130 gr .308

[bladeracer]

Just saying that in FTR 200grn is the common bullet at as close to 3000fps as possible which is attained. Think outside factory ammo.

I would really like to see your brass after firing, that sounds incredible. I would have thought 2,500 fps was about what you would expect but 3,000... Wow.
I have to admit though, I am sceptical.

He did say FTR though, might be a 32" barrel.

[JohnV]

I have a 26 1/2 inch barrel on my 308 and I would never try to push a 200 grain bullet to even near 3000 fps . You would have to use the faster Bench Mark 2 powder to get some extra in and that makes the pressure spike more suddenly . What target shooters do is not so relevant to what hunters should do . Reliable accurate loads that don't trash your brass in a few shots is the best plan . I have been on trips with guys who had way overloaded ammo and even with one pro roo shooter that had way overloaded 223 ammo and it always ends badly .

[SCJ429]

I have seen guys using 30 inch barrels in their 308 shooting 168 SMK and they could not get to 2900 fps, an extra two inches may net you an extra 20 fps but no more. If a 7mm SAUM or a 300 WSM shoot 180 grains at speeds less than 3,000 fps it would be a big ask to expect a 308 to even come close.

[wanneroo]

I have seen guys using 30 inch barrels in their 308 shooting 168 SMK and they could not get to 2900 fps, an extra two inches may net you an extra 20 fps but no more. If a 7mm SAUM or a 300 WSM shoot 180 grains at speeds less than 3,000 fps it would be a big ask to expect a 308 to even come close.

I think there are just going to be certain limitations with a cartridge and once you get to that point, may as well step up to something bigger.

[SCJ429]

I have seen guys using 30 inch barrels in their 308 shooting 168 SMK and they could not get to 2900 fps, an extra two inches may net you an extra 20 fps but no more. If a 7mm SAUM or a 300 WSM shoot 180 grains at speeds less than 3,000 fps it would be a big ask to expect a 308 to even come close.

I think there are just going to be certain limitations with a cartridge and once you get to that point, may as well step up to something bigger.

You are so right, some of the speeds quoted here for the 308 are pure fantasy.

[Die Judicii]

Well, No Armchair expertise or Ballistic charts knowledge here,,,,,, just plain and pure real life experience.

I have in the past stuck mainly to 150gr soft points, but recently swapped over to 130gr JHP's for Dogs and Pigs. (factory rounds)
My usual and average range hovers between 25 meters and 200 meters.
My Sako 75 Hunter is therefore zeroed at 110 meters which works fine for me in general.

However,,,,, last night I took a chance at a large fox well above the already stated zero set up. I had no precise distance,,, only knowing it was well out there.
(my new LRF Thermal binocs haven't arrived yet,, hopefully before this coming weekend)
So I took the shot (no hold over) and noted there was a distinct lapse of time between the shot being fired, and the sound of impact.
The hit was solid, and Brer fell over between some shrubbery.

Come daylight I walked out and picked him up, and was amazed to see the impact was virtually exactly on my point of aim.

I didn't have my daytime range finder either,,, but looking in daylight it was 400 meters at least if not more.
I'll be back there in the next day or so and I intend on lasering the distance then.
So for those that apparently think the good old 308 suffers badly from accuracy/trajectory issues,, I'd say bullsh!t.

Well, I got back out to that property in daylight hours yesterday afternoon and lasered the shot distance.
A bit under what I'd guessed, but I'm still happy with the result.
Lasered distance was 389 meters.

[Wapiti]

We generally use the Sierra 135gn hollow points in our 308's on the farm, and find that they are extremely accurate.
If you shoot a shorter barrel, say a 16" 7600, it will give you a bit of a flatter trajectory obviously, but I find that to say, 250 or 300 yards, there isn't any practical difference.
We found that we could get 2800fps with AR2206H in a 16". That velocity takes the projectile down a bit in the expansion stakes and makes it perform as a heavier one does in a longer barrel. Or at least it seems to for us.
We shoot for meat, or to cull, so usually go for high neck/butt of the ear shots on larger animals, same as we would on skips.

[jpsauer88]

130ttsx in my 3006 - 3250fps within barnes load data .5g off max amazing accuracy. Far better performance with barnes you need speed.

In 308win, 110g Hornady CX (almost same bc as 130g) with 2206H got 3200fps 1.5" group at 200m.

