The DD5^® and the AR-10 Platform 

Daniel Defense manufactures many AR10-style rifles in a variety of calibers, and understanding which one is right for you can be easier than you might think. Whether you’re looking for a hunting rifle, a long-range competition rifle, or just a semiautomatic rifle that’s fun to shoot and delivers a fraction of the recoil of a traditional bolt-action rifle in similar calibers, you can’t go wrong with a DD5. But, with four popular calibers to choose from—7.62mm, .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .260 Remington—how do you know which caliber to go with?

Well, it all comes down to your primary use for the rifle. Let’s focus on each of these calibers to help you make a more informed decision, starting with the one that’s been around the longest…

.308 Winchester (7.62mm)

History

The .308 Winchester rifle cartridge was introduced in 1952, two years before NATO adopted its military counterpart, the 7.62x51mm round. These two rounds are essentially identical and interchangeable; however, .308 ammunition has a slightly higher pressure compared to 7.62mm, and 7.62mm ammo uses a case with slightly thicker walls and a longer headspace. Because .308 ammo is a higher-pressure round, it is not recommended to fire it from a 7.62-caliber rifle. A .308-caliber rifle, on the other hand, is built to handle these higher pressures, so 7.62mm ammo can be safely fired from one. To be completely safe, it is advisable to always use the caliber of ammunition designed for your rifle and stamped on the barrel.

Uses

The .308 Winchester round is one of the most popular short-action rounds in the world for hunting big game animals. It is a top choice for hunting deer but is also capable of taking down larger prey like elk, bear, or moose. This round is also used for target shooting and, in the hands of a skilled marksman with a high-powered optic, can be effective out to 1,000 yards.

Muzzle Velocity

Muzzle velocity depends on the quantity and quality of the propellent used in a cartridge, the projectile mass and shape, and the length of the barrel from which the projectile is fired. Generally speaking, a projectile fired from a .308 Winchester cartridge has muzzle velocity somewhere between 2,500 and 2,900 feet per second (fps).

Typical* .308 Ballistics Chart

* Rounds are subject to different weights, styles, and loads. Therefore the data in this table may not be 100% indicative of all .308 rounds. Please consult the chart at the end of the article to understand more.

Advantages of the .308 Winchester

• .308 rounds have high ballistic coefficients, which essentially measure a projectile’s ability to resist drag. A higher coefficient means it resists drag better.
• .308 rounds are extremely popular for hunting and available with multiple projectile shapes and masses, so, for hunting, you can dial in just the right round for the animal you’re hunting or the type of shooting you’re planning on doing.
• Popularity. The .308 round is mass-produced and readily available and can be obtained easier than other less popular rounds or rounds that are not widely distributed. You can typically find .308 rounds with a variety of bullet shapes and masses ranging from 120 grains to 180 grains.
• .308 rounds deliver less recoil than other .30-calbier rounds such as .30-06 or .300 Win Mag. Less recoil may allow you to concentrate more on your target and less on any anticipated kick. Keep in mind that recoil is already significantly reduced with a semiautomatic rifle like the DD5.
• .308 is a tried-and-true round and is not likely to fall out of favor and disappear, so ammunition should be readily available for the life of your rifle.
  Because it’s a short-action cartridge, it allows for shorter, more compact rifle, which can be a big benefit when carrying a rifle through thick, rugged terrain like dense woods when hunting.
  A short action rifle and cartridge permit faster cycling and quicker follow-up shots.
  Because the round has less propellent and, consequently, lower pressure than many other .30 caliber rounds, .308 barrels tend to last longer than other .30 caliber barrels.

Disadvantages of the .308 Winchester

• While it has a high ballistic coefficient, its power is sometimes lacking, so the bullet tends to drop faster downrange than other rounds. This is because it contains too little propellent for its bore size. If long-distance shooting is your thing—let’s say over 600 yards—there are better cartridges with less drop available.

6.5 Creedmoor

History

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the result of a partnership between Hornady and Creedmoor Sports and was introduced in 2007. It was developed by Hornady engineers—along with input from competitive shooters—to be a long-range precision round. It has a flat trajectory and a high ballistic coefficient and, although it has a lower muzzle velocity than other longer long-range cartridges, the 6.5 Creedmoor is short enough to fit short-action rifles.

Uses

The 6.5 Creedmoor is primarily a long-range competition round. Using projectiles with high ballistic coefficients, this round offers higher velocities, less drag, and less bullet drop than other comparable calibers, including the .308 at ranges out past 500 yards. It is ideal for long-distance target shooting; however, it is also an effective hunting round for all but the largest game animals, such as moose—although, shot placement always trumps ballistics in the effectiveness of a hunting round, no matter how large the prey.

Muzzle Velocity

Again, muzzle velocity is dependent on the quantity and quality of the propellent used in a cartridge, the projectile mass and shape, and the length of the barrel from which the projectile is fired. Generally speaking, a 6.5 Creedmoor projectile typically has muzzle velocity somewhere between 2,600 and 2,900+ feet per second.

Typical* 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics Chart

* Rounds are subject to different weights, styles, and loads. Therefore the data in this table may not be 100% indicative of all 6.5 Creedmoor rounds. Please consult the chart at the end of the article to understand more.

