6.5 Creed replace the .308 for hunting?

I think having a 308 in your firearm library is mandatory. The 308 is a common round and therefore easy to acquire and make either way. Also the 308 can have a little more metal on the meat or paper. I would not consider redoing either of my 308s. I have 4 of them; one is a LAR-8 with all the accessories. The other three are a mix match of brands. One inherited from Dad, one I got as a younger man and the other in a divorce fire sale from a friend who was liquidating and got a really nice deal. Anyway, I think the new 6.5 CR is cool and if you pull the trigger on one then get one you want. Always nice to get a new rifle with new hardware instead of piece mailing one together. Well folks that's my 5 cents worth :)

Shamrockshooter
 
My friend George shot a doe antelope with a 6.5 Creedmoor using a 140 grain bullet. I watched the hit through a 6 to 18 scope on 18 power. I saw the bullet hit just behind the foreleg. We lost the doe because it was able to still ran. I know that the 6.5 X 55 is used in Europe for moose and red deer (or stag) but I wouldn't use it. I also know that several of the gentlemen writing on this blog lost elk last fall because the 6.5 CM didn't kill effectively. I'd say that if you're going to hunt with this rifle, stay with the .308 and use the Nosler ballistic tip in 180 grain, or the Sierra Gameking in the same weight. If you barrel with a 24 inch barrel and shoot a 175 to 180 grain bullet, you can get high BC, high sectional density and a velocity of around 2600-2650fps which will give you a good trajectory, higher impact, a larger wound channel, and much better penetration on big game. Also, keep in mind that the bullets for the 6.5 are mostly target bullets with their limitations where hunting is concerned, while most of the .308 bullets are designed with big game and terminal performance in mind. I'd stay with the .308.

I killed a truckload of Antelope and Mule Deer with a 25-06 & 25-06 & my Wife did quite well with a 6.5x55, good thing I did not know I was undergunned.
My Wife now also has a 6.5CM, she uses it interchangeably, the Swede shoots the 140 grain Nos. Partition 2700fps, the CM runs just over with the same bullet. She has taken 2 Bull Elk, one with each rifle, same results, the 140 NP is a great bullet & to match the Sectional Density with a 30 cal, it would have to be 190 grain+.
Both went down fast, neither were long range, I don't think it would be a good choice past 300 for Elk, but I would rather go with a 300 for that anyway.
I hunt with alot of different cartridges because I am a rifle looney but have used the 308 for MANY animals here in AR, bunches of Hogs & Whitetails, meanwhile my Wife has taken 40 or so Whitetails with her 6.5's, we compare notes & her results and mine are pretty much the same. At "normal" ranges & with good shot placement with proper bullets & it's time for the shinning knives.
A good thing to watch is a big series of videos by a guy that goes by "Zen Archery", you can watch him take dozens of Hogs with various 6.5 bullets out of an AR in CM. & yes the big Hogs at least are a little tougher than Deer.
FOR HUNTING, pretty simple to me , I am very comfortable with a 308 or CM/260/Swede for medium game up to 3-400 yds, some think further & that's OK & I want a larger cartridge of either caliber at long ranges & would personally prefer a 300, realizing it is not mandatory but again preferred.
FOR target work, the CM shoots a hair flatter & bucks the wind better with less recoil with the best loads for both.
This deal of thinking a 6.5 is not enough for Deer/Hogs/Black Bear at medium range just cracks me up & I have to wonder about experience at that point.
As far as bullet choices, both calibers now have plenty of choices for hunting & target work!
 
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[QUOTE="Nomosendero, post: 1629369,
This deal of thinking a 6.5 is not enough for Deer/Hogs/Black Bear at medium range.....[/QUOTE]

This deal about people thinking they need a huge rifle for hogs, cracks me up. I normally use a .223, but shot a large sow at 113 yds with a 22 mag, and flipped her on her back with legs wiggling. Experience and investigation shows you the exact spot on the head, where the bone is the thinnest.
 
You can keep the 6.5CM, I will stick with my 7mm08.