Youtube few vids that show 110g at different distances. Expands like crazy to 500m if you can take a shot with 110 @ 500 is beyond me. I didnt wana buy different powder (i have 2206h 2207 and 2208) and with 130ttsx couldn't get more than 3050fps in 308 and that tome isnt a good tradeoff given good expansion with the 130ttsx is in the 2500fps range.


I only shoot monos.

[Bello]

Hi
After developing different loads for various projectiles weights for my 308 rifles, I tried the ADI 135gr loaded ammo.
I found them to be very accurate out to 200 metes. (See below pic)(This was off a bench, at 200 meters, at Silverdale rifle range in Sydney, NSW, using a Sako 85 finnlight). And I'm your average Joe, not target shooting trained etc.
I have also bought some of the ADI 165gr SBT Gameking loaded ammo. I've been told they are also very accurate, but I have yet to try them.

I decided....Why reload when you can get this type accuracy for A HUNTING LOAD. When I go out hunting, the 308 sees little use, sometimes not even being fired. I tend to use my 223 for all my hunting these days, for what I target.

The 308 now gets fed 135gr ADI for anything up to small/medium pigs up to 200 meters. Devastating on foxes.
The 30-06 gets 165gr Nosler Partitions.
The 300 Win mag has a diet of 180gr Nosler partitions.

When people ask me about re-loading ammo, I ask them how much they are going to shoot. For your average hunter, I say, buy ammo that works in your rifle. Re-loading can drive the average person batty trying to tighten up groups that your targeted species will never know the difference when it gets hit, if it was a half inch or one inch group.
You have to be realistic about group sizes. Hunting and target shooting groups are DIFFERENT beasts.

My take on the 308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor. How far are you trying to hunt. Most of us hunters, we usually hunt with a one shot kill mind frame. So.... ethical kills, at reasonable distances, for me that's within 200 meters, using the appropriate caliber and projectile to do the job.

These are the ramblings of Bello
My 2c

[bigrich]

G’day Guys,

Im new to this game so bare with me.

I read that the biggest issue with the .308 is the trajectory. 150gr and above? I have also read that some smaller calibers can have a flatter trajectory, so my thinking is, why not a 125-130 gr in the .308. Wouldnt this then have a flatter trajectory, great velocity and be comparable to an extent to some smaller calibers of a larger gr size which have a flatter trajectory? Is there a loss in accuracy and how does this inaccuracy (if there is) compare to the smaller calibers?

Cheers Guys.

Al.

i've gone back to the OP's original question . doesn't matter what cal your shooting really . accurately estimating distance and knowing your trajectory is the key . settle on a suitable load for the game being hunted and spend the time to shoot at 100, 200 and 300 yards to measure the drop accurately . you've heard the old saying "beware the one gun man..." . know your firearm.
i've used my 6.5x55 out over 300 with good results , and the same for my 308 shooting 150 sst's . lighter projectiles can loose momentum and energy as range increases , especially ones with poor BC's. good high BC for caliber projectiles hang onto their energy and trajectory for longer. i've found the 308 to be easy to get very good accuracy with handloads , and am more than happy to use it rather than some high velocity, laser beam flat, barrel burning caliber . horses for coarses i guess JMHO

[JohnV]

People touting the benefits of smaller faster cals like say 6.5 Creedmoor against the .308 tend to not mention that some of the extra benefits in BC come from more expensive high BC bullets . With a bigger cal like a .308 they can give good killing power even with modest cheaper flat base bullets . Even if they don't shoot quite as flat , it makes little difference overall . On a pigs center shoulder at 300 meters what difference does it make if the .308 hits an inch or two lower than a 6.5 Creedmoor . I agree with bigrich I have also found the .308 to be easy to reload and get pretty good accuracy with just average quality components . I swapped out a .243 barrel for a .308 on a Sako A2 sporter and have never regretted it . If you spend some time producing good quality ammo with some reasonable quality projectiles and tune the loads to the gun , the .308 can shoot very well in an accurate gun that is.

[Wyliecoyote]

Agreed John. Citing ballistics of 140 or 147 grain high BC 6.5 bullet against general 308 type hunting loads is totally unrealistic. I use both the 308 and Creedmoor for hunting. For general walk around work the 308s knock down power using 165 grain bullets on Cape York or Territory boars is preferable over most anything else in the mid sized case range. Most shots are inside 150 yards. Lose a case, don't lose sleep over it.
The Creedmoor is for the lazy times in the shade, chair and benchrest table on the dam wall overlooking a swamp sitting and waiting for a boar looking to get a roll in the mud or a dingo skulking about looking for a roo or a dead carcass. Never lose a case because they drop on the table.


