I love your Vortex Nation Pod Casts and the banter you all have, usually very educational along with funny thoughts. I grew up shooting 30-06 and with it's ability to be loaded up and down the bullet weight range, I still believe it to be the best single rifle caliber to own, but again who wants only one rifle. I am 70 now and find it funny that everything old is new again. What I mean by that is, all this talk of the 6.5 creedmoor it is nothing more than a short stroke 270 with pretty much the same ballistics give or take and then there is the 280 British as well. I know lots of people talk about ft lbs of recoil but being 185lb to 220 since high school recoil has never been an issue. Keep up the great work and can't wait for the next one. From Nebraska
I was hunting elk with a 300 PRC but the year I had my shoulder surgery. I prepped my 65 Creedmoor with 127 grain Barns LRX. There’s no way I could’ve handled the 300 and I knew the 6.5 with a good copper bullet was up to the task With a greater range restriction. I have since gone to a middle of the road short magnum, 6.8 Western. Other than an extreme distance shot, I have full confidence in that 6.8.
I see people local to me bashing the 6.5 all the time, and I get it's not the best option for big game. I am in Louisiana, though where whitetail is the biggest animal we hunt. I found it to be the perfect fit for my daughter, so she got her first deer with it last year. Two weeks ago I decided to use it and the biggest deer I have ever shot walks out and would not give me a broad side shot. Finally, at 110 yards, he turns left just enough for me to get him in the left shoulder. He was a 246lb 8 point and dropped in his tracks using a 140 grain Remington Core-Lokt. It done the job, didn't ruin the shoulder, didn't knock my shoulder off, and with the lack of recoil, I got to watch him drop through the scope. Guess what my new deer cartridge is? I, too, own a 30-06, .300 win mag and other rifles.
@@jackbuendgen389 I would assume they would be similar but that’s why testing it for real is interesting. I have seen several people say 6.5 PRC is marginal for elk but they would take a .270, want to see if that has any merit.
I think so to but he has good reason to! The 7 rem mag is just about all most hunters can handle properly because of the recoil! Being a gun collector for 60+ years and having owned hundreds of guns I found that most shooters find the 300 win mag just a little more then they want in recoil and thus why the 7 rem mag has done so good over the years and is all that is really needed in most cases
I own both 6.5CM and 300WM and they compliment each other well. However, if I had to buy one rifle, I agree with you. I would definitely buy 7RM or 7PRC. The 6.5PRC would definitely be there also.
Ryan mentioned the “state of awareness” of the animal,that can be a big factor for sure,also according to federal they use the fusion bullet in the 6.5 creedmoor power shok ammo which helps explains how well it performed,great talk guy’s👍
The 6.5 is pure magic! At least in some peoples minds🤔😳 great cartridge as long as you us it for deer and smaller game and for target shooting! I used the 300 win mag the first year it came out because my father bought one in the pre64 Winchester and we hunted with it for 30 years! That being said I started collecting rifles about the same time and have owned and shot more rifles then most small gun stores and found the 300 win mag will do just about anything in North America with the right bullet and shooter behind it! Having been a reload for about as long it didn’t start out being one of my favorites to reload because of the short neck but it would shoot sub MOA in almost any gun when dialed in with just about any bullet!
Please do a comparison of 4 different types of bullets from the same cartridge. We know they work differently but never get to see them side by side. Except the 2 you show.
@36:00 my elk this year was a complete pass through. Huge blood trail on the exit side. Nary a drop from the entrance side. I’m a believer in full pass throughs.
I own both and I think they compliment each other very well. I long to shoot long distance so 6.5 is cheaper and more readily available while 300 WM will reach out and hit a target with authority. Additionally, I hunt with both. Once again, 6.5 will take everything down that I normally hunt with no problem but sometimes I like to take the 300WM to drop it right where I shot it. However, I use an aggressive muzzle brake on the 300WM and it’s a sweetheart to shoot now. If I didn’t have that brake, I could see myself questioning more often if I need to use it.
I bought one from Sears when they first came out and was one of my most accurate rifles but they were plain Jane and ugly and that’s the reason I traded mine off but it never let me down
The further reality is that while the 6.5 Creedmoor is a fantastic cartridge, it delivers just borderline energy to ethically kill a bull elk. Ryan's Toyota Tacoma to Ford F 350 reference is spot on. Can a Tacoma for example pull a certain weight trailer? Maybe? Is it ideal and reliable and safe to do so, no, it's not. Pick the right tool for the job, don't try to glorify smaller cartridges to the detriment of wounded or lost game.
As one local hunter in the Fairbanks area in Alaska told me. Do you want to anchor the moose right there, or let him walk into muskeg, expire and try to get him out of there. After experiencing muskeg for the first time, I got what he was saying. Like walking in a swamp that can twist your ankle. He said, use the biggest gun you can.
Been a guide for 10 years, had a guy take a cow elk at 373 with 6.5C. Quartering away shot, 143 ELDX, hit 8”ish behind the shoulder, found the bullet half way up the neck on the opposite side. 26-30” penetration. 6.5C will do it, but I prefer the 300 win with a heavy bullet.
I’ve noticed, and you can see it in gel pretty often, that copper bullets don’t track as straight as bonded bullets, have a higher velocity floor for expansion, and the return is minimal penetration gains. No one can deny that copper works, and if the law in your state that’s that. But, bonded bullets are more better.
Everyone has a pick, I sighted in my dad’s 300 WM a couple of weeks ago, I hunt with .308 and 6.5, I’m a fairly chunky dude and I will say that the 300 is not a gun I would shoot enough to get very accurate with. Most of the new guns out here are very light. After 25 rounds, not a gun I will buy. If I need more gun, I’ll take a 30-06 with 180 gr copper or soft points. Here in my part of NC, 125-175 yards is longest shot on the property I hunt.
Think a gel test of traditional hunting bullets vs hybrid long range hunt bullets vs match bullets would be interesting plus a 10+ minute talk on the new 22 arc/ eldvt bullets
I think it’s very important with larger cartridges to consider rifle weight, recoil pad, etc. My Savage 110 in 300 win mag is very pleasant to shoot, and I’ve never once thought about the recoil after shooting a .270 for years. It’s more recoil obviously, but it’s never been enough to make me think about it. I have a pretty average body type for reference.
