6.5 Creedmoor Pistol

You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The 120 grain load is an outstanding choice of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for deer, pronghorn, feral hogs and maybe even black bear. This ammunition uses a slightly more aerodynamic bullet than the comparable 120 grain factory load in the Barnes VOR-TX line. The result is some 6.5 Creedmoor ammo with a flatter trajectory, more retained energy at long range, and more resistance to wind drift than comparable Barnes ammo.The CX bullet used in Hornady Outfitter ammunition is lead free, which makes this ammo another good choice for use in states like California. Note: the CX bullet replaced the older GMX bullet from Hornady and is a tiny bit more aerodynamic, but retains the great terminal performance of the GMX. All things considered, the Superformance line of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo will work extremely well for hunting deer, feral hogs, antelope, elk, and most species of African plains game. Don’t try to stretch it out beyond 250 yards or so on elk and try your best to only shoot elk that are broadside or slightly quartering. It’s also extremely important to use high quality, controlled expansion bullets that are designed for deep, straight line penetration (which we’ll talk more about in a minute).Additionally, the Partition offers very rapid expansion, which, combined with the deep penetrating characteristics of the bullet, makes for devastating terminal performance on game like whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, and black bear.

The Super Shock Tip bullet (SST) has a reputation for great accuracy and will also expand really well. These bullets are not known for super deep penetration though. They’ll work great on game like feral hogs, pronghorn, mule deer, and whitetail deer. However, I don’t recommend hunting elk with this load (check out the loads using Nosler Partition and Barnes bullets also recommended in this article).Add it all up and you’ve got a bullet that’s quite accurate in most rifles, has a very flat trajectory, and retains velocity (and kinetic energy) even better than virtually any other 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo. That said, while they’re outstanding for deer sized game and even an immature bull or cow elk, they still expand a little more rapidly don’t penetrate as well as I’d like for really big bull elk.

It would not be my first choice of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for elk, but it’s still a really good choice. There’s a 140gr Nosler Partition load I recommend later in this article as my #1 recommendation for hunting elk with the 6.5 Creedmoor, but I’d say this 130gr TSX load is #2.Loaded to very typical 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics (140gr bullet at 2,700 fps), there isn’t anything fancy or special about this ammo. However, it works really well and it’s reasonably priced. The Federal Fusion Soft Points have a jacket that’s molecularly bonded to the core to prevent component separation. This helps ensure high weight retention and deep penetration. Though Federal designed the Fusion line of ammunition specifically for deer hunting, it will also work really well for just about any other species of thin-skinned game. So, regardless of whether you want to take your 6.5 Creedmoor antelope hunting, mule deer hunting, or whitetail hunting, you can count on this load to get the job done. I’m a big fan of the Barnes bullets in general and I’ve used their ammunition with a lot of success on both deer and pronghorn over the past few years. So, it’s tough to go wrong with any 6.5 Creedmoor ammo using a Barnes bullet.This is because even this 130gr TSX bullet is still very tough and will deliver great weight retention and deep penetration at close range as well out to several hundred yards.

These 143 grain bullets are among the heaviest projectiles with the highest sectional density that you’ll find for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Hornady ELD-X bullets have a very high ballistic coefficient and they’re designed for reliable, but somewhat controlled expansion over a very wide range of impact velocities.

This load is also 100% copper, which makes it another great choice of 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition for use in states like California that that don’t permit the use of lead bullets.There is no reason you can’t use the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting elk, moose, or other massive animals. If you punch a hole through their heart and/or lungs with a quality 6.5mm expanding bullet, the animal will never know the difference.

Designed for rapid expansion on thin-skinned game, the the Browning BXR 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is great for whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and pronghorn hunting.Hornady Superformance ammo is designed to deliver blazing fast muzzle velocities 100-200fps faster than comparable loads from other lines. The Superformance 6.5 Creedmoor ammo offering is no different and delivers a good combination of a flat trajectory and hard hitting performance on deer-sized game out to several hundred yards.

