Factory ammo shooter, cant decide between 6mm or 6.5mm creedmoor

[Wilc0]

I'm finally having my first semi-custom rifle built. I ordered a Bighorn Origin the other day, and soon I'll be ordering a prefit from PVA. I cant decide between a 6.5 creed or 6 creed (ELD-M reamer). I dont handload, but I understand the implications and I'm willing to accept the additional costs involved. I also order my ammo in bulk online so I'm not so much worried about the "You can always find 6.5 on the shelf at academy!" Scenario.

Does it make sense to deal with the shortlived barrel life of 6cm when I'm only planning on shooting factory ammo, or should I just go with 6.5cm?

 

[King_beardsly]

I'd say shoot 6creed, but if you're not going to hand load you wont really see an advantage over 6.5creed and unfortunately 6creed has limited offerings at this moment.

 

[Roo_man]

6.5 creed cannot go wrong

 

[mi223]

How will you use it?

Mostly matches go 6 for flat shooting.

General range use and or big game hunting go 6.5 for better barrel life and energy

I would go 6.5

 

[Wannashootit]

As said, depends on your usage.
If it's general range use, the more limited barrel life of the 6 might not be worth the tradeoff.
If there's hunting involved, given the exclusive use of factory ammo, I'd go with the (shudder) .243 over the 6 Creedmoor for the near limitless selection and availability of ammo. Name ain't as sexy, but damn near the same ballistically.

 

[Wilc0]

How will you use it?

Mostly matches go 6 for flat shooting.

General range use and or big game hunting go 6.5 for better barrel life and energy

I would go 6.5

I should have specified, I'd like to get into match shooting. So the rifle will likely see general range/training use and the occasional match.

 

[b6graham]

As said, depends on your usage.
If it's general range use, the more limited barrel life of the 6 might not be worth the tradeoff.
If there's hunting involved, given the exclusive use of factory ammo, I'd go with the (shudder) .243 over the 6 Creedmoor for the near limitless selection and availability of ammo. Name ain't as sexy, but damn near the same ballistically.

Except. Since hes on Snipers Hide. He probably wants nornal match ammo too. So .243 is a pretty shit suggestion compared to 6 Creed which has ELDm and ELDx...

That being said. Give Keystone a call. Super quick turnaround for Origin barrels

Cant go wrong with either. Both solid match calibers with the edge to the 6mm for obvious reasons. But you have to look at barrel life

I vote 6 Creed for pure match rifle. As someone who went 308 to 6.5 to 6 and is now using 22 and 7mm

 

[Jethro3898]

6.5 creedmoor

To me (personal opinion of course) the gain you get in wind advantage from 6 Creed to 6.5 Creed is negligible. I’d rather have the barrel life. The 6 does recoil less, but depending on your rifle weight and muzzle brake, that too may be negligible.

 

[wade2big]

Either or. Both have great factory options. The 6 creed will be more costly to shoot if you factor in barrel cost per trigger pull on top of ammunition cost.

I shoot 6.5 creedmoor. Hornady 140 gr bthp can be found for 70 cents a round shipped if ordered in bulk.

 

[KPK]

Saw this at Walmart yesterday. May but be a new thing but looks like a good thing.

 

[tree man]

Saw this at Walmart yesterday. May but be a new thing but looks like a good thing. View attachment 6991763

We’ve had that in our local Walmart for a little while, I’ve tried it in a few different guns and I can’t get it to shoot worth a crap 3/4 min at the very best and usually not close to that. Could just be my rigs though

 

[Danattherock]

The factory 6 cm ammo I'm familiar with isn't fast enough to realize much benefit. If handloading 6 cm you can really get more value out of that caliber.

I would go 6.5 Creed and buy Prime 130's by the case directly from Prime. Great ammo. Sell the highly desirable Norma brass and offset cost of the ammo. It's great brass and popular, easy to sell. About $225/case (200 rounds) shipped as I recall. Sell brass for $80-90/200 and you are feeding this 6.5 very affordable, yet quality ammo.

 

[Diver160651]

I should have specified, I'd like to get into match shooting. So the rifle will likely see general range/training use and the occasional match.

New barrel 340 ish, chambering 350ish threading muzzle brake $150..

So you have 700-850 everytime you run thru your barrel. Let’s say you get 1200-1400 6 creeds or maybe 2500 a 6.5 creeds. It seems my 6’s went from great to really bad with far less ramp-up than the 6.5. Seems the 6.5 loose some accuracy sure then the bleed to unshootable is really kinda slowly. Last year I got an ungodly number of rounds out of a 6.5 before it went from a ragged hole gun to just under MOA (not that one should accept that).

You’d be better off practicing with a bit of extra recoil of the 6.5 and WAY better shooting a ton more by putting your barrel money into 6.5 ammo.

Whatever you decide, shoot at lot, dry fire and shoot more.. but remember it is super easy to go through multiple barrels in a year, especially with a 6 creed

 

[wade2big]

The factory 6 cm ammo I'm familiar with isn't fast enough to realize much benefit. If handloading 6 cm you can really get more value out of that caliber.

I would go 6.5 Creed and buy Prime 130's by the case directly from Prime. Great ammo. Sell the highly desirable Norma brass and offset cost of the ammo. It's great brass and popular, easy to sell. About $225/case (200 rounds) shipped as I recall. Sell brass for $80-90/200 and you are feeding this 6.5 very affordable, yet quality ammo.