In regards to 200 grain pills in 308s. Back in the day when Dennis Tobler of Tobler barrels shot experimental class for a short time with a 308, his load was a compressed charge of 2208, a 200 grain Sierra MatchKing in Lapua brass. The brass was dead after a few firings and the velocity? Less than 2600 fps.
The boys shooting Match rifles with 32 inch barrels in 308 and 200 or 210 weight bullets and a lot of 2208, rarely get to 2600 fps. The 308s in FTR, no-one shoots 200 grain anything. They use 175 SMKs, 185 Jugs and 178 ELDMs while some do use 190s. That is if they're not using 155.5 Bergers where if you look at the ballistics of them at 2950 fps and above, they are hard to beat. Rare if anyone gets to 2700 fps with the 175 to 185 range of bullets as most loads in 308 achieve the accuracy sweet spot at just above 2600 fps with 43 grains of 2208 or Re15. Both of those loads with the Sierra 175s were at one time the M118 US military loads for the marine M40s.
3000fps in a 308 using the 175 to 200 grain bullet range is only possible with a faulty chronograph.

[JohnV]

Agreed John. Citing ballistics of 140 or 147 grain high BC 6.5 bullet against general 308 type hunting loads is totally unrealistic. I use both the 308 and Creedmoor for hunting. For general walk around work the 308s knock down power using 165 grain bullets on Cape York or Territory boars is preferable over most anything else in the mid sized case range. Most shots are inside 150 yards. Lose a case, don't lose sleep over it.
The Creedmoor is for the lazy times in the shade, chair and benchrest table on the dam wall overlooking a swamp sitting and waiting for a boar looking to get a roll in the mud or a dingo skulking about looking for a roo or a dead carcass. Never lose a case because they drop on the table.


In regards to 200 grain pills in 308s. Back in the day when Dennis Tobler of Tobler barrels shot experimental class for a short time with a 308, his load was a compressed charge of 2208, a 200 grain Sierra MatchKing in Lapua brass. The brass was dead after a few firings and the velocity? Less than 2600 fps.
The boys shooting Match rifles with 32 inch barrels in 308 and 200 or 210 weight bullets and a lot of 2208, rarely get to 2600 fps. The 308s in FTR, no-one shoots 200 grain anything. They use 175 SMKs, 185 Jugs and 178 ELDMs while some do use 190s. That is if they're not using 155.5 Bergers where if you look at the ballistics of them at 2950 fps and above, they are hard to beat. Rare if anyone gets to 2700 fps with the 175 to 185 range of bullets as most loads in 308 achieve the accuracy sweet spot at just above 2600 fps with 43 grains of 2208 or Re15. Both of those loads with the Sierra 175s were at one time the M118 US military loads for the marine M40s.
3000fps in a 308 using the 175 to 200 grain bullet range is only possible with a faulty chronograph.

I Can't argue with any of that , you spot on . I generally used from 130 to 150 grain bullets , currently using a 144 grain and I did carry a few 180 grain core bonded 308 loads for the occasions when I was in real thick bush or lignum which was very seldom .
This is my 308 and what it can do . It's just as accurate as anything else .

[Jorlcrin]

I first bought a .308 Win about 11 years ago; a Rem 700 VSF with 26" Fluted Barrel, and a 1:12" twist.
I had a couple of 30-30's before that, but this was my first .308Win rifle.
And the 700 has been a cracker of a rifle; I lucked out to get a Rem 700 built on a good day, with no QC problems, and it shoots really well.
I had a few mates who were doing a lot of distance shooting (F-Class??) at that time, and most of them started out on .308.

Initially, I followed the mantra of projectiles around the 150/165gn range for Australian game.
No doubt; the 150 pills (I was mostly reloading Nosler BT pills) were devastatingly effective, and I even nailed a few animals out around the 400 metres mark, with the holes appearing pretty much exactly where I expected, and the target animals going boonty-up within a few steps.
A neighbour mate borrowed this rifle one Sunday, and nailed the last 9 feral scrub bulls on their property; all head-shots from around 120-150 metres distant, from a helicopter.
[This was after over 12 months of trapping, mustering and tranquilizing the last of these rather bitey cattle that were living in a big swamp.]

