The Venerable 6.5 Creedmoor

THE VENERABLE 6.5 CREEDMOOR


By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP
March 22, 2025
Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved


A HORNADY INSPIRATION


WIKIPEDIA OVERVIEW: The 6.5mm Creedmoor designated as 6.5 Creedmoor by SAAMI, and as 6.5 Creedmoor by the C.I.P. is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced by Hornady in the early 2000’s. It was developed by Hornady senior ballistics scientist Dave Emary in partnership with Dennis DeMille, the vice-president of product development at Creedmoor Sports, hence the name. The cartridge is a necked-down modification of the .30 Thompson Center.


The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed specifically for long-range target shooting, although it has been used successfully in medium and large game hunting. Bullet-for-bullet, the 6.5mm Creedmoor achieves a slower muzzle velocity than longer cartridges such as the 6.5-284 Norma, the 6.5mm Remington Magnum, or the 6.5 300 Weatherby. However, with an overall length of 2.825 inches (71.8 mm), it can be chambered in short-action rifles, as can the 6.5×47mm Lapua.


In general, 6.5 mm (.264 in) bullets are known for their high sectional density and ballistic coefficients, and often have been used successfully in rifle competitions. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for target shooting at longer ranges, and as such, couples a sensible ratio of case volume (3.40 ml) to bore area (34.66 mm2/0.3466 cm2) with ample space for loading long slender projectiles providing good aerodynamic efficiency and external ballistic performance for the projectile diameter. For some loads, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is capable of duplicating the muzzle velocity or trajectory of the .300 Winchester Magnum while generating significantly-lower recoil, based on lighter projectile weight.


PERFORMANCE


The 6.5mm Creedmoor is known for its exceptional accuracy and long-range performance. According to Gunners' Review, this ammunition is often regarded as a secret weapon for precision shooters due to its impressive ballistic properties.


The 6.5 Creedmoor is a medium-power cartridge. Its energy at 300 yards using 129-grain Hornady SST bullets is listed by an independent reviewer as 1,641 foot-pounds force. For the 140-grain bullet at 2,700 feet per second (823 m/s) initial velocity, another reviewer reports an MPBR for a six-inch-high target of 265 yards (242 m), and reports a manufacturer-claim of "almost 1,600 ft pounds of energy of retained energy at 300 yards (274 m) using a 24 inch (610 mm) barrel. SAAMI test data confirms 6.5 Creedmoor, 15 feet (4.6 m) from muzzle, velocity of 2,940 ft/s (896 m/s) for the 129-grain bullet and 2,690 ft/s (820 m/s) for the 140-grain bullet (which compares to .300 Winchester Magnum data of 2,930 ft/s (893 m/s) for a 200-grain bullet and 2,665 ft/s (812 m/s) for a 210-grain bullet).


The 6.5 Creedmoor caliber with 140-grain ammunition from both Hornady and Desert Tech and shot with a Desert Tech MDRX rifle (20 inch barrel), achieved groups averaging half to sub MOA (0.5-1 MOA).The cartridge stays supersonic and maintains its accuracy to past 1,200 yd (1,097 m), while the .308 Winchester with 168-grain match bullets has a supersonic range of about 975 yd (892 m). A semiautomatic sniper rifle with a 20-inch barrel chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor is capable of engaging military targets from point blank range to 1,200 meters.


REPORTED BIG GAME EFFECTIVENESS


Since it’s introduction, the 6.5 Creedmoor has been extensively field tested and used effectively to harvest a myriad big animals, including: Whitetail Deer, Feral Hogs, Mule Deer, Blacktail Deer, Sheep species, Moose, Bears, Caribou, and African Plains game, etc.


As an avid North American big game hunter for a half a century (50 years) I’ve taken an array of big game animals including: Deer ( All Species), Pronghorn Antelope, Caribou, and Elk. Over-the-years, I’ve used a litany of calibers to harvest big game, e.g., 22 250 Remington, 243 Winchester, 25 06 Remington, 257 Ackley Improved, 257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 Winchester, 270 Weatherby Magnum, 270 Winchester WSM, 284 Winchester, 280 Ackley Improved, 7MM Shooting Times Westerner, 7MM Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, 30 06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum, and 340 Weatherby Magnum. With the correct projectile, shot placement, and a reasonable shooting distance every caliber mentioned can dispatch the intended target.