Hi John – I have a new Weatherby Mark V 6.5CM and this was my first season shooting it. I’m a very new whitetail deer hunter, so shot placement is not perfect. Most of the shots on our property will be under 200 yards – 300 max. I shot two 8 points this year using Winchester XP 125gr – with virtually no blood trail at all either time. 1st one was a perfect shoulder shot, heart exploded, but still no blood trail at all. Didn’t recover the 2nd, although he dropped instantly, laid on his back, struggled to get up and fell multiple times – appeared to have a shoulder hit. In spite of his struggle in the field, there was absolutely no blood trail. A couple of single drops identified very deep in the woods. Dogs finally jumped him up much deeper in the woods hours later, but still lost the track in thick brush. Is there a better round for closer range shots (that are likely to be imperfect) that would expand more quickly and at least give us a chance at tracking? ThanksOriginally designed for long range competitive target shooting, the 6.5 Creedmoor performed so well in that role that it was just a matter of time before the cartridge caught on in the hunting community. Known for its exceptional accuracy, flat trajectory, low recoil, high energy retention at long range, and really good terminal performance, more and more hunters are using the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting elk, deer, feral hogs, pronghorn, and other species of big game these days.

The 140gr Nosler Partition is my #1 recommendation 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for elk hunting at ranges inside 250 yards. However, I think the Terminal Ascent is right behind the Partition load as the best option for elk hunting. It’s also outstanding ammo for hunters who plan on hunting other game like whitetail deer, mule deer, black bear, and pronghorn, especially if ranges will potentially be on the long side.While they are very accurate and are certainly capable of killing big game animals, I don’t recommend using ammo lines like the Federal Gold Medal, Hornady American Gunner, Hornady Match, Sig Sauer Elite Performance, or Winchester Match for hunting. The same goes for bullets like the Berger Hybrid Target, Hornady ELD Match, and Sierra MatchKing or for open tip match (OTM) and boat tailed hollow point (BTHP) style bullets in general. Since the 6.5 Creedmoor started off as a target shooting cartridge, there is quite a bit of 6.5 Creedmoor rifle ammo out there that’s much better suited for competitive shooting than for hunting. The 142 grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range is another good competitor to the Hornady 143 grain ELD-X. While the Hornady bullet is more established and has a great reputation itself, the 142 grain AccuBond bullet might come out ahead in the long run for many hunters.The 140 grain class bullets that work best in the 6.5 Creedmoor simply don’t penetrate as well as those heavier bullets the 6.5 Swede used to develop its reputation for outstanding penetration. Under certain circumstances (like a steep quartering to angle) a shot from a 6.5 Creedmoor might not punch through the shoulder blade to reach the vitals of a big bull elk.

If you’re a “meat and potatoes” type of hunter who just wants some reasonably priced 6.5 Creedmoor ammo to go deer hunting with, then you should definitely check out Winchester’s Super X line. This isn’t the latest or most advanced 6.5 Creedmoor ammo out there, but it still works really well for deer sized game.

All things considered, Winchester was successful in that regard and the Deer Season XP line of ammunition has been very well received by deer hunters. It doesn’t matter if you use a Ruger, Tikka, Weatherby, or some other rifle, this is a solid ammunition choice to use in your 6.5 Creedmoor for deer hunting (or any other thin skinned game for that matter).

Note: some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. Thanks for your support.The Hornady Precision Hunter line is an excellent all around choice for 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition, especially for game like deer and pronghorn. That said, if you want to use the 6.5 Creedmoor for elk hunting, then Hornady’s Precision Hunter 143 grain ELD-X 6.5 Creedmoor ammo wouldn’t be my first choice (keep reading to learn what I recommend), but it’ still a good option.

If it shoots well in your rifle, the 142 grain Nosler AccuBond Long Range is a GREAT load to hunt all manner of game with: these bullets will absolutely hammer deer and pronghorn at virtually any reasonable range, plus they’ll still hold together and penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals animals like elk and moose.The Big Game Hunting Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, and other Amazon stores worldwide.

Federal Premium produces some great 6.5 Creedmoor ammo using the legendary copper Barnes Triple Shock X (TSX) bullets. These bullets are designed for rapid expansion, high weight retention, and deep penetration.Finally, Winchester produces a very similar Deer Season XP load with a 125 grain copper Extreme Point that’s legal to use in California. For all intents and purposes, this particular is also a great choice for hunters who want to use their 6.5 Creedmoor for deer hunting, especially with the ongoing ammo shortage (links to each are below).

