What is a 6.5 Creedmoor comparable to?
By The 6.5 Creedmoor is a caliber that has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Mostly used in long range target shooting, the cartridge is known for its capabilities when it comes to accuracy. Thanks to Federal Premium Ammunition, there are now hunting loads available for the 6.5 Creedmoor which provide excellent terminal ballistics.
The case design and specifications of the 6.5 Creedmoor are very similar to the popular .260 Remington cartridge, which gives hunters an idea of what to expect from this round.
What is a 6.5 Creedmoor actually comparable to?
The .260 has been around for many years and is also used as a target shooting and hunting round. The 6.5 Creedmoor is very similar to the .260 Remington and has even been able to surpass it in some areas, such as bullet drop at long-range targets with a larger powder load.
Although the cartridge case of the 6.5 Creedmoor is designed around a .30 caliber projectile, its exterior dimensions are similar to the .308 Winchester cartridge.
6.5 Creedmoor vs .260 Remington
While this makes it harder to convert weapons originally chambered for that cartridge, many rifle manufacturers now offer rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor that accept standard magazines used on most hunting and tactical weapons chambered for .308 Winchester cartridges. This allows hunters who already own an appropriate rifle.
Although not a major factor in the development of the cartridge, the 6.5 Creedmoor produces less recoil than many similar cartridges and is easier to handle with almost no felt-recoil.
The .260 Remington was created using a bullet diameter that ranges between .264 and .277 inches while the 6.5 Creedmoor starts with a bullet diameter of .264 inches.
This means that bullets for the .260 Remington can be used in a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle without any problems, but not vice versa. While this is not a problem for hunters who use both cartridges, it does make it difficult to find new projectiles which might require you to buy an entire box of ammunition.
The .260 Remington is slightly longer than the 6.5 Creedmoor which means that hunters may need to make adjustments to the rifle’s magazine if it has been chambered for the former cartridge.
Both cartridges are adequate for hunting all kinds of North American game animals but, due to better bullet performance, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a more popular hunting cartridge for deer-sized animals and larger, especially in target shooting circles where long range accuracy is important.
In terms of stopping power, both cartridges are similar with bullet weight ranging between 90 and 120 grains, but the 6.5 Creedmoor produces less recoil which means hunters can shoot more comfortably.
In general, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a better cartridge for hunters due to its higher quality projectiles and better ballistic performance at long range targets which makes it easier to hit the mark with less material support from spotters using laser rangefinders or GPS devices, for instance. For target shooting or simply having fun on the range, the 6.5 Creedmoor is the more practical choice while for hunting you might be better off with a .260 Remington cartridge.
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308
Cartridge Sizes
The 308 Winchester is a very popular round among hunters and shooters. Chambered by many different rifle manufacturers, it’s been around for decades and has proven itself as a great all-around cartridge that can be used at both short and long range targets without too much problem. The size of the cartridge case is quite large compared to others on the market.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a much newer cartridge but has managed to capture the attention of shooters all over the world due to its superior ballistic performance and reduced recoil, especially for a .30 caliber round.
Despite being designed as a hunting cartridge, it’s becoming extremely popular among both long range target shooters and hunters who use it to get a greater range and accuracy.
Bullet weight is the main difference between the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 308 cartridge. The average bullet weight for a .308 cartridge is between 150 and 180 grains while the 6.5 Creedmoor has an average of 140 to 142 grains in use. This gives hunters in states where the cartridge isn’t legal for deer-sized animals some options when choosing a bullet weight.
When it comes to the size of these two cartridges, there is no difference between them. They are both .308 inches in diameter
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308: Ballistic Performance
The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed by Hornady as a hunting cartridge with the best ballistic performance at long range targets, especially when used by hunters who engage in any kind of competitive shooting that requires long distance accuracy.
The .308 Winchester is more popular among shooters using it for target shooting because its heavier bullets are better suited for this type of shooting. While both cartridges perform very well at longer distances, there is a clear advantage when using the 6.5 Creedmoor over the 308 Winchester in terms of speed and ballistics meaning it’s better at hitting moving targets at long range.
The .308 Winchester has an average muzzle velocity of between 2,700 and 2,900 feet per second with bullets weighing between 147 and 168 grains.
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