I don't think caliber and recoil are the same I just changed a mild 22 in .308 to a 17 in. Barrel and the recoil is significant difference, the shorter barrel kicks like a mule. I never would have guessed that much of a difference until I did it myself.
👨⚖ Great Advice: Ryan's Quotes, "If You Can't Shoot It, It Doesn't Matter!" and "Big Bullets Don't Make Bad Shots Good!" - Applies To Most People Hunting Out Their And Shooting Anything Over Several Hundred Yards! 🎯 Consistant Practice; Choosing The Right "Hunting Bullet" That Your Gun Likes; Taking Only "Good Shots"; And Limiting Your Distance To What You Have Proven You Can Do Consistently Shooting At A 3" DIAMETER TARGET (1 1/2" RADIUS FROM THE TARGETS CENTER) SHOULD BE HOW YOU LIMIT YOURSELF! 👨🎓 Very Few People Can Do That Much Past 300 Yards (😳) and Can't Even Judge Distances (🙄) Without A Lazer Range Finder (Because They Don't Practice Shooting Enough)! 😱 Yes, Ryan, "It's Good To Be a Two Gun (or More) Hunter!" 🤑
I would request 8.6 blackout vs any cartridge you choose to see the effectiveness of the rotational energy transferred per Ryan’s comment about the concentricity of the grooves in the wound channel
You two are THE BEST. Love you guys and all you do, especially the honest, candid, informal yet educated and substantiated banter, in the perspectives you consider it in. I became even more of a fan of the 6.5 after this. This was a great listen for my gf, who shoots a Tikka 6.5.
😎 But, I Did! 😂 And, the 270 Winchester Won the Penetration Test Out of ALL Cartridges Compared and Still Has One of the Lightest Recoils of Any! 😯 Something To Consider! 🤑
What would a 264 win mag or 26 nosler with copper bullets do compared to the 300 win mag with copper bullets? The velocities will be much close to the 300 win mag…..right?
"You can't make something too dead" ... you should have seen the mess a 165 gr copper caused on Sitka Blacktail out of my 30-06 this fall. I was definitely over gunned should have taken the old trusty .243 with a 85 grainer.
Oh your podcasts are so freaking great!! Actually, this year and last year I just finally went to the copper bullets which is the Barnes TTSX in my 30-06 and then my 7:08 the 30 ought 6. I have not found a load yet, which I think I have to do some tweaking on the rifle itself in the 708. I was getting half inch to 3/4 inch groups with 140 grains and actually just yesterday which was December 17th I believe or 16th. Whatever Sunday was. I took it to the chronograph and was doing 28.25 feet per second. My other bullets that have used my entire life has been nausler partitions nosler varmint, ballistic tips and one rifle. My 8x57 has nozzler acubons! The only reason I went to copper is because I think at some point in my life I'm 58 years old that they're going to outlaw lead. Even though I already have enough ammunition to last my lifetime and one of my boys's lifetimes loaded because I reload, I wanted to try something new and I went to the Barnes TTSX and I shot a deal with that this year so far and it went right down, had extreme penetration. It was all the way through. Had a half inch hole in and a 2-in hole coming out. I mainly hunt deer in Pennsylvania. Some year. I'm going to get out to Montana to hunt elk which that is probably going to be my 4570 Marlin lever action cowboy 26-in barrel or my 375 Ruger Ruger number one. Every gun I have I love and now my boys are enjoying those guns. Also, my oldest son who is 22 loves the 8x57 which I had it sporterized into a man. Licker stock left all the rings on the barrel. Everything was reblued new timney trigger new rings and mounts has a leopold 100th anniversary 3 to 9x40 scope on it. The stock was completely done from a blank by a gunsmith. He did everything on it for me which was back in like 2006 or 7:00. But thank you for all the great content. Keep it coming. I know you didn't like that word Leopold in there hahaha
There is not a single game animal that the 25-06 can take that the 6.5 can’t take and with a whole lot less recoil! My 60+ years hunting reloading and being a gun collector that long finds that statement to be true🤔😳
Good caliber but who uses that caliber nowadays?? That’s what people don’t understand, 243 and up they all kill and availability is as important as anything this days why continue bringing up this 100 year forgotten stuff that you can’t get ammo for???
100 percent. I traded my 25-06 for a 6.5 just availability. Walk into any gun store near me and there will be at least 15 different 6.5 crd bullets and MAYBE 1 25-06. They both have had the same results for me and I honestly can't tell the difference between the two.... the deer can't either.
I love these discussions. I own a .300 Win Mag and a 6.5 CM. Both are great guns and great cartridges. I have killed many whitetail, ground hogs and coyotes with the CM. And they are very much dead. Every whitetail has folded “like a $5 tent.” Shot a cow moose in Newfoundland with the .300 WM at 330 yards. Boy did it hit hard. She went down in 3 steps. Then followed with with a whitetail at 220 yards. Both were very much dead. I had been shooting 130 gn Hornady SST out of the 6.5 CM and 180 gn Accubonds out of the .300 WM, but Ryan you have me sold on the copper bullets. I have picked up an a plethora of Barnes TSX bullets, in many weights and calibers. My question to you is, tipped or non-tipped projectiles? I was originally all in on the tipped projectiles, but the more I learn and think about it, the non-tipped would be a better option for hunting, as that hydraulic expansion would begin immediately on impact and should retain more weight, as it isn’t losing the tip. Thoughts?
Idk why anyone would use a 6.5 over a .270 for hunting. The .270 is better in every category, including in drop and drift. 6.5 is good for target shooting, but there are better calibers for all hunting applications.
My double rifle would be 6.5 Grendel and 7mm Rem Mag. Little more disparity, but the overlap is significant at whitetail size for the smaller and antelope and up for the 7mm Mag.
Good video! Your thinking is pretty much like mine. I simply don’t have anywhere to use those cartridges for hunting in Illinois. And I rarely go hunting out of state. That’s why I am I more nearly into modern and antique straight walled rifle and pistol cartridges.
