Barrel life

[Sniffer]

F Class has two divisions, F-Open and FTR. In FTR division you must shoot either .223 or 308. Whats nice about FTR is that everyone is shooting ballistically similar gear. In F-Open, you are shooting against just about any other calibre besides 223 or 308. At each distance and wind condition there is a calibre with a certain competitive advantage. A rig thats right for 1000 yard high wind will probably choke at 300 yards on a calm day. F-Open in this regard is a little like golf. If you don't show up with a bag full of options, you cannot be ideally competitive for the conditions present at the time of the shoot. All most of us can really do is go for some sort of compromise, But then you'll give something up here and there. But in FO there's probably some guy with 4 guns whos ready for anything.

In PRS shooting recoil is a thing that affects your ability to call the shot. You take a shot and if you cannot see the strike then you cannot compensate for a miss. So a round with mild recoil and good ballistics has an advantage over a round with high recoil and so so ballistics like a 308.

If you are buying ammo and not reloading, there is no doubt 308 will be easier to find and cheap ammo can be found. If your a hand loader, the 6.5 creed will be cheaper to load for and cheap factory loaded ammo for 6.5 Creed is really hard to find. At least at the moment.

So having said all that, the 6.5 Creed would be a competitive round for F Open in reasonably calm weather conditions. It represents a fair compromise and provides reasonable barrel life. It would be fiercely competitive with a 6.5x47 which is popular in F Open. Keep in mind that you'd be competing side by side with guys running 60 grains of powder with the same bullet that in a 6.5 Creed runs about 40 grains of powder and thats not always a bad thing. Just work your strengths and win what plays into your wheelhouse.

Bottom line is there's no real bad choice. If you're going to shoot allot, the reduced recoil of the 6.5 Creed is an advantage in terms of your own stamina over the duration of the match.

Is that accurate? The 6.5 will work out cheaper if hand loaded (which I plan to get into)?

Thanks for the detailed explanation by the way

 

[rugbydave]

Is that accurate? The 6.5 will work out cheaper if hand loaded (which I plan to get into)?

Thanks for the detailed explanation by the way

It won't be cheaper to hand load 6.5 CM than .308 but if comparing apples to apples (i.e. loading match rounds for both) it will be no more expensive to reload for 6.5 CM than for .308. Similar powder weights, very similar bullet, case and primer costs.

 

[bsand]

6.5 projectiles seem to be more $$$ especially the bergers

 

[Mystic Precision]

6.5 bullets are less money then 308's.. this is simply a function of material.

6.5 CM brass can be very expensive vs 308's.. and at least as of this post, 308 brass can be more durable.

At the end, call it a tie. Decide on the end use goals and/or game you want to play. Pick the cartridge that will do what you want and enjoy.

cost of barrel is small compared to the entire cost to shoot enough to wear out that barrel.

Jerry