6.5 Creedmoor

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 2/11/2019 | M Collins

[w1n1]

Between the hunting woods, long-range target competitions and even the U.S. military, the Creedmoor round is making inroads among shooters.
6.5 Creedmoor is one of the new calibers that’s quickly received a pretty intense following, and it's easy to see why. It offers better ballistics than most rounds in its class, has taken numerous precision rifle match medals, and is even being adopted by the U.S. military for some of their sniper weapons. I personally have used the 6.5 Creedmoor for a few years now, and I have two rifles chambered in the caliber. I've taken several large deer with it, and placed well with it in local and state competitions.

I've brought home ribbons, and any shortcomings in my shooting were squarely my fault, and not the fault of the round. Yes, indeed, the 6.5 Creedmoor has taken the rifle shooting world by storm, and people have certainly had success with it, but does the round live up to the hype? Is it worth investing in instead of something like a .308? Is it worth the extra cost over similar rounds? In a word: yes. Let’s talk about why.

CARTRIDGE DEVELOPMENT
The 6.5 Creedmoor, or 6.5 CM, is a distant relative of the .308 Winchester cartridge, developed by Hornady in 2006, and first released in 2007. It was born in the bowels of Hornady's research and development department, and was brought into the world chiefly by Dave Emary and Dennis DeMille, then Hornady’s senior ballistic scientist and the VP of product development, respectively.
They set out to develop a round that would excel in a competition environment, out shooting similar .308 loads, and with less recoil to boot.

They decided to start with a 6.5mm projectile, which is tough to beat for a low-drag, high-velocity cartridge. From there, they settled on the then-new .30 TC cartridge as a parent case (itself a derivative of the .308), which gave them the ability to have the longer 6.5mm bullets load reliably in a short-action rifle such as the AR-10. The .30 TC case was also great for overall barrel life, even in a competition scenario where a competitor may fire hundreds of rounds in relatively short periods of time. Read the rest of 6.5 Creedmoor.

[Magnum44]

I have been holding off on getting a Creedmoor caliber rifle. I think I want one, but I have enough on my plate perfecting my long range shooting, DOPE data collection, and reloading of my other large caliber rifles.

At some point I will probably get one. I know its improved over .308, but with a .308, 300 Win Mag and a .338 Lapua available, I am not sure what I would gain by it other than more bragging rights at the range.

[Yo-Yo]

Even though the 6.5 Creedmore is only a decade old, there's already a new kid on the block taking the long distance shooting scene by storm: The 6mm Creedmore.

[Eagles6]

Have another AR lower I need to do something with.

Was thinking a .224 Valkyrie.

[COBOL2Java]

Where did the name come from?

Not that it's the same, of course, but growing up in Brooklyn, I always associated "Creedmoor" with the insane asylum.

Creedmoor Psychiatric Center

[Yo-Yo]

Where did the name come from?

From Wikipedia: "It was developed in partnership by Hornady Senior Ballistics Scientist, Dave Emary and Dennis DeMille, the VP of product development for Creedmoor Sports, "

And apparently I can't spell "Creedmoor" correctly.

[Magnum44]

I am in a similar quandary with my next AR build. I have a few .223/5.56 calibres now, 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC.

I am leaning towards 6.5 Grendel. Its got more punch than the .224 Valkyrie due to bullet mass. The Valkyrie will stay flatter and reach out supersonic a few more hundred yards, but with less overall energy. Since I have other rifles for reaching out past 1000 yards, I think the Grendel will come first.

I think the 6.5 ammo is also a little cheaper.

[COBOL2Java]

Thanks!

I remember my Mom telling us kids that if we didn't straighten up, we'd wind up sending her to Creedmoor. LOL.

She was talking about the mental hospital, not the weapon... :0)

[eastexsteve]

I know its improved over .308, but with a .308, 300 Win Mag and a .338 Lapua available, I am not sure what I would gain by it other than more bragging rights at the range.

Whether or not the 6.5 Creedmoor will "outperform" the 30 cals is a matter of specifics. You can definitely shoot some of the newer .308 bullets out there that will give you better performance. There are many factors to consider, one being that 6.5 Creedmoor barrel life isn't nearly what a .308 Winchester is.

[Eagles6]

Good points. I will keep the Grendel in mind.

Thanks.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I thought this was about an earthquake and was ready to look up where Creedmoor is. :)

[Deaf Smith]

I thought the 6.5 Creedmoor got it’s name from the Creedmoor Shooting Position; laying on your back.

[Magnum44]

6.5 Creedmoor barrel life isn't nearly what a .308 Winchester is.

That's an interesting comment. While I think about the possibility I might shoot the life out of some of my .223/5.56 barrels, and maybe some of my pistol barrels, I never considered I would put that much volume through my long range shooters, But I am thinking a barrel should be good for 5000-10000 rounds if not more.

What barrel life numbers are you thinking with respect to 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor barrels?

[yarddog]

From everything I have read, no actual experience, it is a fine cartridge.

It will fit in the AR platform which I think is it’s sole reason for existing. Other than that it is no better than the 6.5 Jap, 6.5 Greek, 6.5X55, 6.5 Carcano and others.

Newer powders allow it to reach high velocity in a smaller case but all the others can be loaded hotter.

[smokingfrog]

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2017/5/4/1872-creedmoor-and-the-first-annual-matches/

With financial help from the state of New York, a site for the “American Wimbledon” was purchased in late 1872. Located on Long Island, the Creed farm, that resembled an English moor, was dubbed “Creedmoor.” After considerable clearing, development and construction, the range was opened on April 25, 1873 and the first Annual Matches were held at the new range. NRA’s program gained wider acceptance and even the skeptical Regulars began to change their ideas about marksmanship training, and in the years ahead took steps to adopt systems developed at Creedmoor.

[Afterguard]

I already have a 6.5mm firearm. It’s called a Beretta Model 950 .25 cal. Not quite the same velocity or range, but a 6.5 nonetheless. Just my $.02.

[Man from Oz]

I keep hearing about the new .224 Valkyrie round....

[Man from Oz]

What I have heard is that the Valkyrie is not stable with the larger bullets.

I am in the same boat as you.... Where to next??

[DesertRhino]

There is a very old and well known historic target shooting match at Creedmoor.

[DesertRhino]

There was a long range shooting range there, before they built the city on it. Home of long range black powder shooting.