Bergara HMR - 6.5 Creedmore

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Morrey

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One of my whitetail hunting buddies has hunted with his Bergara 6.5 this season and has made kills with each shot. He trailed one, but heck, that happens with virtually any caliber. He loves this gun, but I think he is nuts over this caliber for some reason.

His is not the HMR, but a more hunting specific version of the lineup. I am very tempted to try this gun and give my .308 a rest from action. I'll need reloading dies for 6.5, but that's no biggie. I hope to shoot some paper, but I am more of a 100 yd guy and not a LR shooter. But I like to hunt with the same gun as I shoot targets so this gun look like the real deal. With reported low recoil, I think I'll enjoy this gun. I have a 30 cal suppressor, so that will tame the sound down some too.

Basically, I'm hoping to hear from someone who has the 6.5 HMR and can give me a real life opinion. Is the gun worth the investment...and is the caliber worth the expense of the new reloading dies and gauges? Just your opinion...…..Thanks!
 
Well I have no experience with the gun although my 2 Bergara barrels for my Encore are both shooters. As for the 6.5 creedmoor cartridge yes recoil will be less than a 308, but if you aren't a long range shooter as you say, you won't benefit from it much. But in my opinion a full gun safe is a happy gun safe.. the more the merrier!
 
A buddy at work who has killed deer for decades with .270, .280, .308, .30-06 etc bought a 6.5 Creedmore for this year and he loves it.
 
Dont own a Bergara but I've been looking at the Bergara HMR in 6.5 cm also. Looks like a very well made double duty rifle for not much more, if any, than a comparable Remington once you add in all the feature cost to buy or upgrade a Remington. Truth be told you'll likely come out cheaper in the long run.

I dont hunt much and if I were to do so I have other rifles for that. Still, that 6.5 cm teamed up with the HMR Bergara looks like a win win as a do all kind of thing. Why bother with the unnecessary recoil of the 308 when all you're doing is punching paper at 100 yards. Besides, loading dies really don't cost that much and in the grand scheme of things.
 
There are a lot of ways to go on this one, depending on you. You could...

Spend the money on the Bergara and dies to have a fast, flat shooter that is best suited to cheating long range wind and retaining energy efficiency at ranges further than you shoot.

Buy a second stock for your .308 and convert it to a 10-month a year bag hugger and back again in time for hunting season while spending the remaining dough on a really nice scope. This would also take recoil most of the year for you, saving wear and tear on you shoulder.

Skip over both, fine a .243 on the used rack that someone else didn’t love as much as the idea of a new rifle in 6.5 CM and have a low recoil, 200 yard capable hunting rifle that is all you could really want for in low recoil and 100 yard paper chasing. This option also allows money for a second “range only” stock option to improve group size.

No one rifle will suit every task well and there is no magic caliber to mate to such a rifle were it to exist. I own 2 6.5s, bought for a very specific purpose in mind and I’m sure they will work fine. In my case what was on sale and in stock determined caliber.
 
If you only shoot at 100 yards, there's really no reason to go with a 6.5. The biggest advantage of that cartridge really only comes into play when you're shooting distance. It does have a bit less recoil and is the new cool round to have, so if those are important to you go for it. But don't expect it to do anything better than your .308 given the short range.
 
I like the fact that it has less recoil a lot

So does .243 or...a $40 recoil pad upgrade. I can comfortably shoot my 30-06s at the range to the tune of 25 rounds x 2 in a t-shirt and narry a bruise will they leave. Not a fan of recoil but not getting rid of the rifle dad bought me (or its back-up in the same caliber). Lots of ways to skin that cat.
 
One of my whitetail hunting buddies has hunted with his Bergara 6.5 this season and has made kills with each shot. He trailed one, but heck, that happens with virtually any caliber. He loves this gun, but I think he is nuts over this caliber for some reason.