Additionally, while the LRX BT is optimized for rapid expansion, it’s also a very tough bullet that will also deliver high weight retention and deep penetration. So, these bullets are excellent for hunting all manner of game like black bear, whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, Himalayan Tahr, chamois, sheep, and mountain goat. Norma bondstrike gotta be my number one to date. Did pick up a few boxes of nosler trophy in 142 gr to see if they’ll change my mind but the normas are awesome With quality 140+ grain bullets and good shot placement, you can absolutely use the 6.5 Creedmoor for elk hunting. The 6.5 Creedmoor doesn’t have lots of excess energy, so it’s best to only take broadside or slightly quartering shots at ranges under 250 yards on elk.The Nosler Partition is one of the best hunting bullets ever designed and remains one of the most popular bullets used by elk hunters in North America. Fortunately, Nosler recently started offering 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition as part of their Trophy Grade line with a 140 grain Partition bullet.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is not a 400+ yard elk cartridge and you should only use it on elk or moose at shot angles that minimize the distance it will have to penetrate to reach the vitals.

This is especially true for those who want a better constructed bullet that’s better suited for use on larger game like elk. The 142 grain AccuBond Long Range is almost as heavy, has virtually the same sectional density, and has exactly the same ballistic coefficient as the 143 grain ELD-X.The 143gr ELD-X is a good bullet, but especially at shorter ranges, this load featuring the 140 grain Partition is better than virtually any other 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo for hunting large game. It’s really hard to beat the Nosler Partition when looking for a bullet that you can rely upon to penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals of really big animals like elk and moose. In short, this is an outstanding load that will be effective for hunting an incredibly wide variety of game like deer, hogs, black bear, and even elk under all sorts of circumstances. If you wanted one single 6.5 Creedmoor load to hunt the largest possible variety of game, then this is the 6.5 Creedmoor ammo you’re looking for. First, these are among the heaviest bullets with the highest sectional density that you’ll find for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Second, these bullets are designed for rapid, yet controlled expansion over a very wide range of impact velocities. After all, the Nosler Partition was among the first controlled expansion bullets ever designed and it’s still one of the best (if not THE best) available.

Hunters in search of a high quality alternative to Barnes bullets should definitely check out Federal Premium’s new Trophy Copper line of ammunition. Like the Barnes TTSX, the Trophy Copper provides a devastating mix of high weight retention, rapid, yet controlled controlled expansion (to approximately twice the original diameter), and deep straight-line penetration.However, the AccuBond Long Range is a bonded bullet, so it’s a little more durable and well-constructed than the ELD-X. Like the Partition, the AccuBond Long Range still offers very rapid expansion. The AccuBond Long Range isn’t quite as durable as the Partition, but it’s still a tough, deep penetrating bullet.

With those things in mind, this is my #1 recommended 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition for hunters after REALLY big game like elk and moose at short range if this ammo shoots well in your elk rifle.Indeed, the Terminal Ascent bullet has a bonded front core and solid rear shank that make it a good option for those who want great long range performance without running the risk of bullet failure on close range, high velocity impacts. Regardless of whether you’re hunting whitetail deer, mule deer, feral hogs, pr pronghorn antelope, this ammo will serve you well and get the job done if you do your part as a shooter. If you’re planning on taking your 6.5 Creedmoor deer hunting, then you should certainly consider using Winchester’s Deer Season XP line of ammunition. Designed specifically to compete with ammo like the Remington Core-Lokt and Hornady American Whitetail that were extremely popular with whitetail hunters, Winchester attempted to build an accurate and reasonably priced bullet that would produce a giant wound channel and minimize the distance a deer would run after being hit.

This Federal Premium Trophy Copper load is also lead free, which makes it an ideal choice of 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammunition for use in states like California that that don’t permit the use of lead bullets.It’s also 100% copper, which makes the VOR-TX LR an ideal brand of 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo for use in states like California that that require the use of lead free bullets.

Specifically, I think this ammunition is excellent for mule deer, whitetail deer, feral hog, and pronghorn hunting with the 6.5 Creedmoor. In fact, it will also probably work pretty well even on bigger game like black bear, elk, and moose as well.With all that in mind, yes, the 6.5 Creedmoor will get the job done on elk with good shot placement. However, your margin of error will be a little smaller and you should definitely be more careful about which shots you do (and don’t) take when using the cartridge.Federal’s Terminal Ascent load featuring a 130gr Terminal Ascent bullet is outstanding all-around 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for hunting, especially for hunters that want or need the best possible extended range performance. The new Terminal Ascent Bullet is extremely aerodynamic, has a great reputation for accuracy, and is also constructed to deliver a good balance of expansion and penetration.

