So I'm a .270 guy. Live the round and my gun for deer hunting. Bought an ar for hogs and coyotes. Bought my son a savage axis in 243 for deer hunting. He wants to upgrade to 6.5 creedmore. Family members preach about the 30-06. He is 14. He likes his current axis and thinking I upgrade him to the axis II and a better scope than what it comes with. Besides the inventory issues. Opinions on 6.5 vs 30-06?

This should be interesting.

.25-06

My older son 17 has 30-06 he shoots it great and he loves it.

My younger son 13 has a 6.5 cm and he loves it.

I have shot both and they shoot great.

If your son is on the smaller side go with the 6.5.

30-06 if that's the only choice, but the best choice is a 7-08.

ive been shooting 6.5 for about 6 months now and i have to say - not a fan. 6 animals have been killed with the rifle and aside from me blowing the face off a coyote there has not been any blood trail. the internal damage is extensive, but no blood. i've been lucky enough to have animals die in the field in which they have been shot, but being i hunt in south texas with heavy cover, i dont find the 6.5 very acceptable for hunting applications. will probably sell the rifle and go back to 308.

I'd look at the Ruger American over the Axis. Dad and I both bought our 6.5s around the same time. His was a couple hundred cheaper, but after you add $150 or so to have the Axis barrel threaded once you decide to add hearing protection, it works out about the same.

PSA has a Vortex scope with mount for $150 almost daily.

30-06 if you want to kill what you are shooting.

6.5 CM if you want to support the tracking dog guy.

Every animal I have ever shot with my 6.5 has been dead on the spot.

The 6.5 will have much less recoil, and will be more accurate and have longer range.

The 30-06 will be a flying brick that will kick the crap out of the shooter, and knock down anything it hits and leave a large exit wound.


I have both, and haven't shot the 30-06 in years.

But I'm also an old fart with a bad shoulder...

O.G. said:

---

30-06 if you want to kill what you are shooting.

6.5 CM if you want to support the tracking dog guy.

---

This isn't true at all. Everything with the exception of a big hog hadn't gone 15 yards with the 6.5.

Man, when I turned 17 (I think) my dad got me a Winchester Model 70 in .270 WSM. Still my favorite gun that I own. Excellent knock down power, great blood trails if something runs, beautiful gun that will last my lifetime, typically ammo can be found anywhere for it as it's fairly common.... it's a solid option. I've shot everything from coyotes all the way up to my elk in Idaho with it.


But if I had to pick from your options, 30-06

ironmanag said:

---

O.G. said:

---

30-06 if you want to kill what you are shooting.

6.5 CM if you want to support the tracking dog guy.

---

This isn't true at all. Everything with the exception of a big hog hadn't gone 15 yards with the 6.5.

---

The tracking dog guys that I know in Brownwood and Frederickburg say other wise.

why not a 300 win mag? that will open up his hunting options more given that he already has a .243.

O.G. said:

---

ironmanag said:

---

O.G. said:

---

30-06 if you want to kill what you are shooting.

6.5 CM if you want to support the tracking dog guy.

---

This isn't true at all. Everything with the exception of a big hog hadn't gone 15 yards with the 6.5.

---

The tracking dog guys that I know in Brownwood and Frederickburg say other wise.

---

The gun I have actually used and killed things with says otherwise.

K_P said:

---

why not a 300 win mag? that will open up his hunting options more given that he already has a .243.

---

That's a ton of gun for pretty much just Texas whitetail hunting

Why not upgrade him to a 270?

I have a reloading recipe you may like, it leaves great blood trails, I will have to verify everything when I get home. But it should be 41.7gr RL16, Barnes 130gr TSX OAL 2.80 with federal Gold medal match large rifle primers (GM210M). That recipe got my bergaras to 3/8" groups going 2855fps, all game taken with it left very good exit holes and plenty of blood!

What is your typical range during most of his deer hunting situations?
Is he hunting doe and spikes or trophy bucks?

