6.5 Creedmoor Question

[careybirdwell]

I been thinking about jumping on the 6.5 CM craze. I think it would be a great rifle and fill the blank between my 243 - 270/ 7Rem Mag. My main purpose will be hunting and if later I decided for some long range shooting, I would have several rifles to choose from. With that being said, should I go with the 24" or 22" barrel. I have narrowed my choices down to Weatherby Vanguard or a Howa 1500. I really like the factory action & triggers of these rifles. Vanguard has 24" & Howa 1500 22".

Will I gain or lose anything between the 2. I will be shooting factory ammo. I have found the Howa about $100 less than the Vanguard.

[gatorgrizz27]

I'm sure you're aware that they are basically the same rifle. Honestly, it depends what you want to use it for. I prefer 20" barrels for deer, pig, and coyote hunting in thick woods and out to a few hundred yards, but I went with the 24" on my 6.5 Vanguard as I bought it for shooting aoudad out to 400-500 yards, and it's not that fast of a round in the first place, so it needs all the help it can get.

At the range where I'm a member, you have to shoot 3 rounds within a 1 MOA circle on their target at 100 yards to qualify to shoot at their 400 yard range. When I took my 6.5 target in, they were joking/skeptical that I had cheated, as I had 2 rounds touching side by side and the 3rd about 1/4" high. I told them I pulled that shot.

I have two other Vanguards, a .223 with a 20" barrel, and a .30-06 with a 24" barrel, and I'm about to pick up a .308 with a 20" barrel as well.

I haven't shot many 22" guns, some people claim they are the best of both worlds between handling and velocity, but I tend to find them the worst of both worlds. I prefer a full 24" barrel to get the speed for long range and bigger game, and the 20" barrel for quick handling with the appropriate cartridge that's not heavily overbore, .223 and .308 in my case.

[snipermedic]

The 6.5 creed has nothing to really gain over the 243 or the 270 unless your talking extreme ranges. The craze is going back down to a 6mm for competition which the 243 is perfect for. The 270 can't launch the same grain bullet as the 6.5 creed but 4-600fps faster. And the 270 is only 200ish behind the 7mm mag. You don't really have any gaps you have over laps. The 6.5 sounds like a pure want not a need. Only reason I have one is too compete. And that said i miss my 243.

[careybirdwell]

The 6.5 creed has nothing to really gain over the 243 or the 270 unless your talking extreme ranges. The craze is going back down to a 6mm for competition which the 243 is perfect for. The 270 can't launch the same grain bullet as the 6.5 creed but 4-600fps faster. And the 270 is only 200ish behind the 7mm mag. You don't really have any gaps you have over laps. The 6.5 sounds like a pure want not a need. Only reason I have one is too compete. And that said i miss my 243.

Oh, I agree 100%, I don't need it because for hunting my 7 Rem Mag would do the trick on anything I plan on hunting. It is more a want , than a need. I really like shooting my 243 and I know that it has taken many many animals. I just lack confidence in it for bigger whitetail or the big Axis I hunt at my lease in Rocksprings.

But it is a want, not a need!!!!

[lglidewell]

I'm waiting on a 22" 6.5 Creedmoor Criterion barrel (with a Bartlien 2b contour threaded which will end up being 21.7" finished out)to replace the 243 compact barrel on my Tikka. The ballistic coefficient, recoil, price of ammo and ammo availability of the 6.5 Creedmoor is what my criteria was based on since it will be me, my wife and my kids that will be shooting it as well. I also didn't have that caliber and have always been a fan of the 6.5's (currently have 243, 25-06 & a couple 6.5 Grendel's). The Creedmoor will fill my gap between the 6.5 Grendel's and the 308's.

[Slick8]

I'd go 24 if intending to use it for long range work. You won't gain a great deal but every bit of velocity helps at long range. If shooting a 130 or `40, you're taxing that case greatly.

[bboswell]

Oh, I agree 100%, I don't need it because for hunting my 7 Rem Mag would do the trick on anything I plan on hunting. It is more a want , than a need. I really like shooting my 243 and I know that it has taken many many animals. I just lack confidence in it for bigger whitetail or the big Axis I hunt at my lease in Rocksprings.

But it is a want, not a need!!!!

What is it about the Creed that would give you more confidence over the 243?

[careybirdwell]

What is it about the Creed that would give you more confidence over the 243?

Being able to shoot a little heavier grain of bullet, and I'm not exactly sure how much I would use it for hunting when it comes down to it. I think I like the idea of being a little over gunned than under gunned. I have never shot a deer with my 243 but I have shot several big hogs with it but I was shooting them in the ear

[Balcones_Walker]

It's not a bad decision at all for longer shots. At 300 yds your 243 will hit for around 1250 ft/lbs where the 6.5CM will hit for more like 1650. I've killed big Axis with more like 1200 (using a 6.8 SPC) and it did the job but personally I'd rather be in the 1400-1600+ range.

Note that at 100 yds your 243 is perfect though, carrying 1700 ft/lbs of energy.

On barrel length I'd say it depends on if you use a suppressor. Even 22" feels ridiculously long with another 8" of suppressor on the end. Otherwise it's fine.