In fact, when you Google “6.5 Creedmoor vs,” the first auto-fill option is “270.” Hunters are clearly interested in how these two uber-popular cartridges stack up, and we’re here to settle that debate.

High-quality hunting ammo doesn’t always follow this pattern. While you can find both cartridges for about $50 for a box of 20 rounds, Federal puts a premium on its 6.5 offerings. The 6.5 Creed Trophy Copper mentioned above, for example, is $61 per box while the .270 is $57.Some consider the .270 Win. to be underpowered for very large game like moose, but a modern hunting bullet with good shot placement is more than up to the task. You could say the same about the 6.5, but the .270’s superior energy allows it to handle this category of game more comfortably.

Both the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .270 Win. can be found with bullets ranging from around 90 grains to around 150 grains, with the vast majority of options in the 120- to 150-grain range. This means that both can operate comfortably in the medium-to-large game category (deer, elk, black bear) while also moving down to varmints with light, quick-expanding bullets.You may find exceptions to this rule (and not all factory data is real-world verifiable), but most comparisons will look like this one. When comparing bullets of similar weights, even when the .270 is slightly heavier, the old Winchester flies faster and hits harder at most reasonable hunting ranges.

Rifle versatility is also similar. Sportsman’s Guide offers 49 rifle models in .270 Winchester and 52 in 6.5 Creedmoor. There are more semi-auto rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor thanks to its similarities to the .308 Win., but bolt-action rifles constitute the vast, vast majority of both calibers. It’s safe to say you won’t have any trouble finding a bolt gun in either cartridge.

Whether a few more inches of wind-bucking ability and a slightly more accurate rifle tip the scales towards the 6.5 depends on a hunter’s particular needs. But when it comes to sheer ballistics, this round goes to the Winchester.

Separated by only 0.013 inches of bullet diameter, the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .270 Winchester make an obvious Caliber Battle matchup. Both are used widely by hunters from Alaska to Alabama, both throw similarly weighted bullets traveling similar velocities, and both are chambered in a variety of rifles.Despite this ballistic advantage, I personally tend to favor the 6.5 Creedmoor. For the kind of hunting I do, an accurate, low-recoiling, low-cost, moderately powered cartridge does the trick. I’d also recommend the 6.5 over the .270 for new whitetail hunters for exactly those reasons.

The Creed’s higher BC allows it to buck the wind as well as the .270 even though the bullet is traveling slower and drops more. In some cases, the 6.5 will actually drift less than the .270 thanks to the long, sleek bullet designs.To compare apples to apples, we’ll use as examples these 120-grain Trophy Copper 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges and these 130-grain Trophy Copper .270 Win cartridges. The 6.5 flies at 2,870 feet-per-second (fps) at the muzzle to deliver 2,202 foot-pounds (ft.-lbs.) of energy while the heavier .270 flies 3,060 fps to deliver 2,703 ft.-lbs. of energy. The 6.5 has shrunk that velocity gap to 85 fps at 500 yards, but it has still dropped four more inches than the .270 at that distance.

The 6.5 does retain some advantages. As a relatively new cartridge, the Creedmoor benefits from modern cartridge and chamber design that offers better accuracy in factory rifles. Custom .270 rifles can shoot every bit as accurately as a 6.5, but my experience with budget-friendly factory rifles gives the accuracy edge to the 6.5.

The Creedmoor was designed from the get-go with heavy, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets in mind, so most factory rifles also come with fast 1:8 twist barrels. This means that in most head-to-head matchups, the 6.5 will usually be loaded with higher BC bullets than its .270 counterpart. This Fusion 6.5 Creed option from Federal, for example, has a .439 BC while this .270 Fusion option has a .400 BC.If you go searching for information about the 6.5 Creedmoor, you will find a myriad of articles that all start out telling about the birth of the cartridges as a discussion between Dave Emary of Hornady and Dennis DeMille of Creedmoor sports. Dennis, who is also a world-renowned long range shooter, was asked what his ideal long range cartridge would be. He listed off 10 or 15 features that he imagined this perfect cartridge would have including low recoil, high ballistic coefficient, and a cartridge length to fit in a short action. He wanted factory ammunition to be available, affordable and good enough to compete in long range competitions.

