6.5 swede vs 308 win 20" barrel

K

ksduckhntr

Active member
I am curious pros and cons for a 20" 6.5 swede or 308 win. It will be a hunting rifle (deer sized on down) and double as medium range steel banger 4-500 yds. It will be a varmint contour barrel. I like the idea of the 6.5 bc of slightly less recoil in the summer months t shirt weather, but could also brake the 308 to tame it down a little. I am open to all opinions about these calibers positive or negative.
 
The 6.5 class will be easier on the shoulder, for certain. I would stay in the 6.5 family, my self. I am just a big fan of them...

However, if I may interject...I see no reason a 6mm of some sort would work quite well for what you describe. Many folks are loving a 6X47 Lapua for steel ringing out to and even beyond 1000. Even nicer on the shoulder and lots of good options in that class.

JMO...
 
I haven't seen a 308 that recoiled with any intensity worth mentioning. They have some muzzle jump but recoil is pretty much nonexistent, especially in a varmint barrel. A friend has the kimber mountain ascent 308 and said it gives a bit of a shove but not worth worrying about... It does have a brake though.
 
I think the swede beats the .308 in jsut about every category.

Besides, long and sexy Swedes get my vote:
7991706057_e9b301dcbd_b.jpg

7991715272_f22af26134_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Both are fine calibers. I've owned both .260 Rem's ( the ballistic twin to the Swede and a necked-down .308 case) and a .308 and no longer have a .308 since I love the .260. It's a great deer caliber with mild recoil and flat trajectory. I believe the Swede is long action while the .260 is generally produced in short action in production guns. And you can drop down to 100 gr bullets for predators/varmints. For your purposes, I'd agree with Pahuntr and also consider another cartridge in the .308 family, the .243, or another 6mm round. You can't go wrong with any cartridge in the .308 family
 
War- that's a beautiful thing right there.

Thanks for the ideas on he 6mm but I have a 25-06 for some of the lighter bullets. I was looking for something with a little more down range power and frankly just a larger caliber. I like the 243 so it's not totally out of the possibilities but really trying for something with heavier bullets. I might replace the -06 with a fast twist 243
 
Have you taken a look at the 6.5 Creedmore?? Since you are wanting something larger than the .243, the 6.5 (.264) is slighly larger and the Creedmore configuration is developing a following similar to the venerable 6.5 Swede...Shoots flat, with light recoil and bullet weights up to 140gr., so far..
 
You'll never be too far wrong shooting any cartridge with a 6.5 MM bullet in it. My favorite is the 264 Win Mag that packs a lot of whallop with 140 grain bullets without a bunch of recoil, but all of the smaller cartridges are great too for most things in North America. For me, the 6.5X55, the 6.5 Creedmoor, and the 260 Rem are at their best with good modern-day 120-130 grain bullets.
 
I have read that some of the short action calibers really shine with 22-24" barrels, would a 6.5 creedmoor be hampered with a short 20" barrel. I am sort of fond of the older military swede caliber as it has stood the test of time. I have nothing against the newer calibers bc they all are awesome and if money wasn't an option I'd have multiple 6.5's
 
Any of the 6.5's is better than the 308 IMO! Currently on my 3rd. Wouldn't be hampered at all by the shorter barrel, that said I went 22" on my 6.5x47 but I may end up much shorter once I get a supressors. There was a tread on snipershide running short barreled 260 18" I think and it had no problems at 1k.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top