Both cartridges are probably more than capable for whitetail at under 300 yds. The 6.5 has the advantage of better long range trajectory, and the .30-06 has the advantage on "knockdown" power.

With the appropriate ammo and proper shot placement, the 6.5 might be the more versatile option for a variety of ranges. It also has softer recoil.

My $0.02

highvelocity said:

---

ive been shooting 6.5 for about 6 months now and i have to say - not a fan. 6 animals have been killed with the rifle and aside from me blowing the face off a coyote there has not been any blood trail. the internal damage is extensive, but no blood. i've been lucky enough to have animals die in the field in which they have been shot, but being i hunt in south texas with heavy cover, i dont find the 6.5 very acceptable for hunting applications. will probably sell the rifle and go back to 308.

---

I posted something similar to this nearly 2 years ago. If you switch to Federal Premium TTSX 130 gr bullets it will leave a blood trail if needed. Use your Hornady PH bullets for hogs.

I like my .30-06 and it packs a serious punch on every animal it kills. However, I'm picking up a 6.5CM just to have something that is easier on the shoulder and can be used by my wife and eventually my kids. My ought six weighs a little over 7 lbs with the scope and is the hardest kicking gun I own. I had considered a .243 or 7-08 and just landed in the middle with the 6.5.

The people having trouble with things running off when shot by a 6.5 CM are almost certainly using "match" bullets instead of hunting rounds. There is nothing special about a 6.5 vs. a 6mm vs a .243 vs a .270 that would make that one specific caliber not effectively kill animals. It is bullet selection by idiots that don't know better. If you put a 6.5 CM hunting round into the boiler room of anything in Texas, it will go down just as quickly as anything else.

giddings_ag_06 said:

---

Man, when I turned 17 (I think) my dad got me a Winchester Model 70 in .270 WSM. Still my favorite gun that I own. Excellent knock down power, great blood trails if something runs, beautiful gun that will last my lifetime, typically ammo can be found anywhere for it as it's fairly common.... it's a solid option. I've shot everything from coyotes all the way up to my elk in Idaho with it.


But if I had to pick from your options, 30-06

---

This is where I sit as well. Why not just put him in the .270 and keep both of you on the same platform? You already know it's a deer slayer.

The 30-06 will take down any animal in North America. He could use that gun for anything for the rest of his life. There's obviously nothing wrong with the 6.5 CM. It'll do the the job as well; but if I'm having to choose, I'm going with the more versatile caliber and would let him pick up the 6.5 down the road.

I just bought my first proper hunting rifle in 30.06. I shot one when I was 14yo at Philmont, and no big deal. Now I'm starting to get worried about my shoulder. Are they more powerful these days than they were decades ago?

shiftyandquick said:

---

I just bought my first proper hunting rifle in 30.06. I shot one when I was 14yo at Philmont, and no big deal. Now I'm starting to get worried about my shoulder. Are they more powerful these days than they were decades ago?

---

Solid post

shiftyandquick said:

---

I just bought my first proper hunting rifle in 30.06. I shot one when I was 14yo at Philmont, and no big deal. Now I'm starting to get worried about my shoulder. Are they more powerful these days than they were decades ago?

---

I feel like that every time I go skiing now. Things I took for granted at 17 now seem awfully painful when they happen to me at 50.

txags92 said:

---

The people having trouble with things running off when shot by a 6.5 CM are almost certainly using "match" bullets instead of hunting rounds. There is nothing special about a 6.5 vs. a 6mm vs a .243 vs a .270 that would make that one specific caliber not effectively kill animals. It is bullet selection by idiots that don't know better. If you put a 6.5 CM hunting round into the boiler room of anything in Texas, it will go down just as quickly as anything else.

---

this right here. Its the bullet selection that's the problem, not the caliber

There's a lot to consider here, but my thoughts are below. Regardless of your choice, I would top the rifle with a good BDC or dialable scope in order to shoot confidently at game beyond beyond 300 yards. Personally I would pick the 30.06, but I'm kind of a traditionalist.

