That’s the saddest part of the entire conversation, these threads usually go something like the below, which has lead to a thread like this one where someone reading these types of discussions is misguided into comparing a purpose designed target cartridge against a round who has had 120+ years to play in that space but has NEVER been popular for such... Just because he’s suddenly feeling inadequate when his 40yr friend is outshined by a newer penny.
OP: Hey, I’m going to buy my first rifle because I want to learn long range shooting, I’m considering 6.5 Creedmoor since I don’t reload, can someone tell me about it?
Luddite: It’s all hype. It’s exactly the same as a 120yr old, relatively unpopular cartridge I own that no one has recommended for long range shooting for 120yrs, but a lot of hunters have really loved it and Europeans have been killing moose with for generations. And this old cartridge can be handloaded to gain more speed over the Creed, so once you start reloading, you could gain a little extra speed you don’t really need. So you shouldn’t buy the 6.5 Creed.
Under-informed Fanboi screaming: The 6.5 Creed is a more modern design and is dominating long range shooting competition, it’s the only thing in the world worth owning and anyone shooting anything else is a moron!
OP - now slightly misguided: Wow, thanks for the advice, I hadn’t heard of the 6.5 Swede, should I buy that for long range? There’s a range near me which holds precision rifle matches, I might want to shoot competitions someday, would the Swede be better than the Creed for that?
Under-informed Fanboi again: the modern design of the 6.5 Creedmoor was specifically developed for long range precision shooting, and it’s dominating every match in the country. The Swede would have to be reloaded to beat the Creed, and the Swede burns barrels faster.
Luddite: I’ve hunted with the 6.5 Swede my entire life, I don’t shoot much, just hunt, so I won’t ever burn out my barrel.
Other Luddite: If you already own a 308win or other deer rifle, you can learn with that without wasting money on the new hype. Ammo is cheaper and more readily available, and it won’t burn out barrels as fast as the 6.5 creed.
OP - now confused and even more misguided, and turned off of the 6.5 creed by the spewing fanboi: Wow, ok, this would be my first rifle, but if the 6.5 costs that much to shoot and burns barrels that fast, maybe I SHOULD get something else. What rifle should I get for long range shooting and eventually competition, I’ve been looking at a Ruger Precision Rifle or Savage 110 BA Stealth, are they good, which one?
Yet another Luddite: Any budget friendly rifle will be able to shoot 1,000yrds, you don’t need to buy one of these new spaceship looking rifles. So save yourself some money and pick up a Ruger American or Savage Axis.
OP - unwittingly lead like a lamb to the slaughter: thanks for the advice everybody, I’m glad I asked instead of buying the wrong thing.
*Replace any occurrence of the 6.5 Swede with analogous comparison of the 260rem.
So enough of those threads go around and this guy who has enjoyed his Swede for 40 years develops an inferiority complex about his beloved 6.5 Swede and is compelled to post questions online to get reassurance his old rifle is still relevant for how he’s using it...