Prime ammo is $266 per 200 rounds before shipping. Im guessing shipping would be another $20.

 

[spiche]

New barrel 340 ish, chambering 350ish threading muzzle brake $150..

So you have 700-850 everytime you run thru your barrel. Let’s say you get 1200-1400 6 creeds or maybe 2500 a 6.5 creeds. It seems my 6’s went from great to really bad with far less ramp-up than the 6.5. Seems the 6.5 loose some accuracy sure then the bleed to unshootable is really kinda slowly. Last year I got an ungodly number of rounds out of a 6.5 before it went from a ragged hole gun to just under MOA (not that one should accept that).

You’d be better off practicing with a bit of extra recoil of the 6.5 and WAY better shooting a ton more by putting your barrel money into 6.5 ammo.

Whatever you decide, shoot at lot, dry fire and shoot more.. but remember it is super easy to go through multiple barrels in a year, especially with a 6 creed

You can do PVA button prefits for like 525, so your economy is a little off.

Probably still more expensive to go 6 vs 6.5, especially if not gaining the benefits from handloading some hotrod 6mm.

 

[b6graham]

You can do PVA button prefits for like 525, so your economy is a little off.

Probably still more expensive to go 6 vs 6.5, especially if not gaining the benefits from handloading some hotrod 6mm.

Its not like factory 6.5 is fast either...

 

[blbennett1288]

Prime ammo is $266 per 200 rounds before shipping. Im guessing shipping would be another $20.

Good luck getting any to ship

 

[blbennett1288]

You can do PVA button prefits for like 525, so your economy is a little off.

Probably still more expensive to go 6 vs 6.5, especially if not gaining the benefits from handloading some hotrod 6mm.

What is the turn around time, though? I believe they are a good ways out.

Out of my PVA 24” barrel
6.5CM Hornady 140gr ELDM ~2710fps (exactly what Hornady states)
6.5CM Prime 130gr ~2915fps (Prime states 2850fps)

6CM Hornady 108gr I suspect will be right around 2950-3000fps (Hornady states 2960fps. I have heard of people getting between 3000-3100fps)
6CM Prime 105gr I suspect will be 3000fps + (Prime I have not seen an data for)

My point being, that if you run those numbers in JBM the reality of what they will do becomes apparent. The 6CM has a flatter trajectory and is a better wind cheater (granted only 0.2-0.3mils). The 6.5CM will have more energy and better barrel life.

I have been trying to make a decision between these two calibers for quite some time. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer but more a what is best for “your specific situation”

 

[.50 Cal Cow]

We’ve had that in our local Walmart for a little while, I’ve tried it in a few different guns and I can’t get it to shoot worth a crap 3/4 min at the very best and usually not close to that. Could just be my rigs though

My experience matches yours. Shot 100 rounds 2 different lots and neither shot well.

 

[Diver160651]

You can do PVA button prefits for like 525, so your economy is a little off.

Probably still more expensive to go 6 vs 6.5, especially if not gaining the benefits from handloading some hotrod 6mm.

Ya, the main gripes I have are what you give up when learning with the 6mm.

First you need to shoot a lot. No way around that and you’ll just eat barrels if one really is shooting.

Second, the lack of recoil makes it very difficult to learn and tune your body angles, trigger press and positions. Who cares right? Your shooting a 6mm and I’ve honestly seen guys shooting a 1/2 once trigger.. ok, seems to make sense until the match director has you shooting off a rope, bungee, swing etc. having super solid square positions greatly help.

I’d also say that seeing exactly were you hit and miss, is a skill that takes some time. I’d say hear to the 6.5 is a bit better.

Lastly, You’ll find when traveling that ammo is not everywhere.

If money truly is not an issue, get both 6.5 and 6 barrels with an extra 6 creed.. practice in the 6.5

 

[Stoweit]

APR built me a rifle in Curtis action Bartlein barrel shambered in 6.5 CM. They stated the chamber was cut for Hornady ELDM. Gun shoots it lights out, very happy with Hornady loads. I barley find enough time to shoot, don’t have time to reload. YMMV. Can usually pick it up for $ 26-28 per box on line.

 

[Aaron47pb]

If shooting matches is a priority, I would go 6mm Creedmoor to minimize recoil. I’ve been getting 3030 FPS , great groups, and consistent low teen SDs with the Hornady 108 ELD-M factory ammo out of a 24” barrel.

 

[user]

Get both!

 

[simpy16]

I have a custom 6.5 creed and 6SLR (similar to 6 Creed). I like shooting the smaller 6mm caliber but as others have stated you can go through 2 barrels for every 1 6.5 creed barrel. I also like how many options are out there for factory ammo in the 6.5 creed. My 6.5 barrel is almost toast and I am planning on another 6.5 creed simply because if I get in a pinch or if a buddy wants to shoot my rifle they can buy some factory ammo and go to town, where something like the 6.5x47 it really isn't possible to do that.

There might be more 6 creed ammo coming out this next year with more and more rifle manufacturers adopting the cartridge but as of now the options for the 6.5 creed are much greater.

A 6.5mm round is still very effective and with a solid shooter can still hold weight at a match over a 6mm.

 

[Wilc0]

Thanks everyone for your inputs, I decided that I would probably benefit best from practice and being able to put more rounds downrange. I went ahead and ordered a 26" MTU prefit in 6.5creed from PVA. Pretty excited