I was wondering why Hornady ever made the 6.5 Creedmoor. I've read the history of the cartridge, but what I can't find, is why they reinvented the wheel instead of going with the very similar 6.5x47 Lapua that had just come out? It's interesting too that Hornady doesn't have any load data for the 6.5x47. Was there some friction between between the companies over the round?
Why did Hornady make the 6.5 Creedmoor?
- Thread starter jkirk
- Start date
Hornady and many other businesses are just doing what is good for their bottom line. Personally I like the 6.5CM. It works for me.
IMO, what Hornady brought with the Creedmoor was a offer complete package. 260s were around, but they were almost all slow twist guns for hunting setups. I'm specifically excluding what Terry Cross was doing with them, he was quietly cleaning up at these LR matches, with a 260 setup correctly.
When the CM came out, we had good freebores, twist rates, and factory LR/precision ammo.
When the CM came out, we had good freebores, twist rates, and factory LR/precision ammo.
HandgunHTR
Gold $$ Contributor
The biggest difference between the Creedmoor and the .260 is that the creedmoor was designed to shoot the heavier bullets without sacrificing the ability to load them in a magazine. With the increased shoulder angle and decreased body taper in a shorter cartridge, combined with guns that were twisted and throated correctly, you get a package that exceeds the capability of the .260 Remington in a factory package. Add to that Hornady's commitment to the round (something Remington has been lacking forever) and you have a confluence of good things.
I know a lot of people want to say it is "marketing", but let's be honest gents. We have been around the block a few times. If it didn't work, it would have died. The truth is that it works. That is why it has been able to maintain such popularity for as long as it has.
Also, just to be transparent here, I have owned a .260 since 2002 (Rem Model 7) and i just recently build another one (Remage 700) with the proper twist and freebore so that I could maximize its potential. However, I just did purchase my first Creedmoor (a Tikka T3 Lite SS) that I am giving to my wife to outshoot me with.
^^^^
This, its not the case alone that make a successful cartridge its the entire package.
This, its not the case alone that make a successful cartridge its the entire package.
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Hornady must be realizing serious profits, they keep on coming up with more New cartridges. The creed came out when there was the 260 and the 6.5x47 and it won. 6.5 PRC came out when there was the Saum and WSM, looks to be winning again. 7 PRC will probably make a big splash too. It’s not that they are better cartridges, it’s more of a successful marketing campaign. Hornady has the marketing strategy down, the can produce the brass and the dies, they offer ammunition with the right bullets etc. They advertise and build hype in all the right places. I own a couple Creedmoors, they do a good job but I still use my 6.5x47 and Saum when it’s my tag. Truth be told my 6.5x55 does everything a 6.5 needs to do but it’s still fun to try the new stuff. I swore I wasn't gonna build a 7PRC but I ordered all the parts, bought dies and ammo and drank the koolaid. I think there’s a lot of unnecessary cartridge duplication going on, everything that exists has the bases covered already but it’s fun to play with new case design, wildcat them, do whatever makes ya happy.
Last edited:
Jeff Porter
Gold $$ Contributor
It was made to fit the specifications of a national Champion shooter Dennis DeMille , who also was head of Creedmore sports at that time. As similar as it is to other rounds , it was a winner and that was marketing tool enough.
When this subject comes up, I always wonder what a satisfactory level of success is for the gun community. Remington gets endlessly beat up if a round is a flop. Hornady gets endlessly beat up for a widely accepted introduction. It would be nice if the 2A crowd could just come up with some guidelines for manufacturers to follow as to how successful a new round can be in order keep their panties from getting so wadded up about this nonsense 
It would be nice if the 2A crowd could just come up with some guidelines for manufacturers to follow as to how successful a new round can be in order keep their panties from getting so wadded up about this nonsense
People just want to bitch, especially online, coming up with standards would just be counterproductive.
It reminds me of technical conferences where people ask questions to the presenter just to show everyone how smart they are, it's more than mildly annoying. Most good presenters know their intent and shut them down quickly. It's harder to do that online.
