Has anyone hunted with 6.5 creedmoor in Africa?

I just got a 6.5 creedmoor in a Blaser K95 single shot.

Thinking of taking it to Africa the next time I go to Africa from the US. Most likely my next few Africa trips will be with outfitter guns. But this rifle would be perfect for shooting impalas - my favorite game meat.

Mike

I think you might find in some countries you are limited to what you can hunt with it, legally.

Having said that, I would be more than happy to hunt any plains game using it.

Absolutely fantastic cartridge and with the right bullets more than adequate for much of Africa's plains game.

I was skeptical about using this cartridge on bigger game but when my client's .338 Lapua started shooting erratically during a hunt in the Northern Cape a couple of years back we decided to let him use his other (smaller) rifle on his Eland.

The Eland was ranged at 303 yards when my client made the perfect shot with his 6.5 Creedmoor. It only ran for 60 yards before dropping stone cold dead.

I fell in love with the cartridge - so much so - that I got a rifle in this caliber for myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Has anyone hunted with 6.5 creedmoor in Africa?

I just got a 6.5 creedmoor in a Blaser K95 single shot.

Thinking of taking it to Africa the next time I go to Africa from the US. Most likely my next few Africa trips will be with outfitter guns. But this rifle would be perfect for shooting impalas - my favorite game meat.

Mike

It’s become quite popular in SA with the long range crowd and target shooters.

There’s a lot of Remington and Howa rifles available at very low prices.

Ammunition is also widely available at the larger gun shops.

Haven’t seen it in the field though, but quite sure it will handle everything up to Eland with proper shot placement and correct bullets

I just love this newly found love affair here!

The 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser and the 260 Remington have exactly the same performance, for donkeys years!

Reminds me of a gentleman working for Holland and Holland telling me that the 240 H&H is better at stag hunting than the 243 Winchester!

Apparently it kills them better!

And don't forget the 6,5 x 57 (R), won't be much of a difference to the 6.5 Creedmore - at least the game won't feel a difference provided the bullets and their weight are more or less identical.

Am I the only one who remembers Finn Aagaard who said the 6.5x555was the perfect deer csrtridge ?

The 6.5 Mannlicher was popular throughout Africa - Accurate and game fell over. Put a well constructed bullet in the right place and game is going to fall over very quickly. Bullet choice is probably more important than calibre.

An interesting article

https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/...s-shooters-not-game/

It is correct that certain rules regarding things such as muzzle energy and bore diameter exist in some countries and provinces of RSA.

I agree; great for Impala sized game and even a bit more. Wayne von Zwoll took eland with a 6.5CM as I recall, although I think he termed it "marginal for game this big". There is a video somewhere of him taking elk at 600 yards I'm told.

With a good 140gr bullet it should do most a 270 Win could but there is no magic to a 6.5. BC advantage off sets lower muzzle velocity to some extent and good sectional density (lets not argue solids vs. Softs and dynamic sectional density etc!) is a slight advantage.

I don't see the point of it on larger game when better choices exist. To use a smaller calibre in a responsible fashion you may have to pass up on some opportunities and when trophy hunting the temptation to take the shot may be high. Why limit youself when you have travelled so far? It all depends on what you want to hunt.

That said I know a guy who culls everything with a 6mm AI with 70gr BK... shoots them all pretty much in the ear. We all know shot placement always wins out.

I see the 6.5CM as having great; albeit limited use and would choose the chambering based on the largest game you plan to hunt on your trip, although I am sure you can use a camp rifle for something if need be. On larger game to my mind it is more choice for the citizen hunter. I am keen to build one on a Sako AII myself.

The K95 is lovely. I have only swung one around and never had the chance to shoot one but they handle superbly. Congratulations on the rifle. Please post on how it shoots.

Just love the 6.5 calibers I have a 6.5 x 55 sporterized Swedish Mauser on a M96 action I don't push the velocities but at 2500fps and a 140gr bullet it has killed from eland cow to whartog. Shot placement is still the key. What I love about the bullet itself is that its' long so the front part can break off and you still have a slug pushing through.

Loaded with a 120gr Barnes TSX it will punch above its weight class but shot placement is still the key. The Swedes came up witn a great caliber that still kills a ton of moose to this day.

6.5 Creedmoor is a 6.5x55 Lite !

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes2:

The HORROR...et, tu, Africa? noooooo! what's next a Merkel double in that caliber?

It proved it's long range target ability to be very accurate and just happens to be in the 6.5x55 power range so why not take it hunting. It's sudden and extreme popularity is a bit of a surprise.

How about the .256 Newton? It's been around since about 1916, is a 6.5mm cartridge, and is the ballistic twin of the 6.5 Creedmore. I just picked up a Newton rifle in this caliber and intend to shoot it if I can find brass. I see Captech has it listed, but I haven't been able to get in touch with them.

quote:

Originally posted by scojac:
How about the .256 Newton? It's been around since about 1916, is a 6.5mm cartridge, and is the ballistic twin of the 6.5 Creedmore. I just picked up a Newton rifle in this caliber and intend to shoot it if I can find brass. I see Captech has it listed, but I haven't been able to get in touch with them.

Do these sell this ammo at academy

Mike

Bakes2: I think that dude hunts gerbils for his gerbil ranch.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes2:

The HORROR...et, tu, Africa? noooooo! what's next a Merkel double in that caliber?

Oh sweety wouldn't an ammo pouch on that belt be just looovely.

And people like this individual are supposed to be "normal" - to be accepted by the rest of the normal community?

Times have really changed in this progressive world.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
And people like this individual are supposed to be "normal" - to be accepted by the rest of the normal community?

Times have really changed in this progressive world.

You really need to travel to Europe to see some incredible sights!

I was in London, and took the underground to Earls Court.

As I walked out up to the street, I saw a sight which made me wonder if I had landed on another planet!

Honestly, there were a number of young people, with all sorts of body modifications, that defied comprehension.

Only person I could relate to as a normal human being was a black security guard in front of one of the stores.

I said "good morning" to him as I walked by.

He said "good morning to you too"

I said "very strange sights here this morning"

He said "Every day man, every day"

quote:

You really need to travel to Europe to see some incredible sights!

Absolutely right Saeed - but somehow the Dark Continent is still a better place than the so-called "real world".

I sometimes wonder how the freaks of nature, those that festoon themselves with piercings, studs, rings and other assorted metalwork, get through the scanner at an airport.

Possibly the reason why we don't see many (if any) of them in Dar es Salaam as it took too long to take all that shit off and missed the flight.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I just love this newly found love affair here!

The 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser and the 260 Remington have exactly the same performance, for donkeys years!

Reminds me of a gentleman working for Holland and Holland telling me that the 240 H&H is better at stag hunting than the 243 Winchester!

Apparently it kills them better!

How much longer a similar cartridge has been around is pretty irrelevant. The 6.5CM is SAAMI/ Factory spec'd the way custom 260's are built - fast twist and long throats for seating bullets far out while still ftting in standard production magazines. Remington introduced the 260 with a 1:9 twist and COAL that didn't always match up with heavier bullets (They obviously learned nothing from the 244/6mm) And most off the shelf ammo for the 6.5x55 is loaded very mild. To reach its true potential its a handload proposition. The CM is (common) off the shelf max performance.

Yes, we here are mostly of the custom/handload types, but let's not forget we are a TINY percentage of the shooting world. The majority want to go buy a rifle, then some ammo, call it good and go hunt.