6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 WSM

[TacosGigante]

I have written and deleted a draft of this post four times before, but I can't shake the question so apologies if this is dumb

Building a hunting gun that will mostly be used for East Coast white tail deer and was originally going to go with a 20" 6.5 Creedmoor proof carbon TL3 prefit. There is a possibility I will be able to go hunting out west, albeit probably probably also for white tail or mule deer, and that has planted the seed of chambering the gun in 300 WSM instead. There does seem to be ammo available and it has plenty of oomph for anything I might hunt in the future up to elk. OTOH it will kick a lot more and is overkill for what it will mostly be used for. It will also have a longer barrel (22" or 24") and will therefore be less handy.

The third option is to keep the gun as planned and buy a 300 WSM barrel, but somehow that just doesn’t do much for me (too logical I guess).

Anyway, should I stay the course with the 6.5 or switch to 300 WSM?

 

[dirthead1]

6.5 CM now and another barrel later if you feel the need.

 

[R_Swanson]

IMO - Its a TL3 so you can just swap the barrel and bolt head for a WSM if you want one in the future for elk... so I'd go with the 6.5 creed.

 

[msstate56]

I have an Origin with 6.5 CM and 300 WSM barrels. I use the 6.5 for deer and PRS matches, and have hunted out west, and AK with the 300 WSM barrel. I like the combo and use the exact same rifle for matches and hunting, just a quick barrel and scope swap.

 

[kyzim311]

Why not split the difference with something like 6.5 PRC? If not entertaining this option, 6.5 CM all the way. 300 WSM is a great elk cartridge, but overkill for what you will be doing mostly. Either buy a system that can be easily changed between the two, or stay 6.5 CM.

 

[LongRangeJunky]

My 300wsm does work on Virginia whitetail. Maybe too much! And CO elk.

Wouldn't use a 300wsm if it's just for eastern deer. Have killed many with the 6.5cm. For deer sized game my opinion is that the CM is enough.

The 6.5PRC mentioned above is a dream to shoot. I'd do that too!

 

[msstate56]

I won't get into a caliber argument, but firsthand experience says 6.5 PRC (and by a greater extent 6.5 CM) is NOT a great elk cartridge.

 

[kyzim311]

I won't get into a caliber argument, but firsthand experience says 6.5 PRC (and by a greater extent 6.5 CM) is NOT a great elk cartridge.

Either way, it is an easier swap between 6.5 PRC and 300 WSM due to the same bolt face.

 

[msstate56]

Either way, it is an easier swap between 6.5 PRC and 300 WSM due to the same bolt face.

With a TL3 it's just as easy to swap the bolt head.

 

[Skg_Mre_Lght]

One puts more energy on target at a given distance. Using a PRS style rifle, or a heavy rifle for hunting isn't my idea of a good time. Keep it light, accurate, and snag free regardless of barrel, stock or caliber.

Now that's settled, I would suggest doing cardio and wearing a weighted pack to come out here hunting. That is the biggest hurdle flatlanders must leap out here.

 

[kyzim311]

You said east coast, but what type of hunting do you do for deer? How far are most shots? That could change the recommendation a bit.

 

[Antares]

Build a rifle for the hunting you know you're going to do, not what you might do in the future. Otherwise you'll end up with something that's a compromise and not quite right for either situation. Build a short, light 6.5CM whitetail slaying machine and worry about your western big game rifle later.

 

[davsco]

you can always download a 300wsm but can't do the opposite with a 6.5 creed. btw, i have an area419 hellfire brake on my tikka t3x 300wsm and recoil is almost nonexistent. and since no one really said it, buy BOTH a creed and wsm... more than 1 is always the right answer.

 

[jbuck88]

The only answer is both.

A 20" 6.5cm and a 24" 300WSM.

 

[TacosGigante]

Thank you all. You have confirmed for me that the correct answer is to buy a second barrel, and then maybe down the line build it into a second full rifle.

 

[shax2lex]

I kinda asked this same question in a different feed about maybe selling my Defiance Deviant to get switch barrel setup. I ended up running numbers on cost to get a new bolt-barrel-magazine, energy down range, and how far I actually wanted to take a shot out west. I looked hard at the 6.5 PRC and compared it to the WSM and 6.5 CM. I decided to stay with the 6.5 CM. I figured with a 144gr projectile I’d have 1,200ft-lbs of energy at 675yds. I’d like to shoot 500yds and in for elk if I decide to do that. I hunt white tails and I have plenty of energy for that. In the end, it wasn’t worth the switch. I’m going to cut my 6.5CM to 20” to accommodate my 9” TBAC supressor.

