Good and bad for the 6.5 Creedmoor All thoughts wellcome

I have recently been tossing around the idea of picking up a 6.5 creedmoor for hunting. Not so much for myself, but more so for my wife and oldest son. I have been a longtime .270 guy. The reason I was looking at this round is because of lighter recoil than a 308 and more knockdown than a 243. I know that ammo is quite a bit more expensive and harder to come by than the two aforementioned staples, but as I reload this is not a total deal breaker for me. I was wondering if anyone on here has hunted with, or knows someone who has hunted with one and what they thought the pros and cons were. I would also like to know if there was a significant different in the recoil of the 308 and the 6.5 creedmoor.

I have one that I will be hunting with this year. I had my gun built by Horizon Firearms and Derrick build one hell of a gun. I know he took his to Africa with him.

Following

Im not planning on laying down that kind of cash on this one. Wish I could though. I'm looking a Browning A-bolt Composite Stalker. Everything I have read about them has been positive. Just wondering on performance on game and the recoil. I want something larger for the wife and boy to shoot while keeping it pleasant and fun to shoot.

I'm a huge fan. I'm shooting a Savage Predator Hunter with a Leupold VXR. With Hornady 129 sst factory ammo, it's a .5 - .75 MOA gun all day and I'm not the best shooter. I got the rifle for me and my wife to use for many of the reasons you mentioned above. There is very little recoil and the ballistics are fantastic. All three deer it's been shot at were "Bang flops". Additionally, factory ammo for the 6.5 creedmoor is more readily available now then people realize. I've seen 6.5 ammo on the shelf almost everytime I've visited an Academy here in Houston. If not, you can easily pick some up online. Unless I'm going after elk size game and larger (which it could take with the right bullet), it'll be my go-to rifle and hunting round going forward.

Have you given 7mm-08 any consideration?

Thank you for your opinion and experience. I'm thinking it should be a great round for hunting whitetail.

I have considered the 7mm08 and was looking at the compared ballistic coefficient and the 6.5 seems superior in that area. Also everything I've read from reviews and others who have shot both, say that the 6.5 has less recoil. I can't see that there would be much difference in two cartridges that similar, but thats why I am asking for experiences and opinions.

Both guns being the same, fire a 150gr .308 round and a 140gr 6.5 round and tell me you can tell the difference in recoil. Inside 400 yards, there won't be an appreciable difference in ballistics between the .308, 7-08, and 6.5. Honestly, no further than they're likely to be shooting, a .243 would do all you need it to do.

That is a very valid point. More than likely they will not be shooting far enough to take advantage of any difference in bc. I am thinking about using the 129 grain ssts and I think they might be a little lighter on recoil than the 150 grain 308 round, but like i said earlier I have no experience shooting them one after the other to compare. Thank you for your insight. I like all the input I'm getting. This place is a wealth of knowledge and experience. I wish I would have started picking peoples brains on forums long ago.

In my opinion, the recoil of the 6.5 is comparable to the .243.

I love the 6.5 Creedmoor, I know the .260 Rem has been around awhile as well as a few other .264 caliber. But the 6.5 Creedmoor seems to be catching on which is great because rifle makers are producing it and more ammo is showing up on the shelves.

Personally, I think it's here to stay. The performance I've seen on deer is outstanding, all bang flops. Also, the accuracy and little wind adjustment is a dream.

What round are you using to hunt deer with?

My son and I both shoot the .270. My son is twenty years old, and weighs upper 140s. He is fairly new to hunting, and didn't care for the recoil. So three years ago we picked up some Hornady custom lites for him. Boy did they help him out. He stopped twitching, and jerking when taking his shot. He goes to the range and can drop 4 in the bullseye with no problem at 100 yds. Puts it back in the case and is ready for the season. It made shooting a pleasant experience for him. In the last three years he has taken three bucks at around 100 yds. If you aren't taking shots longer then 150 yds maybe dropping the grain could help. One of these days I hope my son will gain some weight, and get some bigger shoulders. Then be able to step up the grain of his bullet.

Since you already have a .270 buy a box and try them out.

My dad and my nieces hunt with a .243, and I did as well for a while. Family-wide we've probably killed 250-300 central TX whitetails with a .243 on our place in the last 40 years. I switched to a .308 in 1991 because my cousin wanted a .243 to start with when he began (sold him mine). I've killed over 100 with it. I also have a 6.8 that's now taken over 20, and a 7mm-08 backup gun that I've killed 5 with.

