6.5 creedmore???

Brad Matteo · Feb 10, 2020

For a plains game hunt consisting of
Zebra, gemsbuk, blue wildebeest and blesbuck, is a 6.5 creedmore with heavy bullets an adequate round. I shoot a lot and it's by far the gun I shoot the best. I also have a 270win that is at the ready if that's a better option.
Thank you, Brad

Tra3 · Feb 10, 2020

Yes, but the .270 will be better.
My son used his 6.5 CM on zebra and Blesbok with good success. He will again hunt with that caliber this summer.

Brad Matteo · Feb 10, 2020

Tra3 said:
Yes, but the .270 will be better.
My son used his 6.5 CM on zebra and Blesbok with good success. He will again hunt with that caliber this summer.

If I may ask what bullet did your son use?

Tra3 · Feb 10, 2020

142 gr Nosler ABLR. Winchester factory ammo. His shots were all close, 80-150 yards. He is a good shot and seems to not get buck fever.

Shootist43 · Feb 10, 2020

Brad, take both. I prefer the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser over the Creedmore because it can handle larger bullets. Keep the Creedmore for use on the smaller PG animals, i.e. Impala and such, and you will have a fantastic time for sure.

sgt_zim · Feb 10, 2020

Brad Matteo said:
For a plains game hunt consisting of
Zebra, gemsbuk, blue wildebeest and blesbuck, is a 6.5 creedmore with heavy bullets an adequate round. I shoot a lot and it's by far the gun I shoot the best. I also have a 270win that is at the ready if that's a better option.
Thank you, Brad

Are you a reloader? If so, I'd look at Woodleigh PPSP 160 gr and Norma Oryx 156 gr for your 6.5CM.

YancyW · Feb 10, 2020

If I went on a PG hunt and I had my 6.5CM, I wouldn't be worried at all. Mine shoots the 140gr AFrames and 156gr Oryx just fine. I think there is also a 140gr partition, which would work great.

shark_za · Feb 10, 2020

The animals wont tell if they are hit with a 150gr .277 or a 140gr .264 bullet. It will end the same given equally constructed bullets.

If you are hunting in thick bush load the 156gr bullets and the 140gr premiums like the A-frame across valleys or plains.
In fact the slightly lower velocity works in your favor here with more consistent performance in penetration.

Simplest answer, if you shoot the 6.5 Creedmoor better than the .270 then use it because there is very little difference otherwise.

Chago · Feb 16, 2020

The 6.5x55 is the 308 of Europe. Used on elk and moose sized animals. The creedmoor is almost identical in performance. So yes with a heavy bullet placed in the right spot. You will be all good. I would say though. Prior to going to Africa for the first time. I kept reading about the "toughness" of African animals. I used to think that's ridiculous. A hole in the chest is a hole in the chest regardless of the species. I was wrong. I couldn't believe the shots these animals were absorbing and still running x yards before dropping. I think after my first animal I started shooting the high shoulder on every animal just to drop them. And I was using a 300 win mag. So just make sure your shots are perfect. Because even though a shot in the vitals will of course kill him with a 6.5. Be prepared to watch him run 150 yards then drop. So if you have something a little heavier. I would take that instead.

Tbitty · Feb 16, 2020

6.5 Creed certainly can handle the animals you listed, especially if you are comfortable with that rifle and ability to place your shot where it needs to be. I am by no means an African game expert, so take this novice opinion for what you will: of the game you listed, I believe the wildebeest to be the toughest and would be at the top end of what I'd use my 6.5 Creed on. As always bullet selection and shot placement are FAR more valuable than caliber size.

If you might shoot anything larger, like a Kudu, I would advise at least the .270, or even go to a .30 caliber rifle.

double rifle newbie · Jan 2, 2022

i just picked up a 6.5 CM to fill a gap in my rifle collection. i typically like heavier rifles and am comfortable with larger calibers, but wanted a lightweight flat shooting mountain rifle primarily for sheep/goats/etc. i was able to find a great deal at sportsmans warehouse on a left handed (my burden lol) tikka t3x. also picked up some talley lightweight rings and a leupold 4.5-14x40 for it. i am running out of rifles to buy as i have calibers to cover everything on earth from chipmunk to tusker. (22lr, 6.5 CM, 30-06, 338 win mag, 416 rem mag, and two doubles=9.3x74r and 450 NE) i reload everything and am going to load up some new barnes lrx 127 grain for my new baby lol.
happy hunting!

Red Leg · Jan 2, 2022

double rifle newbie said:
i just picked up a 6.5 CM to fill a gap in my rifle collection. i typically like heavier rifles and am comfortable with larger calibers, but wanted a lightweight flat shooting mountain rifle primarily for sheep/goats/etc. i was able to find a great deal at sportsmans warehouse on a left handed (my burden lol) tikka t3x. also picked up some talley lightweight rings and a leupold 4.5-14x40 for it. i am running out of rifles to buy as i have calibers to cover everything on earth from chipmunk to tusker. (22lr, 6.5 CM, 30-06, 338 win mag, 416 rem mag, and two doubles=9.3x74r and 450 NE) i reload everything and am going to load up some new barnes lrx 127 grain for my new baby lol.
happy hunting!

