Selling a 30/06 to buy a 6.5 Creedmoor

[jmr40]

I hunted primarily with 30-06 for 40 years. Made the move to 308 about a dozen years ago and tried out the 6.5 CM about 5 years ago. You made the right move. In the last dozen years I've sold off a bunch of rifles in 7mm Mag, 280, 300 WM, 300 WSM, 338-06, 35 Whelen, 45-70, and even 30-06. I did keep one 30-06 that had too much history to let it go, but haven't hunted with it in years.

Elk and black bear are the biggest game I'll ever hunt and I'm convinced that either my 308 or 6.5 CM will kill anything I'll hunt at ranges farther than I have the skills to shoot. No reason to get kicked any harder when you're not getting anything in return.

I also hand load and use the same powder for my 30-06 as 6.5 CM. My best 30-06 loads use either 58 or 60 gr of powder. My best 6.5 load uses 41 gr, the 308, 46 gr. With powder being hard to find today it's hard to justify almost 20 gr more powder for each cartridge. Not to mention 22 ft lbs recoil from the 30-06 vs 12 from the 6.5 or about 14 from the 308.

Which rifle? For $600 you can get a blue Tikka, for $750 one in SS. You can spend more, but won't find a more accurate rifle, and you won't find anything under $1500 lighter in weight. If you just want other features there are many good options. I'll admit I'm partial to the CRF of the Winchesters. My go-to 308 is a Winchester EW, but I didn't care for the factory stock. I have a McMillan Edge on mine. You're looking at $2000 for everything. I bought both the rifle and stock 2nd hand and put them together, but those deals don't always come together.

 

[DustyGmt]

I know a guy who hunts all over the country, all kinds of game. Real experienced hunter, state record holder, etc. Pretty Hardcore old man. He talked about using a model 70 for years, then a Browning. He told me he uses a Tikka ss/syn in 7mm-08 these days and says he will probably never switch. Might not be worth all that much, just a personal preference thing but according to him the accuracy is excellent and the gun is lightweight and will hold up in bad weather. I have seen them in the shops, I think they are attractive, well made rifles that are right in your preferred cost range.

I have a stainless compact Ruger american in 7-08 I paid $500 for. It's a nice light rifle, but it is obvious that it's an economy rifle when you put it in your hands. It will get the job done though and I believe it will hold up to do what it's made to do and probably outlast me. It shoots real nice tight groups with 120 grain NBT's.

 

[army_eod]

Tikka T3x Lite Stainless.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I'd keep the -06 and sell the 300. But that's just me.

Then I'd get the Tikka in 6.5.

I bet the (practical) performance and weight is on par with the others, at a fraction of the price.

 

[3Crows]

If you want a light weight, accurate rifle with all weather capability and a controlled feed, Mauser type action then maybe the Kimber Hunter in 6.5CM. Mine is under 6.5 pounds with a Nikon 3-9X40 scope and sling.

 

[joneb]

So I assume you have 30-06 ammunition? Do you have 6.5 CM ?

 

[HoosierHunter128]

So I assume you have 30-06 ammunition? Do you have 6.5 CM ?

Yeah. I have a 6.5 AR

 

[HoosierHunter128]

I'd keep the -06 and sell the 300. But that's just me.

Then I'd get the Tikka in 6.5.

I bet the (practical) performance and weight is on par with the others, at a fraction of the price.

I can get a Sako A7 for $60 more, I’d probably do that if I go that direction

 

[joneb]

I have a Howa lightning in .308 Win which I really like and can't see parting with it because it shoots well.
I would like to get a 6.5 Grendel bolt action, but dies bullets and brass are scarce.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

 

[HoosierHunter128]

View attachment 981461

My 6.5 AR

 

[LoonWulf]

Good looking rifle

 

[dranrab]

Louder than any other center fire rifle? Not in my experience.

I assumed he was talking about the owners.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I assumed he was talking about the owners.

The first rule of Creedmor Club is that we have to talk about Creedmor Club!

 

[rdnktrkr]

I have a stainless Tikka (30-06) that shoots very well that I purchased for the scope but now enjoy shooting it so much I've kept them together, another one I enjoy is the Howa 1500 (30-06), I would definitely look at both of those and spend the extra money on optics, I carry one of those every time I go shooting. I have a Savage Axis (6.5 Creedmoor) that is fun to shoot but I carry a 30-06 or shotgun for hunting if for no other reason than it has proven itself to me in the past (if it ain't broke don't fix it). I also have a Rem 770 (30-06) that shoots well with the factory scope especially for the 150$ I paid.
I think anything you choose can be threaded so don't let that change your decision

 

[HoosierHunter128]

So I assume you have 30-06 ammunition? Do you have 6.5 CM ?

Why did you ask this? Because Ammo is so high$$ and hard to get right now?

 

[Nature Boy]

I was all onboard with your thought process until you mentioned elk

Me too. The Creed is just too dang powerful. It would cut an average size elk clean in two if shot at distances less than 1 mile.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Me too. The Creed is just too dang powerful. It would cut an average size elk clean in two if shot at distances less than 1 mile.

Huh? I have used 6.5 on big indiana whitetail and it’s a perfect round from 10yds to 1000yds. If anything I think it may be a tad small for elk

 

[Nature Boy]

 

[LoonWulf]

View attachment 981542

Sorry been waiting to use that one for a while......

 

[H&Hhunter]

Me too. The Creed is just too dang powerful. It would cut an average size elk clean in two if shot at distances less than 1 mile.

Usually quarters them and debones them on impact too.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

No one has commented on the thought of doing a semi custom build through ER Shaw, or ordering a new vanguard through weatherby’s custom shop online. I can get all of my needs met at weatherby for $849, and through ER Shaw through for $1450 with some upgraded components

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Both I bet are heavy though

 

[gotboostvr]

To my understanding, the ER Shaw action is essentially a Savage.

Which there's nothing wrong with the Savage action, but if I'm specing-out a 1.5k rifle, there's other actions I'd prefer.

I'm debating building out one or two Savages, but they'd be half that at the most.

The Vanguard is more interesting if you're getting exactly what you want for that price. I'd be tempted by a Win 70 featherweight. They run right around $900 new. But if they don't come how you want (cartridge, barrel, stock fit, etc) and the Vanguard does, I'd suggest the Vanguard.

I really like the Tikka's, but they don't come exactly how I like either. I'd like a longer barrel, a locking bolt and 280AI.

 

[LoonWulf]

To my understanding, the ER Shaw action is essentially a Savage.

Which there's nothing wrong with the Savage action, but if I'm specing-out a 1.5k rifle, there's other actions I'd prefer.

I'm debating building out one or two Savages, but they'd be half that at the most.

The Vanguard is more interesting if you're getting exactly what you want for that price. I'd be tempted by a Win 70 featherweight. They run right around $900 new. But if they don't come how you want (cartridge, barrel, stock fit, etc) and the Vanguard does, I'd suggest the Vanguard.

I really like the Tikka's, but they don't come exactly how I like either. I'd like a longer barrel, a locking bolt and 280AI.

My feeling is well. Shaw uses Savage actions for some of its guns but I believe the 1400 one is a custom action It just incorporates a bunch of savage features.

If a person wanted a unique or rarer cartridge chambering them the 6.5 Creedmoor then I'd think that the shaw would be fine choice.