If I shoot out the barrel on my .308 I would say its re-barrel chances are 40% 7mm-08, 30% Creedmoor, 30% .308. It's not a light gun so recoil in any of those calibers isn't an issue.

The 7-08 is a great round as well. Recently build a LR-708 because of how great the round is as well. I would pick the creedmoor first only based off my experience with the round but the 7-08 as a strong second. Can't go wrong either way.

It's a somewhat new mousetrap that really isn't measurably better than any other mousetrap it's trying to replace. Unless you're a benchrest shooter.

Do what!?

Look at the BC of a 7 mm 162 gr ELD-X, and push it 2700 fps MV.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a fantastic round. Two weeks ago my shot out barrel got replaced with another one, and off I go again. That being said, the 7mm-08 is a terrific cartridge, I also have one of those. I can't tell if coyotes, hogs, and deer have been deader from one or the other. If God told me I had to use one or the other as my only short action round, I'd flip a coin. Though the 7-08 can deliver more energy than the 6.5 Creedmoor or the .260 Rem (which is a ballistic twin).

Produces the exact same results as a 260 Rem once the bullet leaves the barrel. But it tends to do it using less powder, with a lower ES, and with a shorter O.A.L. gives options for bullets to be where the loader wants them in relation to the lands. Plus, factory Hornady ammo has done a stellar job of being a consistent shooter. Not necessarily the case with the .260 Rem.

btw, fireman. The other day I quoted you a chrono on my 20" 7mm-08 at 2880. That was a typo and should have been 2808.

With what bullet?

I'm a fan of the Creed. Not just because of ballistics but consistency of the OTC ammo, toss in guys like Chad and Cooper creek that load match ammo for it and you have quick and very good supply of affordable ammo.

Like it so much I'm having an 18" barrel built for another rifle...giving me two creeds

140 gr. Sierra Gameking.

6.5 creedmoor ammo is no more difficult to find than any premium hunting ammo. Academy, Dicks, Bass Pro and Cabelas all carry it.

Personally, I think people worry a little too much about what caliber they are shooting. The deer "Gone to Texas" shot that were dropped where they stood likely would have done the same with most soft point bullets from 100gr to 200gr. My family has killed an awful lot of deer with 100gr .25 caliber soft point bullets out of an old savage 250-3000. Balisitcally speaking, a .243, .308, 6.5 creedmoor, 7mm-08 and anything in between will be fine assuming you put a proper bullet in the proper place.

The fact is, MOST of us are taking shots at deer at under 125 yards. If you fall into that same category as I do, the above statements are generally true. If you don't, then ballistics can effect your hunting experience.

^^that's not wrong^^

X-ray, I went from a 270 to a 260 a few years back. It's lighter, shorter, recoils a good bit less, and seems to kill deer just as well. I used the 100 gr Nosler BT and the 120 gr version. I think the 120 is more effective on deer and pigs, but only a little bit. The 100 gr kicks noticeably less. Ignore the people that will push you to use 140 gr bullets. Not necessary.

I recommend the Tikka T3 lite Stainless with the 20 inch barrel.

603 appreciate your experience and opinion. The information on bullet weight is great. That is what I'm looking for.

I own two and I hunt with one of them. I also own a .308. To me the felt recoil is a lot less with the CM and as for performance it's been outstanding so far. Last season was the first year to hunt with it and took a 9 pt buck, a doe, hog and turkey with it. So I'd definitely recommend it. My daughter is coming to town this coming Thanksgiving to go deer hunting with me and its the gun she will be using..

Thanks 61

I have .243, 7mm-08, and 6.5 cm and they are all excellent for whitetail hunting. I think the 6.5 cm would give you the best of the afore mentioned calibers for your particular needs. Less recoil than the 7mm-08 with a heavier bullet than the .243. I do not think you would be disappointed with any of these, but if I could only buy one (off the self under 1k) it would be the 6.5 cm. Regarding factory ammunition cost, the last 140 grn elds I purchased were $32 a box and I'm embarrassed to say my reloads (after a month of load work up changing bullets, primers, etc., etc.) barely surpassed them in accuracy. Hornadys factory 140s out of 2 different rifles are sub .6 moa at 100 yards most days. Hope this helps.