I could go into further detail about this discussion, but there are enough articles out there that explain this so we will suffice it to say that from its birth, the 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for long range shooting. Dave Emary, Joe Thielen, and the team at Hornady did a wonderful job bringing Dennis DeMille’s dream to life. So good in fact that the 6.5 Creedmoor was chosen by Aaron Davidson to be the main cartridge used at Gunwerks’ Long Range University.Since it has the best BC, and that is what we are interested in as long range shooters, lets look at the 140 grain A-MAX load for the 6.5 CM. On the box Hornady advertises a muzzle velocity of 2710 FPS. For those of us who were raised by the older generation that believed velocity is everything, that doesn’t seem like a very hot round. Today however, with laser rangefinders and sophisticated drop compensation available, the BC becomes much more important than pure velocity to get us out to those more distant targets. The 140 grain A-MAX boasts a G1 BC of .585.

Ruger now chambers a 6.5 Creedmoor in their Hawkeye standard model for more traditional hunters, but DPMS also chambers an AR in that round and Tubb chambers it for competition rifles. Weather you are looking to buy a new hunting rifle, or wanting to rebarrel a short action rifle for competition, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a great round to consider.So we know that the 6.5 CM is a viable round for long range target shooters, but the question still remains if it could be used as a hunting round. For big game you probably want a bullet like the A-MAX to have a muzzle velocity of at least 1500 FPS down range and over 900 ft-lbs of energy. The 6.5 Creedmoor stays above this threshold out to about 800 yards so it is definitely a viable option for tipping over a big buck out to 800. For predator hunters this would be a fun gun to kill wolves or coyotes even out to 1,000 yards.

Compared to the .308 Win 178 grain BTHP with a G1 BC of .53 and muzzle velocity of 2600 FPS (from the Hornady box) the 6.5 Creedmoor has 110 inches or 9 feet less drop at 1,000 yards. The 6.5 CM would also experience roughly 13 inches less wind drift at 1,000 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind. So not only does the new 6.5 shoot better than the .308, it also has less kick, making it much more enjoyable to shoot.

As far as the .260 Remington goes, the ballistics are almost identical. The advantage that the 6.5 Creedmoor has over the .260 is that its ammunition is much more available and affordable. Hornady has also done a great job making it easy for reloaders to get into the 6.5 Creedmoor with plentiful, affordable brass and easy access to reloading recipes.How does the 6.5 Creedmoor compare to other similar loads though? The 6.5 Creedmoor was made specifically to compete with the .308 Winchester in the long range competition. The .308 is a very common caliber, so lets see how the Creedmoor holds up against the popular military round. It has also been called the, “.260 Remington done right,” so lets take a look at that cartridge too.

Every barrel that we use today is also made in Bergara at the BERGARA BARRELS factory, which, like CVA, is wholly owned by our parent company. Plus, every CVA rifle component, whether manufactured on-site or sourced from other manufacturers, is produced under strict ISO-9001 quality standards to ensure consistency as well as quality.These quality components, combined with our precision barrel manufacturing and assembly processes, ensure that CVA is able to consistently produce guns with greater accuracy, more features, and better quality for the dollar than any similarly priced gun from any other brand. Bottom line, it’s just a better gun.

This commitment to quality and value, at every price point, ultimately gives you a rifle that you can count on when you’re presented with the shot of a lifetime. CVA is also committed to enhancing your shooting experience by offering you a complete line of loading, shooting and cleaning accessories. These accessories will not only help you to be a better and safer hunter, but they will protect and enhance the performance of your CVA muzzleloader.However, we have certainly not forgotten our muzzleloading roots. In fact, we’ve made them better than ever. For example, our entire line of ACCURA V2 and MR muzzleloading rifles are guaranteed to be the most accurate muzzleloaders you’ve ever shot, or we’ll refund your purchase price. And the moderately priced OPTIMA V2 line comes with more high-end features for the price than you’ve ever thought possible. Finally, the WOLF has been substantially upgraded over the years, and provides more desired features than any other entry level muzzleloader on the market today.

