The Creedmoor offers something no other cartridge does. For $26 a box at any decent gun store you get factory ammo capable of winning national championships, excellent external ballistics, and low recoil. To frost it- factory guns are almost universally setup correct with regards to twist, throat and by design- magbox.
Of course other cartridges could do this as well.... but no one has.
None of that explains why one would replace a 7-08 with it...........everything you've said about the CM applies as well to the 7-08.
Not knocking the CM, just saying it ain't really any different except in the mind...............for hunting purposes.
MM
Bullets. 6.5 is leading the way in bullet selection IMO, which applies to hunting. From the 100gr Mono at 3200 out of a Creed, to 120s at 2900, to the 143/147 ELDX at 2700. Lots of versatility.
The 7-08 has the 120gr TTSX at 3k, which is an amazing combo, but you don't want to start talking wind and longer shots with that bullet. The 140s are good, but the BC edge goes to the 6.5s.
I definitely don't think bullet selection favours the 6.5, though factory ammo certainly does. The 6.5 is gaining headway in bullet options, but the 7's and .30's had a pretty massive head start.
In handloads you can get a 110gr TTSX at 3275 in the 7-08, all the way up to a 195gr Hybrid at 2520fps, and several stops in between.
Though in factory guise with factory mag dimensions, I'll agree the 6.5 Creed is more versatile with bullet options that work at mag length.
