Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Impressed with the 6.5 CM Fieldcraft.

Had to have one so I waited and picked one up that was priced right. Went with the 18” barrel so I could shoot it suppressed and it would still be handy with the gain in length with a suppressor.

First range session was with Factory Hornady “Hunter” 143gr ELD-X.

Looking forward to handloading for it.





First three shots at 100 yards. Just under 5/8.



Made a scope adjustment and went to 200 yards. Two consecutive three shot 200 yard groups.

Looks very promising! I already have a T3X Creedmoor that shoots so good that I can’t justify getting another in the same caliber. I will however be getting a Fieldcraft when they finally come out with the 280ai.

I have a 21” 6.5cr Fieldcraft. I had the barrel threaded to 1/2x28 for my silencer. It is my favorite gun (and I’m a Glock, AR, AK sort of guy, not much for bolt guns).

I made the mistake of pondering, “gosh, I wonder what that 22” version with the threaded barrel is running these days...” and now it’s on order. 😂

I love the 22" sporter contour. Everyone has their preferences. That model fits my preferences so well I got a second one for backup.

Man, that’s great shooting and I’m sure it’s a great package with the suppressor on it. I’d wonder what the speed is at 18”.. Probably high 2500’s or so? Very cool rifle.

Any idea what the speed is from that short tube? That same ammo chronographs 2654 avg in my 22 inch Tikka.

2561 fps.

With the factory Hornady Precision Hunter 143gr ELD-X. Which works out to a 23.25 fps loss per inch from 22” to 18”. Handloading will remedy that!👍

I have 100 rounds on the barrel. Barrel cleans up real quick with Butches.

Groups are settling down.

200 yards. Hard to ask more from a factory rifle and factory ammo.

Like we were texting yesterday, no reason this day and age to build a custom rifle or reload anymore... lotsa great stuff available nowadays. Nice work

It’s a puuuusey cat with the Vais Arms brake.

Man, you aren’t kidding. Those little suckers sell themselves.

Great shooting and I bet it’s a blast to hammer rounds thru.

I’ll say one thing they are consistent! That’s how mine shoots with my 143 eldx handloads.

If they would twist the 280 AI 8.5 and stretch the mag box to 3.6 it would be a home run!

I really like my Creed, with 147 ELDMs, at 2745. I am not searching for another load!

I wasn’t impressed with the Hornady Factory “American Whitetail “. With the 129gr Interlock.

It was ugly! The best group at 200 yards was 1-3/4”.

I’m about to give the Hornady factory 147gr ELD-M load a go.

The factory Hornady 147gr ELD-M SUCKED!

Best 100 yards group and it was much worse out past that.

Those fieldcraft rifles sure are nice but I keep trying to justify the price compared to my $500 Tikka 6.5 CM I bought used.
I loaded up some 140's the other day without much load development. I thought this was great for a stock Tikka for a 300 yd group.

Tikka’s are NASTY 🤢!!!

I have a Fieldcraft in 6.5x55. While it is not my most accurate rifle it is the most consistent so far. I haven't taken it out past 100 yards with my handloads, but 5 shot groups with virtually all loads hovers about an inch. 130 NAB have been pushed to an average of 2860 from its 24" barrel. Most loads and work up loads are less, but still accurate. I am planning on taking it Mule Deer hunting this year.

I've got the same rifle and caliber. I went with the 130 Sirocco last year, but am trying out the 130 Accubond this year. What load were you using? For the Swift I was using RL 19 and a CCI 200 primer.