Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How much damage has the 6.5 Creedmoor done to the 243?

I made this choice today. I went to the LGS to order a Ruger American Predator left hand in 6.5 Creedmoor and they had the rifle in stock but in 243. So I took the 243 instead

Good call. There SHOULD be 6.5 CM factory loads duplicating the Grendel. It's a good setup for most deer hunting.

Just one that I know of. Probably unobtanium. https://hsmammunition.com/low-recoil/

The 6mm, 6.5 CM is good for those who buy off the shelf rifles and ammo. I like the .243win, don't drink Kool aid and can't see myself buying anything CM. For me the .243ai with a 7.5 twist barrel and 2.82 mag length is the ideal setup. When hunting I worry more about Bullet Construction, when shooting, ballistic coefficient starts to matter past 400yds.

A 243 driving a 100g NPt elk worthy load has noticeably less recoil than a 6.5CM with 120-140g bullet.

I'd rather a 243 Kreedmire with Factory 105 Hornie HPBT's,if only because they'll wayyyy out dig a 100gr NPT. LOVE that boolit. Hint..............

For reference: (7.5lb rifle)

243 Win - 100gr bullet at 3000fps with 45gr of powder = 11.7lbs of recoil
6.5CM - 120gr bullet at 3000 with 45gr of powder = 14.5lbs of recoil (24% increase over the 243Win loading)

A 2600+/- FPS light load in a 6.5CM with a 120gr bullet and 30gr of something like 4198 yields 9.0lbs of recoil. That's a 38% reduction in recoil over the 120gr full-power load, while making 87% of the velocity. It also falls below the recoil of the standard 100gr .243 load. My kids and I killed some stuff with loads like this in the 7mm-08 and they were still quite deadly at reasonable ranges, much like an XP-100 load. Now they have grown up quite a bit and shoot the 120's at full speed.

Like others have said, if I wanted a new 6mm today, it would certainly be the Creedmoor.

There's "lighter" and "light enough to matter" I think.

I mean -yes it's lighter but is it likely that the 6.5 was "too much" to begin with?

[quote=ridgerunner_ky]
If I was starting from scratch the only reason I can think of to buy a 243 over a Creed would high volume varmint shooting. )

Disagree, I live in western South Dakota prairie dogs are the high volume varmint shoot. 25-06 and 243 would be among my last choices for this use. A hot shoot is rough enough on barrels using a 243 or similar achieves more barrel wear, muzzle blast, and accumulated recoil none of which is conductive to good results. 223 can't be beat for this use. Still pop a dog now and then with my 22-250 or my Swift but high volume no fugging way. BTDT to many times

Mb

I didn’t say .243 was better than .223 for that purpose. I was only referring to the .243 over the 6.5 Creed for that one purpose.

Fair question. I think it matters more when you are talking about a very light rifle and a relatively inexperienced shooter. I was sighting in a 6.5CM a few weeks ago for a friend's wife and it was one of the Axis models that was probably a shade over 7lbs scoped. It had a fair bit more recoil with 143 ELDX ammo than I was expecting, being "just a 6.5 Creed". I doubt many 10-12yr olds would have wanted to shoot it much. My rifle at that age was an 8.8lb .243 M700 and it was a pleasure to shoot, as it likely had 50% less recoil that that Axis. Now, tell a 120lb+ shooter with much experience to shoot groups with either rifle and they likely would not have any problems.

It's just a 15 year fad. It'll pass.

Bought a 243 for my son last month. Both are good calibers for deer we hunt and easy on the shoulder.

7 MAG !!!!

There's a couple 243's and a couple 6.5 CM's around here. If I was in the market today, I'd get 6 CM, and not bother considering a 243.

I'd like a 6 Creed too. But the 243 is going to kill it just like it did the 6mm Rem, 250-3000, and 257 Robert's. So I figured if you can't beat 'em join 'em and bought a 243.

In my AO, none... Always good to have new options. However new options do not mean that the old options no longer work for intended purpose...

I don't know that the 6.5 Creedmoor itself has done any damage to other 0.473" short-action cartridges--it's a good cartridge and so are they. The damage will come from online influencers spewing BS about its capabilities and ammo companies dragging their feet to make ammo for those cartridges coming out of the COVID ammo drought.

Those two things could change how an entire generation of hunters and shooters looks at rifle cartridges.


Okie John

I predict that the trend toward faster twists and longer bullets isn't going to reverse. The 6 CM is a better version of 24 cal all the way around. I think what has hurt the 25 cals is the same thing that has handicapped the 270: slow twists, and thus, inefficient bullets. The 6.5 CM made that clear to the whole shooting/hunting community. Now even the fudds want long, pointy bullets for 60 yd Whitetails.

Nothing wrong with 243. My new-to-teenage son is using his for deer and elk this year. It certainly works. I've been killing stuff near and far with a 243 for 37 years.

Most guys probably have a couple of each