Best of luck with your CVA this year! And be sure to share your success stories and trophy photos with us. Who knows, maybe you’ll be featured in the cva.com trophy room!We’ve accomplished this success by continually developing the technical innovations that redefine consumer expectations, and at prices that they can afford. All of our guns are designed and assembled in our state-of-the art production facility located in the little town of Bergara in northern Spain — a region that has been famous for gun making for hundreds of years.CVA was founded way back in 1971 as Connecticut Valley Arms™, specializing in traditional side-lock muzzleloading rifles and build-it-yourself rifle kits. From those early beginnings, CVA developed a reputation for providing guns and accessories that provide our customers with the best values available. Today our product line has expanded to include the most technically advanced modern in-line muzzleloaders on the market. And we are very proud that CVA has now been America’s #1 selling muzzleloader brand for over a decade.Over the past several years, we’ve taken our offering beyond muzzleloading. CVA’s top of the line gun, the APEX, is actually a muzzleloader or a center-fire – providing interchangeability between 16 different calibers. And the new SCOUT V2, our latest center-fire only rifle, has redefined what an affordably priced single shot rifle can be.

Handloading costs for the 6.5mm Creedmoor are roughly-equivalent to other 6.5 mm cartridges, such as the 6.5×47mm Lapua, due to the availability of Lapua small primer brass for both cartridges. As of January 2020 Lapua is also manufacturing 6.5 Creedmoor brass with large rifle primers. Norma makes brass for the cartridge, and Norma brass is available through several major-retailers at approximately the same cost as Lapua brass. Lapua brass for 6.5×47 lasts for about 12-to-20 reloads. Starline sells brass cases with either large or small primer pockets, with small pocket brass costing slightly more.

The .22 Creedmoor is another even further necked-down version of the 6.5mm Creedmoor using .22 (.224 inch) bullets, lighter than 6 mm bullets with even softer recoil. The 6.5mm Creedmoor is a medium-power cartridge comparable to the .260 Remington and 6.5×47mm Lapua. Its energy at 300 yards using 129-grain Hornady SST bullets is listed by an independent reviewer as 1,641 foot-pounds force (2,225 J). For the 140-grain bullet at 2,700 feet per second (823 m/s) initial velocity, another reviewer reports an MPBR for a six-inch-high target of 265 yards (242 m), and reports a manufacturer-claim of “almost 1,600 ft⋅lbf (2,169 J)” of retained energy at 300 yards (274 m) using a 24 inches (610 mm) barrel. SAAMI test data confirms 6.5 mm Creedmoor, 15 feet (4.6 m) from muzzle, velocity of 2,940 ft/s (896 m/s) for the 129-grain bullet and 2,690 ft/s (820 m/s) for the 140-grain bullet (which compares to .300 Winchester Magnum data of 2,930 ft/s (893 m/s) for a 200-grain bullet and 2,665 ft/s (812 m/s) for a 210-grain bullet). 6.5mm Creedmoor can provide sub-half-minute of angle accuracy from factory ammo. The cartridge stays supersonic and maintains its accuracy to past 1,200 yd (1,097 m), while the .308 Winchester with 168-grain match bullets has a supersonic range of about 975 yd (892 m).The 6.5mm Creedmoor was designed specifically for long-range target shooting, although it has been used successfully in game hunting. Bullet-for-bullet, the 6.5mm Creedmoor achieves a slower muzzle velocity than longer cartridges such as the 6.5-284 Norma or magnum cartridges such as the 6.5mm Remington Magnum. However, due to its overall length of 2.825 inches (71.8 mm), it is capable of chambering in short-action rifles like the 6.5×47mm Lapua.

The 6mm Creedmoor is a necked-down version of the 6.5mm Creedmoor using 6 mm (.243 inch) bullets, lighter than 6.5 mm bullets with similarly-reduced recoil. John Snow at Outdoor Life built a 6mm Creedmoor rifle in 2009 for a magazine article of the wildcat cartridge that appeared in 2010, but the first documented conception of the 6mm Creedmoor was by Lee Gardner, a Snipershide forum user in May 2009. As of May 2018, Savage Arms offers three bolt-action rifles and one semiautomatic rifle chambered in 6mm Creedmoor. As of May 2018, Hornady offers 87-gr Varmint Express, 103-gr Precision Hunter and 108-gr Match ammunition in 6mm Creedmoor. Performance-wise, the 6mm Creedmoor is nearly identical to .243 Winchester, with slightly less powder room but often loaded to slightly higher pressures. However, since the cartridge was designed from the outset to better handle longer bullets, and rifles are accordingly built with faster twist rates, the 6mm Creedmoor will usually give better performance with heavier bullets than the .243.At the National Defense Industry Association’s annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC), beginning May 20, 2019, FN unveiled a prototype of its Mk 48 Mod 2 machine gun chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor to fill a USSOCOM requirement. American special operations forces are in the process of acquiring a lightweight belt-fed machine gun offering a better range than existing weapons. 6.5 Creedmoor has since received the designation of XM1200.