But I found that 95% of my shooting, the 150gn pills were overkill.
[Mostly shooting the odd pig, a handfull of wild dogs, a few dozen feral cats, and culling roos on a permit].

Around that time, the factory Federal 130gn(Speer HP) factory loads were popular, and I bought a couple of 500-round boxes through Cleaver, which were incredibly good value-for-money(~$1.17/Round).
I heard critical feedback about the brass only lasting a few reloads, but I re-sized a lot of it to 7mm-08, and still got around 5 reloads per case, which I was pretty happy with.
Unprimed 7-08 brass was about 40% dearer than .308 brass at the time, so these rounds ended up being great value for money for me.

Advice from my distance-shooting mates, was they had observed the .308 Factory 130gn HP pills were very accurate out past the 300-metre target, but starting to get a bit squirrelly by 400m.
Similar results from the 135gn crinkly HP pills that Sierra came out with a couple of years later, though my impression is the Sierras are a little 'harder' than the Speer HP's.
Around the same time I started reloading larger batches of .308 brass, I moved to the Hornady SST range of pills.
Cheaper than the Nosler equivalents, and I found them to be slightly harder-hitting for my type of shooting.
I load all 3 projectiles to depart around the 3050fps mark, which seems to give consistent, repeatable ballistics, out to around 400 metres.

I bought a Ruger Precision Rifle in .308(20" 1:10" Tw) in 2017, and found that it also shot the lighter .308 pills really well.

Around the time of the RPR purchase, I started re-examining what my shooting needs were, and the fact is, I rarely engage anything beyond the 350 metres mark, and it would be highly unusual to be shooting anything larger than around 80kgs(Boar Pig).
So, for me, the fact that my lighter projectiles mightnt be as accurate/consistent at say 500m, is somewhat irrelevant, as I wouldnt bother shooting at that distance.

Nowadays, about 90% of the .308 ammo I load up, I use either 125gn SST's(Horn #3019), 130gn Speer HP's(Sp #2005), or the 135gn Sierra HP's (Si #2124).
I keep a hundred 150gn SST's loaded in the ammo fridge, as well as 50 of the Barnes T-TSX 165gn (BullPhukker Specials), in case we have need for heavier kills than normal.
But the majority of my reloads are the 125gn SST pills, and they work really well.

I have never found the .308Win to be underwhelming, and if I have spent the time to make good/consistent reloads, the down-range ballistics are extremely predictable.
Good enough to be able to say that IF I chose to shoot a target at 400+ metres, then success/failure will be all down to me, rather than either the rifle, calibre, or the ammo.
I also have no doubt that I could easily load up some ammo for the .308 that would be good enough for target work out to around 500 metres, but I'd be moving to a heavier (and higher BC) pill.
Beyond 500 metres, I wouldnt bother, but thats a reflection of my mediocre shooting skills, and not what I've seen the .308 is capable of.

Yes; I'd like a 6.5 rifle in the safe, but not because I think it's a replacement for my .308 rifles.
I'm considering getting rid of my 7mm-08(Long story), and if my Krico .243 craps itself, then these would possibly both be reasons to consider maybe a 6.5 Creedmoor.
If the 7mm-08 and the .243 were out of the picture, then the 6.5 Creed would nicely fill in the gap between my .223 and my .308.

This is what the last 11 years has taught me.

[bigrich]

I first bought a .308 Win about 11 years ago; a Rem 700 VSF with 26" Fluted Barrel, and a 1:12" twist.
I had a couple of 30-30's before that, but this was my first .308Win rifle.
And the 700 has been a cracker of a rifle; I lucked out to get a Rem 700 built on a good day, with no QC problems, and it shoots really well.
I had a few mates who were doing a lot of distance shooting (F-Class??) at that time, and most of them started out on .308.

Initially, I followed the mantra of projectiles around the 150/165gn range for Australian game.
No doubt; the 150 pills (I was mostly reloading Nosler BT pills) were devastatingly effective, and I even nailed a few animals out around the 400 metres mark, with the holes appearing pretty much exactly where I expected, and the target animals going boonty-up within a few steps.
A neighbour mate borrowed this rifle one Sunday, and nailed the last 9 feral scrub bulls on their property; all head-shots from around 120-150 metres distant, from a helicopter.
[This was after over 12 months of trapping, mustering and tranquilizing the last of these rather bitey cattle that were living in a big swamp.]

