The 6.5 Creedmoor is doing a pretty respectable job of sweeping aside a wide range of short action and small bore low power cartridges. From a big game hunting utility perspective it's got the .243, .257 Roberts, .25-06, .260 and .270 solidly beat. The 7mm-08, 7x57 and .280 retain a hair of additional utility, but only with 175s in a suitably twisted barrel, so they're nearly sunk too. The .308 and .30-06 still have some utility for longer bore life, and as crossover hoofed animal/bear rounds. But it's looking more and more like the .308 will be autloader only and the .30-06 will get what it deserves, which is obscurity. We're not there yet but getting there.
The rounds that are safe from the 6.5CM are the .280 AI and 7mm magnums. It really can't come close to the performance, although the 6.5 PRC and the 6.5 WSM if ever adequately standardized are possible competitors.
On the dangerous game crossover end the medium bore magnums continue to dominate as they should.
"From a big game hunting utility perspective". Horse chit. Now all the critters I've killed with the 243, 25/06 and 270 must have been figments of my imagination. Now that the mighty Creedmoor is on the scene I'll never kill another. Good Lord.
