Is the creedmoor all it's cracked up to be as a hunting cartridge? Seems to have good ballistics with the slippery 6.5 bullets in a low recoiling rifle. Anybody have any hunting experience with the creedmoor?

My dad has been using his on hogs to great effect. While other rounds will accomplish the same objectives with the same results, the 6.5 Creed does seem to strike a nice balance between ballistics, power, and low recoil. I’ll be adding one to the safe at some point in the future.

If you can figure out the search function and type Creedmoor in the search box, you will probably spend the next 30 days reading about the various and sundry creatures that members have been shooting with that cartridge. I am sure I remember reading a post in the General Big Game forum about a couple of guys using the Creedmoor on Antelope.

Ballistics with a 140gr bullet seem pretty impressive and close to 7mm-08, 308 and even a 270 and catches up quickly and passes them as distance gets further. Looks like it could be a real nice high country deer caliber. Might have to get a kimber Montana in 6.5 creedmoor to see if it can live up to
the hype.......

It's a balanced chambering with mild recoil, an appropriate twist, and good factory support. It's not re-discovering the wheel, but it's more of a well-designed and readily-available wheel that was actually given the opportunity to succeed.

He'll need to type Creedmore in as well.

There's nothing magic about it. Just a well designed cartridge from the start. On game performance won't be any better than any of the tried and true oldies.

I've taken 2 pronghorn with it. It's become my favorite caliber for pronghorn and deer.

No $hyte, we have some non spelling sumbeeches around here.

Anything you would consider doing with a .243 Win, .257 Roberts, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 or similar cartridges, you could do equally well or better with a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Yep. Critters won't know the difference with a good bullet from one of these on the list in the right spot.

That's pretty much what I was thinking. For a lightweight, short action deer gun I'm not sure what would be better. And I think it should work just fine with a good shot and a well constructed bullet on an elk at ranges around 300 yards. But I got a 300wsm for elk anyways... I think I'm likin' me some creedmoor

Thus far this year my 6.5 is up to 9 deer, 6 caribou, and a grizzly bear. Impressed with it and don't see going back to my tried and true .308 win that doesn't hit as hard passed 400 yards (with the bullets and load I was shooting) and only offers more recoil. Distances were mostly 120-500 on all but one of the 16 critter thus far. Most between 300-400 yards. One was WAY out there by my standards of way out there.

I was a skeptic and even this spring went back and forth with Form on here as I was die hard .308.....well I am eating crow now.

Hope to get atleast 1-2 more caribou under its belt prior to closing the year out.

You really shot a grizzly with a 6.5 creedmoor????

One of the all time biggest black bears killed in Pennsylvania (close to 800 pounds) dropped like a stone from a 300 savage. Not sure Average size of a grizzly but I bet it's south of 800. I bet a creedmore would put a grizzly down handily.

MM

Yes sir. Well I didn't my buddy did. I have seen half a dozen grizzlies shot with a 308 and 1 even with a 243 so I wasn't too worried on the outcome.

Best sum's up the appeal and success of the 6.5 Creed.

Doc

It does exactly what the 6.5X55 swede has been doing for over 100 years now...☺

Trystan

So true. I bought my first 6.5x55 about 5 years ago. I didn't realize launching a 140 grain 6.5 bullet at 2700 fps would be so cool 5 years later.

That said, how have you liked your 6.5x55 so far?

And the 260 Rem for the last 20 years We have one of each and really like them both........

It's my favorite cartridge ☺

If I wasn't into loading my own ammunition however I would opt for the 6.5 creedmoor due to availability of factory ammo


Trystan

With 48.0 gr of IMR 4831 I'm getting a solid 2800 fps with 140 gr SSTs from my 6.5x55. The same load gives the 129 gr SSTs and 130 ELD-M a speed of 2870, all from a 21" barrel, all three bullets are right at or just under 1 MOA, plenty good for the wife's lope and deer gun. IMR 7828 gave a little more speed but accuracy was 2 MOA at best.

I've put a 6.5 CM on layaway not because I want to approach the Swede's performance but because my oldest daughter doesn't like me shooting the 260 Rem I built for her. So rather than adding another 260 to the arsenal I figured I'd go for something different.

