6.5 Creedmoor vs. 7mm-08

T

TrueBlue711

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I'm just curious to the big difference between these two rounds. I've owned a 7mm-08 for years and love it. But since it's creation, I keep hearing about the 6.5 Creedmoor like it's the best thing since sliced bread. Both rounds are just necked down 308s. Can someone who is good at ballistics show the data between the two rounds at various ranges? Is the Creedmoor really better or is there already a round out there (7m-08) that can outperform it?
 
TrueBlue711 said:
I'm just curious to the big difference between these two rounds. I've owned a 7mm-08 for years and love it. But since it's creation, I keep hearing about the 6.5 Creedmoor like it's the best thing since sliced bread. Both rounds are just necked down 308s. Can someone who is good at ballistics show the data between the two rounds at various ranges? Is the Creedmoor really better or is there already a round out there (7m-08) that can outperform it?
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I've been told the Creedmoor has a greater range than a 308 and it's less affected by wind. I've been quoted somewhere around 800-1000 yards. I don't have one. I do have a 7mm-08, though.


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7mm08 was an attempt to put a more ballistically efficient bullet into a moderate sized case to provide better long range capabilities w/o increasing recoil. 6.5 Creedmore took that another step by using a still more efficient long range bullet.
Which is better? For punching paper, probably the 6.5. For long range hunting of medium sized game, use a bigger case.
 
Yes, I agree with Art. Until you define the mission statement you can't call one round "better" than another.
A 22 LR or 221 Fireball are both better than either the 7-08 or the 6.5 CM, if the mission statement was making pot meat out of very small game.

Speaking for myself only, I am not interested in target shooting anymore. So I would choose the 7-08 over the 6.5 Cm because for my use the 7MM covers more ground as a big game hunter, and I have a self imposed limit of 550 yards for shooting big game, so the CMs longer range flight advantage is worthless to me.

But if you want to play the long range target game would advise the 6.5 CM over the 7-08
 
Define "outperform". For what use?
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Probably the two main purposes: long distance hunting (med game) and long distance paper punching. So far, I'm getting the consensus that 7mm-08 better for hunting and 6.5 is better for paper punching. But I'm mostly looking at what the velocity, energy, and bullet drop comparison is at various distances (like 500, 1000, 1500 yards).
Before anybody goes off in a tangent about there are better calibers out there for both of those purposes, I get it. I'm just comparing these two.
 
I love my little Remington 7-08 good little rifle. My Savage LRP 6.5 Creed is a shooter very accurate but to heavy to hunt with. I picked up a Savage SS model 16 last week off GB for $305 if it shoots like LRP it will be a great hunting rifle find out today. Either caliber is great 6.5 easier on shoulder and better in wind than 308 I had. Less recoil than 7-08 to. Get both I say
 
On paper the 7-08 looks better out to 400ish yards. In performance no animal will ever notice the difference. Beyond 400ish yards 6.5 wins and does it with significantly less recoil. Beyond 700 yards 6.5 Creed with 140's matches or beats 300 WM with 180 gr bullets.

For years I was very tempted to get a 7-08 for less recoil than my 30-06 and great performance. But for a lot of reasons I just preferred 308 even though paper ballistics show 7-08 slightly better.

I've narrowed my centerfire rifle use to mostly 223 and 308 for quite some time now. I've been looking at 6.5 Creed for a couple of years and finally bought one and it has made me a believer. It perfectly splits the difference between 223 and 308. Until you start shooting game over 1000 lbs that bites back there simply isn't any real difference in performance on game between 6.5 Creed and 338 WM. I'd even throw 243 out there for most game.
 
6.5 creed is not a necked down .308. .260 Remington is a necked down .308.
A lot of people refer to the 6.5 creed as the .260 Rem done right.
Parent case for the 6.5 is closest to 250 Savage or 300 Savage necked down. It has a longer neck and steeper shoulder than .308.
I like the round so much, it has replaced all but one of my .308s. Supersonic out to +/- 1,500 yards, flatter trajectory, less wind drift, less recoil, than .308. What's not to like about it?
 
