I have a box blind rifle, but I want a light 16 inch hog and deer gun to tote around the swamps of Alabama and Mississippi. It will only be used for pigs and deer at a max distance of 300 yards. My question is which caliber between the 6.5 creedmore and 308? Both calibers are offered in the gun Im looking at in a 16 inch barrel. My question is will only having a 16 inch barrel hurt one of these calibers more than the other? I know 308 does pretty good with a 16 inch barrel, but dont know much about the 6.5 creed with that short of a barrel. I know the 308 will have more recoil in a light rifle, but still shouldnt be bad with 168's i wouldnt think.
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Short and light swamp gun......6.5 creedmore or 308?
- Thread starter Elkwonder
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lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
6.5CM.
I would think the 308 running a 130 TTSX or 125 Pro Hunter or 124 Hammer Hunter would be the bee's knees for your purpose.
Last edited:
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
If you are going to run a 124-130, why would you not take advantage of the higher BC and SD of a 6.5mm over a .308"?
BC at 300 yards and closer is irrelevant. The deer are pretty small down there and those lighter bullets make a nice hole, provide great displacement without catastrophic bruising, and keep recoil manageable. Both cartridges are a great choice for this application, but this is really the only good use I have ever found for the 308 besides grazing fire so I say let it shine.
LDHunter
Well-Known Member
Both cartridges are excellent but if you're going to be using a 16" barrel in the 308 for under 300yd hunting I think the very best possible bullet/ammo you could use would be the 308 150gr Nosler Partition and it's readily available.
For the 6.5 Creedmoor the 135gr Berger Classic Hunter bullet is an excellent choice and it's readily available in bullets only or loaded ammo.
Be prepared for the report to be very very loud with either cartridge out of a 16" barrel. That is a big negative with shorter barrels.
For the 6.5 Creedmoor the 135gr Berger Classic Hunter bullet is an excellent choice and it's readily available in bullets only or loaded ammo.
Be prepared for the report to be very very loud with either cartridge out of a 16" barrel. That is a big negative with shorter barrels.
wvbearhunter
Well-Known Member
308 is always the right answer
I have a 16" 6.5x47. Great box blind and brush gun. So easy to maneuver. I cut it down from a 24 and just crowned it; no muzzle threads. Running 130otm and 140hybrid bullets. It's a 600 yard deer rifle. As LDHunter said - a muzzle brake on a 16 is belligerent. You really don't need one for either of the two cartridges in question. BC is irrelevant at 300
Agreed!
That might be the case with the BC, but the SD ( for penetration) is another story, especially for pigs. For comparison, a 140 Berger VLD has an SD of .287, while a 168 Berger VLD has an SD of .253.
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10 years ago I'd have said 308. Since you mention recoil being a consideration, I'd opt fbullets.
Since it sounds like you want a lightweight rifle (I'm reading into things), I am also assuming the possibility of less than perfect shot angles/ opportunities, I'd also recommend a copper bullet.
Since it sounds like you want a lightweight rifle (I'm reading into things), I am also assuming the possibility of less than perfect shot angles/ opportunities, I'd also recommend a copper bullet.
Sealesniper
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the old 30-30
7MM-08, if offered.
