Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5 Creedmoor VS 243 AI

I want to put together a 7 to 8 pound all up sporter in one of these 2 calibers. They seem like good choices for mid to long range work without thumping the shoulder or eating a bunch of powder.

I want a gun for banging steel and rocks out to 1000 yards and for predators and deer out to 500. It may be in my hands when a bear presents itself once every few years too.

The 243 ackley appears to edge out the Creed in drop and drift but the idea of better hunting bullets is a feather in the Creed's cap.

Lets hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of each

Thanks

That's some cool lingo if nothing else. I had trouble tracking most of that. I'd just shoot a .243 and go home with a station wagon full of meat.

Yet you still felt the need to comment?

Thanks for managing to insult my post and not give an opinion on the two cartridges I asked about.

What length mag box? I like the CM case better than the .243 case in a 2.8" box and the 6.5x47 case better still.

John

An advantage to the factory Creed with factory ammo is that you end up with a range ready rifle with the right twist out of the starting gate and no need for the extra work and additional expense of a custom.

There's no brass to fire-form and you're at the range the same day instead of a year later at about 1/3 cost and you're done.

Either one is fine for what you want to do, but if the ultimate goal is more range time, with the Creed all the design work, engineering and testing is already done...for practicality it's not a fair comparison.

John,
the doner is a 700 so the box is 2.8".
I agree on the CM but if I do the 243 AI I will have it throated so 105 grain bullets fit in the box.

Boogaloo,
I agree with what you are saying but I have the action and the stock in hand, I just need a barrel. Not looking to start with a new rifle

Before sending it off, seat your bullet of choice at 2.8" and make sure the ogive is not below the case mouth.

John

I have very little experience with the 6.5CM, ain't killed nothing with one yet. That said I have lots of time with a 250AI and I really, really like the 6.5CM. I currently have a Ruger Hawkeye SS in 6.5CM.

I think the 6.5CM is about the most well balanced factory cartridge introduced in a LONG time. One has to believe the barrel life with the 6.5 will be much better.

The next rifle I get screwed together will be a 6.5CM, but I'll be going short (21" barrel) and light with that one.

thanks Steelhead.

I'm with you on barrel life, it just about has to be better with the 6.5

I like the idea if a short and light CM too. I'm going with a bit of a 'tweener on this build mainly because I find the 7 to 8 pound set ups easier to shoot well.

I' m thinking either a #2 contour or a Remington sporter contour finished at 22" sitting in a McMillan edge

Dude,

Steelie and the others made some good comments.

Here's my take...

I don't have a lot of experience with the 6.5 Creedmoor, but I've shot my bud's a bit and I think it kicks more like a 7-08 than a .243... from prone, which adds up if shooting at distance. Not sure about AI in 243 though.

Lapua offers 243 brass. And I know that you can make Creedmoor brass from 22-250, which Lapua offers, but I'd lean towards the 243 myself.

I'm be more inclined to go 243 myself. If I went bigger, I'd go 7-08.

Jason

Not really comparing apples to apples. A better comparison comparison would be 6.5 creed vs. 6 creed.

I'd go 6.5 creed...no making brass and gives you the edge on big game in my opinion. I'd shoot an elk with a 6.5 creed...

There are just good factory rifles available for the Creed.

Either one will be great but only because of a good bullet, twist and mag length combo. The Creed has the advantage with the short mag box, but 6x47 vs 6.5x47 might be more of a comparison in a short mag box with better brass.

Any of these rounds are 1200+. Coyotes know to hang way out there.

Predators and deer at 500 is a very low hurdle. At the ranch I have a 450 yd small deer vital size gong we set up originally for black powder and it's no challenge with any rifle with irons. We shoot informal contests with handguns.

The OP has a 700 donor, and is looking to get a barrel, and have it chambered. Factory rifles really don't apply to this thread or forum.

Jason

I like both chamberings and each will get you to the distances you seek with aplomb. For the reason quoted above, I'd choose the Creed. OMMV.

The 6.5x47 mentioned above warrants some investigation too.

I'll throw another wrinkle in if you don't mind. I have 6.5 CM and a 7mm-08AI. Got the CM first, then put the 7mm-08AI together. After owning both, most of the advantages in a non factory barrel are imaginary for the 6.5CM for the handloader. You get a factory barrel that is twisted right and some decent factory ammunition w/ the 6.5CM.

If I were putting together a rifle w/ a custom tube and wanted a 6.5, I would do 260AI w/ Lapua brass. You get the twist you want (because you picked it), Lapua brass and the most powder capacity of the standard short action chamberings. Yes, the longer bullets will eat into the case capacity, but more is still more - you will get better performance w/ the 260AI.

I'm running my 7mm-08AI in a Kimber 84m which is really tight in the mag constraints. At no time have I wished I had picked a 7mm CM instead. Brass and bullets favor the 260AI.

YMMV

David

Go with the 6.5 and don't look back. Just got this in last week...

SS R700, fluted bolt
#4 Krieger, fluted and finished at 26"
Bedded McMillan Classic Edge fill
Leupold 4.5x14

Haven't weighed it since I put scope on, but guessing a little over 7.5 lbs; was 6.8 lbs without scope and rings. Have only shot a box of Hornady's 143 grain hunting load to sight in. Can't wait to try and work up some loads for it.

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Don't get this part? Plenty of good 6mm bullets. Although I am going with a plain vanilla 243 it's because I had all the dies, bullets and brass already. If I were to bother going AI I would do a 6mm AI but only in a medium or long action.

If starting from scratch the 6.5 Creedmoor has a lot going for it. I would go with a wyatts or other slightly longer magazine for either. The slightly longer neck and better barrel life of the 6.5 would appeal as well. Shoot 85 to 107 grain bullets and they start to overlap each other. But the CM has the option of bullets over 115 that the 6 doesn't.

I think that's what he was talking about...

That's what I ment, Jordan, thanks.

I know you have a bunch of experience with the 243 AI so I'd like to hear your thoughts.

I've never had trouble killing deer with a 243 but I like the idea of being able to run hunting bullets in the 120 to 130 grain weight range.

The 6.5 Creed has been the easiest rifle I have ever owned to get it to shoot great.

My Ruger Hawkeye in 243 has been slow and so so on accuracy multiple loads and about 100 rounds so far.

Took 3 different bullets 3 loads of each bullet for a total of 9 untested loads, in my sons Ruger American Predator in 6.5 CM 6 of the 9 loads were under 1" best was .6". I prefer the 6.5 CM.