Thread: 6.5 creedmoor on deer

Is anyone using one currently? im looking to use on animals out to 300m. I know 260 is more popular for hunting but hate the lack of factory ammo. Like the look of the 129gr sst superformance.

Yes i can reload, but i move all over the country for work, so can be months without seeing the reloading bench. I took my 270win out on the weekend and even suppressed it was too loud for the sleepy little area i shoot (and no its not illegal or dodgy) so want to suppress something in the short action thats quiet. Had 308, 7 08 but just want to try something new.

@PERRISCICABA, I remember reading a thread where rpr 6.5 was nailing goats out around 600

@Daggers_187

im only wanting to run a 20" barrel too

If you want quieter and a short barrel you need to burn less powder.
Look into 6.5x47 and 6.5 grendel if you want something different.

Originally Posted by keenbloke

@PERRISCICABA, I remember reading a thread where rpr 6.5 was nailing goats out around 600

Hello there!
I apologise for the lack of hunting lately so I can't update it yet. My experience is, couple goats at 675m and dead with match ammo, but, my turned got a Howa in 6.5CM and love it, shot 2 deer within 100m or less using 143 ELD-X, "DocWatson" in here suggest a great killer caliber within 600m in light skin animals and I say it is great for target shooting.

I hope I am of some help and I LOVE my RPR, would get another "hunting" rifle in the cLiber any day.

6.5 creedmoor is mean on deer. I have shot three or four now at ranges between 40 and 440 meters. Canes the suckers first hit. Just choose the right bullets.

Creedmoor is not a good calibre to cut and suppress. You want as much barrel length as possible, otherwise it's just a 243 and what's the point of having expensive brass and projectiles?




(Never got a picture of the whole deer, was in a rush)





Just for posterity, a couple of three shot groups at 628 yards. (out of the Ruger American)

24" barrel is all good, 22" barrel is the "shortest" you should run it as optimal, my opinion

Originally Posted by PERRISCICABA

24" barrel is all good, 22" barrel is the "shortest" you should run it as optimal, my opinion

What this dude said.

Forget the barrel length and the name of the round for a minute. Look at the ballistics of the 6.5 projectiles. A 130 grn 6.5 doing 2.8-2.9k (.270 factory ammo performance) or a 140 doing 2.7K is going to deal to anything in NZ at sensible ranges. Hell, the Swede does it at 2.5k.

A 20" Creedmoor will be fine for out to 500 yards in my book.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Forget the barrel length and the name of the round for a minute. Look at the ballistics of the 6.5 projectiles. A 130 grn 6.5 doing 2.8-2.9k (.270 factory ammo performance) or a 140 doing 2.7K is going to deal to anything in NZ at sensible ranges. Hell, the Swede does it at 2.5k.

A 20" Creedmoor will be fine for out to 500 yards in my book.

That's cool, except with a 20" barrel, you will struggle to get the creedmoor to do 2700. Like really struggle. Especially with factory ammo. And if you're going to run it slow, then why would you waste money on expensive ammo/brass/projectiles, when the OP already owns a 308...which does the same thing.

Originally Posted by Daggers_187

That's cool, except with a 20" barrel, you will struggle to get the creedmoor to do 2700. Like really struggle. Especially with factory ammo. And if you're going to run it slow, then why would you waste money on expensive ammo/brass/projectiles, when the OP already owns a 308...which does the same thing.

Yeah, sorry. I was talking about hand loading...its a calibre you really need to.
I agree. Using factory ammo you are limiting yourself.

Ok so sounds like i should keep it at 22". Does anyone know of some good high velocity 260 rem ammo that would be good out of a 20"?? I have always reloaded, so finding the right ammo is now an issue

another thing to keep in mind mate, the 6.5 Cr has a slightly straighter body taper, and an increased shoulder angle, this seems to result in increased brass life, even with typically softer Norma brass.I was taking about this with Daggers on the weekend.Lack of pressure, non compressed loads= still more potential, and hes already getting 2700 with 140s- i know this cos i sold him the rifle , but hell prolly chime in again I'm sure .
This cal sure does have a lot to offer, and while it does all the same things as all the others, 708,308,260 and the deer dont know the diff, it does have some decent attractions over the others.

Good advice above regarding barrel length for 6.5's, 260. Keep above 22" or heading to 30/30 territory and away from whole point of these cartridges. If you want short barrel plenty of factory ammo 308 really stands out. One other thing my 6.5 CR Ruger shot both hornady super performance SSTs & GMX like a bag of shit (although fast) and almost took rifle back until did some reloads as had already bought dies &123 Amax & 140 Elds, and was then quite staggered by the accuracy from budget rifle, 5 shots .5" every time. Really is nothing to whack out 100 reloads and will last a fair while.