Whose 6.5 Creedmoor did you buy and why?

[brutus51]

Thinking of a new rifle in the above mentioned caliper. want to keep it 1k or less.
Want to have it light, handy and practical in the field, leaning towards a bolt gun with wood furniture but that's what appeals to me. Not opposed to synthetic stocks but need convincing that's the way to go, nothing against these camo stocks that are all the rage but what can be more natural in the woods than wood.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've had a Howa lightening I dropped in a S&W deluxe stock.


A Savage 11, I rebarreled to 6.5cm stainless barrel but the action under the paint is blued.


And last but not least a Ruger Go Wild!


Accuracy of all were good, the Howa and Savage bout 1" with no load searching.
The Ruger will shoot .5-.75 in it's new configuration, but with the original stock I didn't shoot it as well and it was a 1" gun also.

The Savage and Ruger handle about the same, and I personally like the Ruger action better. I also found the Ruger trigger easier to clean up, and get the pull where I wanted it.

The howas trigger is 2 stage and actually quite nice, but I don't like 2 stage triggers

Of the lot, overall I've liked the Howa the best, but it's not a light rifle. Mine was about 9lbs

The Ruger and Savage in stock form we're around 7.5-8lbs, most of that difference was in the scopes.

Personally, for what you want, I'd probably look at a Tikka, even if I personally don't care for them. They come in pretty decent wood stocks and are lighter than most of the other options.
A Savage might be a good choice as well, but I haven't looked at any of thier offerings lately.
Another cheaper option I'd personally (I am actually) consider would be a Mossberg Patriot, as much crap as they get the actual owners seem pretty happy with them. I've never shot one, but handled the .375 Ruger, and it felt at least as good as your average Savage.

 

[someguy2800]

Since you asked mine is an AR10, which is not light or handy or wood in any way.



If I were going to buy a new bolt action deer rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor with a wood stock I would get a Weatherby Vanguard, a Bergara, or a Winchester model 70.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'd forgotten about the Bergaras, also the Abolt3 and Xbolts, and the Winchester's......wow brain not workie

 

[TN Outlaw]

That Howa in the s&w stock is sweet. It really caught my eye.

brutus51,

I too would look at Tikka, and also a Wby s2 deluxe or sporter for a wood stocked version. Even Win makes a mod70 I believe.

For one to drag through the woods and in any weather without it breaking your heart, the Ruger American Predator is a nice choice.

 

[LoonWulf]

That Howa in the s&w stock is sweet. It really caught my eye

Thanks, the stocks are still available, and it's something I'm gonna do again. Just in a caliber that can take advantage of the extra gun weight in recoil attenuation.

Just a note on the Wbys (I have a wood stocked .270), it's the same basic gun as the Howa (I'd pony up for a deluxe as the stocks quite a bit nicer), and has the same weight range. Makes shooting the .270 very comfortable, but topped with a 20oz scope, the thing weights a ton.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Check out the Bergara. It shoulders and points naturally. If I hadn't bought a Weatherby already, I would have chosen it over the Weatherby.
I don't have a need for the 6.5 cm, so I don't have one.

 

[jmr40]

I bought a Ruger Predator initially just to experiment with the cartridge and see if I'd like it. I still feel it is the cheapest option that will provide good accuracy. I found that the round lived up to the hype and stumbled onto a great deal on a Bergara. Got it for $550 OTD. The Bergara isn't any more accurate, but certainly is more aesthetically pleasing. I couldn't justify keeping 2 rifles in 6.5 CM so I sold the Ruger.

I think the Bergara's normally sell for closer to $700. If given the option of buying a Bergara at $700 or a Tikka at $700 I'd buy the Tikka. And while I have nothing negative to say about the Bergara, I still think the Tikka is the better rifle.

Not opposed to synthetic stocks but need convincing that's the way to go,

It makes no sense to have a rifle with the accuracy potential of a 6.5 CM and handicap it with a wood stock.

 

[LoonWulf]

Oh a note on Bergaras....the bottom metal is bloody heavy, I assume it's a steel of some sort. Swapping there for an aluminum Remington 700 bottom metal will save you 1/4lb right there.