I shoot 120 Barnes in mine. I have killed a few pigs. It knocked the fire out of the pigs. My granddaughter has killed several deer with the Creedmoor. It did a good job on them.

I bought one when Whitakers had there Howa's for less than $300. I loaded up some 120 Sierra Matchkings, and shot some of the smallest groups I've ever shot with a rifle, let alone a cheap one. I've tried some other bullets thru it, but it absolutely loves those Matchkings and W760 powder. I'm tempted to try them on a deer.

It's a modern 6.5x55. Hope that covers the OP's question.

FYI, Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor 143gr ELD-X listed at 26 bucks a box at Buds Gun Shop with free FEDEX shipping on orders $199+.

That's $1.30 a round with free shipping on premium hunting ammo with a ballistic coefficient of .625 and a sectional density of .293. Pretty damn good imo.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...unter%206.5%20Creedmoor%20143gr%20ELD-X/

...........................I'd have to agree that the 6.5 Creedmoor craze going on right now is to a large degree justified. And I don't even own one. Very good retained downrange bullet velocities and energy, good SDs and low recoil are its appeal. And no doubting too, it would make an excellent round for younger shooters as well.

But with that said and if buying a 6.5, I would first consider the 6.5/284 before the Creedmoor..............

ya I have loaded and shot the 6.5 creedmore shoots just like a 7mm-08,308 and many more small cartridges around that size and yes on paper it shoots well too. but for me at my age 64 and bad shoulders I want a lot more horse and speed so I use a custom ruger #1 In a 257 weatherby mag. out of my ohler cono. with a 100 swift a-frame bullet,27 inch bonx barrel I shoot 4,000 fps and my groups are small too with my nite force scope. but the one thing different is I knock animals down with the speed I shoot . a 6.5 caliber bullet is .264 a 25 caliber bullet is .257 so there is very little difference in size and are also the 2 calibers that are the close`s in size also. so with a small amount more in kick and over a 1,000 fps faster always give me the corvette not a chevette I have been down that road with a poor blood trail with little guns,not no more for me: I like when someone ask me which way the deer went and I say down. 6.5 creedmore is just another new craze in the gun world.

............................The 257 was reported to have been Roy's favorite. Understandable.......Not trying to burst your bubble or take anything away from your post, but are you sure about that 4000 fps with a 100 gr Swift?.......The best speeds from the Nosler site and from the Hodgdon site with 26" barrels are from the mid 3500s to mid to upper 3600s. Sierra shows 3500 w/100 grain 26"barrel. Lyman 49th edition shows 3659......

Maybe with a 75 gr you got 4000 fps?

257W vs. 6.5 Creed.... let's not even talk about wind drift, impact velocity, precision, etc.

................What? The Creed is better?? LOL....Just kiddin...

Or we can do how you schooled me and showed me the light less than a year ago.

257 with a 100 grain A Frame a 4000 fps MV (One amazing load even though Nosler's fastest load is 3600 fps) @ 1000 yards

Bullet Drop=-238" (22.7 MOA)
Wind w/10 mph full value= 56.7" (5.4 MOA)
Retained Velocity=1220 FPS (shaved off nearly as much velocity as what the little 6.5 creedmoor started out with 2780 fps lost velocity.
Retained energy=330 ft/lbs

6.5 Creedmoor with 143 eldx starting at 2850 fps @ 1000 yards (the load I used all fall that has tipped over 16 animals thus far....its going so SLOW )
Bullet drop= -293" (-28 MOA)
Wind w/10 mph full value=34.2" (3.3 MOA)
Retained Velocity= 1524 fps (lost 1325 fps or basically still going 300 fps FASTER than the 257 100 a frame did even though it started out 1150 fps faster)
Retained Energy=737 ft/lbs of energy......(yes that is right it has double the energy.

So that 257 wby shooting that 100 grainer to an amazing 4000 fps is yielding you 300 fps less velocity, less than have the energy, more than 60% more wind drift.

I will concede the 100 grainer from the 257 wby is dropping 20% less though so you'll have to twist your elevation turret a little bit more shooting the 6.5.

All while giving your bad shoulders 50% more recoil than the 6.5 creedmoor assuming both rifles weighed the same.



Of course Form as usual was much more diplomatic than I in pointing all this out.

