6.5 Creedmoor walks on water

[CF Junkie]

I have 3 6.5mm CMs - all Savages - a 24-inch barrel, 26-inch barrel and a re-barrel 28-inch Shilen.
All three shot great from the factory and I had to replace one 26-inch barrel after 4,600 rounds. The new Shilen replacement barrel is incredible - I just broke it in and it is averaging 0.255 for the first 28 5-round groups I have shot with 130, 140 and 147 grain bullets. The factory versions averaged around 0.331, 0.348 and 0.353.

I think the 6.5mm CMs shoot great and the recoil is very manageable. After shooting .308s, .270s and .30-06s, the 6.5mm CM recoil is nothing, especially if you load for target shooting instead of hunting. Targets don't care what the kinetic energy is when the bullet goes through the paper, although KE really matters when you are hunting.
My granddaughter likes the 24-inch barrel version.
I liked both factory 26-inch versions and just love the 28-inch Shilen replacement barrel version.
I also shoot .223, 0.308 and 22LR target rifles and and enjoy them, but there is something about a 6.5mm CM that I really like. It can handle distances well past where I am comfortable shooting.

 

[Skarpskytter]

I started hunting and shooting with the 6.5x55 40 years ago, back when 6.5mm felt like a well kept secret and components were limited.

Now I'm loving the availability of all the 6.5mm bullets and I've added a 6.5 Grendel, 6.5x47, 6.5 TCU, and two rifles in 6.5 CM - one light weight sporter for deer hunting and one heavy barreled rifle for long range fun.

 

[marchx]

6.5 Creedmoor is THE cartridge. I placed 3rd in F-class nationals on a calm day with it. At the same time I shot elk, deer, wild boar with it. It's easy to reload. Recoil is very manageable.

 

[Leo_B]

You guys are just about to sell me provided I load my own and load light using the 95gr bullet. That might be passable. Otherwise it's too heavy recoil in the table I linked in I think post 9, at 93.5% of the .25-06 recoil.

 

[209jones]

Does this mean Leo doesn't want one of these for Xmas?

https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Heed-The-Creed-by-wyldefire/12704780.EJUG5

 

[Leo_B]

I don't think I'll need a decal.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I bought a few rifles from a deceased estate - some lovely BSA's etc. Amongst was an RPR in 6.5 Queerdmore. I have only shot it a few times, for fun, I plan to sell it - so why did I buy a prefit match barrel? It's like a pet that you are not sure of, but can't find it a new home. I have better 6.5's. but...

 

[ISS]

My 550 Gibbs wildcat parted the water!!

 

[TC260]

Now I'm loving the availability of all the 6.5mm bullets and I've added a 6.5 Grendel, 6.5x47, 6.5 TCU, and two rifles in 6.5 CM - one light weight sporter for deer hunting and one heavy barreled rifle for long range fun.

Same here, people hate the 6.5 CM but as a long time fan of 6.5 cartridges I'm happy to see the increased availability of components in that caliber.

 

[JLittle]

You guys are just about to sell me provided I load my own and load light using the 95gr bullet. That might be passable. Otherwise it's too heavy recoil in the table I linked in I think post 9, at 93.5% of the .25-06 recoil.

I wouldn’t put much stock in that recoil calculator. It lists the 30/06 below the 6 Creedmoor and the .308. I guess it could be with some loading trickery. Look at the one on JBM if you’re basing it on recoil.

 

[Leo_B]

I wouldn’t put much stock in that recoil calculator. It lists the 30/06 below the 6 Creedmoor and the .308. I guess it could be with some loading trickery. Look at the one on JBM if you’re basing it on recoil.

What one are you referencing? The table I use doesn't include the .30-06 in the first table for some unfathomable reason. It does include it in the second and if that data is carried up it falls 8 places above .308, 18 above 6.5CM and 20 above 6CM.

I do have the JBM as an open tab and try various things in it. The one I really liked, Bison Ballistics, no longer works for me in any of my browsers.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

My shoulder says it’s a pussycat compared to a .308 bench shooting.

