These seem to have a decent barrel quality and weight if you don't mind the looks. How light do you want to go?
Christensen Arms Ridgeline Carbon in 6.5 Creedmoor

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Almost bought a Ruger varmint/target last night, but looks a bit heavy for a walking rifle.

Biebs,
Good to see you are open minded enough to consider a Ruger.
Was that the heavy/bull-barreled 26 or 28-inch barreled one with a fat varmint/target, laminate stock?

There is another M77 Hawkeye version of the 6.5 Creedmoor, they call it the "M77 Hawkeye Matte Stainless laminate"
Model No. 47108
Catalog No. HKM77R-Z.
The one I have weighs 8 pounds 3 ounces, close as can be expected to the factory nominal 8.25 lbs.





That is a light scope for the capability, a Leupold 4-12x42mmAO-mildot, and it only weighs 13 ounces, the Ruger rings weigh 6 ounces, so the outfit is 9 pounds 6 ounces with no ammo.

That is fine for a walkabout, though not quite as fine as the Ruger American Rifle Predator that weighs only 6.75 pounds,
and shoots like the cliched "house a'fire."

The Hawkeye above has a pretty heavy barrel in the midsection but tapers faster near the end to only 0.625" at the 24" muzzle, similar at the muzzle to a usual No. 3 sporter from such as Douglas, etc.
But it is heavier and stiffer than a No. 3 sporter, so it is more than enough for accuracy.
It has 6-groove, 1:8" twist.
This makes it different from the Predator and the Ruger Precision rifle, the latter two have 5-groove, 1:8" twist rifling called "5R rifling" by Ruger.
The Predator and Precision rifle also share the same basic action, the new push-feed design from Ruger. Controlled feed on the Hawkeye, of course.

Predator barrel is 0.750" at the 22" muzzle diameter, and the rifle is amazingly light considering that.
The Precicion Rifle barrel is also 0.750" diameter at muzzle, but 24" long, and it is an amazingly heavy rifle, by comparison (10.6 pounds bare-naked versus 6.75 lbs).
Precision Rifle barrel is a little heavier than the Predator barrel, due to both contour and length.
They share the same muzzle threads and protector cap for suppressor use.
RPR 6.5 Creedmoor with Springfield Armory 6-20x56mmAO Illuminated Reticle Mildot Government Model in Burris 30mm Xtreme Tactical Extra High Rings x3:



The Predator costs less than half as much as the Hawkeye.
The Precision Rifle is about a hundred bucks more than the Hawkeye, at least at my local emporium.
I started with the Predator for $370 and have collected three Ruger 6.5 Creedmoors so far, one each of three different models.
Amazing accuracy with factory ammo from Hornady and Ruger rifles right out of the box, so far.
I have shot the Predator twice, about 40 rounds each time.
I have shot the Precision Rifle once, another 40 rounds.
I have yet to shoot the Hawkeye.
I will be shooting them all much more, soon. A range day with all three is planned.
You can shoot them all day the recoil is so light.

The Predator has been through two scopes, shooting well with each.
I am trying leftovers now, a Bushnell 6-20x50mmAO "demo" picked up cheap, years ago, and some leftover Burris Xtreme Tactical rings, high, though mediums might have worked.
I expect the Predator to shoot like "a house a'fire" with that scope and those rings too.





First scope tried: Sightron 4-16x40mmAO Mildot in 4 rings of unknown make, "shot like a house a'fire":





Second scope tried, Nikon M-308, 4-16x42mm in Leupold QRW rings:



6R 5R rifling on the Predator, powder-fouled by 40 rounds with first scope, negligible jacket fouling:



Second outing for Predator, first 3 shots at 100 yards from a fouled barrel with second scope, Hornady factory ammo:



I am tempted to buy another Ruger American Rifle Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor to serve as organ donor for a custom rifle, barrel donor.

It might look spiffy on my old Ruger Round Top 30-06 made in 1975, bought by me in 1978, and still shooting 3 shots into 1/2 inch at 100 yards.
It's amazing how much like a "Predator" this one looks, restocked about 1990 with a Brown Precision fiberglass stock I bedded and "painted" myself (textured epoxy "checkering" and Krylon),
I liked green stocks 25 years ago:





Leupold 4X in Burris Xtreme Tactical low rings, Leupold Mark 4 bases, rear base cut short to fit this rifle:



The barrel Ruger used on my first bolt action must not have been a reject, even if outsourced from Douglas or Wilson back then.
Ruger has learned how to make barrels since then, and how to chamber and install them too!!!