 

[troy fairweather]

for wood, the winchester m70 would be hard to beat.

 

[Skylerbone]

I started with a T/C Compass, purchased on a whim for $169.97 after rebate (Black Friday sale). It has a somewhat flexy composite stock, good squishy recoil pad, shorter than average LOP, and descent trigger.

Added a RAP that could be described in most of the same terms as the Thompson but with a longer LOP. The T/C has been more accurate to now using only factory loads, with plans to reload in the near future.

I feel a compelling argument could be made for either if you’re in the market, wood stock be damned. No experience with others in 6.5 Creedmoor but I do plan on a future purchase of the Sauer in 6.5

 

[Garandimal]

for wood, the winchester m70 would be hard to beat.

Think it's a little heavy for that caliber.

Would think < 7.5 lbs. scoped would be ideal.

Course, for a round tailor-made for a box magazine - would be tempting to going semi-auto.




GR

 

[troy fairweather]

i you really want light get a kimber.

 

[OrangeCat]

I've had a Howa lightening I dropped in a S&W deluxe stock.

How "upgradable" is the Howa. Could you get it up and running for a smallish initial expense and refine it as you go along or are there better options?

 

[Newtosavage]

I just dropped a 6.5 CM Savage Axis barrel on my model 10, and viola'! A 6.5CM Savage. Shoots fantastic. I don't plan on changing a thing.

 

[FL-NC]

Ruger American Predator. Light, accurate, rugged, priced right, excellent customer service from Ruger. The only thing it doesn't have is good looks. I don't mind taking beautiful trophies with an ugly rifle. I figure the 2 will balance each other out.

 

[LoonWulf]

How "upgradable" is the Howa. Could you get it up and running for a smallish initial expense and refine it as you go along or are there better options?

There are dm kits, triggers, stocks, pretty much everything you can replace has an option besides bolt parts, and those might be available as well.
There is not as much variety as a Savage or Remington, but stuff is available.

My lightening cost 315, the s&w stock 150. The factory trigger went as low as 2.5lbs and broke clean, just didn't like the 2 stage. Bedded the action which made a difference, and was easy since it's flat bottomed.

Again really only detractor I can think of is that they are heavy, and you generally can't change that.

If you want a bit more refinement, some exotic calibers (tho howas got a decent list), than the why Vanguard's are an excellent option, tho again IMO you need to go beyond the base vanguard's to really get much difference.

 

[OrangeCat]

Weight isn't a big concern most shooting that I can think of doing will be fairly stationary, I might regret the bravado later but my two long actions are big heavy surplus rifles. I actually have a mild preference for triggers with a bit more play in them then most people. Although the Sakochester is kinda breaking me on that account. Exotic isn't really a concern I've been tossing around .243, 6.5 cm and 7mm08. Maybe .308 but I think that range is fairly well handled by the Swede, and was thinking a short action between it and the .223 would be nice.

 

[LoonWulf]

Weight isn't a big concern most shooting that I can think of doing will be fairly stationary, I might regret the bravado later but my two long actions are big heavy surplus rifles. I actually have a mild preference for triggers with a bit more play in them then most people. Although the Sakochester is kinda breaking me on that account. Exotic isn't really a concern I've been tossing around .243, 6.5 cm and 7mm08. Maybe .308 but I think that range is fairly well handled by the Swede, and was thinking a short action between it and the .223 would be nice.

The short actions howas would be a good choice for bench shooting, and having a heavier tube to go with the heavy action wouldn't be excessive, they got varmint/target options that are pretty nice. A heavy 6.5 would be cool, all of mine WERE lighter, my Ruger now weights 11lbs

If your interested in a .223, x39, 6.5Grendel or similar take a look at the Howa mini actions. they are shorter, and lighter. The upgrade path isn't as long as the regular short actions but you've got the Boyd's stocks, as well as mdt chassis' systems. Triggers (which you may or.may not want) are available from timney
There are light, regular and heavy barrel options, and generally they shoot well and are well regarded.
500bucks+transfer otd also.