Regarding the "two gun hunter" idea. An interesting thing about the new 277 Fury is that the less expensive lower pressure ammo performs pretty much like the 270 Win and the high pressure stuff performs like the 270 WSM (all out of 24" barrels)*. It will be interesting to see if many hunters, especially those who mostly take shots at under 300 yards or so, will mainly use the less expensive lower pressure ammo and save the expensive stuff for the occasional long shot or bigger animal. I know that a similar thing is possible with current magnum cartridges since it is possible to download them (and reduced recoil or "lite" factory ammo is available). The difference in ammo price is not as extreme, however. *The shorter-barrel performance with the high-pressure ammo the 277 Fury's main selling point, so it is likely that it will be mainly used from suppressed rifles with 16"-18" barrels (where performance of both loads would be a bit less).
so in 2020 i bought a savage axis 2 in 6.5, at the time 6.5 and 300wm were comparable in price, but i personally didn’t like my 6.5 after quite a bit of money and time trying to get it to shoot, took it to a few places to see what the issue could be, scope rings, is it bore sighted properly, and is the action set and so on. Couldn’t get it to touch paper at 50 let alone 100. bought another savage in 300 and i have not had so much fun with a rifle. with minimal set up at that. needless to say, if the 6.5 did shoot i would have kept it, but i think because of that i ended up in a rifle i may love more now than i ever would have loved that 6.5. so it really is just what flavor of dead do you want your servids.
SO UHHHHH ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM HERE… Christmas is in a week and there’s no cartridge talks. I’ve asked time and time again on the 6mm rem. Maybe Santa will wake me up when he visits and talk about it.
very interesting, I have 2 guns I have been debating about on which to take hunting out west for pronghorn. both are browning blr one in 5.6 cm and one in 300wsm. (140 and 180 win silvertip). after watching this it looks like the 6.5 is the one for me.
I'm confused now. I had believed; - 6.5 CM for long distance paper - 7mm RM for long distance meat. - 308/30-06 for big critters close-in. - 375 HH for fangs and claws.
These are my two medium and large game cartridges. It would be interesting to see a test of how much more meat damage occurs with the 300wm. I’m in Missouri, and sometimes it feels a little excessive for the ranges I see deer.
Love this discussion have had the same conversation with several new hunters. In Nebraska whitetail is the most common and often largest species many will hunt. I always recommend short action cartridges creeds and .308 mostly for the reason stated(shoot ability) no point in a 600yd elk cartridge if you are not first proficient at 3-400yds and the ability to practice and not develope bad habits is crucial to that imo. Maybe unpopular but I believe in heavier rifles 9-12lbs for hunting as well it makes a better shooter best thing I ever did was buy a savage model 12 varmint. Proficiency first then power. Love the show keep up the good work
Question, if there was a bear attack or somthing would the 6.5 creedmoor do the job, Ethicly or unethically dont really care also 2 or 3 rounds if needed will it work?
I absolutely Hate copper bullets. They don’t expand as well as soft lead. Yeah, the critter will leak. But it’s only drops. Nothing compared to an ole sierra game king.
That spiral of the solid copper, on the one hand I'm with Mark on the rotations per distance travelled due to the speed. BUT... Looking at the wound channel and the shape/width of the spirals I think Ryan is correct and the bullet has slowed down it's forward motion enough that the spiralling petals is surely causing more cutting damage than just a regular mushroom.
6 arc vs 6.5 Grendel. Let's compare ar compatible rounds that are legal in 24+ cal states, it would be nice to see what you may or may not be giving up by using such a small cartridge for big game, perhaps a woods option where short range is most likely.
if you're really into optimizing for the AR platform, check out the 6mm Max, it's currently in development by a few smart folks including the founder of SOLGW
Well well well if it isn’t Ryan “I like penetration” Muckenhirn - will be exactly what I say if I ever have the pleasure of talking to you in person. Great video guys, i recently sold the bolt rifles that I owned but am looking at getting back into precision shooting and deer hunting. Your podcast has been very helpful in cartridge selection, I think I’ll be hopping on the 6.5 creed train. Thanks to these videos I feel adequately educated on its capabilities and shortcomings, pumped to start cooking up some loads for it
I have and shoot regularly both 300WM and a 6.5x55. I'm going to say that my handloads out of the M96 Swede best all commercial 6.5 loads. I load 120 gr coppers and ballistic tips ans well as 140 grain versions of the same bullets for the 6.5. For my 300 WM all I load these days is 165 gr ballistic tips and copper bullets.the 300 has taken speed goat, white tail, mule deer, black bear, elk, moose, caribou, 1 bison, and a few wolves... all with 165gr coppers from 75m to 500m its a all around gun that never let's me down. It is in a thumb hole stock, has a brake and a large gen 1 viper pst on it. It's not light and easy to shoot. I can shoot it all day at the range (50 rounds) with no issues of flinch. I can honestly say I've never lost a animal with it. The 6.5mm has taken coyotes,speed goat, mule and whitetail, black bear and moose. From 75m to 350m I also have never lost a animal with it. Is it ideal for everything the 300 is? Nope. Is it awesome at reasonable ranges with coppers? Absolutely. Great video guys
This comparison of the two ends of the spectrum highlights that with a 6.5CM you might wish to gain a bit more of what the 300WM brings to the table but without giving up the shoot-ability of lower recoil. IMO This points to the 7mm-08 REM as perhaps an improvement over the creedmoor for hunting larger animals… particularly with say the Nosler 168gr ABLR or Barnes 145gr LRX bullets. The 708 appears to be even more versatile than the 6.5CM. Cheers!
Nice episode - the rotational effect needs to have some investigation done; physics state that rotation has energy, in addition to the velocity of the projectile.
I want a tiki t3 6.5 creedmore and as a reloader I know that because of the magazine that gun is far more than what it appears at first. The magazine for the 300 win mag will fit in the 6.5 CM that gives you the ability to load long (as long as you have a deep enough throat) and thus gain a higher powder capacity and greater velocity with most bullets that you would want to use.