But I found that 95% of my shooting, the 150gn pills were overkill.
[Mostly shooting the odd pig, a handfull of wild dogs, a few dozen feral cats, and culling roos on a permit].

Around that time, the factory Federal 130gn(Speer HP) factory loads were popular, and I bought a couple of 500-round boxes through Cleaver, which were incredibly good value-for-money(~$1.17/Round).
I heard critical feedback about the brass only lasting a few reloads, but I re-sized a lot of it to 7mm-08, and still got around 5 reloads per case, which I was pretty happy with.
Unprimed 7-08 brass was about 40% dearer than .308 brass at the time, so these rounds ended up being great value for money for me.

Advice from my distance-shooting mates, was they had observed the .308 Factory 130gn HP pills were very accurate out past the 300-metre target, but starting to get a bit squirrelly by 400m.
Similar results from the 135gn crinkly HP pills that Sierra came out with a couple of years later, though my impression is the Sierras are a little 'harder' than the Speer HP's.
Around the same time I started reloading larger batches of .308 brass, I moved to the Hornady SST range of pills.
Cheaper than the Nosler equivalents, and I found them to be slightly harder-hitting for my type of shooting.
I load all 3 projectiles to depart around the 3050fps mark, which seems to give consistent, repeatable ballistics, out to around 400 metres.

I bought a Ruger Precision Rifle in .308(20" 1:10" Tw) in 2017, and found that it also shot the lighter .308 pills really well.

Around the time of the RPR purchase, I started re-examining what my shooting needs were, and the fact is, I rarely engage anything beyond the 350 metres mark, and it would be highly unusual to be shooting anything larger than around 80kgs(Boar Pig).
So, for me, the fact that my lighter projectiles mightnt be as accurate/consistent at say 500m, is somewhat irrelevant, as I wouldnt bother shooting at that distance.

Nowadays, about 90% of the .308 ammo I load up, I use either 125gn SST's(Horn #3019), 130gn Speer HP's(Sp #2005), or the 135gn Sierra HP's (Si #2124).
I keep a hundred 150gn SST's loaded in the ammo fridge, as well as 50 of the Barnes T-TSX 165gn (BullPhukker Specials), in case we have need for heavier kills than normal.
But the majority of my reloads are the 125gn SST pills, and they work really well.

I have never found the .308Win to be underwhelming, and if I have spent the time to make good/consistent reloads, the down-range ballistics are extremely predictable.
Good enough to be able to say that IF I chose to shoot a target at 400+ metres, then success/failure will be all down to me, rather than either the rifle, calibre, or the ammo.
I also have no doubt that I could easily load up some ammo for the .308 that would be good enough for target work out to around 500 metres, but I'd be moving to a heavier (and higher BC) pill.
Beyond 500 metres, I wouldnt bother, but thats a reflection of my mediocre shooting skills, and not what I've seen the .308 is capable of.

Yes; I'd like a 6.5 rifle in the safe, but not because I think it's a replacement for my .308 rifles.
I'm considering getting rid of my 7mm-08(Long story), and if my Krico .243 craps itself, then these would possibly both be reasons to consider maybe a 6.5 Creedmoor.
If the 7mm-08 and the .243 were out of the picture, then the 6.5 Creed would nicely fill in the gap between my .223 and my .308.

This is what the last 11 years has taught me.

well written post mate , with lots of useful information and personal experience . i've heard from fellas that the lighter weight 308 projectiles are effective , however i have lots of faith in the 150 weight as a all rounder when i've had to take the occasional tail shot on a largish fleeing pig . to me the 6.5's offer a advantage on shots 400 yards and over with high bc 140's . the thing i've noticed about the 6.5 bore is preasure generated from the long bearing surface if trying to chase velocity . it's the high bc's that enable them to hang onto FPS/energy as range increases over other cals rather than outright muzzle velocity . i run 129sst's ,and have yet to try 120 nosler bt's on game ,to obtain a reasonable speed and flat trajectory . i tend to see my 6.5x55 in more of a 243/257 bob role as far as game weights go . the 6.5's have got a big rep cause scandinavians kill moose and elk with them . with proper shot placement that's true , but the 6.5 bore doesn't have energy transfer like a larger bore on a less than optimal shot IMHO . the 308 for me has been a most fuss free consistent killer with 150sst's over a wide range of game weight more than the 6.5's.
i've had a few old krico's , a super accurate 22 hornet and a 22-250 . i like 'em amazing trigger on the hornet too

[JohnV]

I first bought a .308 Win about 11 years ago; a Rem 700 VSF with 26" Fluted Barrel, and a 1:12" twist.
I had a couple of 30-30's before that, but this was my first .308Win rifle.
And the 700 has been a cracker of a rifle; I lucked out to get a Rem 700 built on a good day, with no QC problems, and it shoots really well.
I had a few mates who were doing a lot of distance shooting (F-Class??) at that time, and most of them started out on .308.

