6.5 Creedmoor vs. 308 Winchester

In today's market, one caliber that has steadily grown in popularity since its inception is 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle cartridge shares a lot of similarities with 308 Winchester, and many shooters are wondering if they should invest in a weapon that is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor or stick to their current setup. Since both calibers are used for hunting, target shooting, and long-range shooting, the decision can be difficult. Thankfully, you have a lot of options with both cartridges, and below I'll discuss how they compare in terms of popularity, ballistics, and weapon and ammo availability.

Popularity Contest: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 308 Winchester

If you haven't heard about this caliber that has been sweeping the nation since Hornady developed it in 2007, then you're one of few people. While 6.5mm cartridges have been around for over a century, starting with the 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser round, 6.5 Creedmoor is pretty new. Slightly shorter than .264 Winchester Magnum, this round is designed for long-range shooting. Whether you're hunting big game or just practicing your long-distance shots, it's a versatile and efficient round. Since it is a smaller caliber than .308 Win, it also has less recoil, which can make taking follow-up shots much easier.

On the other hand, 308 Winchester was developed in 1952 as a commercial hunting round. It gained attention because Winchester outfitted their Model 70 and Model 88 rifles to suit this round, and it quickly became one of the most popular rifle hunting rounds in the United States. Many people opt for this cartridge when hunting deer, elk, and moose because it is a large round that is effective when big game hunting. It is also commonly used for long-range shooting, although it isn't as accurate as 6.5 Creedmoor at larger distances.

Is a 6.5 Creedmoor Better Than a 308?

The ballistic tests are where the 6.5 Creedmoor really shines, which is a big reason why so many people are switching to this caliber. Since Hornady developed this cartridge, I used comparable rifle ammo for both 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester to compare their ballistics.

For 6.5 Creedmoor I checked the Hornady ELD Match 140 grain ammo. From a quick glance, you can see the muzzle velocity is faster, and the lighter bullets have reduced recoil. What isn't shown, is that 6.5 Creedmoor bullets fly with a flatter trajectory and experience less wind drift, increasing their aerodynamics and effective range and reducing bullet drop. These shots were taken on a 10lb rifle to standardize the results.

• Velocity - 2,710 fps
• Muzzle Energy - 2,283 ft-lbs
• Recoil - 9.92 ft-lbs

To get a solid comparison for 308 Winchester, I also looked at the ballistics of Hornady ammo, particularly the Hornady 178-grain ELD-X 308 Winchester. As you can see, .308 tends to have heavier bullets, due to the slightly wider bullet diameter, which can conserve energy. These results were also recorded on a 10lb rifle.

• Velocity - 2,600 fps
• Muzzle Energy - 2,671 ft-lbs
• Recoil 13.09 ft-lbs

To most people, these numbers don't mean a whole lot. However, one thing that is easily noticeable is that the .308 round is much heavier. This is why the velocity isn't as high. Even though it performs excellently at ranges of 400 yards or less, more than this is where you start to see a sharp drop-off. With the lower velocity, the bullet will not fly as straight over extended distances. This is because the bullet wobbles and drops more due to gravity, so a lighter, faster bullet is often better when opting for long-distance shooting.

Ammo & Parts Availability

Thankfully, we have plenty of in-stock ammo, so both 308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor ammo are readily available. For 6.5 Creedmoor, we have rounds from Hornady, Nosler, Norma, and more. Similarly, we have 308 Winchester ammo from Winchester, SIG SAUER, Nosler, and other top brands. Everything from low-weight FMJ ammo to ballistic tip big game hunting rounds, we have boxes in stock for both calibers. One thing to keep in mind is that 308 Winchester ammo tends to be a little cheaper and has more variety since it has been produced for a lot longer.

As for weapons, this is where it can get a bit difficult for both 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester. With many people getting into long-range target shooting and hunting, weapons chambered in these calibers can be difficult to come by, especially depending on where you live. However, if you're interested in building one of these weapons, particularly AR-style options chambered in one of these calibers, we have plenty of options to help. For example, we have a wide variety of upper receivers designed for 308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor, as well as bolt carrier groups and rifle barrels.

Which Should You Pick?

The decision lies in how you plan to use the firearm primarily. For example, if you aren't really into longer range hunting or precision shooting and just want a weapon with affordable ammo, opt for a rifle chambered in 308 Winchester. This is a safe bet because there are more manufacturers making weapons and ammo in this caliber, so you have more options open for customization and accessibility, which are amazing traits to have in a rifle.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a long-range precision rifle to maximize your performance and downrange effectiveness, you can take advantage of one of the most versatile new calibers on the market with a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. The beauty of both calibers is that you can find a variety of weapon styles in each, including modern sporting rifles (AR-style) and bolt-action rifles.

With either one you pick, our team at OpticsPlanet is here to help you gear up your rifle for however you plan to use it. We have a wide variety of rifle scopes, including night vision optics, to help you get the best performance and accuracy out of your firearm. We also have rifle triggers and muzzle devices so you can customize it to suit your exact needs. And if you need hunting ammo, we have tons of in-stock options. Check out some of our products today to upgrade your setup!