Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters How are bolt action 308 and 30-06 sales holding up...

given the onslaught of the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC?

I have been working part-time behind the gun counter of a major outdoor retailer for the past 13 years.

Up until early last year, maybe spring, I had never, not once, been asked about the 6.5 Creed. Then, almost overnight, every 3rd guy wants a 6.5 Creed.

I figure one of the long distance 'hunting' shows must have featured the cartridge.

The OP can sleep well at night, as the sales of 30-06 and 308 are still brisk. Seriously, how can you go wrong with either?

They are all fine cartridges, I’m taking 30-06’s next weekend when rifle season opens.

Not everybody follows the fads

Rest assured, I ain't "onslaughting" either one of those...

I'm keeping my .308's (4) and my 30-06 (1).
I have one 6.5 PRC It's a good round and a nice rifle, it's very accurate. Shooting 127 gr. Barnes LRX or Burger 140 VLD Hunter bullets. I'm not sure how long the later will stay in my gunsafe.

Saying this, I have no plans to remove any of the other rifles.

Once everyone that thinks they need one has it, things will slow down, just like the shorty mags that preceded it. Since the Creed is a better cartridge for the things most of us do, it's joined the list of standards that the WSMs didn't quite make, so will continue to sell steadily. I'm guessing its biggest impact with hunters will be on the .243 and maybe the 7-08.

Well I have a .30-06 and a 7mm-08. I don't see the purchase of a 6.5 any time soon.

I was a bit surprised that my small mom n pop gun store didn't sell many if any 6.5 Creed rifles. I had stopped in maybe a year ago, and i believe he had one on display. Said seems like nobody around here wants one. Hmmm.... But just an hr away there is another small gun store that if you look on his gun racks, I would say at least 50 % of his new guns are 6.5 Creedmoore rifles. The difference there is that the owner sings their praises loudly to anyone, and I believe he pushes them pretty hard. Makes me wonder how hos sales would be if he gave it the same chance that the other chamberings have in his store. If I remember right, both he and his wife use one. Of course that will "poison the well" so to speak!
Most of the hunters around here are just that, hunters. Some are farmers that probably don't keep up with what is happening in the firearm world. To them, the gunstore owner knows a lot. Had he used and loudly sung the praises of a 308, and carried mostly 308 in his store, I am sure he would sell lots of 308's

EVEN WORSE, I have a 270 Win in an 8# rifle I hunt with. Disgusting I know. But every time i send one of those horribly low BC bullets into the vitals of an animal the same thing keeps happening. Hard Pass on the 6.5's for me

I just bought a 30-06 a couple weekends ago. If I run across one for a good deal, I'll snag it for sure...:

I have two nice 30.06 and a nice 308 on sale in a local store and have lowered the price three times in seven months and they have not moved. The Kimber 30.06 with two sets of rings and the CDS dials to match at $875. Rem. 700 stainless .308 BDL with Kimber ring mounts at $525 and a push feed Win. 70 with Burris scope for $400. Dealer tells me the only thing that sells are "cheap", AR's or long range stuff. I used to buy lots of used 30 cal. stuff when I got a good price, put some time in them and then sell them for about what I paid or make a little. It was fun but those days are done.

I’ve only got 308s at this point. Don’t see it changing...though I dearly love the 7-08 as well as the 7x57

Not sure if location has much to do with it but around here every other gun on the rack is a Creedmoor. Not that I mind I
Iike them. Believe I bought my first 6.5 Creedmoor in 2014. Addd several since.

But I also bought another 30/06, have several 308’s as well. But yes it’s my opinion that the 308 and other short action carts will suffer more than the ‘06.

308’s are thriving in my gun room. I have 8, I think.

So, consolidate with a 280.

I see no difference in their popularity today from what I saw around here 20 years ago

I just re-rebought a 30-06...no need for a 6.5 Snoflake

Just picked up a 30-06 (pre 64 fwt), been watching for one for quite a while. Pretty versatile rifle up here!

I've got one of each already and not planning on buying any more. Haven't shot the .308 in probably 15 years as it is. My .30-06 is my rainy weather rifle {stainless synthetic} and if it weren't for that I probably wouldn't use it much either. Just no need for such cannons here in the Northeast. Years ago you couldn't swing a dead cat in the woods during deer season around here wthout hitting somebody carrying a .30-06. I see far fewer in recent years and many more carrying 6.5 creeds, 7mm-08's, .243's and .223's.