From the standpoint of hunting, given any accuracy to the idea that 90% of all deer kills are inside of 200 yards, anything from AK ballistics on up to the magnums are right at equal. Sights, skill, knowledge of trajectory: More important, generally, than ballistics.

Target shooting? Seems to me that when you get out to 400 yards and beyond, whatever combination of cartridge and bullet is least affected by wind is the way to go.
 
I agree with what Art is saying. I've been hunting the western states for over 40 years and the number of animals I've shot that were over 200 yards can be counted on one hand.

When it comes to target shooting to many people get concerned over bullet drop when they should be looking at wind drift as an equal if not more important factor.
 
Split the difference, let's see the .25 Creedmoor.

Just think, new brass, new dies, new barrels, ALL new bullets because the caliber has been neglected in favor of French System specifications.
A real economic stimulus.
 
To answer the original question, no, it is not any "better" than a 7-08 for most shooters. For target shooters who want that itty bitty difference the 6.5 provides, it may make a difference, but don't believe all the fairy tales about the 6.5 Creedmore. It does not have more energy than a 300 WinMag, it just shoots flatter. It does not shoot flatter and farther than any other cartridge, but it is very good due to the good ballistics of the long, pointy bullets. I would not sell a rifle to get a Creedmore, but if you need a rifle, it is a good one to get. All the hype and the ecstatic fanboys make me feel kind of tired, but I am sure they feel justified. I felt the same way about the 22-250 for years.

Parent case for the 6.5 is closest to 250 Savage or 300 Savage necked down. It has a longer neck and steeper shoulder than .308.
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The parent case for the 6.5 Creedmore is the .30 TC.
 
The Creed is the in fashion cartridge right now. Couple of years ago you would be asking about difference between 300 Win mag vs 338 Lapua.

The biggest thing going forr the Creed is you can load long, match/target bullets and fit in AR10 magazine.
260 Rem beats Creed ballistically, though not by much.

As for hunting, many moose have been taken by the 6.5x55 Swede.

Here in PA 270 is the minimum caliber for Elk.
 
I don't do any long range stuff since I live in an area where we have dense woods and vegetation, but I do hunt with both calibers. I've taken a lot of deer and hogs with the 7/08 and I think it's a fine caliber. I have been bitten by the Creedmore bug though, and currently have several rifles for it.
Honestly I think most of the difference between the two is more apparent on paper than in actual performance. The 7/08 might be a little better with the heavier bullets but both are excellent calibers.
I dropped a 200+ lb. hog about 6 hrs. ago with the 6.5 out of my AR-10, which is the most current toy in that caliber. It did a fine job !
 
Both rounds are just necked down 308s
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Only the 7-08 is--the creedmoor; like the grendel, features a set-back shoulder allowing the longer seating of bullets out the neck--this conserves space in the case for powder capacity as well as allows use of higher SD/BC bullets who's ogive may otherwise not be held by the case mouth. Ruger has come out with a 6mm creedmoor--I'd be very tempted to take a look at that.:)

Otherwise, refer to the current thread of 5.56 vs 308. lol
 
I find it amusing the talk about the 6.5 Creedmore. It has nothing on the 260 Rem other than factory loads. I think the 260 stops a 120gr bullet and I think I saw where the Creedmore goes beyond that. Seem's to me someone said something about the Creedmore could be loaded out farther? Not a big thing just long throat the 260 a bit. If I was buying one of them I'd get the Creedmore simply because I like the name, got a ring to it!
 
For me the 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Remington, and 6.5x55 Swede all have similar performance, or am I missing something? 6.5 Creedmoor case length, and profile is better for semi-auto's though correct? Or is .260 Remington just as well suited?
 
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