I think it is great that so many people are discovering the 6.5 through the CM and its ilk. Century old ballistics (6.5x54MS, 6.5x57, 6.55) work today just like they did way back in the day. Though, I am not sure I would consider any of them a remarkably flat shooting mountain rifle by modern standards.

Newboomer · Jan 2, 2022

I used my Ruger 77 6.5CR on my last safari on springbok and impala with Hornady 143gr ELD-X ahead of 37.5gr of 4064. It dropped them in their tracks at 80 to 268 yds. I didn't get a chance to use it for anything else but judging from the performance, I'd use it for pg up to wildebeest and kudu.

sestoppelman · Jan 3, 2022

Creedmoor.......

Puddle · Jan 3, 2022

I've used the 156 gr. Oryx in both CM factory ammo and handloads on elk. As with all things Oryx it's a darn good round.

shootist~ · Jan 3, 2022

double rifle newbie said:
i just picked up a 6.5 CM to fill a gap in my rifle collection. i typically like heavier rifles and am comfortable with larger calibers, but wanted a lightweight flat shooting mountain rifle primarily for sheep/goats/etc. i was able to find a great deal at sportsmans warehouse on a left handed (my burden lol) tikka t3x. also picked up some talley lightweight rings and a leupold 4.5-14x40 for it. i am running out of rifles to buy as i have calibers to cover everything on earth from chipmunk to tusker. (22lr, 6.5 CM, 30-06, 338 win mag, 416 rem mag, and two doubles=9.3x74r and 450 NE) i reload everything and am going to load up some new barnes lrx 127 grain for my new baby lol.
happy hunting!

You will enjoy the new Tikka and the caliber. I have one each in 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06. Both were purchased during my early Africa daydreaming days, but the T3X Hunter '06 got the nod.

The Creedmoor is easy to load for and is also an outstanding choice for practicing from the sticks (as well as off-hand). Mine gets rotated in at least weekly in good weather.

"The" accuracy powder and the powder of choice for most is H-4350. I also like RL-17 for a little better V and use it for most 140s (B-Tips, A-Frames), and 155 gr Lapua Megas. (Rl-17 is temp sensitive in the CM, btw, but no biggie if you pay attention).

A very good 140 gr Partition load was worked up with RL-16. I also tried the 127 gr Barnes and had very good results (also with Rl-16), but accuracy would fall off a little fairly quick, after fouling.

sgt_zim · Jan 3, 2022

Puddle said:
I've used the 156 gr. Oryx in both CM factory ammo and handloads on elk. As with all things Oryx it's a darn good round.

Curious about what MV you're getting with the Oryx. I have about a box and a half of Woodleigh 160s, 2 unopened boxes of Lapua Mega, and 1 box of unopened Oryx.

I'm getting just south of 2400 with the Woodleighs, but I got a 1 hole group of 5 shots at that velocity, and where I hunt deer and feral hogs, 100 yards is a pretty long shot. At that velocity, you can eat all the way up to the hole, very little blood-shot meat.

I shoot a 6.5x55 T3X

YancyW · Jan 3, 2022

sgt_zim said:
Curious about what MV you're getting with the Oryx. I have about a box and a half of Woodleigh 160s, 2 unopened boxes of Lapua Mega, and 1 box of unopened Oryx.

I'm getting just south of 2400 with the Woodleighs, but I got a 1 hole group of 5 shots at that velocity, and where I hunt deer and feral hogs, 100 yards is a pretty long shot. At that velocity, you can eat all the way up to the hole, very little blood-shot meat.

I shoot a 6.5x55 T3X

In a very SLOW factory Tikka barrel, I think I can get south of 2600 with the Oryx, but that is from memory. They shoot great, but my rifle has a very slow factory barrel. The 156 Bergers do a little better with MV was the goal, which is clearly isn't in this setting.

double rifle newbie · Jan 3, 2022

shootist~ said:
You will enjoy the new Tikka and the caliber. I have one each in 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06. Both were purchased during my early Africa daydreaming days, but the T3X Hunter '06 got the nod.

The Creedmoor is easy to load for and is also an outstanding choice for practicing from the sticks (as well as off-hand). Mine gets rotated in at least weekly in good weather.

"The" accuracy powder and the powder of choice for most is H-4350. I also like RL-17 for a little better V and use it for most 140s (B-Tips, A-Frames), and 155 gr Lapua Megas. (Rl-17 is temp sensitive in the CM, btw, but no biggie if you pay attention).

A very good 140 gr Partition load was worked up with RL-16. I also tried the 127 gr Barnes and had very good results (also with Rl-16), but accuracy would fall off a little fairly quick, after fouling.

i have lots of h4350. thank goodness after looking at prices these days. thanks for the info!

Tgood1 · Jan 3, 2022

double rifle newbie said:
i have lots of h4350. thank goodness after looking at prices these days. thanks for the info!

Do you need a new best friend

6.5 creedmore???

Brad Matteo

Tra3

Brad Matteo

Tra3

Shootist43

sgt_zim

YancyW

shark_za

Chago

Tbitty

double rifle newbie

Red Leg

Newboomer

sestoppelman

Puddle

shootist~

sgt_zim

YancyW

double rifle newbie

Tgood1

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