I'm considered "ole school"!! I'll keep my .270AI, 30-06, 358 Winchester and my 35 Whelen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the right game at the right distances, I will put them up against pretty much what is out there; this probably is where the thread is going to start going crazy:mad:;):rolleyes::rolleyes:!! And...........if I were to build a 6.5 it would be a 6.5-06AI, or maybe a 25-06AI.
 
Alibiiv, everyone should have a .25-06 AI. Especially one with a 26" 1:7 twist barrel, now that Blackjack has the right bullets we've been waiting for.
 
A shot placement and well constructed bullets at modest ranges will do the trick every time regardless of caliber. As long as there is still foot lbs of energy at impact most of the high power rifle calibers of 25 and up will kill ethically and put meat on the pole. For myself I have found that I do not always get chances at modest ranges all the time and many chances come at less the perfect angles. Yes I like less recoil and accurate cartridges but there comes a time when I want enough gun. Limited time. short seasons don't always give me the luxury of picking the perfect shot so I will go for bigger bullets , with good coefficients .284 and 30's. Why push the envelope of performance with the 6.5 non magnums when I can just pull the trigger on something I know can get it done. Old school I guess !
 
A shot placement and well constructed bullets at modest ranges will do the trick every time regardless of caliber. As long as there is still foot lbs of energy at impact most of the high power rifle calibers of 25 and up will kill ethically and put meat on the pole. For myself I have found that I do not always get chances at modest ranges all the time and many chances come at less the perfect angles. Yes I like less recoil and accurate cartridges but there comes a time when I want enough gun. Limited time. short seasons don't always give me the luxury of picking the perfect shot so I will go for bigger bullets , with good coefficients .284 and 30's. Why push the envelope of performance with the 6.5 non magnums when I can just pull the trigger on something I know can get it done. Old school I guess !

I had mentioned before there are times I want more performance at distance than either the CM or 308, but to me that would involve a different rifle.
In keeping with the original question, the OP was asking about another barrel for his 99. I am not sure what envelope would be reached by using a CM tube instead of a 308, I can always learn though.
And yes, I am quite fond of the 308, I have a Ruger American I cut to 20" for a "tree stand" rifle & a M700 5R Milspec that shoots better than a factory rifle should but again I am not seeing this big killing difference that those who don't use a 6.5 seem to believe.
 
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I'm considered "ole school"!! I'll keep my .270AI, 30-06, 358 Winchester and my 35 Whelen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the right game at the right distances, I will put them up against pretty much what is out there; this probably is where the thread is going to start going crazy:mad:;):rolleyes::rolleyes:!! And...........if I were to build a 6.5 it would be a 6.5-06AI, or maybe a 25-06AI.

I have enough guns, for different situations. But, anytime I need a.mid-range caliber, I am going with the 7mm08, everytime.
 
The guys who keep buying Creed's make it easy for us .260 guys to acquire cheap brass. The revered 6.5 CM truly is the cartridge that keeps on giving :D
 
As long as there is still foot lbs of energy at impact most of the high power rifle calibers of 25 and up will kill ethically and put meat on the pole.

I don't understand "kill ethically". Is this sort of like "respecting the animal"? I don't understand that either. I'm going to kill it, drag its guts out on the ground and cut it into steaks and hamburger. Game is no more than potatoes and carrots on the hoof.

Edited to add:
I guess we high jacked his thread with these digressions.
 
I don't understand "kill ethically". Is this sort of like "respecting the animal"? I don't understand that either. I'm going to kill it, drag its guts out on the ground and cut it into steaks and hamburger. Game is no more than potatoes and carrots on the hoof.

Edited to add:
I guess we high jacked his thread with these digressions.
Easy , kill cleanly unless I'm uninformed potatoes and carrots don't feel pain upon harvest. Living game animals need to be killled as efficiently as we can and as far as respecting the animal , we have the moral obligation to kill as cleanly as we can. Now what I don't understand is that you don't think that a clean kill doesn't improve the table fair i.e.your potatoes and carrots on the hoof!
 
The Mod 99 seems about perfect for the 300 Savage. I've spoken with many Mod 99/308 users here in Utah that had trouble extracting some 308 factory loads. None I met were handloaders. I did know an old guy who grew up in Star Valley, WY that killed everything with his Mod 99 250/3000 with the 87gr bullet, ha! He said it was a gee wiz elk killer!
 
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