I have one and can confirm, it’s a great combo for a lightweight deer / antelope / target gun. It’s my “daily driver” rifle. Still bust out the 300 for elk, aoudad, and bear. Wouldn’t be afraid to use the 6.5, but I also really like the 300 and why have it if I don’t find a reason to use it 😂
Recoil can be a hard thing to learn to ignore or totally control! I love magnums but in most cases it’s more then what is needed to get the job done! But one can never have too many guns and I am sticking with that story if the wife ask why do you need another 🤔😳😂
I have a Ruger American Wild Camo 300 Win Mag with a Nikon FX1000 scope weights 10 lbs, shooting Federal Power/Shok jacketed soft point 150g... Shoots like a 308. I was expecting more recoil.
Please please please do a 243 vs 6.5 creedmore. I have a newborn to buy a rifle for and sometimes he needs truck rides at 3 am to fall asleep so i listen to your cartridge talks and I need a 6.5 vs 243 one!
🕵️♂️ What Ever It's Worth to You Ryan, I Used to Own a 338 Lapua and Other BIG 30 Calibers and They Never Killed The Elk Any Faster Than My 270 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield! 😱 So, I Went Back to the "Old Tried and True" Proven Classic Cartridges and Still Filled My Freezer (While Saving My Shoulder and Cash in My Wallet)! 🤑 It is the 270 Win For the "Win"! 🥇🏆🤴
Well I guess as far as the podcast of what you're talking about the 300 win mag versus the 65 creedmoor I've never shot either one but my opinion I would definitely take the 300 win mag over the 65 for an all-around gun for North America
@@didamnesia3575 AR in 6.5 grendel sounds sweet. Currently I only have an AR in 556/223 and an M1A in 308. My next will be a 26” 10lb bolt rifle in 300 win mag. God willing
I do agree with the findings but after taking both my 6.5cm and my 300winmag out I would rather shoot my 6.5 any day over the 300. In my opinion the 300 is just not enjoyable to shoot after 10 round I simply put it away and enjoyed shooting the 7.5 with no shoulder pains lol
I realize that we are a country of extremes, however, the 30:06 would have given your friend the better of both worlds. Maybe not the best, but he would not need another big game rifle. Emphasis on need in North America. 7mm REM Mag in semi automatic action with a muzzle brake might also have been a good compromise. Of course you could do this with any caliber to mitigate recoil. If recoil is a serious consideration then choosing an appropriate weight rifle and scope combination is also a part of the equation which cannot be ignored.
With all the comparisons of the 6.5 creedmoor vs. xyc I kinda want to challenge you guys to find an application where the 6.5 creed can do things that the 6.5 swedish can't. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a REALLY close call, if at all...
Try to buy a new 6.5 Swedish and ammo is hard to find. I don't know why people always bring this up. The 6.5 creed and the swede are basicly the same thing. The swede was never that common in the US and the Creedmoor is everywhere. Just like the 300wsm and the 300 win mag are basicly the same with 180gr bullets. The difference is the 300 win is very popular and the wsm is just redundant IMHO. Doesn't mean it isn't any good.
@@johncadloni4538 Completely understandable - but that depends on where you live. I have no problems finding rifles, ammo and also reloading components, but I guess that's just the case because I'm from Europe.
Definitely two cartridges with different purposes, I'd like to see .243 vs 6.5 creed. .. there's a lot of 6.5 creed haters that would hunt with a .243.
I love your Vortex Nation Pod Casts and the banter you all have, usually very educational along with funny thoughts. I grew up shooting 30-06 and with it's ability to be loaded up and down the bullet weight range, I still believe it to be the best single rifle caliber to own, but again who wants only one rifle. I am 70 now and find it funny that everything old is new again. What I mean by that is, all this talk of the 6.5 creedmoor it is nothing more than a short stroke 270 with pretty much the same ballistics give or take and then there is the 280 British as well. I know lots of people talk about ft lbs of recoil but being 185lb to 220 since high school recoil has never been an issue. Keep up the great work and can't wait for the next one. From Nebraska
I was hunting elk with a 300 PRC but the year I had my shoulder surgery. I prepped my 65 Creedmoor with 127 grain Barns LRX. There’s no way I could’ve handled the 300 and I knew the 6.5 with a good copper bullet was up to the task With a greater range restriction. I have since gone to a middle of the road short magnum, 6.8 Western. Other than an extreme distance shot, I have full confidence in that 6.8.
I see people local to me bashing the 6.5 all the time, and I get it's not the best option for big game. I am in Louisiana, though where whitetail is the biggest animal we hunt. I found it to be the perfect fit for my daughter, so she got her first deer with it last year. Two weeks ago I decided to use it and the biggest deer I have ever shot walks out and would not give me a broad side shot. Finally, at 110 yards, he turns left just enough for me to get him in the left shoulder. He was a 246lb 8 point and dropped in his tracks using a 140 grain Remington Core-Lokt. It done the job, didn't ruin the shoulder, didn't knock my shoulder off, and with the lack of recoil, I got to watch him drop through the scope. Guess what my new deer cartridge is? I, too, own a 30-06, .300 win mag and other rifles.
Still waiting on 6.5 PRC vs. 270 Win. Only 2 grains and 10 FPS different for the box values of the ELD-X.
It's probably a wash. One is better at extreme distances and one is more available.
@@jackbuendgen389 I would assume they would be similar but that’s why testing it for real is interesting.
I have seen several people say 6.5 PRC is marginal for elk but they would take a .270, want to see if that has any merit.
@@sgtpickles1319 that gets me to! It's a third of a millimeter... A third! Is there really that much difference? I don't know
@@jackbuendgen389 One way to find out 👍
Yes that would be a good one!!
This is definitely a case of, just buy both. Two of the best options for “two guns to do it all”
Hopping for some good cartridge talks for this holiday season.
I think you’re making a great case for the 6.5 PRC, 7PRC, or the 7mag.
I think so to but he has good reason to! The 7 rem mag is just about all most hunters can handle properly because of the recoil! Being a gun collector for 60+ years and having owned hundreds of guns I found that most shooters find the 300 win mag just a little more then they want in recoil and thus why the 7 rem mag has done so good over the years and is all that is really needed in most cases
I own both 6.5CM and 300WM and they compliment each other well. However, if I had to buy one rifle, I agree with you. I would definitely buy 7RM or 7PRC. The 6.5PRC would definitely be there also.
