sheep - 270 vs 6.5cm

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if you had to pick between the two for a sheep rifle. 6.5 creedmoor or .270 win. which would you go with?

looking to prepare for down the line in life, looking to get a tikka t3x superlite in one of the two. Cant decide.
 

Apollo117

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Easy choice. Tikka T3x Superlite in .270 Win. Toped with a 3-10 Nightforce SHV. Add a Yodave trigger spring and a Limbsaver Airtech pad.

The above is my primary hunting rifle. Minus the Nightforce. Still working on that.

I get just under MOA 10 shot groups with 130gr Hornady SST and Nosler Partitions.
 
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A tikka action will be the same for either so you dont get the weight/size benefit of a short action for the 6.5.

The numbers can vary a lot based on which ammo you shoot, but in general a 270 is going to shoot flatter and have more recoil. 6.5 in general will have higher BC bullets and might slightly edge out the 270 in wind drift even with the lower velocity.

There isn't a wrong answer between the two.
 

BAKPAKR

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In 2011, I bought a Remington 700 Ti in 270 Win with the idea that I would use it if I drew a sheep tag. I thought the 270 would be the perfect sheep cartridge (I was a big Jack O’Connor fan when I was a kid). In 2018, I bought a Tikka T3X SL in 6.5 CM, largely due to all of the hype on the Tikka and on the 6.5 CM. I finally drew a tag in 2019, and I took the 6.5 with me on the hunt. That wasn’t because I thought it was a better cartridge, I just shoot the Tikka better from field positions.

The ballistics for the two are very similar so I agree with @ewind gypsy that either would work fine.
 
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Had both. Same as BAKPAKR I went 6.5 for similar reasons. Once I started stretching out the range the 6.5 was a clear winner.
 

KU_Geo

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Have both in a tikka. Had a bighorn tag in my pocket this year and the 6.5cm got to come along. No regrets, two into the chest at 300yards, both exited, ram 30 yards and piled up. Both rifles shoot great and well under sub MOA, but the 6.5cm shoots lights out with sub 3” groups at 500yards. Either would have worked just fine.
 
Last edited:
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Dec 10, 2020
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if you had to pick between the two for a sheep rifle. 6.5 creedmoor or .270 win. which would you go with?

looking to prepare for down the line in life, looking to get a tikka t3x superlite in one of the two. Cant decide.
.270 all the way. Higher energy and velocity with less drop. If I’m not mistaken, the tikka uses a long action for all calibers, so not much to gain by using a short action chambering.
 

brsnow

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I own both in fieldcraft, would take the .270. It shoots better, but either would be fine. With the LRX ammo the .270 is better at distance.
 

BluMtn

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Why not the 270 WSM. More power baby. I have just about every caliber there is and over the years I have found myself gravitating to my 270 WSM for my everything gun.
 
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Another for the 270 in a Tikka. Like mentioned many times it’s the Action length.

the 6.5 cm was made for the Short Action limit of 2.82” COAL as found in Rem Short Action receivers. And still be able to properly seat the long high BC bullets.
 

204guy

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If you want to shoot and hunt with high bc match bullets, CM by a mile. Shoot and hunt with traditional bullets, flip a coin, maybe a slight nod to the 270.
 
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my rocky 30-06
my dall 270wsm
my stone 270wsm

which cartridge do you want to shoot? both will do the job well.
wishing in never sold the 30-06 though.
 

JColony

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Better question... Do you sit or stand to pee??? :LOL::LOL::LOL:

All kidding aside, my nephew whacked an elk down in AZ with a 6.5CM at 400yds and dropped it in its tracks. If it'll dump an elk, it'll dump a sheep.
 
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