So I've been looking at a new upper for my AR, really wanting a 6.5 Grendel for my son...

But I found a Ruger American predator in 6.5 Creedmoor, and I pulled the trigger. Now, aside from handloading, do you guys have a preferred place to buy ammo online?

Also, I may still do a Grendel for my boy for Christmas... but I just saw the Howa Mini-action thread so I don't know which way to go. You guys are hard on my pocket book!

Thanks for looking

Not sure of best place to buy, but Hornady 140 Match ammo has been great for me. Chad is also a great source and many more options.

That's right.


Get the Howa mini action. Bolt actions rule, in safety and consistent shooting. Plus they make more velocity than a gas gun.

I have looked at Chad's stuff and some of the Hornady. I may pick up a couple boxes of each and maybe a mixed bag from Chad and see what it likes.

I'm really excited to get it going.

The most accurate factory 6.5 Creed in my guns has been the Winchester Match . they use the 140gr Sierra Matchking, priced pretty reasonable..


If you want the absolute best for your rifle, you would be smart to let Chad build a load to fit your gun.

Or start loading if you are going to shoot allot. If just needing a hunting round Chad is your guy

+1, stick with the bolt guns

Prime also makes some great 6.5CM loads. And when you shoot it, you should definitely send that beautiful Ruag brass to me.

You send me the Prime, I will shoot it and send you the brass back... I can PM you my address lol

I was going to pick up a box of Prime too, see how it does. If this rifle is like every other female on my hill, she's only going to like the expensive stuff.

I guess I'll also give chad another recommendation.

I've only ever used his bulk, value 308 with a 168gr amax bullet and it exceeded my expectations for the price. For my particular rifle, I had better consistency with that versus the ubiquitous federal 308 168gt smk. I assume the newly loaded stuff of his is that much better.

So... I shot some 129gr American Whitetail to get on paper, and then shot Winchester 140gr and Hornady 143gr ELD-X for groups, and I've gotta say... I don't think I can tell which one it grouped better at 100.

Both of the 140's group easily 1-1.5"and probably would have been even better with a better operator.

This little gun is gonna be a favorite, I can already tell.

Hornady has some great 6.5 ammo. I've had great success with the 129 sst ammo. I'm really interested in trying their American Hunter 143 ELDx factory ammo.

I agree with these guys.

The thing about autoloaders getting less velocity than a bolt gun is both right and wrong. Savage once made a .22lr autoloader that could also be fired as a single-shot... Tests with this firearm showed no velocity drop when fired as an autoloader, compared to velocity obtained when the bolt was locked closed in single-shot mode.

Logically this makes perfect sense, as autoloaders do not unlock until after the bullet is already out of the barrel. This is going to be true as well in cases of blowback rifles like the Savage mentioned above... By the time the relatively heavy, spring-loaded bolt can move any significant amount, the little .22 bullet is long gone.

On the other hand, it is generally recognized that you can run hotter loads through a bolt gun than you can through a autoloader, at least those that lack an adjustable gas system.

Most autoloaders lack an adjustable gas system, and so require loads that are mild in comparison to what you can safely fire in a bolt-action rifle. My M1A for example, like a Garand, does not respond well to hot loads.

I have found that I have little interest in an autoloader for hunting but that is a personal preference, nothing more. Lots of other hunters do just fine with an autoloader, especially those who address multiple targets in a brief period of time like a pig hunter, for example.

I don't know your setup (scope, etc) but the little gun is capable of WAY better than that. I'd fully expect sub-MOA with factory ammunition, and even better with loads tailored to the rifle.

Get the Howa for your son and combine it with a day spent with Fireman JG! You'll have a ball together and learn more than you ever could in a dozen trips to the range. P_102

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good idea

I agree 100%. This was a hurried session off a bipod and a backpack, I got on paper and played with some groups a little. Had I taken my time, and been a little less hurried, I could easily get it tighter.

I love it.

black hills makes great factory ammo.