Initially, I followed the mantra of projectiles around the 150/165gn range for Australian game.
No doubt; the 150 pills (I was mostly reloading Nosler BT pills) were devastatingly effective, and I even nailed a few animals out around the 400 metres mark, with the holes appearing pretty much exactly where I expected, and the target animals going boonty-up within a few steps.
A neighbour mate borrowed this rifle one Sunday, and nailed the last 9 feral scrub bulls on their property; all head-shots from around 120-150 metres distant, from a helicopter.
[This was after over 12 months of trapping, mustering and tranquilizing the last of these rather bitey cattle that were living in a big swamp.]

But I found that 95% of my shooting, the 150gn pills were overkill.
[Mostly shooting the odd pig, a handfull of wild dogs, a few dozen feral cats, and culling roos on a permit].

Around that time, the factory Federal 130gn(Speer HP) factory loads were popular, and I bought a couple of 500-round boxes through Cleaver, which were incredibly good value-for-money(~$1.17/Round).
I heard critical feedback about the brass only lasting a few reloads, but I re-sized a lot of it to 7mm-08, and still got around 5 reloads per case, which I was pretty happy with.
Unprimed 7-08 brass was about 40% dearer than .308 brass at the time, so these rounds ended up being great value for money for me.

Advice from my distance-shooting mates, was they had observed the .308 Factory 130gn HP pills were very accurate out past the 300-metre target, but starting to get a bit squirrelly by 400m.
Similar results from the 135gn crinkly HP pills that Sierra came out with a couple of years later, though my impression is the Sierras are a little 'harder' than the Speer HP's.
Around the same time I started reloading larger batches of .308 brass, I moved to the Hornady SST range of pills.
Cheaper than the Nosler equivalents, and I found them to be slightly harder-hitting for my type of shooting.
I load all 3 projectiles to depart around the 3050fps mark, which seems to give consistent, repeatable ballistics, out to around 400 metres.

I bought a Ruger Precision Rifle in .308(20" 1:10" Tw) in 2017, and found that it also shot the lighter .308 pills really well.

Around the time of the RPR purchase, I started re-examining what my shooting needs were, and the fact is, I rarely engage anything beyond the 350 metres mark, and it would be highly unusual to be shooting anything larger than around 80kgs(Boar Pig).
So, for me, the fact that my lighter projectiles mightnt be as accurate/consistent at say 500m, is somewhat irrelevant, as I wouldnt bother shooting at that distance.

Nowadays, about 90% of the .308 ammo I load up, I use either 125gn SST's(Horn #3019), 130gn Speer HP's(Sp #2005), or the 135gn Sierra HP's (Si #2124).
I keep a hundred 150gn SST's loaded in the ammo fridge, as well as 50 of the Barnes T-TSX 165gn (BullPhukker Specials), in case we have need for heavier kills than normal.
But the majority of my reloads are the 125gn SST pills, and they work really well.

I have never found the .308Win to be underwhelming, and if I have spent the time to make good/consistent reloads, the down-range ballistics are extremely predictable.
Good enough to be able to say that IF I chose to shoot a target at 400+ metres, then success/failure will be all down to me, rather than either the rifle, calibre, or the ammo.
I also have no doubt that I could easily load up some ammo for the .308 that would be good enough for target work out to around 500 metres, but I'd be moving to a heavier (and higher BC) pill.
Beyond 500 metres, I wouldnt bother, but thats a reflection of my mediocre shooting skills, and not what I've seen the .308 is capable of.

Yes; I'd like a 6.5 rifle in the safe, but not because I think it's a replacement for my .308 rifles.
I'm considering getting rid of my 7mm-08(Long story), and if my Krico .243 craps itself, then these would possibly both be reasons to consider maybe a 6.5 Creedmoor.
If the 7mm-08 and the .243 were out of the picture, then the 6.5 Creed would nicely fill in the gap between my .223 and my .308.

This is what the last 11 years has taught me.

I will second that . Your experience has some similarities to what I have also learned .