I like my 6.5CM, not scared to send it out to 600. Basically same ballistic chart as my 300WM running 200gr not much difference between the two. Killing efficiency is not a issue with it for sure, same kind of dead with a 300 or 7mm if you hit high shoulder. Running Norma brass with 140VLD's, my 10 year old son shoots it pretty confidently, hes not big about 85lbs but we shoot at least twice a week when I'm home. Recoil is acute no need for a break IMO.

For me a 120gr bullet at around 2900 fps is a sweet spot for Texas deer hunting. Flat trajectory, low recoil, plenty of punch. If I were starting out today, I'd jump on the Creed. As it is, I have too much invested in the 257 Roberts: rifles, brass, bullets, etc., so I'll stick with it.

The 257 roberts was one of my first thoughts but man are they high when trying to find one in good shape. Started looking around and reading up on the creed moor and could pick up a quality rifle for half of the price of a 257 m77.

Thanks Burton for the info

I don,t doubt that at all!

If you are a reloader the .257 Roberts is a great round for Texas. I have a Rem 722 Bob and a Winchester Mod 70 .270. The difference in recoil is really noticeable. You are able to shoot 75gr-120gr in the Bob. You can load them up or down for your son. That is what I do for my son. I have 3 different loads (87gr, 100gr, 117gr) that I shoot in mine. Very fun to shoot and hunt with.

I'm a fan of the 6.5 Creedmoor (imagine that!). My son shoots a 7mm/08. Honestly, there's very little difference in the 2 until you get out past 500 yards, and then only a GOOD shooter will gain any advantage with the Creedmoor.

The 7mm/08 recoils a good bit less than a 308 with the same weight bullets. The Creedmoor is even less than the 7mm.

In a hunting situation, I can't imagine that any deer walking the earth would die any quicker with one than the other. I killed an antelope with my 6.5 and it dropped like a sack of potatoes. Never took a step. But there's no doubt in my mind that the 7mm/08 would have killed it just as dead.

Personally, I'd pass on the 308 and get the 7mm/08 or 6.5 Creedmoor in the platform that suited my needs and financial situation.

Either some of you have been living under rocks,or don't stay up on things.
The 6.5 Creedmoor isn't a new cartridge,it's been on the market since 2007. There's been a whole lot of others that have came out since then.
What it does better - It allows the use of the longer/heavier match style bullets to be seated out to or near the rifling lands in most rifles,and still remain under the maximum magazine cartridge length. Something the 260 Remington has always had problems doing.

While I'm a big fan of the Creedmoor,I've assembled a few of them on Savage actions. They all shoot outstanding.
I also shoot the 260 Remington,6.5-06,6.5x6.8 AR,and just finished a 260 AI assembly because I got the barrel for a good deal.

The 6.5 Creedmoor isn't for everyone,but I've never seen one that wasn't very accurate.

You can't go wrong with a CM. I like everything about it and it has become my "go to" caliber/rifle for hunting.

I have and use 308, 6.5cr, 260rem, 243's and 223's. They all work but as you can imagine there are differences in recoil and performance at longer distances. I do most of my hunting with the 243 and 223 these days and I don't really feel undergunned unless its a shot past 300yds or so even though I've used the 223 that far.

I'm selling the 260 because its a lightweight compact model and is a little too small for me unfortunately. I thought it would be a good compromise between the 308 and 243.

You really can't go wrong with 6.5 creedmoor, 7-08 or 308.

Yes some have better BC bullets that won't really matter within 300 yards. The recoil is all be the same if you use similar weight bullets and try to push them at the similar speeds.

You can use 100-125 grain bullets in all of them and significantly reduce the recoil effect.

A 120 grain bullet from the 6.5/7-08 and a 125 grain bullet from a 308 at 2700 fps will feel very mild to most shooters but will still kill to ranges most people shoot.

You can even go down to 100-110 bullets in all of them.

I have a 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 7-08 & 308 that I reload and shoot.

I've killed a few animals with the 257R and 115 grain Ballistic Tips at 2750 FPS and they never took a step. In March, I killed two 170lbs hogs with a 308 using 130 grain Federal Barrier bullets at 2750 Fps and neither took a step. Most of my hunting lately has been with a 338 Federal which is just a 308 necked up to 338 shooting 180 grain Ballistic Tips at 2750 fps.