To me, the Creedmoor makes sense IF your shooting something and trying to stay within the confines of magazine length.
For single feed or even most blind magazine fed bolt actions, not as much.
Burn my biscuits when i'm searching for a 7mm-08 and ALL that the shops have is 6.5CM or 350 Legend!!
As for Rem messing up, they aren't the only ones.
Mostly it's platform.
The 7mm Rem Express & 280 Rem are an example.
Ditto Winchester & the 284Win.
And yes, even Savage when they released the Model 99 in 250-3000 Savage with a 1:12 twist.
As for the 7PRC, well they had to shorten the case from the full length 375 Ruger as Gunwerks has the rights to their 7mm LRM.
Had Hornady done a shorter freebore aimed at more typical hunting weight bullets associated with 7mm, yeah i'd possibly buy one.
For single feed or even most blind magazine fed bolt actions, not as much.
Burn my biscuits when i'm searching for a 7mm-08 and ALL that the shops have is 6.5CM or 350 Legend!!
As for Rem messing up, they aren't the only ones.
Mostly it's platform.
The 7mm Rem Express & 280 Rem are an example.
Ditto Winchester & the 284Win.
And yes, even Savage when they released the Model 99 in 250-3000 Savage with a 1:12 twist.
As for the 7PRC, well they had to shorten the case from the full length 375 Ruger as Gunwerks has the rights to their 7mm LRM.
Had Hornady done a shorter freebore aimed at more typical hunting weight bullets associated with 7mm, yeah i'd possibly buy one.
6.5 forever
Silver $$ Contributor
I was consumed with archery for many years as a factory sponsored shooter. When I got back into rifles I knew what I expected from a cartridge. I am 70 years old and am done hunting the mountains I love. I love steel shooting, love the instant addictive feedback! Most shooting tops out at 1000. Occasionally to a mile when I can get to my 6600' spot.
The 6.5 CM fit the bill. Easy to reload. I'm on my 7th barrel. Loads have always been between 41.4 and 41.8 of H4350. Settled on 142 SMK.
Accuracy always around .4 MOA. SD 6-7. MY Lapua cases last 18-20 firings.
It works for me. On a most days, hits on a steel milk jug ring on 70% of my shots.
I'm glad Hornady did what they do!
The 6.5 CM fit the bill. Easy to reload. I'm on my 7th barrel. Loads have always been between 41.4 and 41.8 of H4350. Settled on 142 SMK.
Accuracy always around .4 MOA. SD 6-7. MY Lapua cases last 18-20 firings.
It works for me. On a most days, hits on a steel milk jug ring on 70% of my shots.
I'm glad Hornady did what they do!
Last edited:
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
The way I heard it, it's a 6.5 version of the 6xc. David won Perry with the 6xc and they made that cartridge. Kind of what Hornady does. They take a cartridge they like and tweak it a bit and call it something else. They are really good at marketing that's for sure.
Last edited:
I picked the creedmoor over 6.5x47 simply because I can buy ammo if needed.
I hand load, but travel out west for work and sometimes take a rifle with me in case I get a day off to go play.
Mine is a custom and shoots better than my ability to drive it, so if the 6.5x47 is more gooder, I’d probably never notice.
I built a 22 Creedmoor and love that one also, 95 grain SMKs at 3180 are a joy to shoot.
I guess I’ve always thought the hatred for the Creedmoor was pure silly, why would I care what someone else chose to shoot.
Some guys get way to emotional in their hatred for a good shooting round.
I hand load, but travel out west for work and sometimes take a rifle with me in case I get a day off to go play.
Mine is a custom and shoots better than my ability to drive it, so if the 6.5x47 is more gooder, I’d probably never notice.
I built a 22 Creedmoor and love that one also, 95 grain SMKs at 3180 are a joy to shoot.
I guess I’ve always thought the hatred for the Creedmoor was pure silly, why would I care what someone else chose to shoot.
Some guys get way to emotional in their hatred for a good shooting round.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.