BTW, Blaser?
Just thought I would pile on.

Happy New Year!


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6.5 Creedmoor more:
Shot the Ruger Precision Rifle again today. Could not make it do as well as the Ruger American Rifle Predator, off the front bipod and a clumsy rear bag.
I now know I must get a shortie mono-pod to attach to the picatinny on the toe of the stock.
I was seeing too much heart beat in scope view of target with that clumsy rear bag.
Shooting the regular sporter (Predator) off bags is good, not so good with the Ruger Precision Rifle, which is a wollower on bags.
Also, the rifle came from the factory with the cheekpiece installed bassackwards, so I need to turn that around 180 degrees,
a tip from forums elsewhere.
I knew something wasn't right about this:



That big gap between the tube and the butt pad needs to be covered a bit better by the cheek piece.
I need to cheek something more comfortable than half air half solid, with the edge of the cheek piece and back end of the butt tube digging into my face.

Oh well! This small bore stuff is new to me.
I will be having the rifle aim itself soon.
All I do is touch off the trigger without disturbing the rifle's self aim.
No worries about recoil, pain, holding on tight with both hands, etc.
This could be fun.

I went with the Howa Alpine in 6.5 Creedmoor mainly with the thought that it would make a nice, lightweight deer rifle for walking around.
With Talley mounts and a 3X9 Leupold it weighs exactly 7 lbs.
Our weather has not permitted any serious load testing, but initially break-in loads show promising accuracy...

RIP, Ruger should send you Hams at Christmas time!

Kimbers website shows the 2016 84M Montana in 6.5 Creedmoor, along with a new less expensive introduction called the "hunter". The hunter appears to have the same barreled action as the Montana, but with a heavier plastic stock and detachable mag, bringing rifle weight up to 6.5lbs, with an MSRP of $885. Other calibers include 243, Bob, 7-08, and 308.

Matt, looks like one to consider, for sure.

Cheeckpiece backwards ? Maybe set up for one of those selfie things ???
As an old 6.5x55 fan, you'll be very happy with that one !!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
RIP, Ruger should send you Hams at Christmas time!

Biebs,
How did you know Ruger sends me a ham at X-mas?

I hear the local emporium has ordered some Kimber Montana 6.5 Creedmoor rifles.
How long until they are seen on shelves besides what was shown at SHOT Show?
I just got rid of a Kimber Montana .308 Win., I did not like it due to the 1:12" twist being not so accurate with the heavier bullets.
Mine liked only 150-grainers.
If it had a 1:10" twist I would have kept it.
Of course I greatly desire a Kimber 6.5 Creedmoor.
Surely they have sense enough to make those with 1:8" twist.

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quote:

Surely they have sense enough to make those with 1:8" twist.

If they still do not appreciate this, then it may just be too late for them in the day.

Pieter

quote:

Originally posted by Pieter die 4de:

quote:

Surely they have sense enough to make those with 1:8" twist.

If they still do not appreciate this, then it may just be too late for them in the day.

Pieter

Truly.

Surely there must be a typo at the web site where they say the Montana in 6.5 Creedmoor has a 1:12" twist!

http://www.kimberamerica.com/montana

calibers: I selected 6.5 Creedmoor from the drop down menu box and the specifications become:



Specifications
Approximate weight: 5 pounds 2 ounces
Overall length (inches): 41.25
Barrel
Material: Stainless steel
Finish: Satin stainless steel
Contour: Sporter
Length: 22 inches
Twist rate (right hand): 12
Grooves: 4
Match grade chamber
Threaded for muzzle brake or suppression
Trigger
Adjustable
Factory setting: 3.5-4 pounds
Stock
Material: Kevlar-carbon fiber
Sling swivel studs
Recoil pad: 1-inch Pachmayr Decelerator
Length of pull (inches): 13.63
Drop at heel (inches): 0.54
Drop at comb (inches): 0.43
Pillar bedding
Glass bedding
Action
Type: 84M
Material: Stainless steel
Finish: Satin stainless steel
Front locking repeater
Mauser claw extractor
Magazine capacity: 4
3-position Model 70-type safety



When you do the same for the Hunter model, it just says "caliber specific" for the twist rate of all of them:

http://www.kimberamerica.com/hunter?___SID=U





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I hope so....geeeez!

I am fond of the Weatherby Vanguard. I bought it a few months ago and it has burned through a half case of 6.5 Hornady ammo.

Not really shot any groups above .75 and it seems to hover around .58-62.