Hunters who even think about recoil , are being taught wrong .@@edwardabrams4972
Ryan mentioned the “state of awareness” of the animal,that can be a big factor for sure,also according to federal they use the fusion bullet in the 6.5 creedmoor power shok ammo which helps explains how well it performed,great talk guy’s👍
This was a great watch. Thx as always fellaz
The 6.5 is pure magic! At least in some peoples minds🤔😳 great cartridge as long as you us it for deer and smaller game and for target shooting! I used the 300 win mag the first year it came out because my father bought one in the pre64 Winchester and we hunted with it for 30 years! That being said I started collecting rifles about the same time and have owned and shot more rifles then most small gun stores and found the 300 win mag will do just about anything in North America with the right bullet and shooter behind it! Having been a reload for about as long it didn’t start out being one of my favorites to reload because of the short neck but it would shoot sub MOA in almost any gun when dialed in with just about any bullet!
Please do a comparison of 4 different types of bullets from the same cartridge. We know they work differently but never get to see them side by side. Except the 2 you show.
I’m so glad you guys made this podcast. I’ve had this question for so long.
@36:00 my elk this year was a complete pass through. Huge blood trail on the exit side. Nary a drop from the entrance side. I’m a believer in full pass throughs.
I own both and I think they compliment each other very well. I long to shoot long distance so 6.5 is cheaper and more readily available while 300 WM will reach out and hit a target with authority. Additionally, I hunt with both. Once again, 6.5 will take everything down that I normally hunt with no problem but sometimes I like to take the 300WM to drop it right where I shot it. However, I use an aggressive muzzle brake on the 300WM and it’s a sweetheart to shoot now. If I didn’t have that brake, I could see myself questioning more often if I need to use it.
That 6.5 power shock expansion looks just like a federal fusion.
I agree with this. That is federal fusion in the 140 6.5 I would bet
Exactly what I was thinking
Remington model 788 was a mass produced model that was affordable.
Very very accurate.
I bought one from Sears when they first came out and was one of my most accurate rifles but they were plain Jane and ugly and that’s the reason I traded mine off but it never let me down
I have 300 win and 7mm08 Can tell you I much prefer the 7mm08. Think its the best all-around hunting rifle until moose.
I have a Browning 300 win mag that is a tac driver that doesn't kill your shoulder. I have no need for the 6.5 need more...
Love these cartridge talks huge fan keep them going gents
Ryan, I'm a huge fan of barnes copper bullets as well, but curious if you have any thoughts or experiences with the copper hammer bullets?
Hi guys, as a request, could you please adjust your judging criteria so that the 6.5 Creedmoor always loses in these comparisons? Thanks!
Still waiting for a 6arc version of this series
😉
6 arc va 6.5 Grendel?!? Would love to see it
The further reality is that while the 6.5 Creedmoor is a fantastic cartridge, it delivers just borderline energy to ethically kill a bull elk. Ryan's Toyota Tacoma to Ford F 350 reference is spot on. Can a Tacoma for example pull a certain weight trailer? Maybe? Is it ideal and reliable and safe to do so, no, it's not. Pick the right tool for the job, don't try to glorify smaller cartridges to the detriment of wounded or lost game.
As one local hunter in the Fairbanks area in Alaska told me. Do you want to anchor the moose right there, or let him walk into muskeg, expire and try to get him out of there. After experiencing muskeg for the first time, I got what he was saying. Like walking in a swamp that can twist your ankle. He said, use the biggest gun you can.
Been a guide for 10 years, had a guy take a cow elk at 373 with 6.5C. Quartering away shot, 143 ELDX, hit 8”ish behind the shoulder, found the bullet half way up the neck on the opposite side. 26-30” penetration. 6.5C will do it, but I prefer the 300 win with a heavy bullet.
I’ve noticed, and you can see it in gel pretty often, that copper bullets don’t track as straight as bonded bullets, have a higher velocity floor for expansion, and the return is minimal penetration gains. No one can deny that copper works, and if the law in your state that’s that. But, bonded bullets are more better.
Everyone has a pick, I sighted in my dad’s 300 WM a couple of weeks ago, I hunt with .308 and 6.5, I’m a fairly chunky dude and I will say that the 300 is not a gun I would shoot enough to get very accurate with. Most of the new guns out here are very light. After 25 rounds, not a gun I will buy. If I need more gun, I’ll take a 30-06 with 180 gr copper or soft points. Here in my part of NC, 125-175 yards is longest shot on the property I hunt.
6.5-7-08-308 It’s all you need
I own two hunting rifles, a 300 Win Mag and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Both are Christensen Arms. This was perfect!
Think a gel test of traditional hunting bullets vs hybrid long range hunt bullets vs match bullets would be interesting plus a 10+ minute talk on the new 22 arc/ eldvt bullets
I feel like the spiraling wound channel of the copper bullets is like a single bevel broadhead which does in fact rotate causing a lot of devastation.
I think it’s very important with larger cartridges to consider rifle weight, recoil pad, etc. My Savage 110 in 300 win mag is very pleasant to shoot, and I’ve never once thought about the recoil after shooting a .270 for years. It’s more recoil obviously, but it’s never been enough to make me think about it. I have a pretty average body type for reference.
I don't think caliber and recoil are the same I just changed a mild 22 in .308 to a 17 in. Barrel and the recoil is significant difference, the shorter barrel kicks like a mule. I never would have guessed that much of a difference until I did it myself.
