6.5 Creedmoor

I have been looking at these for a long time, thinking that they would make a great hunting rifle. So I bought me a Browning X bolt and a buddy bought a Sauer 100. We have shot just about every hunting round that we can find out of them from 125 to 140 grains. While most have shot well some coming in around an inch some in the 3/4 range nothing that was really wow. So I worked up some loads with sierra gamechangers 130 gr and RE 17. I started at 40.4 gr and worked up to 43.2 the max with this powder. With the x bolt the first group was .419 so I was happy about that, but wanted to little more velocity I did not shoot them over a graph yet, but book says about 2700. The next load was .444 at around 2800 something I was happy with. The max load was around an inch. So we tried them in his everything was the same. His with the starting load as showing faint ejector marks, just enough that you could tell. On trying the next load they shot .769 and .649. The ejector marks are the same and no other signs of over pressure. Any ideas on what the problem may be or is it something to worry about? Also anyone have any ideas on another hunting load to work out.. We are going to start with Hornady 129 SST to see how they do.. thanks

My Savage likes the 140gr Nosler's the best.
.444 out of a factory rifle is not too shabby though. Next place to look for improvement is bedding.

The rifling twist in them two require the heavier bullets. I shot the 129's also and the group sucked, but 147gr ELDX Hunters shot .5 MOA all the time.

I shoot a 30/06 Creedmore, 180 grainers.

I'm curious what are your expectations?

have you tried Hornady ammo?..its the most accurate out of most of my rifles regardless of cartridge.

I agree with DC...the twist isn't working

Also how many guys have you asked at www.handloadersbench.com AND www.accuratereloading.com ?......asking for folks with your same rifles

Finding folks with your EXACT rifle shortens the learning curve by a pound of powder, at least.

Me too!... in Creedmoor Matches at Camp Perry, cept mine liked 190 Sierra Match Kings best. Most folks Hawker have no clue some Creedmoor shots are fired laying on your back.
THEN, the Leech Cup Matches with metallic sights only....takes a NICE peep to shoot 800 & 900 yds like that!

With a new rifle, I tend to buy a box or two of cheap ammo , put that through it with a biota cleaning in between ..... At this point, I don't bother about shooting groups. Just slap them into the ground in front of me. Its just about getting burrs and machining marks out of the way. Then I use a box of premium ammo to get a base line for accuracy.
From there I work up the rifle and loads, depending on what I think needs to be done. A little experience in the matter helps on where to start and reading the signs

I dont understand what the 6.5 creedmoor fuss is all about. What makes it better than a 7mm08?

At this point I am very happy with the groups that I have gotten from the x bolt. I am going to run more of the same loads through it, to make sure it stays the same. Any off the shelf rifle that will shoot less than 1/2” groups is a pretty rare find. I have the Sig rifle now, I have looked for anything that may cause the ejector marks on the brass and found nothing. I did go through the cases that were factory rounds he has shot and found some on them as well. So not sure of where to go with it next. The primers look good, bolt not sticky, cases are not swelled at least that I can find. So not sure it’s an over pressure issue or something else. I have tried most every load Hornady has from the Whitetail rounds to the Precision hunters. The best group of factory rounds was from the federal non typical in 140 gr. I have ordered some 140 gr SST and 143 gr ELD-x to try. I know we have lots of very knowledgeable shooters on here, was just looking to see their thoughts on it. Maybe I am over thinking it or expecting too much.

Hello Matt,
I don't know anything about precision shooting, but my brother is pretty handy with it. I texted him your question, and this is what he texted back. I don't know if it is right or not, but it is what he said.


"If it was not shot over chronograph then there we have no idea how fast they're going. You cant go off what a book says. Every barrel is different and also lots of powder. Don't need to be shooting reloader 17 out of a 6.5 creed anyway.

Dump the RL17, it goes crap fast if you're running it anywhere near max in hot temps, its unstable. Shoot H4350 or reloader 16.

Don't even worry about shooting groups when he does powder charge, just shoot across a chrony into a berm.

Go up .2 grains at a time and shoot 4-5 rounds at each charge and average the speed and extreme spread. it should go up every charge and have sparactic ES and then there will be a couple of charges in a row where the speed stays relatively close and the ES is low then it will start going up again. Load to the middle of that and you're done.

You can get it to shoot good when you do a seating depth test. Load 4-5 rounds again at each depth from 10-40 off the lands in. 003 increments. There will be a couple of depths in a row that shoot good, load to the short side of it and go with it, you're done."


I don't know if it answered your question, but I hope it helps. Chancey

My thoughts as well...

I'm beginning to hate the word " creedmore" more the Schumer and Obama.

They shoot lights out.. I bought a cheap one, the thing shoots 1/2 inch groups and less if you can hold it.
Always wanted an older 6.5 x 55 swed , but came across a T/C 6.5 on sale for nothing.
6.5 is a good round developed for bench shooting, after handloading it a bunch, I like it more and more. I think a Guy could do the same hand loading any of the 6.5 cartridges though.

Mine also likes the Heavier Bullets 140 Berger Hybrid shot .250 or so @100.
I use RL 17 and Hodgdon 4350 in Mine.