This one has the Hogue stock. I made the mistake of taking the stock off and putting it back on and it opened up my groups considerably.

It is headed for a McMillan or Manners once I figure out what I prefer (Sako 75 style probably in a McMillan) with pillar bedding.

RIP........
Where did you find the info saying the Ruger American Predator has 5R rifling? I can't find that listed anywhere.

About hoping that was a typo by Kimber on the 1:12" twist for their 6.5 Creedmoor:

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I hope so....geeeez!

It is not past the realm of possibility that the Goobers at Kimber are actually using a 1:12" twist for the 2016 production.

Kimber R&D facility and Engineering personnel (all three of them) pictured below,
formerly of Remington R&D in Elizabethtown, KY, moved on to greener pastures since the E-Town plant closed:



Some people actually choose a 1:11" twist rate for light bullets, 120-grainers and lighter.
Good results there if you push the bullets faster in a 6.5-06 like member Jerry Eden, from the small bore forum (where this thread belongs):

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Here's a little bit of info/data from my new barreled 6.5-06 as I got a chance to shoot some test loads yesterday. 3 shot groups @100yds.

57.5 grains of IMR7828 with a Sierra 120 grain Game King. .520 outside to outside no velocity, as there was not enough light for the screens.

55 Grains of RL22 same bullet .815 outside to outside, velocity 3052 with an extreme spread of 23.

Really showing a lot of promise with only 20 rounds thru it. I had this one twisted 11" so I could shoot primarily the 120 grain or there about bullets.

I would not be surprised if Kimber actually screwed the pooch on this, used a 1:12" twist on a 6.5 Creedmoor.


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quote:

Originally posted by JP_6.5:
RIP........
Where did you find the info saying the Ruger American Predator has 5R rifling? I can't find that listed anywhere.

Thank you, JP_6.5, and welcome to the forum with your first post, bringing enlightenment. Good work!
Doing good has no end, keep posting.

You made me think, where did I get that?

It happened like this:
I glanced at the muzzle of the Precision Rifle, knowing it was said to have 5R rifling,
then I glanced at the muzzle of the Predator.
Saw and measured same muzzle diameter and same screw-on thread protector.
So I assumed Ruger would have used the same hammer-forging mandrel to make both barrels.

Wrong!

I have now counted the lands and grooves of both rifles.

Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor: 5 grooves

Predator Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor: 6 grooves

Both 1:8" twist.

I stand corrected and will put the misinformation back where the sun don't shine.
Thanks.

This is reassuring that there is nothing special about the 5R that the 6R will not do just as well for any purposes that I can tell, as long as they are both 1:8" twist.

Now, how about that Kimber 4-groove "4R" rifling,
1:12" twist????


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for the guys that asked about our CM

Bartlien #9 - 1:8 twist - 26" barrel
MDT - LSS Chassis system
MDT - Skeleton rifle stock
RAZOR HD 5-20X50 scope

Thanks RIP.

I'm considering a 6.5 cm to play with and am looking for a cheap way to do it. It seems like the RAP may be the way to go.

I am shooting 3 Creeds; a Marlin XS7 parts gun with a Savage 22" sporter barrel, a RAR-Predator, and a Vanguard 2. The Ruger and the Weatherby are very accurate with both factory ammo and the one 123 grain AMax load that I've put together. I have bedded the V2 in a McMillan McMillan Hunter style stock and that made it a much more user friendly rifle, as the fit and balance are significantly better for me than the factory injection molded stock. I have bedded the RAR-P in a Boyds laminated Heritage style stock and while the ergs are much better, the laminated stock added an entire pound to the weight of the package, making it into a 9 lbs. toad. An accurate 9 lbs. toad, but still a little on the heavy side for a stalking rifle. The Marlin/Savage parts gun is still a work in process. It shoots OK with the Hornady 120 grain AMax, but not the consistent sub-MOA groups that the others shoot.

The Hornady and Winchester/Olin factory ammo that I have shot has been excellent, so good that it might be hard to match with handloads. It would be nice if Winchester/Olin came out with a 120 grain load in their Extreme Deer series at 3,000+/- fps. That would put the Creed into the same neighborhood as the gold standard 130 grain 270.

JP_6.5,

Well, thank you more so for straightening me out.

