6.5 creedmoor

[David]

Hi all I am new to this not long been a member of a small club and we mostly shoot f open. I have a ruger varmiter in 6.5 creedmoor and would like to have a rifle built just for the range as I use the ruger for hunting was wondering if any body uses this cal. they get good reports on some usa sites

[AlanF]

Welcome to the ozfclass forum David. I don't know of any 6.5 Creedmores used in F-Open in Australia, but with very similar performance to the 6.5x47 then it will undoubtedly be a very good choice also. The 6.5x47 has recently become the most popular choice for F-Open below 7mm. You're doing the right thing building a dedicated F-Class rifle - a compromise will be just that. And you're also doing the right thing getting advice here, particularly if you don't have experienced F-Open shooters at your local range. There's a lot of things to get wrong if you take the wrong advice. Things like action, stock, barrel specs, throat specs, scope base, scope reticule etc. are all critical to the performance of an F-Class rifle. I hope you enjoy the sport - its having a growth spurt at present. Just ask the questions at whatever level you're at, and there will I'm sure be useful answers.

[KHGS]

Welcome to the ozfclass forum David. I don't know of any 6.5 Creedmores used in F-Open in Australia, but with very similar performance to the 6.5x47 then it will undoubtedly be a very good choice also. The 6.5x47 has recently become the most popular choice for F-Open below 7mm. You're doing the right thing building a dedicated F-Class rifle - a compromise will be just that. And you're also doing the right thing getting advice here, particularly if you don't have experienced F-Open shooters at your local range. There's a lot of things to get wrong if you take the wrong advice. Things like action, stock, barrel specs, throat specs, scope base, scope reticule etc. are all critical to the performance of an F-Class rifle. I hope you enjoy the sport - its having a growth spurt at present. Just ask the questions at whatever level you're at, and there will I'm sure be useful answers.

As I see it the choice of which 6.5 to choose between these is a "no brainer". The first part of the choice is that of performance, both of these choices meet that criteria. Equally as important is the supply of quality match grade brass, here is where the 6.5X47 takes a massive lead & here the .260 & it's variants come into the choice process. It matters little how good a cartridge design may be, it will be an exercise in frustration if match quality cases are not readily available!!!
Keith H.

[AlanF]

Keith,

Variety of chamberings in F-Open is one of its attractions. All things considered, I agree that the 6.5x47 would probably win an overall comparison test. But David will already have Creedmoor dies, and regarding brass, some people prefer brands other than Lapua. I concede that the small primer pocket of the Lapua 6.5x47 will allow higher pressures, but the Creedmoor has more capacity, so brass life may be similar.

Alan

[BRETT B]

You can form the Creedmore from Palma brass very easily! You would now have brass as good as the 6.5x47 butt slightly more capacity and could drive the 140 class bullet at 2850 easily!! It would be a very good starting point for F open that could shoot 300-1000 no problem..

[Bindi2]

There is at least one 6.5 creedmoor in the West. It has not long hit the mound and is in the development stage. Looking ok but early days.

[Quick]

Im ordering a reamer for one myself. Palma brass will be my friend. Ive seen winchester now make 6.5 Creedmoor match ammo aswell but havent seen it here in australia.

[KHGS]

Keith,

Variety of chamberings in F-Open is one of its attractions. All things considered, I agree that the 6.5x47 would probably win an overall comparison test. But David will already have Creedmoor dies, and regarding brass, some people prefer brands other than Lapua. I concede that the small primer pocket of the Lapua 6.5x47 will allow higher pressures, but the Creedmoor has more capacity, so brass life may be similar.

Alan

I think you may have missed the point I was making. David asked which he should choose between the two, my response was in that light. A beginner will find it easier to use a standard chambering. Accuracy goals will be much easier to achieve for a beginner with good brass & the simplicity of a standard chambering with no case forming ect to deal with. My reasons for suggesting the 6.5X47 was not the small primer, just the quality of the cases in general over what is available in the Creadmoor without case forming from other caliber cases. I believe that the 6.5X47 is about on the limit of capacity for small primers. Bigger cases with small bores require slower powders which are harder to ignite & ignition then can become borderline with small primers. Particularly in regions where temperatures drop below 20c. I always recommend that those new to F Open should start with either 6mmBR or 6.5X47, these are both easy to load for to high accuracy levels & easy to tune, this makes them ideal entry level F Open caliber choices.
Keith H.