.....................Careful.....U just turned pete53s 257 Wby Chevy Corvette into a Cheeevette @ 1000 yards.....LOL

yes I used a ohler conograph and my velocity was 4000 fps ,no its not in the reloading books. but remember I was shooting a ruger # 1 that is the strongest factory action made in the world and can handle a lot more powder. my 257 weatherby mag loads were tested by a reloading manufacture too by a ballistic expert sammi on it was 60,000 psi. and again yes it goes 4,000 fps that ammo manufacturer was impressed with my handloads too ,but I am not a beginner reloader and I have had a hunting partner for 20 years who was a ballistic expert on ammo and guns for 40 years, and friends who are machinists who build some of the best 1000yd bench rifles in the world that do win national titles too. go ahead and be negative but I know what happens when I hit animals with this weatherby 257 > I have also seen how animals run away that are shot with a little cartridges to die, my 257 has dropped whitetail bucks out to a measured 700 yards. >oh by the way when your hunting live animals that are moving you don`t have time to twist your turret up for elevation , I use reticles in my niteforce scopes not reticle sometimes its Kentucky quick windage if you want the shot. I might get a little more pain in the shoulder but my drags are much shorter and I don`t have to look for animals much when I pull the trigger on a big buck either that`s shot with my 257 weatherby mag in my #1 ruger. go back to your reloading books somehow you guys missed the part about 10 % more powder may be used in a ruger number 1 ,that`s 5-7 grains of powder more in this #1 action only and in order for me to burn that much more powder I needed a 27 inch barrel too and its with 100 gr.swift a-frame bullet, I used reloader powder its faster.

LOL!

Well you keep beating up them bad shoulders with that miracle ruger #1 man. It's obviously working for ya even if the little 6.5 is actually hitting harder than that 100 grainer out of your 27" barrel past 500 yards. I found if I would jump out of the truck to stalk some, the animals don't always run. Then I have found since I started doing that I have more time to twist turrets. Who knew right?

Pete, don't let these guys run you down.

When I was a kid, I remember getting some new tennis shoes that made me run twice as fast. Nobody believed me, but I knew what was up.

You had some of those too? I thought I had the only pair.

...............................Very interesting.....I don't doubt your post or the capability of the #1 strong action...... However, and at least in the reloading manuals that I have, there are no extra notes or references which state that Ruger #1s can be loaded an extra 10% above the published maximum loadings.

Appreciate it if you would pass along which reloading manuals state that Ruger #1s can be loaded an extra 10%.....................Thanks

You must have magic brass to stand up to those pressures?

Any factory rifles available in 6.5x284?

I do remember one loading manual that had hotter 45-70 loads for a Ruger #1. But this is the his time that I have ever heard that the Ruger#1 is the strongest action in the world.

Savage did at one time. I have one in lefty.

Not really interested in a 257 bee. Although I see the merit in a light, fast bullet I think the high bc 140gr 6.5s would be a better choice as a short action hunting rifle for my use. Light recoil and plenty of power with good wind deflection. Really leaning towards a kimber Montana. Although if I wanted to step up to standard action a 280ai seems pretty interesting...

Starting from scratch, I can't see owning anything but a Barret Fieldcraft in 6.5 CM, Talley LW's, and a M8 6x42/M1....

Apparently you have to give up your ability to use paragraphs to hit that magic 4000fps .

Cooper, but I'm not sure they count as factory. I only know that because there is one at the Scheels in Sioux City that I ogle every time I am in there.

Cooper, but I'm not sure they count as factory. I only know that because there is one at the Scheels in Sioux City that I ogle every time I am in there. Savage does also.

That's not exactly true, for a couple reasons.

The first is historical. The 6.5x55 was introduced with a long, heavy, round nose bullet. Not exactly the kind of higher B.C. bullets the 6.5CM shooters prefer. It wan't until 1941 that the Swedes adopted a spire point bullet.

The second is the pressure limits are substantially different, which affects maximum velocity. The Swedish ammo is rated for at 51,000 PSI while the Creedmoor is at 62,000PSI.

Is the swede a short action caliber like the creedmoor? It seems like the creedmoor sends 140gr bullets around 2700fps, is there really any noticeable difference between the two when handloading?