His is not the HMR, but a more hunting specific version of the lineup. I am very tempted to try this gun and give my .308 a rest from action. I'll need reloading dies for 6.5, but that's no biggie. I hope to shoot some paper, but I am more of a 100 yd guy and not a LR shooter. But I like to hunt with the same gun as I shoot targets so this gun look like the real deal. With reported low recoil, I think I'll enjoy this gun. I have a 30 cal suppressor, so that will tame the sound down some too.

Basically, I'm hoping to hear from someone who has the 6.5 HMR and can give me a real life opinion. Is the gun worth the investment...and is the caliber worth the expense of the new reloading dies and gauges? Just your opinion...…..Thanks!

I haven't been bitten with the 6.5 CM bug, but only because I am already smitten with the 6.5x55 Swede. Their ballistic similarity ends with the Swede's ability to throw 160grs down range. With today's bullets, I can't see how that matters.

The Bergara seems an excellent idea. I don't have one but a very good friend has what I think is the B14(?) In 308 Win and 243win. He raves about them. Very impressed and says that value for money, he' d never by another make of hunting rifle.

However, if you aren't interested in long range shooting, hunting, 6.5CM and a fine precision rifle seems overkill. No reason not to of course. But maybe you want to look into a A milsurp or milsporter and low recoil cast bullet loads? Worth a thought.
 
The 6.5 CM, or 6.5X55 and event the 260 compares closely to 270 as a hunting cartridge. They all shoot the same bullet weights about 200 fps slower at the muzzle. But the better SD of the 6.5 bullets compared to the 270 (6.8mm) mean better penetration with the 6.5. And the better BC's mean the 6.5's will make up most of that 200 fps disadvantage at around 200 yards. And the 6.5's recoil is closer to 243 than 308.

Compared to your 308, the 6.5 with 140-147 gr bullets beats 308 with 150-165 gr bullets. If you move up to 180's in the 308 they are very comparable out to about 400 yards, then the 6.5's start pulling away.

I've had a Ruger Predator in 6.5 CM for about 2 years. I bought it to get into an accurate 6.5 as cheaply as possible to find out what the fuss was about. I'm pleased with the rifle and have concluded the 6.5 CM lives up to the hype. But the Ruger is somewhat lacking in aesthetics and when I ran across a good deal on a Bergara B14 hunting rifle in 6.5 CM at a good price I bought it. Trigger time with the Bergara is somewhat limited, but so far it matches the Ruger for accuracy. I'm going to spend some time shooting both this winter after deer season ends and will likely keep one and sell the other this summer.

Some thoughts on the Bergara. The stock is "nicer looking", but is still a cheap stock. If I keep it I'll likely upgrade to McMillan. The rifle is a touch heavier than I prefer. Changing the stock will help get the weight down. I believe they use Timney triggers. No matter who makes it, the trigger on my Bergara is very good.

At 100 yards your 308 does everything the 6.5 does, just with more recoil. It is noticeable, but if your 308 doesn't bother you then there isn't much advantage to buying another rifle. But as range increases the 6.5 looks better and better.
 
I bought my first 6.5 Creedmoor probably 8 years ago. Ruger did a run of No. 1V in that caliber and I’ve been a Creedmoor fan ever since. 2 years ago I bought a Bergara in that caliber, but the Stalker, not the HMR. Great rifle suited for hunting. It’s more expensive than the B14 line, but the stock is outstanding so no upgrade ideas. It’s one of my go to rifles for deer. There’s a 6.5 Creedmore website (65creedmoor.com) and virtually all members with the HMR seem very happy. If you like the stock, I’d say to go for it.
 
