft-lbs. THE RIFLES: Rifle selection is without a doubt where the .308 Winchester shines. In every firearms website, firearms store, outdoors store, pawnshop, and anywhere else that you can legally purchase a rifle, you will find .308 Winchesters, same goes for ammo. In retrospect, I don't recall ever seeing a 6.5 Creedmoor available at my local outdoors shop. Perhaps in larger cities, it is more probable, but still not the norm to see them lined up on the rack. An example is that Savage Arms produces 10 models in 6.5 Creedmoor while producing 36 models in .308 Winchester. While the obvious choice for long-range is the 6.5 Creedmoor, it has yet to become a common stay in the rifle world as of yet, but just wait, the caliber is definitely trending in an upward trajectory!

Christensen Arms CA-10 6.5 Creedmoor Semi-Auto Rifle

IN CLOSING

Another question that comes up in the same context as the comparisons between the two calibers: Is the 6.5 Creedmoor the new .308 Winchester? While the 6.5 Creedmoor is, ballistically, a superior round, my answer is confident "NO". .308 Winchester is the most popular hunting round in the world, and simply has too many dedicated shooters that are not likely to abandon them for a shiny new toy. .308's are here to stay. Shop All 6.5 Creedmoor Long Guns
Shop All .308 Winchester Long Guns