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Is the 6.5 Creedmore really worth all the hype?
Over the last 10 years, it seems you can't pick up a gun magazine without an article stating how great the 6.5 is for long range, wind, accuracy, and terminal performance. I do not own any 6.5s nor have I ever shot one. So my question to this group of Tikka owners who have the 6.5×55 or the 6.5 creedmore…does this caliber really have so much more than my favorite 7.62? Thanks…I will use this genuine opinion to influence my next rifle choice. I am both a target shooter as well as a big game hunter. I am even interested in any 6.5 opinions with regards to any 6.5 loads….like the 26 Nosler or 264 Win mag. But my next rifle will be another T3. Thanks.
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26 Replies
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I think it’s a great round , when I started with it it was expensive to reload ( I’m in England ) it’s getting cheaper, great ballistics at 1km has more energy left than 300 win mag , I didn’t believe this at first so check it out and it was correct , if you like experimenting with reload there’s lots to check out , the new thing to compare is ether small or large primer pocket , you can get the speed over 3000 ft/s but might be at the expense of accuracy , I’m running at 800 m/s great grouping and easily out to 1km using my last .123 a-max’s and 140 gn nosler custom comps , next when I get the barrel swapped out I’ll be trying nosler 140 rdf there getting good reports over here ,
Also the recoil is very soft -
I've been shooting 30cal rifles and reloading for a few years and love my T3 – 308 and 300wsm rifles.
I would be confident going head to head with any 6.5 shooter with my 300wsm and a 200gr bullet out to 1000yrds…banging steel or shooting groups. You just need to know your rifle and know how to make good accurate reloads.BUT…True fact…You can't beat the ballistics of the 120-140gr bullets now being offered and like guys have mentioned, the recoil is a joy to shoot for a gun that performs so well.
My advice, if you have a favourite 30cal and “you” and the gun shoot well, unless you are shooting beyond 750-1000 yrds its all you need if you know what you are doing. If you have the urge to stretch that out then
a 6.5 will serve you well and you will agree after shooting it that it is a superior cartridge.FYI…my next rifle will be a 260…its a “want” not a need.
Its the perfect cartridge for me, for both hunting and target shooting, or so I've convinced myself ;)…1 more gun in the safe is always better! -
Got to say my next rifle will also be a .260 the A1 Tac , has it’s easier to get speed and accuracy because of the large case capacity , over here for a .260 you have to reload your own don’t know about where you are , you pays your money and make YOUR choose
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Thanks for the information. So it seems to me, according to you two, I should purchase a new Tikka in 6.5 Creedmoor. I just with the creedmoor had a little more velocity. The 6.5-300 Wby is too much and ammo price is too high. The 6.5 swede is hard to find where I live as well as 26 Nosler and 264 Win mag. I would like to try out this hyped up caliber…most likely I will just get the 6.5 creedmoor with a 24 inch barrel.
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Good plan if your going to reload start looking for h4350 powder it’s the best for anything 6.5 it’s a pity it’s being banned over here in England and Europe , might be available once’s we leave the Eu but I doubt it
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H4350 banned, why?
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Nanny state over here because it’s made up of some nasty chemicals ( no sh#t )
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Well, I'm about to find out. I sure did not need another rifle but the 6.5's have always intrigued me. When Whittakers got their shipment of T3x's in 6.5 Creedmoor, I knew I'd have to try one. Wound up buying the T3x Lite in SS. Have not had the time to shoot it yet but I can't wait. I'm hoping it will be a real tack driver.
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I bought one of those from Whittakers also in the 6.5 CM SS. After a little problem I Love it, and I needed another rifle like Doan's need more back pills.
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I have both the 6.5×55 and the creedmoor
If you reload get the old sweed
If you buy ammo get the creedmore.
The sweed will perform better but the creed will be cheaper – the sweed is stronger. -
I hear that shooters world is close to H4350 and acceptable to Europe
Worth looking at
Look at midsouth -
Not to denigrate dogtown in any way, but I’m not a fan of the 260.
It’s a short action 6.5 and does a nice job with short bullets due to the short action. The 6.5 creed is also a short action with less case capacity but has a better ability to use longer bullets. If you do a custom build then by all means go for the 260 but for most of us I’m leaning to the Creedmoor with its factory ammo and 100-250 less FPS.
I may be wrong on the FPS so do the research.
My opinion is get the long action and the 6.5×55 or a wildcat using its case. Even move up to the 6.5×284 with good brass (Lapua) and load down to save the bore. -
All good points by Eric but heres my personal take on it…
The only reason to choose a 6.5 creedmoor over a 260 is price and availability of factory ammo….thats the only thing the 6.5 Creed will have over the 260…for 99.9 percent of the general public.
If you are an experienced shooter and reloader, the 260 still seems to be the preferred choice…its edges out the 6.5 in every category.
Projectile advantage, over one or the other is all hype between the 2…most guys will never take advantage over the slight extra OAL the creed will allow with 140gr bullets, and the ogive design on most new projectiles effect this setting depth so much that its put both pretty much on par again.
You can't go wrong with either if price is not an option for ammo…Its only when someone shoots a new record using the newer 6.5 that everyone jumps back on the band wagon and the 6.5 is the best thing ever again…the 6.5 might not have been born if the 260 had the newer generation of shooters backing it the same way.
Anyone and everyone will be happy with whatever they choose in this 260 versus 6.5 debate.
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Over here in England I got quite a few negative comment when I said I was getting a 6.5 creedmoor over a 260 , but once they became more common over here the same people have changed there mind and now would have the creedmoor over a 260 , but saying all that my next rifle ( Sako 85 black wolf ) will be a 260 because it’s easier to get it on my fac rather than another creedmoor lol
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Lol…Thanks for the post Larkin.
Thats a pretty sweet rifle you have in mind.
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