However, some big game calibers impact results were better than others and some big game calibers were outright disappointing. However, the magnum calibers came with a price for success, e.g., heavy to extremely heavy recoil, i.e, measurable foot ponds of energy (FPE) on the shooters shoulder. While some calibers produced spectacular instant knock downs, others resulted in long tracking jobs, even with perfect shot placement. Some recoil sensitive shooters, may find the magnum calibers to intimidating or to much gun to be used effectively. While others, like myself, aren’t affected by recoil and shoot them just fine.


Notwithstanding, the main concern with heavy recoiling calibers is: “Will the shooter be as effective with a heavy recoiling caliber as the shooter would be with a lesser recoiling caliber?” Big boomers are fine if you can handle the recoil at all shooting positions one may encounter in the field, e.g., standing, kneeling, prone, and sitting but it’s not if you can’t.


PERSONAL FIELD TESTING


After analyzing my 50 plus years of big game hunting experience; on the North American Continent, I decided it was time to abandon my hard kicking magnum calibers and search for a lighter rifle and a lesser recoiling cartridge capable of dispatching my big game choices, at distances ranging from 0 - 400 yards, with moderate recoil, i.e., 11 - 13 foot pounds of free recoil, and chambered in a light rifle. The final requirement: The cartridge had to be capable of firing a 140 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity between 2,700 and 2,800 feet per second.


Due to its outstanding ballistic coefficient, sectional density, defying wind drift attribute, and energy retaining capability at long range I decided on the .264 caliber. Back in the late 90’s there were only a few 6.5 calibers on the market. The .264 Winchester magnum, the 260 Remington, and the 6.5 X 55 Swedish. However, I didn’t want a magnum and the ammunition supply for the other two weren’t readily available.


So it was, HORNADY introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Soon after it’s introduction, I purchased a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 22 inch barrel along with purchasing boxes of different types of HORNADY Ammunition. Actually, HORNADY ammunition loaded with with the excellent Interlock bullets were my preferred choice for most of my big game hunting using the excellent Weatherby Mark 5 rifles. After many years in the field, I have complete confidence, not only in HORNADY ammunition but also in the Weatherby rifles.


On the bench the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge was everything I’d ever wanted in a hunting cartridge. It was extremely accurate, capable of firing a 140 grain bullet at an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second with moderate recoil. Comparison: The 243 Winchester produces approximately 11 foot pounds of free recoil with a 100 grain bullet and the 6.5 Creedmoor produces, on average, around13 foot pounds of free recoil with 120 to 140 grain bullets. That’s of course, each cartridge is being fired from the same weight rifle. Notwithstanding, the 6.5 Creedmoor produces between 25 and 30 percent less recoil than the 308 Winchester.


Today, my hunting rifle is a Franchi Momentum bolt action rifle with a 24 inch barrel chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and topped with a Leopold 3 X 9 CDS scope. The rifle shoots 5/8 inch 100 yard groups right out of the box with HORNADY ammunition. With this rifle and scope combination; combined with a laser range finder, I can easily hit a 10 inch steel plate from 0 - 600 yards with just a twist of the scope dial.


Over-the-years, I’ve read a lot of good and bad press concerning the 6.5 Creedmoor, but my personal experience with the cartridge hasn’t been anything but spectacular. To date, every big game animal (Whitetail Deer) I’ve harvested with the 6.5 Creedmoor hasn’t taken another step from where the animal was shot. The farthest shot I’ve taken with the 6.5 Creedmoor was a measured 210 yards.However, in the South, my average shots are under 100 yards. If the occasion arouse, I wouldn’t hesitate shooting Mule Deer or Elk with the 6.5 Creedmoor out West?


After personally witnessing the immediate demise of the Whitetail Deer I’ve harvested with the 6.5 Creedmoor I wouldn’t hesitate loading up my rifle with a good HORNADY solid Copper bullet or an excellent 143 ELD X and heading to the big game hunting fields of North America on another big game hunting adventure. I’d have complete confidence I’d have the right caliber and ammunition for the intended job!


“UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE!’