Selling a 30/06 to buy a 6.5 Creedmoor

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I have shot several rifles with several types of brakes. The ones I didn’t sell are in a wooden box. No thanks. The difference in recoil is negligible for hunting. If that’s what you want invest in quality hearing protection even for just one shot. Ear pain will occur. For me they take the pleasure out of shooting the gun. 6.5 kicks less than even 308 but to each their own. If your hunting situation is bad enough that the recoil from a low recoiling rifle is an issue I’d make changes to the set up. Never owned or shot tikkas but have handled them and they are a nice rifle. Hear good things from those that do shoot them
 
HoosierHunter128 said:
I don't either. This will be the most expensive bolt action I've ever bought. But, I just want the best I can for my budget, and hopefully not be looking again in a few years
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you can't go wrong with a Tikka. Light, accurate as heck and reasonably priced. That's what I'd recommend.

I've owned four now, and they were all easily sub-MOA with two of them pushing 1/2 MOA routinely.
 
I have never had an issue with the bolt handles on my Bergaras and I know I’ve put over 1000 rounds through them. I’d never heard of this problem so I did a search on the net and came back with 3 hits. In each case Bergara stepped up and fixed the issue. I don’t believe this is a common problem.

I also have a handful of older Tikkas. They make a fantastic rifle.
 
I’ve put a bunch of rounds through a Bergara Approach in 6.5 Creedmoor. Fine rifle and extremely accurate, but definitely not a lightweight rig. That medium contour barrel is pretty heavy compared to most hunting rifles.

Of the guns you have listed, I think I’d go with the Tikka. They are pretty well accepted as great shooters. They have extremely smooth actions and they that model is fairly light. It actually feels lighter in the hand than the advertised weight.
 
Bacon buster said:
I have shot several rifles with several types of brakes. The ones I didn’t sell are in a wooden box. No thanks. The difference in recoil is negligible for hunting. If that’s what you want invest in quality hearing protection even for just one shot. Ear pain will occur. For me they take the pleasure out of shooting the gun. 6.5 kicks less than even 308 but to each their own. If your hunting situation is bad enough that the recoil from a low recoiling rifle is an issue I’d make changes to the set up. Never owned or shot tikkas but have handled them and they are a nice rifle. Hear good things from those that do shoot them
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It’s not that I NEED a brake on a 6.5. In indiana we were a shotgun only state for most of my life. I hunted with a 12ga with slugs, and if you’ve ever shot a 12 ga slug, you know that is a ton of recoil. The only brake I have right now is on my 6.5 AR, and I love being able to pull the trigger and watch the bullet hit my target. I like minimal recoil. I never have thought about the noise. It doesn’t bother me at all. I have pretty inexpensive muffs that seem to work just fine. I don’t really get why people say brakes are unbearably loud. I don’t have that issue.
 
marksman13 said:
I’ve put a bunch of rounds through a Bergara Approach in 6.5 Creedmoor. Fine rifle and extremely accurate, but definitely not a lightweight rig. That medium contour barrel is pretty heavy compared to most hunting rifles.

Of the guns you have listed, I think I’d go with the Tikka. They are pretty well accepted as great shooters. They have extremely smooth actions and they that model is fairly light. It actually feels lighter in the hand than the advertised weight.
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I held a Sako A7 at Cabelas before the pandemic, and it was light, and felt well made also.
 
HoosierHunter128 said:
I know that I can buy another cheap rifle like I did 20 years ago, and spin the wheel and hope to get a great shooter like I did with my 770 in 300 win mag. I don't want to do that. I was hoping to get some opinions on what is out there right now for what I am looking for. I have to hang off of a deer stand, and shoot in uncomfortable situations, and I want a rifle that doesn't kick like a mule, so that I can be confident and know that I'm not going to cut my eye, or have to be super tired from my holding position, or whatever else. Im just saying. I am hoping you will look at the list, tell me what is good, what is bad, and what I've missed. Forget about elk. Think about the best rifle on the list, and let me know of another should I have missed it. What should I buy? and why?
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I would go with a shorter barrel if I was in a deerstand and especially a climber.

jmorris said:
Sell it, the worst that could happen is later you wish you hadn’t.
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I have sold three rifles in my life. One I got back after 35 years, one I'm glad I sold because it spent a lot of time in the shop, and one I wish i had back. In my case , if the rifle shoots well and functions well, I have no reason to sell it.
 