Advantages of the 6.5 Creedmoor

• 6.5 Creedmoor rounds have high ballistic coefficients, flatter trajectories, and less drop than other calibers such as .308 Winchester, which contribute to increased accuracy at extended ranges.
• It has an extended range comparable to some longer cartridges but is a short-action cartridge.
• It produces less recoil than other comparable rounds like the .308 Win, which allows a shooter to concentrate on their target instead of anticipating kick.
• It is a lower-pressure round with typically smaller projectiles than other comparable cartridges, which helps extend a rifle’s barrel life.
• A short-action round in a short-action rifle permits faster cycling and quicker follow-up shots.
• It is available in a variety of bullet shapes and masses to cover a range of uses.
• It has grown drastically in popularity since its introduction, so there should always be ammunition available for purchase for the life of your rifle.

Disadvantages of the 6.5 Creedmoor

• While a viable hunting round for many North American game animals, it may not be suitable for larger prey like moose, bear, or caribou.
• It is not as ubiquitous as more popular rounds that have been around for decades, such as .308 Win, so it may be harder to find ammunition, especially in more remote locations.

.260 Remington

History

The .260 Remington was introduced in 1997, prior to the exploding popularity of long-range shooting. It was originally marketed as a short-action hunting cartridge with less recoil than .270 Winchester but delivered significantly more downrange energy. It is a 6.5mm round, like the 6.5 Creedmoor; however, the Creedmoor has become significantly more popular than the .260 since its introduction in 2007.

Uses

The .260 Remington is a near-perfect hunting cartridge for deer. Like the 6.5 Creedmoor, while capable of taking down larger game animals with good shot placement, it is not necessarily the best choice for hunting elk or moose. Because most 6.5mm projectiles have a high ballistic coefficient and a lower trajectory, this cartridge is also a good choice for competitive long-range shooting.

Muzzle Velocity

Yet again, muzzle velocity is dependent on the quantity and quality of the propellent used in a cartridge, the projectile mass and shape, and the length of the barrel from which the projectile is fired. The muzzle velocity of the .260 is comparable to that of the 6.5 Creedmoor (if not a tad bit higher), typically coming in somewhere between 2,600 and 2,900+ feet per second.

Typical* .260 Remington Ballistics Chart

* Rounds are subject to different weights, styles, and loads. Therefore the data in this table may not be 100% indicative of all .260 Remington rounds. Please consult the chart at the end of the article to understand more.

Advantages of the .260 Remington Round

• 260 Remington rounds have high ballistic coefficients, flatter trajectories, and less drop than other calibers, very similar to that of the 6.5 Creedmoor round.
• It has an extended range comparable to some longer cartridges but is a short-action cartridge.
• A short-action cartridges in a short-action rifles permits faster cycling and quicker follow-up shots.
• It produces less recoil than other rounds, such as .308 Win, which allows a shooter to concentrate on their target instead of anticipating kick. Recoil is very similar to that of the 6.5 Creedmoor.
• It is a lower-pressure round, which helps extend a rifle’s barrel life. While it uses more propellent than the 6.5 Creedmoor, its pressure is typically slightly less.
• It has been around since 1997 and does not appear to be going anywhere, so it should be available for purchase for the life of your rifle.

Disadvantages of the .260 Remington Round

• While a great deer-hunting rifle, it may not be suitable for larger prey like elk, bear, or moose.
• It does not have as large selection of projectile shapes and masses as the .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor.
• It is not as popular as .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor, so finding ammunition, especially in remote areas, could prove more challenging.

Selecting the right caliber for your DD5 rifle comes down to how you use it.

If you want a rifle with less recoil (although with a semiautomatic action recoil isn’t as much of a factor as with other actions), intend to use the rifle for long-range target shooting out past 500 yards, or hunting smaller prey not much larger than a deer, then 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 Remington are probably your best choices. These rounds provide (overall) better trajectory and accuracy at longer distances. 

If you plan on hunting larger game animals like elk or moose and want to know you’ll always be able to find ammo—even in remote locations—then .308 Winchester might be a better choice for you. The larger round simply carries more energy over longer distances. 

Just know that you won’t go wrong with a DD5—backed by Daniel Defense’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee—chambered in any of these popular calibers.

.308 Round Parameters

Drag Function: G1
Ballistic Coefficient: .475
Bullet Weight: 168 gr
Initial Velocity: 2700 fps
Sight Height : 1.5 in
Shooting Angle: 0°
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind Angle: 90°
Zero Range: 100 yd
Chart Range: 1000 yd
Maximum Range: 5900 yd
Step Size: 100 yd
International Standard Atmosphere
Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft)
Barometric Pressure: 29.92 Hg
Temperature: 59° F
Relative Humidity: 50%
Speed of Sound: 1116 fps

6.5 Creedmoor Round Parameters

Drag Function: G1
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.623
Bullet Weight: 143 gr
Initial Velocity: 2700 fps
Sight Height : 1.5 in
Shooting Angle: 0°Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind Angle: 90°
Zero Range: 100 yd
Chart Range: 1000 yd
Maximum Range: 7161 yd
Step Size: 100 yd
International Standard Atmosphere
Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft)
Barometric Pressure: 29.92 Hg
Temperature: 59° F
Relative Humidity: 50%
Speed of Sound: 1116 fps

.260 Remington Round Parameters

Drag Function: G1
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.509
Bullet Weight: 140 gr
Initial Velocity: 2750 fps
Sight Height : 1.5 in
Shooting Angle: 0°
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind Angle: 90°
Zero Range: 200 yd
Chart Range: 1000 yd
Maximum Range: 6231 yd
Step Size: 100 yd
International Standard Atmosphere
Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft)
Barometric Pressure: 29.92 Hg
Temperature: 59° F
Relative Humidity: 50%
Speed of Sound: 1116 fps