6.5 creedmoor
.308 Win

which one best in the 20", and your reasoning.

You will only lose 50fps or so per inch, so it's a moot point in my opinion. I would say go with the caliber that suits your needs regardless of the barrel length. I would assume that the Creedmoor would suffer the most, but I don't have any evidence to prove that. I know that the 308 is chambered in short barrels more routinely than the Creedmoor.

There are bunches of 16" 308s out there that are excellent shooters.

308 or 7mm-08 better barrel life

With 6.5 I wouldn't run the heavy bullets

9,999 out of 10,000 hunters won't shoot a rifle enough to worry about barrel life. And if competition shooting every weekend was in the equation a 20" tube wouldn't be the question.

I prefer low expansion ratio cartridges in shorter barreled rifles because they generally prefer faster burning powders which is theoretically more efficient and generally has less muzzle flash/blast. That said, there are 1001 variables involved, any one of which can invalidate those generalizations. As well stated above by Creedmoor, I would say go with the caliber that suits your needs regardless of the barrel length.

6 of 1.

excellent

If you don't reload the 308 might be the better choice unless you prefer the 6.5

Factory ammunition would definitely be more available over a widespread area, and the factory loads would offer more bullet choices.

What's the rifle for?

The 20" barreled bolt gun I have is chambered in 7mm-08 (which splits the 6.5 and .308) It's loaded with 162 gr A-Maxes, and 40.0 of H-Varget. With suppressor on it makes 2635 MV.

Yesterday, and Thursday that combo hit cold bore at 800 yards in significant wind. Then hit 1 MOA at 700, 600, and 500 yards. After that I packed up and went home. The system can do that all the time, would that meet your requirements?

Thinking about doing something like that for Texas hunting, range work, and back up elk gun

20" long 6.5 Creedmoor would still push a 140 gr around 2650-2700 MV. That's nothing to throw rocks at.

But, yes the old 7mm-08 is still a really good tool for many tasks.

My friend is looking at the savage 20" in 6.5 Creed or .308. he doesn't reload, based on what I'm hearing, I'll tell him to flip a coin. maybe a little less recoil on the Creed.

Cool rifle, threaded muzzle, detach mag box, pic rail, $600

I've got no hatred for the .308, even put one in service again. But I'm married to the 6.5 Creedmoor. Mine has a barrel on its last leg, and probably getting a new barrel this week, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor again. Start the clock over on a new barrel, 2000-2500 later, repeat.

I'm putting together a 6.5x47 with an 18" barrel... with 123gr bullets it's fine!

But I'm with Jason on this I like the 6.5 CM over the 308...

I shoot a 16.5" 6.5x47L. The 123gr Amaxs run 2750fps and the 130vlds run 2650ish. I lost right at 25fps per inch.

What are you using the gun for?

IMO 308 will always be better than the 6.5 because:

1. You can find ammo for it anywhere.
2. 308 is a larger diameter and and more gr of bullet
3. I personally like the 308 better

I cut my .308 to 20", but it will always be wearing a suppressor.

20" is perfect for 308. I don't see much if any velocity loss. I see 2885 fps with 150 Ballistic tips. Since your friend doesn't reload, I'd recommend 308. The ammunition choices are limitless and it's easy to find cheap ammo.

Not necessarily "better".

.264 diameter bullets have a much better BC than the same weight .300 bullets. The farther you stretch them out, the more the .264 shines. Same goes for the 7mm-08 vs .308 comparison.

308 will always make a bigger entrance hole and have more material to expand. Plus most animals are shot in less than 250 yards so BC is BS when it comes to hunting. This is the Hunting Forum not the put little holes in paper forum. On the put little holes in paper forum BC will matter more. 308 is a better hunting round than the 6.5 anything.

6.5 is better for shooting targets at long range.

308 is better for utilitarian purposes.

308 is better for hunting.

308 is more versatile in the hands of a reloader.

Damn ....... you're in love with that 30 aren't you?

Your Texas deer must be way harder to kill than our deer here in Tennessee if a .264" hole won't kill them.

Even at 250 yards the bullet BC comes into play. Wind drift is a very critical factor. Even in a hunting situation. I'd think you would have taken that into consideration, being the hunter that you are.

And I always thought that accuracy was an integral part of hunting. You know .... putting the bullet where you want it to go?

I can't imagine a responsible hunter who doesn't want his firearm of choice to be as accurate as possible.

You just have to love all the opinionated people on this forum. There's not any animal in the state of Texas that can't be taken with anything .257 caliber or larger.

If anyone has problems finding factory ammo for a 6.5 Creedmoor,they aren't looking very hard for it. Every place around here that sells ammo has several different choices for it on the shelves.
I load all of my ammo,so I never have to worry about finding any factory ammo for anything I shoot except 22 LR and 22 WMR,but I've been stocked up on it for several decades.

Unless I'm hunting for a moose or an elk,I have no reason to take any of my .30 caliber rifles out of the safe. All of my 25 and 6.5 mm calibers do the job just fine on everything else.

Seen 100s of Animals killed with a 308 seen 10s killed with a 6.5. I have had to bring in dogs on 3 6.5s do to deflection with in a deer off of shoulders due to high BC bullets. In my experience bullets with high BC tend to create less than strait through performance. Higher BC bullets tend to bend rather than open. This creates in my experience holes that are not as expansive and arched up or down. On large pigs I have found 6.5 bullets bent and resting in the hogs brisket after a shoulder shot.

Have had dogs called in on 2 308s due to poor shot placement.

Glad you love your 6.5, it is not as good of a hunting round as the 308. Plus here in Texas we have a ton of other critters to hunt other than just deer.

I never said the 6.5 was more accurate with in 250 yards. If you want to shoot at animals more than 250 yards away that is a different game then I usually play, I did not realize that is how you did it in Tennessee. I thought you boys were better at sneaking up on the deer. However, when in Rome. If you want to shoot deer with a 20 inch barrel at over 250 yards and you are in Tennessee the 6.5 maybe a better choice for you, assuming you do not have to stop at Walmart or the local gun store to buy ammo.

Wow. You have ZERO idea what you are talking about. High BC bullets are not prone to "bending". Seriously?

And I can assure you (as will others who own and know anything about 6.5 caliber rifles) that I can readily dispatch anything you have walking around there.

LOL. I still can't get over the "bending" remark ........ Were these idiots shooting match or solid bullets?