👨⚖ Great Advice: Ryan's Quotes, "If You Can't Shoot It, It Doesn't Matter!" and "Big Bullets Don't Make Bad Shots Good!" - Applies To Most People Hunting Out Their And Shooting Anything Over Several Hundred Yards! 🎯 Consistant Practice; Choosing The Right "Hunting Bullet" That Your Gun Likes; Taking Only "Good Shots"; And Limiting Your Distance To What You Have Proven You Can Do Consistently Shooting At A 3" DIAMETER TARGET (1 1/2" RADIUS FROM THE TARGETS CENTER) SHOULD BE HOW YOU LIMIT YOURSELF! 👨🎓 Very Few People Can Do That Much Past 300 Yards (😳) and Can't Even Judge Distances (🙄) Without A Lazer Range Finder (Because They Don't Practice Shooting Enough)! 😱 Yes, Ryan, "It's Good To Be a Two Gun (or More) Hunter!" 🤑
You tell them Ron🙌
I would request 8.6 blackout vs any cartridge you choose to see the effectiveness of the rotational energy transferred per Ryan’s comment about the concentricity of the grooves in the wound channel
You two are THE BEST. Love you guys and all you do, especially the honest, candid, informal yet educated and substantiated banter, in the perspectives you consider it in. I became even more of a fan of the 6.5 after this. This was a great listen for my gf, who shoots a Tikka 6.5.
Why not go to the 270 Winchester or 280?
😎 But, I Did! 😂 And, the 270 Winchester Won the Penetration Test Out of ALL Cartridges Compared and Still Has One of the Lightest Recoils of Any! 😯 Something To Consider! 🤑
The 6.5 might be a federal fusion projectile loaded in a power shok box.
They seem to do that on a few of their various loads.
What would a 264 win mag or 26 nosler with copper bullets do compared to the 300 win mag with copper bullets? The velocities will be much close to the 300 win mag…..right?
I have never shot a Tikka3 300 win mag light rifle but my Benelli Lupo 300 win mag does not kill my shoulder aka recoil and I love it.
Also heard a great story about a lady who dropped a bison with a .308 with one shot. She wanted to use what she was comfortable with shooting
338 win mag vs 300 win mag
"You can't make something too dead" ... you should have seen the mess a 165 gr copper caused on Sitka Blacktail out of my 30-06 this fall. I was definitely over gunned should have taken the old trusty .243 with a 85 grainer.
Oh your podcasts are so freaking great!! Actually, this year and last year I just finally went to the copper bullets which is the Barnes TTSX in my 30-06 and then my 7:08 the 30 ought 6. I have not found a load yet, which I think I have to do some tweaking on the rifle itself in the 708. I was getting half inch to 3/4 inch groups with 140 grains and actually just yesterday which was December 17th I believe or 16th. Whatever Sunday was. I took it to the chronograph and was doing 28.25 feet per second. My other bullets that have used my entire life has been nausler partitions nosler varmint, ballistic tips and one rifle. My 8x57 has nozzler acubons! The only reason I went to copper is because I think at some point in my life I'm 58 years old that they're going to outlaw lead. Even though I already have enough ammunition to last my lifetime and one of my boys's lifetimes loaded because I reload, I wanted to try something new and I went to the Barnes TTSX and I shot a deal with that this year so far and it went right down, had extreme penetration. It was all the way through. Had a half inch hole in and a 2-in hole coming out. I mainly hunt deer in Pennsylvania. Some year. I'm going to get out to Montana to hunt elk which that is probably going to be my 4570 Marlin lever action cowboy 26-in barrel or my 375 Ruger Ruger number one. Every gun I have I love and now my boys are enjoying those guns. Also, my oldest son who is 22 loves the 8x57 which I had it sporterized into a man. Licker stock left all the rings on the barrel. Everything was reblued new timney trigger new rings and mounts has a leopold 100th anniversary 3 to 9x40 scope on it. The stock was completely done from a blank by a gunsmith. He did everything on it for me which was back in like 2006 or 7:00. But thank you for all the great content. Keep it coming. I know you didn't like that word Leopold in there hahaha
Would love to see 6.5 creedmoor vs 25-06. Personal bias is the 25-06 is a slept on cartrage that stomps the 6.5
There is not a single game animal that the 25-06 can take that the 6.5 can’t take and with a whole lot less recoil! My 60+ years hunting reloading and being a gun collector that long finds that statement to be true🤔😳
Good caliber but who uses that caliber nowadays?? That’s what people don’t understand, 243 and up they all kill and availability is as important as anything this days why continue bringing up this 100 year forgotten stuff that you can’t get ammo for???
100 percent. I traded my 25-06 for a 6.5 just availability. Walk into any gun store near me and there will be at least 15 different 6.5 crd bullets and MAYBE 1 25-06. They both have had the same results for me and I honestly can't tell the difference between the two.... the deer can't either.
Let's talk some Nosler Partition and Accubond's ⏳️
I like that but Nosler Partitions are like finding fairy dust now. I can’t find them anywhere.
Nosler Accubond are lights out!
I love these discussions. I own a .300 Win Mag and a 6.5 CM. Both are great guns and great cartridges. I have killed many whitetail, ground hogs and coyotes with the CM. And they are very much dead. Every whitetail has folded “like a $5 tent.”
Shot a cow moose in Newfoundland with the .300 WM at 330 yards. Boy did it hit hard. She went down in 3 steps. Then followed with with a whitetail at 220 yards. Both were very much dead.
I had been shooting 130 gn Hornady SST out of the 6.5 CM and 180 gn Accubonds out of the .300 WM, but Ryan you have me sold on the copper bullets. I have picked up an a plethora of Barnes TSX bullets, in many weights and calibers. My question to you is, tipped or non-tipped projectiles? I was originally all in on the tipped projectiles, but the more I learn and think about it, the non-tipped would be a better option for hunting, as that hydraulic expansion would begin immediately on impact and should retain more weight, as it isn’t losing the tip. Thoughts?
The very reason guys like your buddy should use a 338 federal, and yes I want one .
Idk why anyone would use a 6.5 over a .270 for hunting. The .270 is better in every category, including in drop and drift. 6.5 is good for target shooting, but there are better calibers for all hunting applications.
Wrong
How about a 3006 with a 130-grain copper bullet at 3200 fps, less recoil than the 300 but with fantastic trajectory and performance.
My double rifle would be 6.5 Grendel and 7mm Rem Mag. Little more disparity, but the overlap is significant at whitetail size for the smaller and antelope and up for the 7mm Mag.
