6.5 Creedmoor or Swede

[2labs]

Ballistically very close. Seems the Swede is under powered to be used in older weapons (chamber pressure).I would reload for either. So what would you choose for a new semi-custom build and why.

[WoodlandShooter]

6.5 Sweedmore!! 

[CAMPMEAT]

My gunsmith is building a 6.5 Creedmoor for himself. He's Mr. Perfectionist, so I would go that way. I have a Savage 6.5 Creedmoor and out of the box I shot his 900 yards steel, 2 times. With my eyes closed too.....

[kukusya]

For target Creed for hunt Swede because you can use more heavier bullets that Creed

[RadSav]

For target Creed for hunt Swede because you can use more heavier bullets that Creed

Why would you need More Heavier bullets than 140 in a 6.5?

[kukusya]

For target Creed for hunt Swede because you can use more heavier bullets that Creed

Why would you need More Heavier bullets than 140 in a 6.5?

To hunt elk in dense cover forest In wet side. Heavier bullets delivered devastating damage, penetrated dipper that bigger caliber with same bullet weight. Less recoil and most important did not ricochet from brushes.

[CAMPMEAT]

6.5 Creedmoor with 140 grain Berger VLD's are devastating on game.

[RadSav]

To hunt elk in dense cover forest In wet side. Heavier bullets delivered devastating damage, penetrated dipper that bigger caliber with same bullet weight. Less recoil and most important did not ricochet from brushes.

Who is making these more heavier bullets for the 6.5?  Just curious.

[kukusya]

Norma makes Oryx or Alaska 156gr, Lapua 155gr, Sako 155gr,  Prvi Partizan 156gr. And if you reload Hornady makes 160 grainer.
I prefer Norma Oryx or Prvi Partizan due to performance, price point and availability.

[Miles]

To hunt elk in dense cover forest In wet side. Heavier bullets delivered devastating damage, penetrated dipper that bigger caliber with same bullet weight. Less recoil and most important did not ricochet from brushes.

Who is making these more heavier bullets for the 6.5?  Just curious.

My Dad used the Norma 156 grain ammo out of his 6.5x55 this year on his moose.   The heavier bullet shot great out of his Tikka T3 (but then again so do the lighter bullets).

[Miles]

I also own a 6.5x55 and really like it for hunting and target shooting.   I'm not big into reloading and ballistics, I just like the performance/recoil ratio...

[12Gauge]

I like the Swede and I have one on a Large ring Mauser. 

If you do get the Swede get a barrel that has a 1 - 8 twist for stability of heavier bullets.  The Swede is what I use now for big game hunting.

[b23]

Ballistically very close. Seems the Swede is under powered to be used in older weapons (chamber pressure).I would reload for either. So what would you choose for a new semi-custom build and why.

They're very close to the same case capacity, with the Swede being slightly larger, but If nothing else, I'd pick the 6.5x55 Swede over the 6.5Creed for the much better and longer lasting Lapua brass.  They both cost nearly the same but the Lapua will easily out last the others. 

If I were doing a semi custom and you said you reload your own, I'd opt for the 6.5x55 Ackley Improved version, especially if I planned on shooting the 140's.  The "improved" 6.5x55 with 140's makes for a pretty healthy long range shooter.

[coachcw]

why not run the 6.5x284 if your looking at the 140s  . a couple hundred fps is nice on the big end .

[kirkthoma]

why not run the 6.5x284 if your looking at the 140s  . a couple hundred fps is nice on the big end .

I shoot the 6.5-284 in a Savage. Devastating on both deer and bear with 140 VLD. I shoot around 2900 fps.  Regardless, you can't argue with the ballistic efficiency of the 6.5. At longer ranges, you get almost the same performance as a .300 win in a gun that is shootable in a Tee shirt.

[kukusya]

why not run the 6.5x284 if your looking at the 140s  . a couple hundred fps is nice on the big end .

Barrel life almost 3 times less with 6.5x284 and ammo price higher.

[b23]

why not run the 6.5x284 if your looking at the 140s  . a couple hundred fps is nice on the big end .

Barrel life almost 3 times less with 6.5x284 and ammo price higher.

3X longer may be a bit of a stretch.  The 6.5-284 has often been over stated as a barrel burner.  Are they harder on barrels than some others, sure.  Does that mean they'll torch a barrel in 800rnds, that's largely dependent on how you shoot it.  Get em hot and keep banging away on the trigger and it'll be like a blow torch in your chamber and there won't be much left of it but use a little common sense and let it cool between shots and it'll last considerably longer.  I'll bet the majority of the bad rep the 6.5-284 gets as a barrel burner came from the benchrest shooters but you have to remember, they'll often wait for the wind to be at it's best then shoot as fast as they can to get all their shoots in while the wind is at it's most favorable.

[coachcw]

I will never burn my 6.5 up really for a hunting rig it's not a issue .