spray____ wrote: »

Sorry to be that guy, but I have to ask.

I've been eyeing up a Bergara B-14 HMR for a while now, and am about ready to start the process. Looking for something that I can eventually use for deer hunting, as well as some light target shooting, with the possibility of getting into long range target shooting at some point in the future. Seems like a rifle that would do all of that at a reasonable price.

Last choice to be made is caliber; it comes in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. I was taking to someone from my gun club today and they were steering me a little more toward .308 based on ammunition. They were saying the price and amount of choice would be significantly better.

Reading around online everyone seems to love the 6.5 as it's a good long range cartridge, but I suppose that's only a benefit if you can find it and not pay an arm and a leg. I don't mind paying to play, but am I going to be banging my head against a wall trying to find boxes of the stuff?

Anyone have strong opinions on going one way or the other?

And now I will be that guy, have you considered the 6.5x55.

The only good thing is if you wanted get the 6,5 Creedmoor and then look to having a second license and get a spare barrel in 308. Someone will correct me if i'm wrong but the same action should run both calibers (short action, and same bolt face).

It can I had one of my 6.5x55 rebareled to .308 for F class.
If the 6.5x55 is not available you will just have to make do with the Creedmore lol.

I don't shoot either the 6.5 or the 308, my preferences for hunting now are the .270 and 30-06 slinging 130 and 150 grain bullets respectively, neither of which are really suitable for competition shooting. I previously hunted with a .243 favouring 100gr bullets - a great calibre but I much prefer something heavier for the open hill.

I do hunt with another lad who uses a 308 to great effect along side me in the hills. Our average long shot would be 250 yards but all three calibres are capable of 300 plus shots that will drop animals on the spot. Our longest shots todate were 360+ yards and 480 yards (measure). We both use MPBR, not relying on either balistic reticles or turrets relying on the inherent balstic performance of the various calibres and rounds. If your 6.5 will throw approximately the same bullet weights as the two 30 cals or the .270 then go for it as probably the better calibre for duel purpose target shooting / hunting.

However if you want to put a bigger hole in things with heavier bullets then the 308 will be the better choice, giving you a calibre for various sized international game.

From a hunting point of view, I would have a good long thought over the type of rifle you pick. If its predominately range shooting and competition with the occasional stalk then the likes of the HMR should suit but if you plan to put a fair amount of walking and stalking in then a bare bones rifle weighing in at 9+ Lbs is probably not ideal.
One of my rifles is 6.8lb bare but by the time you include mounts, rings and scope, sling, bipod, moderator and ammo your looking a approximately another 5.5lbs. Now you can go ultra light with some of these accessories, at a cost, but if your starting out with a near 10lb rifle you are not going to shave that much off the end result.

A few stalkers I know soon ditched thier tactical/ competition rifles when they realised they were stalking more than they were punching paper or steel.

Feisar wrote: »

I have a Sako TRG in 308, fully loaded with a Nightforce, bipod, moderator it weighs a fair amount! Humping it around on a days stalking isn't fun and that's before I took a deer. Calibers may fit dual rolls but rifles not so much.

The Creed is going to be ballistically better, there's no getting away from that, a run of the numbers in any ballistic app with tell you that, better in the wind, stays supersonic further out. However it'll go through he barrel quicker, circa 10K for the 308 vs 2.5K for the Creed. I'll stand to be corrected on that but they seem to be the figures about the internet.

Thing is though we are a backwater when it comes to shooting and what you can buy here. The .308 has had a much longer head start over the creedmoor, and you can buy a lot wider a selection of ammunition for it. Plus its a lovely round.