Good video! Your thinking is pretty much like mine. I simply don’t have anywhere to use those cartridges for hunting in Illinois. And I rarely go hunting out of state. That’s why I am I more nearly into modern and antique straight walled rifle and pistol cartridges.
Regarding the "two gun hunter" idea. An interesting thing about the new 277 Fury is that the less expensive lower pressure ammo performs pretty much like the 270 Win and the high pressure stuff performs like the 270 WSM (all out of 24" barrels)*. It will be interesting to see if many hunters, especially those who mostly take shots at under 300 yards or so, will mainly use the less expensive lower pressure ammo and save the expensive stuff for the occasional long shot or bigger animal.
I know that a similar thing is possible with current magnum cartridges since it is possible to download them (and reduced recoil or "lite" factory ammo is available). The difference in ammo price is not as extreme, however.
*The shorter-barrel performance with the high-pressure ammo the 277 Fury's main selling point, so it is likely that it will be mainly used from suppressed rifles with 16"-18" barrels (where performance of both loads would be a bit less).
so in 2020 i bought a savage axis 2 in 6.5, at the time 6.5 and 300wm were comparable in price, but i personally didn’t like my 6.5 after quite a bit of money and time trying to get it to shoot, took it to a few places to see what the issue could be, scope rings, is it bore sighted properly, and is the action set and so on. Couldn’t get it to touch paper at 50 let alone 100. bought another savage in 300 and i have not had so much fun with a rifle. with minimal set up at that. needless to say, if the 6.5 did shoot i would have kept it, but i think because of that i ended up in a rifle i may love more now than i ever would have loved that 6.5. so it really is just what flavor of dead do you want your servids.
SO UHHHHH ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM HERE… Christmas is in a week and there’s no cartridge talks. I’ve asked time and time again on the 6mm rem. Maybe Santa will wake me up when he visits and talk about it.
very interesting, I have 2 guns I have been debating about on which to take hunting out west for pronghorn. both are browning blr one in 5.6 cm and one in 300wsm. (140 and 180 win silvertip). after watching this it looks like the 6.5 is the one for me.
I'm confused now. I had believed;
- 6.5 CM for long distance paper
- 7mm RM for long distance meat.
- 308/30-06 for big critters close-in.
- 375 HH for fangs and claws.
You should do 6.8 western vs 7prc
These are my two medium and large game cartridges. It would be interesting to see a test of how much more meat damage occurs with the 300wm. I’m in Missouri, and sometimes it feels a little excessive for the ranges I see deer.
Love this discussion have had the same conversation with several new hunters. In Nebraska whitetail is the most common and often largest species many will hunt. I always recommend short action cartridges creeds and .308 mostly for the reason stated(shoot ability) no point in a 600yd elk cartridge if you are not first proficient at 3-400yds and the ability to practice and not develope bad habits is crucial to that imo. Maybe unpopular but I believe in heavier rifles 9-12lbs for hunting as well it makes a better shooter best thing I ever did was buy a savage model 12 varmint. Proficiency first then power. Love the show keep up the good work
Question, if there was a bear attack or somthing would the 6.5 creedmoor do the job, Ethicly or unethically dont really care also 2 or 3 rounds if needed will it work?
I absolutely Hate copper bullets. They don’t expand as well as soft lead. Yeah, the critter will leak. But it’s only drops. Nothing compared to an ole sierra game king.
Is that a managed recoil load in the 300? seems low velocity for some reason. My factory 170gr are over 2900 at 100 yards
That spiral of the solid copper, on the one hand I'm with Mark on the rotations per distance travelled due to the speed. BUT... Looking at the wound channel and the shape/width of the spirals I think Ryan is correct and the bullet has slowed down it's forward motion enough that the spiralling petals is surely causing more cutting damage than just a regular mushroom.
Shot placement first than cartridge if need be.
6 arc vs 6.5 Grendel. Let's compare ar compatible rounds that are legal in 24+ cal states, it would be nice to see what you may or may not be giving up by using such a small cartridge for big game, perhaps a woods option where short range is most likely.
if you're really into optimizing for the AR platform, check out the 6mm Max, it's currently in development by a few smart folks including the founder of SOLGW
I second this motion 👍
260 is better than the Creed, 125 gr Partition, at 2950, does the job.
Well well well if it isn’t Ryan “I like penetration” Muckenhirn - will be exactly what I say if I ever have the pleasure of talking to you in person. Great video guys, i recently sold the bolt rifles that I owned but am looking at getting back into precision shooting and deer hunting. Your podcast has been very helpful in cartridge selection, I think I’ll be hopping on the 6.5 creed train. Thanks to these videos I feel adequately educated on its capabilities and shortcomings, pumped to start cooking up some loads for it
I have and shoot regularly both 300WM and a 6.5x55. I'm going to say that my handloads out of the M96 Swede best all commercial 6.5 loads. I load 120 gr coppers and ballistic tips ans well as 140 grain versions of the same bullets for the 6.5. For my 300 WM all I load these days is 165 gr ballistic tips and copper bullets.the 300 has taken speed goat, white tail, mule deer, black bear, elk, moose, caribou, 1 bison, and a few wolves... all with 165gr coppers from 75m to 500m its a all around gun that never let's me down. It is in a thumb hole stock, has a brake and a large gen 1 viper pst on it. It's not light and easy to shoot. I can shoot it all day at the range (50 rounds) with no issues of flinch. I can honestly say I've never lost a animal with it.
The 6.5mm has taken coyotes,speed goat, mule and whitetail, black bear and moose. From 75m to 350m I also have never lost a animal with it. Is it ideal for everything the 300 is? Nope. Is it awesome at reasonable ranges with coppers? Absolutely.
Great video guys
This comparison of the two ends of the spectrum highlights that with a 6.5CM you might wish to gain a bit more of what the 300WM brings to the table but without giving up the shoot-ability of lower recoil. IMO This points to the 7mm-08 REM as perhaps an improvement over the creedmoor for hunting larger animals… particularly with say the Nosler 168gr ABLR or Barnes 145gr LRX bullets. The 708 appears to be even more versatile than the 6.5CM.
Cheers!
