About the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge

In 2007 Hornady introducted the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge which is a modification of the .30 TC cartridge was was based on the 300 Savage. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for target shooting but has been successful for hunting. One reason for it's popularity is that it is chambered in both short action bolt rifles and semi-automatic AR-10 style rifles. The cartridge is considered to be medium powered and comparable to the .260 Remington and the 6.5x47 Lapua.

Handloading

Hand loading for the 6.5 Creedmoor is a little more expensive compared to other rounds due to the brass lasting less than 10 reloads on average. Fortunately, more manufacturers are now producing brass for the 6.5 Creedmoor including Lapua and perhaps soon Starline Brass which will help make it more affordable. When Hornady first introduced the 6.5 CM it was advertised as a 60,000 psi capable case. However, after it was in production Hornady listed it as 62,000 psi and had it SAAMI registered as such. Early hand loaders were blowing primers out on the first shot at 62,000 psi. Hornady reduced the factory loads to around 57,000 psi because of the complaints. The accuracy of the Creedmoor compared to the 6.5x47 Lapua with nearly identical ballistics falls short for hand loaders. Finally, the preferred reloading powders are sometimes very difficult to find due to their popularity and hoarding which can make hand loading a challenge by forcing the loader to change bullets or powders due to supply problems. Precision shooters sometimes buy enough bullets, primers and powder to last the the life of the barrel (which for 6.5 Creedmoor is only around 2,000-2,500 rounds). 

Factory Ammunition and Weapons

6.5 Creedmoor ammunition is priced pretty average compared to other calibers that are similar sized. Due to recent leaps in bullet manufacturing technology, really accurate ammunition can be purchased from nearly any sporting goods store. There are many different types of weapons available that are chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with prices ranging from about $350 on up. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a lot of very appealing qualities like it's relatively light recoil and accuracy. These qualities make it a great selection for an intermediate round. A handful of rifle cartridges have come and gone or lost popularity over the years but I don't think the 6.5 Creedmoor will be subject to that. This round is here to stay and I think that it's a great candidate for an AR-10 rifle, for hunting small and medium game, hunting predators and for long range precision rifle shooting.