When it comes to long-range shooting and hunting, two popular rounds are the 280 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor. However, often times there are some muddy waters around the comparison of these two rounds. So in this article, we will compare these two rounds in-depth.
Here is the short answer:
The 280 Remington is a versatile cartridge that is suitable for deer and elk. The 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent choice for precision target shooting and hunting deer-sized game.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closely at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 280 Remington
The 280 Remington, also known as the 7mm Express Remington, was introduced in 1957. It is based on the 30-06 Springfield case, necked down to accept 7mm bullets. The cartridge has a maximum overall length of 3.34 inches and a maximum pressure of 54,000 psi. The 280 Remington is a popular choice among hunters due to its versatility and manageable recoil.
The 280 Remington can propel a 140-grain bullet at velocities up to 3,000 fps and generate 2,820 ft-lbs of energy. This combination of velocity and energy makes the 280 Remington a great choice for hunting game such as elk, moose, and bear. This cartridge also has a flat trajectory and good accuracy, which can help hunters take ethical shots at longer ranges.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 280 Remington with a 150-grain soft point bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2890 | 2782 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 2777 | 2569 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.8 | 2667 | 2369 |
| 150 | -1 | 1.8 | 2560 | 2183 |
| 200 | -3.4 | 3.1 | 2455 | 2008 |
| 250 | -7.2 | 4.9 | 2353 | 1844 |
| 300 | -12.6 | 7.3 | 2253 | 1690 |
| 350 | -19.7 | 10.2 | 2156 | 1547 |
| 400 | -28.6 | 13.6 | 2060 | 1414 |
| 450 | -39.6 | 17.5 | 1968 | 1289 |
| 500 | -52.6 | 22 | 1877 | 1173 |
In-Depth Look at the 6.5 Creedmoor
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a relatively new cartridge that was introduced in 2007. It was designed by Hornady to be a precision target shooting cartridge that could also be used for hunting deer and even elk at close range. The cartridge is based on the 308 Winchester case, necked down to accept 6.5mm bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a maximum overall length of 2.825 inches and a maximum pressure of 62,000 psi.
The 6.5 Creedmoor can propel a 140-grain bullet at velocities over to 2,700 fps and generate 2,350ft-lbs of energy. Although these velocities are lower than those of the 280 Remington, the 6.5 Creedmoor has excellent accuracy and a high ballistic coefficient, which means it retains its velocity and energy over longer distances. This makes the cartridge an excellent choice for precision target shooting.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.5 Creedmoor with a 140-grain soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2750 | 2351 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2647 | 2177 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.8 | 2546 | 2014 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 1.7 | 2447 | 1861 |
| 200 | -3.8 | 3.1 | 2350 | 1717 |
| 250 | -8.1 | 5 | 2256 | 1582 |
| 300 | -14.1 | 7.4 | 2163 | 1455 |
| 350 | -21.9 | 10.3 | 2073 | 1336 |
| 400 | -31.7 | 13.7 | 1985 | 1225 |
| 450 | -43.5 | 17.5 | 1899 | 1121 |
| 500 | -58 | 22.1 | 1816 | 1025 |
In-Depth Comparison
The 280 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor are two different cartridges that are designed for different purposes.
The 280 Remington has a larger case capacity and can push heavier bullets at higher velocities, making it better suited for hunting bigger animals. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a smaller case capacity and is designed for precision target shooting and hunting deer within 500 yards.
The 280 Remington has a maximum effective range of around 500 yards, while the 6.5 Creedmoor can be effective out to 1,000 yards or more. However, the 280 Remington has a flatter trajectory and more energy at longer ranges, making it better suited for hunting large game such as elk and moose. The 6.5 Creedmoor, on the other hand, has less recoil and is more accurate at shorter ranges, making it better suited for precision target shooting and hunting smaller game such as deer and antelope.
As far as cost and availability go, the 6.5 Creedmoor is an extremely popular hunting round and is cheaper than the 280 Remington.
Conclusion
The 280 Remington is a classic cartridge with a long and storied history, capable of taking down medium to large game at moderate ranges with ease. The 6.5 Creedmoor, on the other hand, is a modern cartridge that has quickly gained popularity in the shooting world due to its long-range accuracy and minimal recoil.