18” barrel for wild boar (hogs) and deer...?

Hi everyone.
Looking at new all round handy rifle.
Either .308 or 6.5 creedmoor. This would be my non handloading rifle.
Range till max 650 yards (600 meter)
European game mainly (deer, boar and maybe red stag). With an 18" barrel. We can start using suppressors in the near future therefore looking at shorter barrels. Mainly shoot mono metals as lead is most likely being banned in europe in a few years from now.

Im concerned with knock down power of the creed as i need the speed for the mono's... would this be better with .308 due to the heavier bullet. Creed 120 gmx / .308 150 LOS or 165 LOS. Any advice welcome as very little experience (myself and most european hunters) with short barrels. Thanks in advanced.

I shoot the 260 and 7mm-08 in 20" sporter weight barrels and have found no disadvantages to this point. They both are under 1/2MOA and still in load tuning stages. Lighter to carry and quick to swing, also nice when climbing into treestands. One barrel is lightweight sporter and the other is about a match for #3 douglas contour. Good Shooting Dave

The sectional density of the 6.5 at normal hunting weight bullet wise is at a higher ratio. However, if shooting box ammo the 308 is king. Add in barrel life it's a tough round to beat.
If you want to compare the two on game look up Zen Archery and his videos for the 6.5 creedmore on hogs. He has tested most bullets and his videos are informative.

My choice would be the 308 Win in your situation. Depending on the yardage you intend to be shooting the game mentioned but if under 300 or so yards the 130 Barns pushed to around 2900 to 3000 fps which is doable in the 18" 308 would handle this game with NO PROBLEM and will expand properly. I have been shooting a 21 1/2" 308 Win using the 125 Nosler BT on deer out to a bit over 300 yards for years and it is bang flop deadly. I know others that use the 130 Barns and they report the same and I have seen what this bullet does to a deer.

308 with heavy bullets if not reloading.
Could shoot 150 grain if bonded bullet

Lapua make some good mono bullets. I plan to try monos in my 458 next season.
If I where going to build a rifle for mono bullets that where inexpensive and have low recoil I think I would go for 375. I like the little extra diameter.

Thescandinavian said:

Lapua make some good mono bullets. I plan to try monos in my 458 next season.
If I where going to build a rifle for mono bullets that where inexpensive and have low recoil I think I would go for 375. I like the little extra diameter.

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Cutting edge and Leigh high have excellent controlled fracturing 458 and super penetrator rounds that will blast a golf ball size or larger hole in anything that bleeds

6.5 all the way. More energy and less drop. Here's a 18" 6.5 cm 140bthp on top and a 20" .308 168 Amax on bottom.

Thescandinavian said:

Lapua make some good mono bullets. I plan to try monos in my 458 next season.
If I where going to build a rifle for mono bullets that where inexpensive and have low recoil I think I would go for 375. I like the little extra diameter.

Click to expand...

I like de lapua's however no creed yet from them in monometals

S

David Lindler said:

Cutting edge and Leigh high have excellent controlled fracturing 458 and super penetrator rounds that will blast a golf ball size or larger hole in anything that bleeds

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till waiting for cutting edge and hammers to show up in europe..

Either one will work,but probably the creed

David Lindler said:

Cutting edge and Leigh high have excellent controlled fracturing 458 and super penetrator rounds that will blast a golf ball size or larger hole in anything that bleeds

Click to expand...

They are not in Europe yet. Don't think any 458 bullet made for hunting(led tip, hollow point or flatnose) will do less damage than even the best 6.5 that's used for all European game.

The 6.5 will work great as long as you can find a 130-140gr bullet that's available and ultimately legal down the road. I have a 6.5 (its 260 not 6.5CM but they are very similar in ballistics) and a 308. Prefer the 6.5 from my experience while others experience's may differ. Dave

Since you mentioned Gmx specifically, it's tough to beat Superformance Gmx loads. They list 6.5 (130 gr) at 3050 FPS. Knock off 6" of barrel, and you're still shooting along. That would be my choice.