9. Which long range caliber will reign supreme in 2019?
Am I biased on long range calibers? Yes I am. But I also did a ton of research before I purchased my Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. What ultimately swayed me and the reason why I believe 6.5 Creedmoor will reign supreme in 2019 is the United States Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) adoption of the 6.5 Creedmoor and if its good enough for our military, its good enough for me.
Ballistics
When comparing 6.5 Creedmoor against .308 Winchester ballistics, the winner is clear. 6.5CM is simply a faster bullet with better ballistics than the 308 winchester round. 6.5 Creedmoor loads can reach 1,000 yards with less than 300 inches of drop (depending upon wind), 308 simply can't do this. When comparing the round for wind effects, 6.5CM was 25% better than 308.
Barrel Life
Now I'm sure some of you reading this will point to barrel life and say that 308 barrels are supposed to last 10,000 rounds whereas prevailing wisdom is that 6.5 barrels will only last you 2,000 rounds. While I believe the 10,000 rounds for the 308 barrel is generous, 2,000 rounds of 6.5CM will cost you between $1,100 - $2,600 depending upon brand, load, etc. If you shot an average of 20 rounds per week you're looking at two years of shooting before you have to replace a barrel, and if you're blowing through that much ammo in less than a year, well then something tells me you can afford the new barrel.
Cost per Round
Here again, the 6.5 Creedmoor wins again! Want proof?
Click here and compare for yourself. 
The Verdict
I'm not saying math was my best subject in college but lets see here, better ballistics, cheaper to shoot, and we didn't even mention less felt recoil make the 6.5 Creedmoor round the clear winner and will become the "go to" long range round in 2019. Yes, 6mm and other calibers are nipping at its heels and firearm and ammo manufactures are constantly working on making the next best round but for now lets enjoy the 6.5CM round and let it take its victory lap.
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