No - the Swede is a 'Mauser' length cartridge, too long for a short action but works in the intermediate length Mauser or long actions. Loaded to the same pressure levels, the Swede should give a little more than the CM. At industry established pressure levels for each cartridge, velocities will be similar.

Thanks for the great answer. Loving the responses you guys are giving me. Smart and helpful people on the campfire!

How did anyone ever manage to shoot anything before the Creedmore came along?

The influence of the internet, for better or worse, at work?

Is the Swede brass fine at higher pressure and only traditionally loaded to lesser pressures because of older actions? Assuming then that higher pressures should be fine in a modern rifle?

Now there's the 6.5 PRC. The 6.5 Creedmoor is sooooo yesterday.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is not a panacea. It won't do more than the 6.5x55 or the .260 Rem. It is just a well designed cartridge that will fit in a short action and has good ballistics. It is easy to load for and will make up into a great hunting rifle that has relatively light recoil. It enjoys great factory support and as time passes more people are realizing it's virtues.

Like Jack O'Connor opined years ago, people tend to shoot lighter recoiling rifles better because they not getting belted so hard. Everyone has their favorite medicine for hunting and that's a good thing.

sure would be sweet in a Rem 700 Mtn rifle, or rebarreled Model 7 with a 22" mtn profile bbl.

Sycamore

Would be outstanding in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. I can't think of a more perfect pairing.

If they'd do that and maybe an EW in 24" barrel, I'd be happy. Deer, pronghorn and elk (and the occasional coyote) would not.

Just yesterday, I got my 6.5 Creed back from my buddy. It started out life as a left-hand 22-250, Rem BDL. It now wears a 24-inch, heavy sporter 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. Some prelim shooting yesterday shows some real good stuff. I have been shooting a .260 (Criterion, also) for some time now and I think it may have been moved to backup status, since it is a right-hand action.

I have always been a fan of 7mags, .308s etc., but I am afraid that those rifles are not going to get much use by me from here on. I have been real happy with the results from the seven, or eight animals killed with my .260 out to 430 yards and have no reason to believe that this 6.5 will change my mind.

It is really appealing to this old bastard, to have a gun that does not recoil much, also.

I've always been interested in cartridges that recoil a little and kill a lot. The 6.5 in a 260, 6.5X55 Swede, or a Creed combined with bullets of modern technology IMO take that bar to a new level. What's not to like ☺



Trystan

Two pigs yesterday evening. It’ll kill.

I was a skinny 14 year old kid when I started deer hunting. My father had a Remington 760 30-06, with a steel buttplate. That thing literally knocked the schiet out of me. It bruised my shoulder, made my ears ring for a week, and caused me a flinching problem that lasted for years. Dad finally had a gunsmith put a recoil pad on it, but by that time the damage had been done. I don't like recoil, and discovered many years ago that a rifle/cartridge does not have to kick the snot out of you in order to kill what it is you're shooting with it. The one and only reason I'd ever want a large caliber rifle that walloped me, would be if I lived in grizzly country. I will deer hunt this year with a 6.5 CM and a 243, and be perfectly happy.

That gave me a chuckle thinking back to my grandpa, dad and uncles- Been there, done that. I think back in the ol' days they thought you had to have a little bit of a masochistic streak in you in order to shoot rifles .

Have to Laugh Joel.

The older I get, the more interested I am! My beloved 7mag doesn't get as much use as it used to.

Just put a Kimber Montana 6.5 CM together this week. Waiting for the weather and work to cooperate. Will be testing 140 Acc. and 143 ELD-X using H4350.

You might find close to max load of R17,142ABLR, Fed 210 to give better velo w/accuracy. Mac

I have the same rifle, and have played with those same bullets. Work up your own loads, but 42.5 gr of H4350 worked well for me. Pretty much everyone I know shooting H4350 in their 6.5 CMs wound up on nodes somewhere between 42gr and 43gr with 140gr bullets. I wound up finding my preferred loads with those bullets at 42.5gr RL16 (coincidence on the weight) for a little better velocity with good accuracy.

After buying a 6.5 CM Ruger American Predator and shooting it along side my fussy hi dollar 6.5 X 284, I got rid of the 6.5 X 284 , and now have 4 6.5 Creedmoor,s.

Just saw Remington is producing 140 grain core lokt's for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Cabela's has them for sale for $23 a box. Same bullets in a .260 are $38.