6.5 Creedmoor

[hawk eye]

Its been done to death but why does the 6.5 creedmoor have such a dark cloud above it as a hunting round, I know it has its haters out there (for reasons un-known really). Not looking to stir the pot but do people find it lacking in knock down power. We all know the 6.5x55 has been taking moose in sweden for the past 100 years, our UK deer don't have armour plating. Asking because I'm seriously considering this round from a .308 (mainly as my daughter is coming out stalking and wants to shoot more otherwise would stick with .308). Mainly stalking muntjak, roe, fallow but need enough gun for sika and red when needed. Are people happy with the 6.5?

Thanks

 

[Utectok]

6.5 calibre will kill anything in the UK. I moved from .308 to 6.5 and I’ll never go back it does everything a .308 does and lots less wind drift if long range is your thing. It’s also super sweet to shoot and you never loose the shot picture which helps with recovery. Here’s a big one shot yesterday with my 6.5x55

 

[scoby270]

Nowt wrong at all with the 6.5, set up properly they are as accurate as anything, low recoil, will kill anything in the uk, all about shot placement, most doom mongers probably never even tried 1. I only went back to the .270 to allow for Boar but the 6.5 would do the job as well if guidelines allowed.

S

 

[Camdig]

6.5CM is the new .243, it's a capable calibre with a huge selection of factory ammunition lead and non lead which is a major plus for me anyway.
I used to shoot everything with .243 100g rounds but it definitely has limitations beyond 250/300m, .243 is now my dedicated night rifle and 6.5CM is my stalking rifle.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

There was never anything wrong with the 6.5CM - it just had too much publicity - build anything up and people will knock it down.

 

[jthyttin]

mainly as my daughter is coming out stalking and wants to shoot more otherwise would stick with .308

Load or buy reduced loads with 125gr class bullet and around 800m/s / 2600fps. At least Hornady Custom Lite is available in UK. There will be less recoil than in full power 6.5mm offerings of similar case size.

 

[Dave_45]

it’s fine for deer stalking ,people treated as the be all and end all.
Which it isn’t but it’s capable for all uk species and some.

 

[tackb]

i have 2 6.5 creedmoors a comp gun and a stalking gun , the creed is a great calibre and personally i think ideal for all uk deer species (as is any of the mid range 6.5's) with good availability of consumables

lots of people slag it and the owners off , they are just jealous becasue as we all know the creed will make you taller and more attractive to the opposite sex !

side note , haters , please try and be original some of the memes etc are older than the 6.5x55..................

 

[Deermanagement]

Excellent calibre for the UK. Watched a video a while back that was went through 80 odd calibres looking for the energy, velocity and lowest recoil energy to take animals in 2 groups, deer sized and elk sized out to 500 yds. 6.5 Cr met the deer criteria with the lowest recoil whilst also bearing in mind out deer species are generally lighter. I'm more than happy to use it on Sika in the rut so nobody should have any doubt. The same goes for most if not all the 6.5 calibres. One caveat, good placement and bullet construction which also goes for the majority of calibres.

 

[nun_hunter]

One caveat, good placement and bullet construction which also goes for the majority of calibres.

A lot of people get hung up on the cartridge (in a bolt action rifle) rather than the bullet. A 143grain ELD-X travelling at 2800fps is going to behave in the same way when it hits a deer no matter what it came out of. You may get more velocity from one cartridge Vs another and some will be available as factory loaded ammo.

What the Creedmoor did well was that it ticked a lot of boxes, more than similar cartridges and had good marketing and support. People with a 6.5X55 say "I can use more powder and so shoot faster" yes but you can't use it in an AR10 (which is a huge market for producers and users), I'm not sure what .260 Rem users say is better but factory ammo and brass isn't as popular. Hornady listed the load data for their factory ammo on the box so it could be easily replicated.

 

[NullMac]

I shoot predominantly Sika.

It drops then just like the 308 did, no fuss but with a bit less recoil. Sika's toughness is an old wives tale.

No biggie.

 

[Cris]

A lot of people get hung up on the cartridge (in a bolt action rifle) rather than the bullet. A 143grain ELD-X travelling at 2800fps is going to behave in the same way when it hits a deer no matter what it came out of. You may get more velocity from one cartridge Vs another and some will be available as factory loaded ammo.

What the Creedmoor did well was that it ticked a lot of boxes, more than similar cartridges and had good marketing and support. People with a 6.5X55 say "I can use more powder and so shoot faster" yes but you can't use it in an AR10 (which is a huge market for producers and users), I'm not sure what .260 Rem users say is better but factory ammo and brass isn't as popular. Hornady listed the load data for their factory ammo on the box so it could be easily replicated.

AR10? We talking US market I assume.

 

[nun_hunter]

AR10? We talking US market I assume.

Yes, that's part the reason why I started my post about people getting hung up with bolt action rifles, they're missing a massive reason and appeal of the Creedmoor to other customers globally who outnumber the handful of British shooters that aren't even considered by the global ammo manufacturers.

 

[Mungo]

I shoot predominantly Sika.

It drops then just like the 308 did, no fuss but with a bit less recoil. Sika's toughness is an old wives tale.

No biggie.

I may have asked this before, but what are you using in your Creedmoor?

 

[DAC_Deer]

I just put in for a variation from 6.5SE to 6.5CM as I found buying the rifle I wanted in SE was more challenging.

 

[MAXLISTER1987]

6.5CM is the new .243, it's a capable calibre with a huge selection of factory ammunition lead and non lead which is a major plus for me anyway.
I used to shoot everything with .243 100g rounds but it definitely has limitations beyond 250/300m, .243 is now my dedicated night rifle and 6.5CM is my stalking rifle.

Sounds like the way I'm thinking of going, nv on the 243 and re barrel the 22 250 in 6.5

 

[lovingit]

Great calibre. Would have it over a .308 anyway.

 

[knight82]

I shoot both 308 and 6.5CM, used both calibres on everything from all deer species and boar (although 308 is now night time boar only as NV fitted)
Both calibres are more than anything you’ll need in the UK. Ammo widely available for both, 308 probably performs better with heavier rounds- I’m talking 150g plus.
6.5CM works well 120-150g although I find 120g the sweet spot for my rifle. Less recoil on the 6.5CM which gives the advantage of maintaining sight picture for 2nd / 3rd shot into a group if required. Don’t get too hung up on calibres though as you really can’t go wrong with either.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

All shot with the creedmoor, all dropped on the spot with some being a fair distance away...

I also watched the impacts... Something quite satisfying when you watch impact and see blood spraying although the same can be done with many rifles + cartridges if you practice.

 

[Deermanagement]

All shot with the creedmoor, all dropped on the spot with some being a fair distance away...

I also watched the impacts... Something quite satisfying when you watch impact and see blood spraying although the same can be done with many rifles + cartridges if you practice.

Can't see a hole in them? Must have been the shock wave from the Cm The hype for the Cm created it's poularity and conversley created it's knockers. Sweet cartridge which will do everything and the pick of the calibres I have used for normal hunting, woodland and field.