[DaveMc]

Actually Keith he didn't. Alan suggested it
by all accounts I agree with your logic and they are the two we all recommend up here as well.

But the OP asked if the creedmore was being used? and all reports from overseas were good.

We ran into a couple in use in the US and they were going very well (in fact I would say extremely impressive). If he already has the dies and brass then it would be quite an acceptable caliber and not significantly different to the 6.5*47. Just some good brass prep and sorting will help get it up there. if he was starting from scratch then I too would recommend the 6.5*47 but from where he is the creedmore should serve very well. The biggest issue will be lack of experience on the mound to help with load tuning and fav loads I guess. This will have to be sucked up from the overseas sites.

[Amac]

Hi David

I have used a 6.5 CM in F Class for about 12 months having only recently retired it shoot F Standard for a period of time. I had it built as a tactical type rifle and was introduced for F Class shooting and decided to use it.

Shot to 1000 yards without any problems. If I had of been able to shoot better I would have gone better with it. My barrel was a Maddco but its throat eroded pretty hard due to what the smithy reckons is a batch of softer steel.....

Another guy at our club went to the CM also and is shooting 140 hybrids like a dream.

I also formed 308 Lap Palma brass to CM in the late stages of shooting it. Worked really easy. You will need to turn the necks as the brass is pretty thick but that only helps with the inherent accuracy of the cartridge.

I will be building another one on a longer barrel - 30" to get better velocities out of it with the Palma brass.

Happy to answer any questions you have on it.

Cheers

Andrew

[David]

Thanks for the information my reasons for thinking cm is I bought the ruger I have from a guy who only shot 25 rounds it came with 300 hornady cases a set of hornady custom-grade dies and 150 lapua 123gn scenar silver jackets he was going to shoot it on the range but then bought a 9. something and wanted to play with it instead I shoot 85gn sierra hollow points for hunting with 44gn 2208 and is good to shoot I don't like a lot of recoil but found this ok also have some 140gn factory loads have a bit moore push I tend to flinch to much with anything bigger.I am enjoying reading the articles here . Cheers David

[David]

quick, emailed Winchester Australia they don't have any here yet but said they would pass info to purchasing department and nosler now make match grade 6.5 creedmoor 140gn custom comp and nosler trophy grade looks like things starting to happen but don't know how long before they arrive here. David

[Seddo]

I've had a short (22") creedmoor barrel fitted to one of my rifles as it's been a calibre I have wanted to play with. If I get good short range results I will try it with a 30" barrel for sure.

[David]

Seddo, My creedmoor is a ruger varmiter with no extras done to it as a hunting rifle it shoots better than me they have a 28 inch barrel i love it. David

[Frank Green]

Tracy and Jeff here at the shop recently had Mark Gordon at Short Action Customs build them two identical rifles. I know Jeff has shot his with box Hornady ammo and said the gun is a hammer. They are set up to shoot the tactical match rifles. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed from the outset to work thru a short action magazine with no issues on seating depths etc....Here is a couple of pictures of the rifles. The actions are made by Defiance Machine to Short Actions Customs specs./modifications.





Barrel length if I'm not mistaken is 23" finish (not including the Surefire brake/suppressor attachment). I think they made they're barrels with a 1-8 twist but even a 1-8.5 twist is fine up to 140gr. type bullets. You can push 140's around the 2800fps. mark velocity wise.

I say the 6.5 Creedmoor and .260 Rem. are velocities/case capacity equals. I'm running 140's at 2730 average with H4350 powder. A buddy of mine is using H4831 and his are going 2840fps. They will have slightly more muscle than a 6.5x47 Lapua.

I don't have a 6.5 Creedmoor but I built a 6mm Creedmoor earlier last year. It's on a Badger M2008 action. Still has to get Cerakoted. Finish length on the barrel is 23". 105gr. bullets are averaging 2997fps. with a everyday working load.



Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels