Why all the 6.5 Creedmoor Hate?

[Cleveland48]

In my opinion it is the long range internet crowd that hyped it up as a 800 yard elk cartridge. I honestly never remember Hornady claiming it as a super long range hunting round. I only remember them promoting it as an excellent target cartridge, which it truly is that. I’ve owned and reloaded for the 6.5CM, 260 rem, and 6.5x55. Between theses three cartridges I’ve killed between 35-40 whitetail, and there is not one bit of difference between them on killing game. I’m on my 4th 6.5 CM now and it is purely a target rifle. I actually hunted with the other three, since I’ve been devoted to the 9.3x62, and my two 416 caliber rifles the last couple years. All three of these 6.5 cartridges make excellent medium game killers at normal hunting distances. The biggest advantage I’ve seen for the 6.5 CM over the other ones are extremely exceptional chamber specs, the 260 and Swede run all over the place with their chamber dimensions. And for the guy who doesn’t reload the amount of extremely accurate 6.5 CM ammo u can buy off the shelf for it. I love all three of these cartridges and one is honestly no more lethal than the other. I just dislike all the people on the internet who have convinced newcomers that it is a 1000 yard hammer on game, that’s what pisses me off lol.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I have to comment on this thread;

I know the two persons involved in the development of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Of course, all of this is published information available to anyone via a Google search. The person who dreamed of the 6.5 CM is a two-time national rifle champion. In fact, I shot with him on the Marine Corps Rifle Team long ago... He was a better marksman than I. Anyway, he knew and shared a room with the Hornady’s chief ballistician at the NRA/CMP National Rifle matches at Camp Perry Ohio. After a hard day chasing 10-X's the champion shooter commented to the ballistician that he wished there was a cartridge designed for the 0 to 600 yard "across the course" matches that would out preform the 5.56 at longer ranges, but not generate so much recoil that tires out a shooter after a 60, 80, or 100 round match. The days of shooting 7.62 Nato/.308 M-14’s and M1A’s across the course are long over.

The Hornady ballistician took that idea and created a cartridge for target shooting that does in fact have great hunting application. The cartridge should have been named after the shooter but instead he asked it be named Creedmoor. Of course, the shooter was at the time managing Creedmoor Sports which specialized in supplying equipment to match competitors. Maybe that had something to do with naming the cartridge?

In summary;
The 6.5 Creedmoor was developed as a target cartridge with hunting capabilities.
Hornady which developed the 6.5 CM, is in the business of manufacturing and selling components and ammunition. Let’s not forget that Hornady also has a large part in the re-birth of many nearly extinct cartridges for double rifles, and if I am not mistake, the .416 Rigby. They could not have done that without many a profit on their products. To make a profit on what is new, Hornady needs to market them as better than sliced bread!

My opinion;
The majority of us on this forum are pretty gun savvy and have more than a few decades of life and shooting experience. If you are like me, when I pick up Shooting Times, Guns and Ammo, or The American Rifleman, I read about the new developments with a grain of salt. Let's face it, my 30-06 Remington 700 Classic which I bought in 1982 will still kill any whitetail, mule deer, or elk on this planet. For long range western hunting, there may be better choices. Your 30-06, 270, or 300 magnum is probably much the same. We do NOT need another rifle within the power and distance range than the one(s) we already own. We do however "desire" what is old and classic, or newer and better. If one wants a newer and better 6.5 something or other, go for it!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Having said that, I know nothing about the poor round and balistics in general, heck I am the guy who started the thread on best looking rounds because that's about the limit of my knowledge. Maybe we should start another thread on rounds with the coolest name - I'll make a plug for Holland and Holland Magnum, no caramel custard on that one.

If we can include wildcats for the coolest name contest, I nominate Bob's @Bob Nelson 35Whelen .35BNE (Bansai Nelson Express).

 

[Dukeisok]

I personally wouldn't say I HATE the 6.5 CR, or the 6CR, 6.5PRC or other latest and greatest 6.5s or 6.8s and now the 7PRC, .350 Legend and whatever else is out there...... I've lost track! I do HATE the manipulation by the cartridge companies and their "partnered" rifle brands to have to buy a new rifle to use their proprietary cartridges. Back in the day, we saw the same thing with the WSSMs, SAUMs and to a lesser extent the WSMs. These companies became smarter this time around though. They used the cover of the pandemic, riots and election of our imbecile Brandon to propagate an "ammo and reloading components shortage" to aggressively PUSH their proprietary cartridges. For TWO YEARS, we couldn't find a box of .30-06, .270 or .308 HUNTING cartridges on the shelves. But, ALL of the above were plentiful along with all the black gun and semi auto pistol cartridges in every LGS I haunted. I know these companies loaded for profit and I understand that. But, IMHO there wasn't a shortage of anything. They maximized their profits loading their proprietary cartridges with "scarce components" for their new rifles for profit, leaving the rest of us with standard hunting cartridges behind. I refuse to play their game and will not buy one of their latest and greatest cartridges as I have several older chamberings that have and will continue to work just fine. AND, as an added bonus, I can usually find brass for them.

I hear you. I've been looking for a while to pick up a model 70 extreme stainless in 30-06. No dice, but I could get 10 in 6.5 prc.

 

[Dukeisok]

I hate people telling me it hits harder at range than a 300 win mag.

Who in God's name would believe that? It's all physics. Nothing more nothing less. I guess I'm lucky to have never met a fanboy who thinks that way.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I hear you. I've been looking for a while to pick up a model 70 extreme stainless in 30-06. No dice, but I could get 10 in 6.5 prc.

And very soon you'll find 10 more available in 7PRC. It never ends!

 

[Wiley64]

I liked it the first time it came out when it was called a 7mm-08. I’ve never seen a round with such a cult following as the 6.5 - the ballistics are not that impressive, especially when you consider the size of the projectile -it’s just not that interesting to me but to each their own.

 

[dchum]

I think just about all calibers have their haters…. 308, 30-06, etc.

The 6.5 is a great flat round that has great performance. However, my personal experience is that it is fast & is not designed to open up fast. Do anything inside 100…. It’s not expanding, anything over 300 it may lose some energy. So then one argues… why not just use a 270, 7M, etc.

It’s a great gun, great round….. but just another niche variant. I own one. But it doesn’t really do much that others don’t do as well or better. No recoil BTW.

It is certainly not a “flat cartridge” Here it is compared to a 30-06….

 

[Rocco490]

Fantastic cartridge design for the right scenarios but it has no magical properties and is not well suited for many of the applications it is currently being used for and that plus all the exaggerated performance claims which I like to call salesman bullsh*t are what has caused the pushback "hate"

It has several things going for it and half or more of them have nothing to do with its specific cartridge design really the only thing specific to its design for the most part is its ability to properly handle long heavy for caliber bullets in a short action and ability to be easily chambered in a semi auto ar 10 action being of both the correct length and case diameter.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I don't hate it. I just have no interest or use for it. I do think the cult following is quite humorous. The best thing about this cartridge is the interest it has brought to our sport.

However, it is a long-range hunting cartridge like I am a long-range runner.

Safe shooting

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

The best thing about this cartridge is the interest it has brought to our sport.

Well said!
We should embrace these hyperbole romanced firearms innovations! Why you may ask? Simple, the legions of 6.5 CM followers are fellow gun enthusiasts! In today's anti-gun political environment, we need all the gun guys and gals we can get, regardless of what brings them into our way of thinking.

 

[Paul G]

Man! Did I screw up.

I should have read the fashion pages before I bought my 6.5 CM.

Unfortunately I just researched the ballistics, wanted lower recoil, and excellent component availability.

Boringly accurate.

Does anyone know who has the best prices on Birkenstocks? With socks of course.

DB

What's crazy is you could have bought A 7mm-08 for the last 50 years. Crazy everybody waited for something to come out with a fancier name that was always around

 

[Rocco490]

Barrel twist rate, tight chamber specs and the very high bc bullets responsible for the accuracy and long range ballistics that the Creedmoor design claims all the credit for while it actually has nothing to do with them is annoying to many. It also seems to have been a major influence on the ultra long range hunting fad which many more do not like.

 

[booker]

6.5 Creedmoor never heard of her???? Did shoot an Aoudad at 500 in West Texas with a lady called
6.5mm Creedmoreta. Love mine, folks I hunt with love theirs. Like many guys here have said use it in the appropriate situations with the correct ammo and oh of course practice practice practice!!!

 

[Inline6]

And very soon you'll find 10 more available in 7PRC. It never ends!

We can apply the same logic to trucks, my 05 Cummins fuel mileage was not much different that my 2018 Cummins. The 18 has a few more comfort features. They got me A to B, most will buy a different vehicle multiple times in their life because they have worn one out. The same is not true for rifle, how many people here have actually shot a barrel out? If a company is going to stay ahead of the game, be innovative they have to find the "next best way to shin a cat". What would happen to the gun industry? Imagine if cars did not wear out, that it the equivalent to the gun industry.

My 9 year old son from age 6 til now has kill at least 6 deer at 160 yards plus, all next shots with a 6.5CM gasser. It is low recoil, it is accurate and it kills.

I have used the 6.5CM in the competition world back in 2010-2012. Have hit on targets out to 1300 yards. Have hits with the 6CM out to 1600 yards. Can a 260 or 6.5X55 I do know, I have not tried it.

I have tried a 7RM I hate the belt, I have tried the 7 WSM I hated the brass. I do was a 7 PRC, Hornady has a good track record of making accurate cartridges.

I'm also sure that the little details of a case design get lost on some people. The length of the body to shorten the powder column and seat the bullet out further and still fit in a mag. 30° shoulder seem to help with accuracy, 30°-35° seems to be the spot that produces good accuracy and still feed well out of a mag. Take a look at Alex Wheeler the things he has done with the 6BR turning it into the 6BRA. It has achieved groups at 600 yards that most would be proud of @ 100 yards. If no one is pushing limits or coming up with better designs. The crazy part for me is in the last 15 years I have seen so much innovative things. It is hard from me to wrap my mind around the negative thoughts of new cartridges. Look at the way manufacturers are responding to targets rifles, scope, shooting accessories, i.e range finder, ballistic programs. 15 years ago people could not believe you shoot 500 yards accurately much less 1500 yards. Now it is common place for someone to shoot 500 yards and bang steel. The advancement of the shooting sport is good for us all the way around.

I know it is easy to get upset when you can't find your ammo on the shelves because the new flavor is getting the run time on the floor. Just remember, if these companies do not make a profit. How do they keep the doors open.

 

[SaintPanzer]

I think you make a good point on it being a target round with some hunting uses. Certainly, its smaller size makes it more wind resistant, and I've never taken the 5.56 seriously, but maybe that's the 0331 in me.

That said, I AM hating a bit on Hornady these days. Sure, they are making a lot of 6.5mm bullets for this, but to meet the "flat shooting target" demand, they've entirely stopped making the 160 grain RNSP in 6.5mm, which is something I really could use. Until Woodleigh gets back in the game, it's a serious problem (although I guess I should give Hawk a try).

Something to think about though: Great at distance for target. Decent for hunting beyond 100m, but doesn't open well within 100m.

To me, that "doesn't open well" part makes it no more suitable for hunting than an FMJ round.

Great replacement for the 5.56, though...

 

[Inline6]

I think you make a good point on it being a target round with some hunting uses. Certainly, its smaller size makes it more wind resistant, and I've never taken the 5.56 seriously, but maybe that's the 0331 in me.

That said, I AM hating a bit on Hornady these days. Sure, they are making a lot of 6.5mm bullets for this, but to meet the "flat shooting target" demand, they've entirely stopped making the 160 grain RNSP in 6.5mm, which is something I really could use. Until Woodleigh gets back in the game, it's a serious problem (although I guess I should give Hawk a try).

Something to think about though: Great at distance for target. Decent for hunting beyond 100m, but doesn't open well within 100m.

To me, that "doesn't open well" part makes it no more suitable for hunting than an FMJ round.

Great replacement for the 5.56, though...

Not sure who is saying they don't open up inside of 100 yards. My wife shot this guy at 55 yards with her 6.5CM. He dropped right there, did not move DRT. The more speed you have the quicker the bullet opens up, their is nothing magical about a 6.5CM that doesn't allow the bullet to open up in less than 100 yards. Chances are people a using the wrong bullet or the biggest issue...they made a subpar shot on their animal and blame the round.

 

[Safari Dave]

When I Google "best cartridge for elk hunting" the first thing that pops up is an article from Field and Stream.

The first cartridge mentioned - you guessed it!

 

[TKessel]

I think the bit about hating the 6.5 because it was used to kill JFK is nonsense. Any hate of the 6.5 Creedmoor is most likely a reaction to the BS that the gun writers fill pages with in response to advertising income for their magazine. In terms of performance it is very similar to the 260 Rem, which also uses a .264" bullet but the 260 has a twist more designed for normal for caliber bullet weights where as the Creedmoor has a faster twist that is designed for long for caliber bullets of high BC primarily designed for long range target shooting. If your main target is going to be a deer at normal ranges you're probably better off with a 260 Rem.

1000% agree!!!!! I’ve outfitted Wy for more than 20 years. Never had an issue with the 260, the 6.5 is a different story.

 

[John Wasmuth]

I’ve got no beef with any cartridge used in its intended manner. I do take issue with people trying to use a cartridge to do something it’s not intended for. I had the unfortunate experience of watching a youngster shoot six times through the heart/lung area of an oryx just over 100 yards and it took a very long time for it to die.