Want something a little classier and there are the cz527s, but they are expensive and have no upgrade path. I just ordered one of these in 6.5G and If I hadn't wanted wood, and a longer barrel, I'd have gotten the howa.

 

[Gtscotty]

My hunting 6.5 is a Kimber 84 Montana. The Montana is a bit over $1k, but the same nice action can be had in a decent polymer stock in the form of the Kimber Hunter for ~$700. Kimbers are very light, maybe too light for some people or uses, but I've been very happy with mine, how it shoots and how it carries.



I know that's not a wood stock, but you might find a decent composite is preferable to wood for actual usage. That's the conclusion I came to anyway.

Tikkas are pretty light and usually very good shooters, I know they are offering the T3x Lite and Lite SS in 6.5, I'm not sure if they chamber the wood stocked Hunter in 6.5.

If the blued and wood stocked look is a hard requirement, both the M70 Featherweight and Browning X-Bolts are excellent options.

Just from playing with the new Sauer 100s in the store and they seem like a nice rifle with excellent features. Accuracy reports are good, I wouldn't mind picking one up some day.

 

[troy fairweather]

My hunting 6.5 is a Kimber 84 Montana. The Montana is a bit over $1k, but the same nice action can be had in a decent polymer stock in the form of the Kimber Hunter for ~$700. Kimbers are very light, maybe too light for some people or uses, but I've been very happy with mine, how it shoots and how it carries.

View attachment 837198

I know that's not a wood stock, but you might find a decent composite is preferable to wood for actual usage. That's the conclusion I came to anyway.

Tikkas are pretty light and usually very good shooters, I know they are offering the T3x Lite and Lite SS in 6.5, I'm not sure if they chamber the wood stocked Hunter in 6.5.

If the blued and wood stocked look is a hard requirement, both the M70 Featherweight and Browning X-Bolts are excellent options.

Just from playing with the new Sauer 100s in the store and they seem like a nice rifle with excellent features. Accuracy reports are good, I wouldn't mind picking one up some day.

there are some kimber classic for just over $1000 but no 6.5 cm's i would like to pick up a hunter one day and try it out.

 

[rayatphonix]

None of mine meet your exact criteria, but may offer some insight. I’ve got 2 Sako A7’s. Long Range and Roughtech Pro. The LR is heavy but exceedingly accurate and the Pro is a lighter weight version that shoots nearly as well. Both are easy to reload for and I’ve found good loads with a variety of bullets. Sako and Tikka use the same barrels and I would expect very similar performance. I’ve got older Tikkas in several other calibers and all shoot very well.

I’ve also got a Bergara Stalker. It can be just as accurate as the Sakos, but it was more of a challenge to find a good hunting load, but once I did, accuracy is great. I’ve handled their Woodsman and Timber models, and prefer the Woodsman stock. If you want a walnut stock, either would be a good choice. Barrel is the same as my Stalker.

The Bergara is based on a Remington 700 type chassis, so you’ll have lots of choices if you want to upgrade. Tikka 3x’s are extremely popular, and upgrades are probably available too.

 

[Newtosavage]

BTW, my Savage 6.5 build wears a Lightweight Hunter walnut stock that weighs only 27 oz. I chopped the barrel to 20" and the entire rifle only weighs 6 lbs. 15 oz. scoped with a VX2 2-7x33. It's a beautiful, accurate and great handling rifle. This is my 2nd Savage build using the LWH walnut stock and for the life of me I am not sure why more people don't use it. It only takes the smallest amount of fitting to drop a model 10/11 action into it. Total cost of the build was under $700, scope and all. Those LWH walnut stocks are available direct from Savage for about $300, but if you're patient and know where to look, you can find used ones for less.

 

[Newtosavage]

Shoots "okay" too.

 

[bob_atl]

1st was a RAP with boyds stock, metal trigger guard, and metal bolt cover upgrades. Wanted to try this caliber and reloading for it, at entry level.
2nd, Savage 10 GRS, liked the stock ergonomics and savage barreled action. Its my goto range stick.
3rd, 24" heavy barrel AR10 upper build-up - just cause,,,. (however it beats up brass bad enough to keep the brass separate)