 

[Dgd6mm]

What is the longest distance you would shoot with the 95 grain bullet? I've seen what they can do at 850 and if the wind is around 10mph, and up and down 2-3mph they will drive you nuts trying to be consistent on a 1/2 moa target.

 

[Leo_B]

I'm a plinker, not a shooter. The majority of my shooting would be 100 yards, the longest lane at the range I'll mostly use. If I can ever find a longer range I'd try 200 and maybe 300 yards. I don't plan to hike farther than that to hang and retrieve targets.

 

[JLittle]

The link you referenced in post #9. I clicked the link and scrolled down the page. I didn’t use a calculator if there is one. Now the link will not open for me. In the end use whatever cartridge in whatever platform suits your needs.

 

[358WCF]

the table I linked in I think post 9.

It's on the squeaky dude's internet so it must be true...

Step outside your comfort zone. Go wild. Ask someone at the range to shoot their 243, or 25-06.

Try doing your own calculations.

ShootersCalculator.com | Recoil Calculator

An online calculator that calculates the recoil energy, impulse, and velocity of a firearm according to the firearm's weight, powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet muzzle velocity.

shooterscalculator.com

JBM - Calculations - Recoil

jbmballistics.com

 

[Leo_B]

This is the page with the tables I often look at, https://backfire.tv/recoil/ and in the lower table they list the .30-06 at 21.34 ft-lbs energy and 12.55fps recoil velocity. That would put it above .270WSM and below .26 Nosler in the top chart, way beyond my comfort zone. I'll likely see a random gun for sale next year and buy it spur of the moment because something appeals, but it will be lower recoil than the .25-06 on the table.

 

[Leo_B]

It's on the squeaky dude's internet so it must be true...

Step outside your comfort zone. Go wild. Ask someone at the range to shoot their 243, or 25-06.

Try doing your own calculations.

ShootersCalculator.com | Recoil Calculator

An online calculator that calculates the recoil energy, impulse, and velocity of a firearm according to the firearm's weight, powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet muzzle velocity.

shooterscalculator.com

JBM - Calculations - Recoil

jbmballistics.com

I had a Ruger M77 .25-06 in 1976/77 and didn't like the recoil. That's why I arbitrarily chose .22-250 as the max acceptable recoil cartridge. After a lot more reading I'm rethinking that and may use the 6.8 Remington SPC as the cutoff in the top chart. That still leaves a few interesting suspects. In the interim I'll be learning my .22 Hornet and 35gr VMAX.

 

[ELR LVR]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1133713775

Inexpensive and low recoil.

I did one custom build on a Ruger American
Being a Hardcore Rem 700 fan, and having worked on "SUPPOSED" nice rifles
I tend to gauge every other factory rifle in comparison to my silky smooth Rem 700's
such a X-bolts that only left me complaining and cursing their manufacturing shortcuts
(shoe goo for barrel bedding, thumbs up on that winner move huh?)
Such as Tikka Tac A1's that even a Howa 1500 or Vanguard felt smoother.
---
I was impressed with every single aspect of the Ruger American
---
The Factory trigger was easy to modify by removing the Glock type safety and a spring change
to bring down to 1.5 lbs
The Bolt handle was so hard, it kept breaking carbide tooling when threading it
The Tenon threads were Oiled instead of Superman Level Loctite used
Almost..................Almoooost as if Ruger .....thought peope may actually wanna take it apart.
I also ended up liking the short throw of the 3 lug design.
---
I've read of "SOME" people complaining of the Ruger American and it bolt travel feeling rough.
My experience with it was it was very smooth
and when matched with a magpul hunter stock and magazine
It fed and functioned flawlessly
---
I will be building another on a Ruger American
Gonna try a Long Action next

 

[js2013]

was impressed with every single aspect of the Ruger American

Interesting. I was never a fan of Ruger cast receivers ( they tried to make a rifle for the Palma team many moons ago that was cast and they wouldn’t shoot). Avoided any Ruger bolt action like the plague. I’m a decade behind the times regarding Ruger but after reading your positive review I checked out the American and to my surprise it’s made of bar stock! I’ll have to check one out some day.