Lapua delivered 6.5mm Creedmoor brass at Shot show 2017, and production quantities became available via major retailers in second quarter 2017. The Lapua version has a small primer pocket. Thus, load data for small-primer brass are not interchangeable with those for large-primer brass. A smaller diameter decapping rod is required to size and decap. As of January 2020 Lapua also manufactures its brass with large rifle primers addressing concerns that some small rifle primers may not efficiently ignite the powder charge in cold weather conditions causing hang fires or misfires. Large rifle primer Lapua brass also allows the use of a standard size decapping rod.Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 = 30 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 203 mm (1 in 8 in), 6 grooves, Ø lands = 6.50 mm (0.256 in), Ø grooves = 6.71 mm (0.264 in), land width = 2.29 mm (0.090 in), and the primer type is large rifle or small rifle depending on the cartridge case manufacturer.

In October 2017, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) tested the performance of 7.62×51mm NATO (M118LR long-range 7.62×51mm NATO load), .260 Remington, and 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges out of SR-25, M110A1, and Mk 20 Sniper Support Rifle (SSR) rifles. SOCOM determined 6.5 Creedmoor performed the best, doubling hit-probability at 1,000 m (1,094 yd), increasing effective range by nearly half, reducing wind drift by a third, with less recoil than 7.62×51mm NATO rounds. Tests showed the .260 Remington and 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges were similarly accurate and reliable, and the external ballistic behavior was also very-similar. The prevailing attitude is there was more room with the 6.5mm Creedmoor to develop projectiles and loads.In April 2020 the United States Department of Defense decided to replace the Mk13 .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle with a 20-inch (510 mm) barrel, semi-automatic AR-10 platform chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor and ammunition for engagements from 0 to 1,200 yards (0 to 1,097 m).

A semiautomatic sniper rifle with a 20-inch barrel, in 6.5mm Creedmoor, is capable of engaging military targets from point blank range to 1,100 meters. In general, 6.5 mm (.264 in) bullets are known for their high sectional density and ballistic coefficients, and often have been used successfully in rifle competitions. The 6.5mm Creedmoor was designed for target shooting at longer ranges, and as such, couples a sensible case volume (3.40 ml) to bore area (34.66 mm/0.3466 cm) ratio with ample space for loading long slender projectiles providing good aerodynamic efficiency and external ballistic performance for the projectile diameter. For some loads, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is capable of duplicating the muzzle velocity or trajectory of the .300 Winchester Magnum while generating significantly-lower recoil, based on lighter projectile weight. The 6.5mm Creedmoor (6.5×48 mm), designated 6.5 Creedmoor by SAAMI, 6.5 Creedmoor by the C.I.P. or 6.5 CM or 6.5 CRDMR for short, is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in 2007. It was developed by Hornady senior ballistics scientist Dave Emary in partnership with Dennis DeMille, the vice-president of product development at Creedmoor Sports, hence the name. The cartridge is a necked-down modification of the .30 Thompson Center.That being said, it should also stand to reason that if 6.5 Creedmoor can take out a target at 500 yards, it’s going to take care of business at 100 yards with no problem.

For starters, there is the huge gap between the two when it comes to ballistics. 6.5 Creedmoor loads can reach one thousand yards with less than three hundred inches of drop with proper windage.Bergara rifles are usually accurate from what I hear over the years. They are world renowned barrel makers. I believe it is the ore and forging process in Spain that they have perfected. If memory serves me correctly, Ed Shilen teamed up with them to manufacture complete rifles. Shilen is an expert in his own right. Put the two together and you get a precision firearm. Enjoy, I intend to get a Bergara. One great thing about living in America is that we have so many fine firearms makers. God Bless America.

Another area in which 6.5 Creedmoor often bests .308 Win is in pure accessibility. A lot of .308 ammo is out of stock when you visit the major online ammo dealers. But if you run a search for Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr AMAX, you’ll get a bite.As Emary saw it, people were trying to push their cartridges to the limit, attempting to defy the laws of physics by brainstorming methods by which to get their cartridges to perform at levels they weren’t made to. Problems would then crop up as a result of these jeri-rigging formulas.