30.06 gets my vote if:

• The recoil doesn't bother him and won't cause him to develop a flinch
• Might hunt larger game like elk or moose in the future
• Shots at deer size game unlikely to exceed much more than 400 yards

Consider the creedmoor if:

• Want lighter recoil or an ultra-lite gun
• Likely to take shots a deer sized game 350-500 yards
• Want to punch paper at long distances

I also would consider a .270 win or even .280 rem. Down the road he could have a smith convert the .280 to .280AI and have a near 7mm mag performance.

6.5 is just easier to shoot unless you have reduced recoil 30-06 rounds. The 6.5 will safely kill anything in Texas, honestly the .243 would too. I exclusively hunt with a 6.8spc and nothing has ever run further than 15 yards, Barnes TSX or TTSX 85-95 have taken down some 200+ pound hogs.

Can't go wrong with the 6.5, I have a customer that took a mule deer out at 385 yards or so. Used to hunt with a 30-06 but was getting old and wanted less recoil. Said it hit the ground within 5 seconds of the shot. Think it was a 140 grain Hornady.

If he wants to upgrade to a larger round the 6.5 is an option but not a must unless he is going outside of Texas. I have only shot one once and it was extremely boring to shoot since we could only go out to 200 yards. Ruger American with a 4-16x Vortex, nothing fancy but more accurate than me.

txags92 said:

---

The people having trouble with things running off when shot by a 6.5 CM are almost certainly using "match" bullets instead of hunting rounds. There is nothing special about a 6.5 vs. a 6mm vs a .243 vs a .270 that would make that one specific caliber not effectively kill animals. It is bullet selection by idiots that don't know better. If you put a 6.5 CM hunting round into the boiler room of anything in Texas, it will go down just as quickly as anything else.

---

This right here.

The 6.5 round isn't a new round - it's been used for literally decades in Europe with the 6.5x55 round to take down every game animal on that continent, including pigs, bear, moose, etc.

100% it is a projectile selection issue or a shot placement issue, which would be the exact same on any round you can imagine short of a .50 BMG.

The 6.5 is a great range and varmint gun! The different loads tell a lot!

Having shot animals out to ~450 yards with a 30'06 and 375 yards with a 6.5, I can confirm that both are effective at those ranges.

I prefer the 30.06 because I like bigger holes. Both are adequate. Personal preference rules the day.

If you're planning to shoot 500 yards or more, you better plan on practicing at those ranges.

I think most people are missing the point of the 6.5CM and are just hearing hype around it. It is great for long distance shooting. You aren't going to see significant benefits to it until you're a few hundred yards out. That said if you are losing whitetail with 6.5CM you need to work on your aim more than anything.

K_P said:

---

why not a 300 win mag? that will open up his hunting options more given that he already has a .243.

---

I have a 300 win mag already. Don't think he is ready for that yet.

dolch said:

---

Having shot animals out to ~450 yards with a 30'06 and 375 yards with a 6.5, I can confirm that both are effective at those ranges.

I prefer the 30.06 because I like bigger holes. Both are adequate. Personal preference rules the day.

If you're planning to shoot 500 yards or more, you better plan on practicing at those ranges.

---

ag0207 said:

---

Why not upgrade him to a 270?

---

I have one already. Opportunity to get another caliber in the safe!

tsuag10 said:

---

What is your typical range during most of his deer hunting situations?
Is he hunting doe and spikes or trophy bucks?

Both cartridges are probably more than capable for whitetail at under 300 yds. The 6.5 has the advantage of better long range trajectory, and the .30-06 has the advantage on "knockdown" power.

With the appropriate ammo and proper shot placement, the 6.5 might be the more versatile option for a variety of ranges. It also has softer recoil.

My $0.02

---

At our owned place, no further than 200 yards, does, spikes and 8 pts. Starting to do some guided hunts and looking at getting a lease so could see longer shots or bigger trophy deer. Elk is an option in 3-4 years.