LoonWulf said:
Id go with the Mesa, Bergara, or X-bolt, because those are what have the features that appeal to me the most, at a cost I dont find excessive....Obviously because I've already said I WANT a Mesa you can put that at the top of my list (I've also already got an X-bolt, and had a Bergara)

My likes in terms of basic hunting rifles....
Tang, or side safeties.
Actions that are the correct length for the cartridge.
Stocks that are more rounded in contour
Barrels at LEAST 22" long
Locking bolt

My dislikes
Wing safties
Short barrels
Single size actions
squarish contour stocks

Maybe make a list of must have feature, want features, and DONT want features, then compare the rifles that way........I know that's not what your looking for, but unless you put something like a 770 in there, Its nearly impossible for us to tell YOU exactly what NOT to get much less what TO get.
Even after all that, there may be a issue with how a particular rifle feels, that none of us can help you with.
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Right now my top 2 are the hells canyon and mesa I think. They seem to check the boxes of low maintenance, lightweight, has a brake, seemingly accurate, at an affordable price. I really like the control round feed on my model 70. I also like 3 position safeties and 60 degree bolts. I'll check to see which of these has those traits if either. Someone mentioned that a stainless barrel that's cerakoted is the best way to go. I believe the Mesa checks that box.
 
You shouldn’t have any trouble seeing hits with a 6.5. That’s one thing I miss about my 308. If you’re used to a brake then I can see your preference to them. Me personally was a no go. I can say that I have been on a lot of hunts where my ears have allowed me to know there was activity and led to groceries on the ground and also that there have been several times I needed to communicate with another hunter and times where I didn’t have time to worry about muffs. Each situation is different and you know what’s best for your applications. Above recommendations are all great options. Garandimal posted a nice one
 
H&Hhunter said:
Louder than any other center fire rifle? Not in my experience.
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Likely sat next to one with a brake. My 50 BMG will knock the bark off an oak tree 2 ft to the left of it and comparing that to rifles without brakes.
 
jmorris said:
Likely sat next to one with a brake. My 50 BMG will knock the bark off an oak tree 2 ft to the left of it and comparing that to rifles without brakes.
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My guess as well, of course any high pressure CF round is loud with a brake. I personally hate brakes but I understand why people have them.
 
EIB0879 said:
If I was going to buy another bolt action I would probably buy a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC assuming I could find ammo.
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I can find one in a 6.5 creed for $550. That's a bargain for what you get, just not what I'm looking for. They're really accurate from what I've read
 
mentioned noisy, not loud. shoot a 3006> booms. both my creeds crack piercing noise. nothing i want to hunt deer, bear in minn with.
...btdt with a 50 and a brake. also a boss on a browning, have a 375 h h interarms, etc. its the tone. bob
 
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HoosierHunter128 said:
I have decided to sell my Weatherby Weatherguard in 30/06. It's accurate, and a fine rifle, shoots sub MOA and on good days 1/2 MOA, just not what I want. I have it listed on gun broker, and is sitting at my local shop on consignment, and I think someone will buy it. I just don't really have a need for a second 30 caliber. I have a 300 win mag, and I rarely shoot it. I just don't like the recoil. I recently bought an AR in a 6.5 creedmoor and put an APA little bastard on it, and it is very accurate, and the recoil is awesome. It is very heavy though, and I hunt in Indiana, and it is rainy and crappy during deer season and it just doesn't make it out into the woods. I want a rifle that I can take out into the worst weather, and not worry about it. I also want it to balance light weight with recoil, so somewhere between 6.5- 8lbs. I have other rifles that are wood and steel, and they are great, but I want a dedicated poor weather rifle, which tends to be what I use most. I created a spreadsheet of what I'm considering, and the list is long. One of which is a semi-custom build by ER shaw. I'm wondering your guys thoughts. I really want a synthetic stock, stainless or cerekote barrel, and a brake, or at least threaded. I am very happy with the APA brake I have and would have no problem just adding one to this new rifle if its only threaded. What are your thoughts? I'm not a guy to buy several rifles that serve the same purpose, so I want this to be the best all around for accuracy and consistency. I can't spend $3000 on a custom build, and am trying to stay under $2000, and hopefully around $1000. I mostly woods hunt, but have 300-500 yard field shots that I would like to be able to not flinch at. I also plan to take this on Elk hunts in the future. I do not shoot for fun, and am not a weekend warrior at the range. In fact, I didn't renew when Covid hit. I now just set my sights at the farm.

The other thought is to have a smith thread the barrel of my 30/06 and I add a brake. I really just want something nicer and lighter though. I'm going to try and add my spreadsheet.

Please let me know your thoughts on the best long range, semi-light weight, synthetic rifle for accuracy and brand consistency, with a brake or threaded for one, which offers 6.5 creedmoor.

I think sometimes it's just nice to be told what to do, and why...(don't tell my wife)
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kinda like my Wby Mk V Subalpine 6.5 CM. Weighs 5.75 lbs. Paid 1200.
 
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HoosierHunter128 said:
I just looked at that stock and it is atrocious. HAHAHA. Were you being serious?
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I just looked it up, damn butt load more money than I paid. A nice Boyds laminate is $173

Preferred barrel blanks make a variable shoulder replacement barrel for $385.00.
 
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