Not at all, there is so little difference between a 140 out a of a 7mm vs 6.5mm. Ammo availability for 6.5 is literally 100x that of 7mm 08.
Ive choosen to lessen the recoil of the rifle I shoot. .30-06 is a bit much. Moved to a 6.5 RPM. Great compromise.
Nice episode - the rotational effect needs to have some investigation done; physics state that rotation has energy, in addition to the velocity of the projectile.
Very enjoyable episode, they all are.
If you dont think spin has any effect on terminal performance you should take a closer look at the 8.6 blackout.
I want a tiki t3 6.5 creedmore and as a reloader I know that because of the magazine that gun is far more than what it appears at first. The magazine for the 300 win mag will fit in the 6.5 CM that gives you the ability to load long (as long as you have a deep enough throat) and thus gain a higher powder capacity and greater velocity with most bullets that you would want to use.
I have one and can confirm, it’s a great combo for a lightweight deer / antelope / target gun. It’s my “daily driver” rifle. Still bust out the 300 for elk, aoudad, and bear. Wouldn’t be afraid to use the 6.5, but I also really like the 300 and why have it if I don’t find a reason to use it 😂
@@BadoreksDailys Very true
😃 Great Podcast Guys! 👍😁 Lots of Good Advice Given! 👨⚖ Keep Up the Good Work! 👨🏫
Your guys' next comparison needs to be a 7prc vs 28 nosler, that would be an awesome match up.
How about a terminal ballistic comparison between round nose and spitzer bullets?
I would take a 300 win mag any day over the 6.5 especially for hunting.
Time for a collaboration with the slow mo guys to look at some down range twist rates and wound chanel from different rounds.
That .264 looks like a Speer Gold Dot.... And I bet it's a Speer GD. Love em
Recoil can be a hard thing to learn to ignore or totally control! I love magnums but in most cases it’s more then what is needed to get the job done! But one can never have too many guns and I am sticking with that story if the wife ask why do you need another 🤔😳😂
"that's not new, I loaned that to my buddy a while back and he returned it"
This was the exact cartridge comparison that I weighed when I got my first rifle
I have a Ruger American Wild Camo 300 Win Mag with a Nikon FX1000 scope weights 10 lbs, shooting Federal Power/Shok jacketed soft point 150g... Shoots like a 308. I was expecting more recoil.
Can you guys please talk about the 6.5-300 Weatherby
Can you guys do a cartridge talk on the 405 Winchester
I have one - a 270. If I had two, it would probably be a 243 and an 8x57 or 9.3x62.
6.5 prc was the comparison to make with the 300wm
Please please please do a 243 vs 6.5 creedmore. I have a newborn to buy a rifle for and sometimes he needs truck rides at 3 am to fall asleep so i listen to your cartridge talks and I need a 6.5 vs 243 one!
I’ve drifted from the 06/375 H&H to the 6.5/300WM as my two rifles for everything in N. America.
evaluating these two calibers for differences but not addressing the 6.5-300 weatherby is remiss in my opinion ...
🕵️♂️ What Ever It's Worth to You Ryan, I Used to Own a 338 Lapua and Other BIG 30 Calibers and They Never Killed The Elk Any Faster Than My 270 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield! 😱 So, I Went Back to the "Old Tried and True" Proven Classic Cartridges and Still Filled My Freezer (While Saving My Shoulder and Cash in My Wallet)! 🤑 It is the 270 Win For the "Win"! 🥇🏆🤴
Well I guess as far as the podcast of what you're talking about the 300 win mag versus the 65 creedmoor I've never shot either one but my opinion I would definitely take the 300 win mag over the 65 for an all-around gun for North America
For deer and down definitely the 6.5 for bigger game no question the 300wm
Another Great Video 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Recoil for an individual under 185 lbs is different for an individual 225 and up.
As a 130lb man I can confirm my body is less forgiving. Anything can be shot properly, but not all comfortably
@@didamnesia3575 6.8 western is a great middle of the road cartridge with less recoil than magnums but hard hitting and flat still
@piercer2 I've been leaning towards an AR in 6.5 grendel or a light weight 308 since I already have the reloading dies for both.
@@didamnesia3575 AR in 6.5 grendel sounds sweet. Currently I only have an AR in 556/223 and an M1A in 308. My next will be a 26” 10lb bolt rifle in 300 win mag. God willing
Oh if you put a great break on .300win it brings the recoil down a lot.
I do agree with the findings but after taking both my 6.5cm and my 300winmag out I would rather shoot my 6.5 any day over the 300. In my opinion the 300 is just not enjoyable to shoot after 10 round I simply put it away and enjoyed shooting the 7.5 with no shoulder pains lol
A bullet test with Hammer bullets should be done.
I realize that we are a country of extremes, however, the 30:06 would have given your friend the better of both worlds. Maybe not the best, but he would not need another big game rifle. Emphasis on need in North America. 7mm REM Mag in semi automatic action with a muzzle brake might also have been a good compromise. Of course you could do this with any caliber to mitigate recoil. If recoil is a serious consideration then choosing an appropriate weight rifle and scope combination is also a part of the equation which cannot be ignored.
With all the comparisons of the 6.5 creedmoor vs. xyc I kinda want to challenge you guys to find an application where the 6.5 creed can do things that the 6.5 swedish can't. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a REALLY close call, if at all...
Try to buy a new 6.5 Swedish and ammo is hard to find. I don't know why people always bring this up. The 6.5 creed and the swede are basicly the same thing. The swede was never that common in the US and the Creedmoor is everywhere. Just like the 300wsm and the 300 win mag are basicly the same with 180gr bullets. The difference is the 300 win is very popular and the wsm is just redundant IMHO. Doesn't mean it isn't any good.
@@johncadloni4538 Completely understandable - but that depends on where you live. I have no problems finding rifles, ammo and also reloading components, but I guess that's just the case because I'm from Europe.
So the final thought is buy a 7prc or 280 ai?
Review 7.62x39 next!!!
Definitely two cartridges with different purposes, I'd like to see .243 vs 6.5 creed. .. there's a lot of 6.5 creed haters that would hunt with a .243.