If you’re using it with a precision rifle or for seasonal deer shooting, you’re going to go long ways with your 6.5 Creedmoor, no if, and, or buts…except the butt you put a bullet in.

I needed a good laugh. Lots of marketing separating wannabes from their money. One positive is that it never hurts for younger generations to have an interest in firearms; hence the 2nd Amndmnt. As long as they don’t leave quarry wounded and hurt hunting in the long run; I should think the more gun enthusiasts the better. So although I am like minded to your views, try to take it easy on the youngins. They may get wise and more humble with age. After all, we need as many interested in our sport as possible ; even if marketing schemes and cocky people litter the playing field. Also, the manufacturers need to make money from their marketing because they financially support NRA(and other rights groups); as well as provide consumers with accessibility to quality products. We Americans love our guns and need the continuous preservation and cultivation of the market that provides us them.Once you have your ammo and rifle picked out, you’ll want to invest in a quality scope. Depending on what role your 6.5 Creedmoor will be filling you might want a couple of scopes! My 6.5 Creedmoor is a custom Rem 700 SA fitted with a 22″ Christensen Arms carbon wrapped barrel and Shilen trigger in a Remington laminated high comb stock. The thing shoots 3 shot groups in the 0.2.’s and 0.3’s at 100 yards with just about any 140 gr. match bullet in Lapua cases with the small rifle primer. I seat them .100″ off the lands and get equal results with RL-17 or H4350 powder. Mine likes 40.0 gr. of either at 2600 fps. Your actual mileage may vary. With the Swift 140 gr. A-Frame, a Yankee Hill can, and an ATN thermal 3-18/320 it absolutely slaughters 300+lb. South Carolina boar hogs at 150-200 yds with a single shot to the chest or neck. I mean they are DRT all night long. Impressive to say the least. Obviously, long range shooting is something that is advantageous to those in combat and the military seems to be catching onto Creedmoor’s awesome reputation for shooting close, precision groups at 500 yards or more.Great article. I’m shocked you didn’t have a category for “Most Awesomest Semi-Auto 6.5 Creedmoor” … that would have clearly been won by my new LWRC REPR 6.5 Elite … carbon fiber barrel and all. It’s a sub-MOA semi-automatic monster that I’m already putting on 12-inch steel plates at 1,000 yards … and I’m a lousy shot. It’s expensive, but it’s also the coolest and most technologically advanced 6.5 on the market today. Valuable information. Fortunate me I discovered your website by chance, and I’m shocked why this twist of fate did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it. Match grade ammo isn’t cheap, but it is amazing. Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Extremely Low Drag match bullet is outstanding for factory ammo. Your mileage may vary, but I’ve been getting half-MOA with this ammo.I bought a. Ruger American in 6.5CM and a Savage Trophy Hunter XP in 7mm-08 and I believe both have advantages over their .308 counterpart. I just hope the 6.5 doesn’t obsolete the 7mm-08.

Some shooters like to gripe about barrel longevity, claiming that the 6.5 Creedmoor will only last for 2-3,000 rounds whereas the .308 Win will be good for as many as 10,000 rounds. This is simply bogus since it all depends on whether you’re shooting 1 MOA. There’s just no way that the .308 could be reaching that mark at 10,000.But if you’re looking to do some real precision shooting, really put this cartridge to the test, then you’ll need something with a LOT more magnification: Vortex Golden Eagle 15-60x fills the bill! **UPDATE** 2018: USSOCOM has adopted the 6.5 CM as their new Precision Rifle cartridge. It was a close call between the 260 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor, but the 6.5 CM won the day due to the military’s belief that the 6.5 CM has more room for innovation in the future. At the time, there weren’t a lot of civilians shooting long range, but in recent years, the company has seen demand grow, and grow as manufacturers continue to put out more and more affordable long range rifles. Today, it is the go-to cartridge for many competitive shooters.And a bigger bullet means you’ll do bigger damage to your target, whether your target’s a terrorist or a Tazmanian devil. Also, let’s face it. Our brothers in arms go through enough crap. The last thing they need is hellish recoil. If there’s one thing you won’t get with 6.5 Creedmoor, it’s insane blowback.