 

[myronman3]

you know they use the swede to hunt moose, right? 6.5 will do all that needs doing unless the big bears are on the list. and if you are going on a big bear hunt, i’d probably go bigger than 300wsm.

love the 300wsm, great round. but it’s a lot of gun for whitetails. if you were a frequent elk/moose/caribou hunter....yeah, 300wsm. other than that scenario, 6.5 all the way.

 

[jbuck88]

My reason for both is so they can back each other up. 300wsm is primarily for elk/bear and 6.5cm for deer. I have loaned out my backup rifle 3 times in the last 5 years. Thankfully I haven't needed it though.

 

[Farmerhunter]

If you are going to use for elk and only want one barrel definitely get the 300wsm. A good muzzle brake or suppressor and the recoil is not bad at all. For whitetail hunting use a well constructed bullet and lung shots and you will not have a problem.

 

[hereinaz]

Two barrels and two bolt heads. You don't need a new rifle for one off hunts. Get a rifle that doesn't compromise for the job it is gonna do 97% of the time...

I didn't need my magnum 26" long range rig plus suppressor for a hunt from a blind with short range shooting. So, I put a shorty 308 barrel and .308 bolt head on my rifle and zeroed one day. Hunted and spun my regular barrel back on right after. Zeroed it right back the next range day and was shooting to 1000.

Easy peasy.

 

[b6graham]

I won't get into a caliber argument, but firsthand experience says 6.5 PRC (and by a greater extent 6.5 CM) is NOT a great elk cartridge.

archer not arrow

 

[Herb Stoner]

You don't really need the 300 WSM until you get into Elk or maybe Mulies at longer ranges. I have a 300 WSM and its not the best for working on improving my overall shooting skills. I am looking into getting a 6.5x47 barrel currently.

If you come west heed the previous advice on conditioning. Being out of shape at altitude in steep terrain can take the fun out of it pretty quick.

 

[HousePlant]

East Coast... 6.5 Creedmor. Cheaper, available-ish (still), and less recoil.

Anywhere else, 300 WSM. Available, not always too expensive, and it's the gentleman's 300 magnum.

 

[Protondecay123]

For a hunting gun I would go with the 300 WSM. It's just more versatile for bigger game. I would use in for just about any big game in North America outside a Alaskan Brown Bear or Grizzly. For Deer/Antelope simply use a 125 gr Nosler Accubond, 130 gr Barnes TTSX or something similar. It's like a laser out to 400 yards with that bullet. For Elk etc go with 190 Bergers VLD's or something similar given you have the proper twist rate for your barrel, 1 twist in 10 inches in the least. My 2 grains worth.

 

[myronman3]

one other thing to consider.....look at how much powder a shot with the wsm takes. compare it to the 6.5. in these times of scarce components, it’s another thing to consider.

 

[DocT]

The only answer is both.

A 20" 6.5cm and a 24" 300WSM.

View attachment 7503630

What are you running here?! Love it

 

[shax2lex]

Well I’ve had more time to think about it. I sold my Defiance Deviant and bought a Terminus. It’s still chambered in 6.5CM. I’ll still use it to hunt white tails. I have looked harder at the 300Wsm and I think when I decide to hunt out west for larger game, I’ll get a barrel and bolt for that. I do think think 300wsm is a good cartridge for out west.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

They are two different animals. For hunting? Apples and oranges. The only advantage the CM has in .264 is cheaper factory ammo and thus we are seeing more new rifles chambered as such . It is for the person that doesn't reload and never heard of the 25-06 or even the 30-06. People reloading CM is just a personal choice that has no ballistic advantage over other .264s. The .30 caliber mag is for something entirely different. It is not a wise comparison. If you have to ask then you need both. It doesn't matter if you are east or west of The Rockies.

 

[DJL2]

If I could only have one...probably a .30-06, honestly. Over kill for anything east coast, but has swatted everything in North America. It’s more than capable of delivering the goods a long way out, if that’s a concern.

That said, I just put together a 20” 6.5 CM because there’s nothing in these woods that needs a bigger bullet or more powder...and that’s true of all of the shooting I’ve done in my entire life so far save one F-class match.