Here is the thing most old farts on a hunting forum don't understand about the 6.5 CM. Hunters are a dying breed. But target shooters are increasing in numbers and the trend in rifles, optics, and cartridges is geared toward where the future sales are going to be. The younger guys who do hunt still spend more time at the range shooting than hunting. And it is perfectly natural for them to use the rifles, cartridges, and other gear for hunting that they are comfortable with at the range.
There are lots of choices better suited for purely hunting than the 6.5 CM, at least on paper. In the real world there isn't a single animal I'd hunt with a 270, 308, or 7-08, where I'd feel the least bit handicapped if I had a 6.5 CM in my hands. With modern optics no one gives a crap that a 270 shoots flatter than a 6.5 CM. With modern optics the trajectory is easily accounted for. Or if it has 200 ft lbs more energy at the muzzle. At the muzzle all of them have more than enough energy and the better 6.5 bullets really close the gap by about 200 yards. No animal will ever know the difference between any of the 3 above. Nor most any other cartridge.
But as a dual purpose target/hunting round the 6.5 is by far the better option, especially if buying off the shelf ammo and rifles. With custom loads and rifles you can do pretty much the same thing with any of them. If you have a rifle in just about any cartridge that you like, then keep using it. That's what I'm doing. I'm heavily invested in 308 and really like several rifles I own. The 6.5 is the better cartridge, but at this point in my life I'm not going to sell what I have and start over. But I'd tell any younger shooter to go 6.5 CM and not look back.
I guess being a hand loader of some 45 years experience, I over look the factory fodder attraction. I can appreciate the benefits the 6.5 Creedmoor provides those that don't hand load.
Likewise I wouldn't feel slighted , for the most part, pointing the 6.5 Creedmoor at most game I pursue. I do however have certain limits in my own mind not worth airing here.
The dual purpose target / hunting round status is really where it's at with the 6.5 CM. I don't consider it ideal as a varmint round. My 22/250 in my eyes is where it's at. If for no other reason than I like the 52 and 53 grain hollow points for their fragile nature. I'd like to try the 22 CM. But medium game / target duty is right up the 6.5s alley.
For me. The ranges that I have taken game at don't take any advantage of the ballistic edge the CM provides. Just a sad fact. My longest game shot was at 343 yards. Muley buck. One shot from the 270. Hornady 130 spire point. DRT. Not very exciting. The second longest was 300 +/- a yard. Whitetail doe. One 140 grain Sierra from a 7 mag under her chin. Again nuttin exciting. The CM wouldn't have given, or taken anything away from either event. Pretty much a wash. The same can be said of the 308, 243, 25/06, or any belted magnum. I don't hunt at breath taking distances,lol.
Ill bring in another Creedmoor some day soon. Waiting for Tikka to chamber the 6 and 22. I've posted on several occasions that I harbour no ill feelings toward the round. I do get a kick out of the blanket " Last word" posts from some of the Jack wagons on the web. I tend to call horse chit what it is when I smell it. Objective, intelligently written posts like the one quoted here are enjoyable reading though.
