6.5 vs .308 shorty suppressed ?

[Joshuajosh]

I’m looking into putting a short suppressed bolt gun together for hunting/plinking… I’m thinking about going with .308 or 6.5 since I don’t reload much currently and would like to have access to factory ammo, I’d like to use a 16.5-18” proof sendaro to keep it manageable… those of you who have a similar setup which cal preforms better at these lengths? I want to be able to still hunt with it, I don’t shoot past 500 yds on whitetail but I do shoot out to 800 and sometimes 1k on steel, I would like to still be able to do that…

 

[DangerRanger]

How does a proof make it manageable?like weight?

What I did this month was just chop a tikka lite.

16.25” creed, factory norma golden target 143 is 2440fps


This was on the 550 range.


Took it to 600 and 700, and 1k. Need to go back and play at 1k some more mirage was making hits hard to spot. I’m really happy with it so far

 

[Joshuajosh]

How does a proof make it manageable?like weight?

What I did this month was just chop a tikka lite.

16.25” creed, factory norma golden target 143 is 2440fps
View attachment 556929

This was on the 550 range.
View attachment 556930

Took it to 600 and 700, and 1k. Need to go back and play at 1k some more mirage was making hits hard to spot. I’m really happy with it so far

I meant manageable lengthwise, awesome setup!

 

[DangerRanger]

Gotcha yeah especially with a can the 16-18” range is way more manageable length wise

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have an 18” 308 I shoot suppressed and it’s been great. I’ve only shot one load over the chrono but I was still getting great velocity.

 

[ElPollo]

I considered the same question last year and ended up going with the 6.5. The ballistics inside 400 are not hugely different. Beyond 400, the 6.5 beats the 308 pretty handily for drop and drift. The 6.5 also beats the 308 just about everywhere on recoil.

I cut my 6.5 to 16.5” and am using an 8-stack AB Raptor suppressor which gives me an OAL equivalent to a 24” barrel. I’m getting about 2425 fps from factory 140 gr ELDM and about 2670 from handloaded 130gr TMK in the stubby suppressed barrel. The long range results are not hugely different between the two loads. With the handloads, I’m hitting 1800 fps at about 550 yards with about 1.2 mils of drift in a full 10 mph wind. With the factory 140 ELDM, I’m hitting 1800 at a hair over 500 yards with about a mil of drift. That’s about 100-150 yard increase in range over the 308 for similar impact velocities with the 168 ELDM. All these numbers are contingent on bullet construction. If you pick a tougher bullet that requires more velocity to expand, the ranges get shorter.

Some folks will suggest you lean to the 308 because of the bigger bullet. I don’t put huge stock in that. Prior to this CM, I hunted solely with 130 gr bullets in a 270 Winchester and never felt the need for bigger projectiles.

Finally, I’m at about 7.2#, field ready with the can on the 6.5. Recoil is about like shooting a springer air rifle. I’ve been shooting all my life and have owned some hard kicking rifles and shotguns. I just shoot the ones that kick less better.

Good luck.

 

[gtriple]

I meant manageable lengthwise, awesome setup!

Check my Barrett build thread. 6.5CM 16". With the 127gr Barnes load it is gets you to about 420 yards before you hit 1800fps, which is the minimum expansion Velocity for the Barnes.

If you used the Hornady Precision Hunter stuff, you'd probably get to that 500 yard mark.

The 308 will start out better, but will not perform as well over longer distance. Both would be fine tho. And I'm currently building a 16" 308.

I'd get a Proof Sendero Light or Carbon Six Featherweight instead of a Proof Sendero. Or save a lot of money and just get a #2 steel barrel with a belled muzzle for a can.

 

[Joshuajosh]

Check my Barrett build thread. 6.5CM 16". With the 127gr Barnes load it is gets you to about 420 yards before you hit 1800fps, which is the minimum expansion Velocity for the Barnes.

If you used the Hornady Precision Hunter stuff, you'd probably get to that 500 yard mark.

The 308 will start out better, but will not perform as well over longer distance. Both would be fine tho. And I'm currently building a 16" 308.

I'd get a Proof Sendero Light or Carbon Six Featherweight instead of a Proof Sendero. Or save a lot of money and just get a #2 steel barrel with a belled muzzle for a can.

What makes you say sendaro lite over sendaro?

 

[gtriple]

What makes you say sendaro lite over sendaro?

It's lighter. Honestly, if you can find an 18" Fieldcraft in 308 or 6.5CM, that would be the perfect rifle. I just picked one of those up in addition to the 16" I cut down.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

It's lighter. Honestly, if you can find an 18" Fieldcraft in 308 or 6.5CM, that would be the perfect rifle. I just picked one of those up in addition to the 16" I cut down.

I’m getting my wife a tikka compact 6.5 creed, I’ll probably have it cut back to 16” and threaded.

 

[Barrettscarvings]

308 I think there’s a lot better options for 308. If you ever wanted to shoot subsonic. Plus wider range of bullet sizes. I have had good experience hunting with the 308 and am confident it will do everything I need. Just my 2 cents

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Currently debating the same after finally getting my suppressors out of jail. The plan was to cut down my current 24" CM but local shop and online quote to cut and thread was $250+ so figure that's $250 off of a new rifle instead. Lol. It's gonna be a 308 or 6.5 CM I'm just stuck in between. Rifle has no practical use but probably end up being a general deer gun.

 

[gtriple]

Currently debating the same after finally getting my suppressors out of jail. The plan was to cut down my current 24" CM but local shop and online quote to cut and thread was $250+ so figure that's $250 off of a new rifle instead. Lol. It's gonna be a 308 or 6.5 CM I'm just stuck in between. Rifle has no practical use but probably end up being a general deer gun.

That's crazy. TBAC cut and thread mine for $125.

 

[Marbles]

Currently debating the same after finally getting my suppressors out of jail. The plan was to cut down my current 24" CM but local shop and online quote to cut and thread was $250+ so figure that's $250 off of a new rifle instead. Lol. It's gonna be a 308 or 6.5 CM I'm just stuck in between. Rifle has no practical use but probably end up being a general deer gun.

LRI cuts and threads for $125. Shipping adds a touch, but if you want anything else done, just have them do it at the same time.

I am having them cut and thread my 308, at some point, well before the barrel is shot out, I will get a 7-08 or 6.5 barrel for it and keep the 308 barrel just in case I can only find 308 ammo at some point.

 

[SwiftShot]

I went with the 308 for mine. I did this because I run a can and made up subsonics for under 100 yards. I wanted to shove as much weight down range at 1000 fps to keep it subsonic. Plus going short barrel for regular rounds the 308 should burn more efficiently because of the larger bore to powder ratio.

If you're not interested in subsonic loads and dont reload. 6.5 Creedmoor is a nice option.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I ran a 18inch suppressed 308 for years so that’s what my choice would be. I strictly shot factory ammo out of it and the 168s were a little light for long distance. If you are wanting to bang steel at 1k a 10 twist and 175s are where you want to be.

As far as a hunting gun, you couldn’t ask for more IMO.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

That's crazy. TBAC cut and thread mine for $125.

LRI cuts and threads for $125. Shipping adds a touch, but if you want anything else done, just have them do it at the same time.

I am having them cut and thread my 308, at some point, well before the barrel is shot out, I will get a 7-08 or 6.5 barrel for it and keep the 308 barrel just in case I can only find 308 ammo at some point.

I may need to shop around more. Thanks for the heads up.