So far I have had 3 Creedmoors and find that it is an excellent round for deer. At present I am shooting the 143 gr ELD-X. Took a doe at 200 yards and left a golfball sized exit hole. Shots at deer have run from 20 yards to 350 yards. Bullets have been 120 gr speer, 120 gr Barnes, 129 Gr Accubond LR. 130 gr Accubond and the ELD-X. All shot well and put deer on the ground. Recoil is light in my Bergara B-14. The Ruger Am. Predator bucks a little harder. I ordered a Bergara HMR for a friend and looked it over but didn't shoot it. It has all the makings of a tack driver. Floated barrel, good trigger. The owner said that it is a fun gun and showed me a 5 shot group measuring .57". I could own one.
 
As anyone considers a new rifle, a host of factors come into play. When I am hunting, recoil is of little concern since it is usually one and done. Punching paper is a whole different situation. Round after round on the bench eventually takes a toll, and no matter how much I try to say I can handle the recoil, some flinching after a few dozen rounds of a .308 is going to happen. I videoed myself, and darn, the video doesn't lie. I would swear I didn't flinch - the video proves differently, and my groups show it. I like to think the hot barrel and fouling is opening the group, but rest assured, flinching is a major player too.

Would a 6.5 CM help to prevent this flinch, or even help control and reduce this tendency? Hard to say, so I'm wondering if the investment is worth the $$ to try it? I may ask my buddy to let me shoot his Bergara so the grouping may tell me how well I can handle this gun. His is a Stalker, not the HMR, but the recoil may be similar enough to make an evaluation. I really like tack drivers and that desire can get expensive. This gun may satisfy my tack driver desire with a minimal investment.
 
I am pushing it with 41 gr. of 760 which is a mild load. The doe didn't know it. This rifle shoots them around 1MOA with 5 shots but will keep 3 rounds close to 1/2. Another load that I have shot out to 500 yards was the 129 gr with ABLR with H4350. What I liked about it was the fact that it matched the hash marks in my Vortex scope perfectly. I was shooting 6" groups at 500 yards and I am not a great shot.
 
I am pushing it with 41 gr. of 760 which is a mild load. The doe didn't know it. This rifle shoots them around 1MOA with 5 shots but will keep 3 rounds close to 1/2. Another load that I have shot out to 500 yards was the 129 gr with ABLR with H4350. What I liked about it was the fact that it matched the hash marks in my Vortex scope perfectly. I was shooting 6" groups at 500 yards and I am not a great shot.
I have a good amount of H4350 on hand if I make the decision to go with 6.5CM. Sounds like a winner!
 
You can run plated bullets with cat bullet data and cut recoil to nothing.
You are looking at a fine rifle though.
 
Morrey, the HMR has a threaded barrel so a muzzle brake can be added. The Stalker barrel isn’t threaded. The brake can make a big difference in recoil if the additional noise doesn’t bother you. I have a Creedmoor with a brake and I never notice the recoil. That’s an advantage of the HMR.
 
I don't have an HMR, but have shot one, and thought it was a nice rifle, certainly a 700 done right, if you are a 700 fan. The owner of the HMR I shot had feeding oror ejection issues (can't remember which one) when he first got it, but Bergara took care of him.

Shots at deer have run from 20 yards to 350 yards. Bullets have been 120 gr speer, 120 gr Barnes, 129 Gr Accubond LR. 130 gr Accubond and the ELD-X.

How was the terminal performance of the 129gr ABLR? Did you get good penetration? I'm thinking about giving the 142gr version a try next year.
 
I don't have an HMR, but have shot one, and thought it was a nice rifle, certainly a 700 done right, if you are a 700 fan. The owner of the HMR I shot had feeding oror ejection issues (can't remember which one) when he first got it, but Bergara took care of him.



How was the terminal performance of the 129gr ABLR? Did you get good penetration? I'm thinking about giving the 142gr version a try next year.
I only took two with it and both were about 125-150 yards shots. Both broadside and complete penetration with quarter sized exit holes. All of the longer shots that I have had ranged from 250- 350 yards and were with the 130gr AB. This was my go to bullet for the CM until I tried the 143 gr ELD-X. I haven't had a shot over 200 yards with the ELD though.
 
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