Some googling of 5R rifling:

Standard 6-groove and 4-groove vs. the Obermeyer 5-R rifling:
The sides of the lands have exaggerated slant/cant on the Obermeyer-style.
Supposedly less stress on the bullet and less fouling ...
But as they all say, a good barrel is a good barrel, whatever the type of rifling.

https://www.google.com/search?...rc=khQ8eRoH0cpkoM%3A





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260remguy,
Some good inspiration there ... I need to try a tupperware stock on the Hawkeye laminate toad ... take one off of a .308 Hawkeye ... that will shave a pound.
It might be a little muzzle-heavy/butt-light, but lesser overall weight might prevent the plantar warts caused by playing footsie with a toad.

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RIP,
I was hoping you were right. My son has a tc venture 7-08 with 5r rifling. For a cheap gun it shoots anything you put through it.

I prefer muzzle heavy to butt heavy. I have several Remington 7s, most of which have had the barrels swapped to a longer and/or heavier contour units.

McMillan has their Hunter style stock inletted for the 77 Mark II on sale in their on-line retail store for $452. A way better stock than the factor synthetic unit.

www.mcmillanusa.com

The Creedmoor is certainly an interesting caliber and should be a great little deer gun, as my old 250 Savages are and its pretty close balistically...Been thinking about building one, maybe on a 99F Savage lever action, or a Rem 722, not sure..how about a Ruger no. 1 fwt. Decisions, decisions!

Ray, nobody said you were limited to just one! :-)

I'm glad you're having good luck with your Ruger American Predator. I'm having trouble finding any Ruger American of any type that wasn't tapped by a drunk monkey. They all come
with either 2 piece Weaver type bases or in the case of the Ranch or Predator with a 1 piece base. Every single one I have picked up
the bases are leaning to the right. Some a lot.

Moderator: Please move this thread to the small bore forum.

What do y'all think about the Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor?



It has adjustable trigger and a 26" barrel, fluted, stainless, with screw-on brake that adds another 1.5" to overall length.
"Tan Buckhorn Camo" synthetic stock.
Detachable rotary mag box holds 4 down in box.
And it weighs only 7 lbs and 6 oz dry.
Light enough for a Biebs walkabout rifle?

The rings can be either fixed Talley Lite integrated base-ring ...



...or Warne cross-slot bases with rings of choice.
Each attachment at front and rear is with 4 screws, the best feature on the rifle:



One silly thing about the rifle is that it comes with a muzzle brake (hardly desirable), but with no thread protector if used with brake removed, so get your own made up.
The brake is also marked: ".30 Cal. Max." and the hole in the end of it is about 0.334-inch diameter.
So with a hole that is about 70-thou bigger than bullet diameter, it is a generic one good for any caliber from .264 to .308 ... ???
On this rifle, the brake is a noise-amplifying crown protector.
At least it is not as efficient a noise maker (some consolation) nor as efficient a recoil reducer as it could be with a smaller exit hole.

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RIP, not a bad choice. I haven't had a Browning in years...not sure why. Certainly less expensive than shelling out $2,200 or so for a Cooper Excalibur.

http://www.covecreekoutfitters...oor-stainless-barrel

https://hendershots.net/produc...libur-6-5-creedmoor/

About $1900 to $2700 above, and as light as 6.5 pounds dry.
I got rid of my Cooper stuff when the original company mastermind endorsed Obama.
Not interested in Cooper anymore.
I do not do Dunkin' Donuts anymore either.
I do have several Brownings, even if they are made in Miroku, Japan, they are high quality, and better value than Cooper.
Cooper test targets: At 40 yards indoors, three shots.
Kimber: Be careful they get the twist right.
I would go for one of those if the twist was right (1:8" as on the Rugers and Brownings) and if the barrel were not too short.

The Browning appeals to me because the barrel is 1:8" twist, 26" long, not a light barrel but is still under 7.5 pounds dry weight for rifle.
It is muzzle-heavy without a scope.
Proper scope will balance it just right.
I prefer balance on front action screw, but slightly muzzle heavy is good.

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Wow, Cove Creek has great prices!...but I wouldn't buy a pack of gum from Hendershot's.

Jon, I have been thinking about picking up a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle for some time. I think the cartridge is really interesting ballistically . . . and looks neat to boot. On Wednesday I picked up a new Ruger Predator in the chambering. I expect to have it out to the range today. I adjusted the trigger to around 3.75 pounds, stuck a 3-9x40 scope on it and will be shooting 120 grain Hornady A-Max ammunition. Will let you know how it goes. I have sort of warmed up the utilitarian look and feel of the Predator . . . a working rifle for sure. I also like the threaded barrel in case I ever decide to use it suppressed for hunting.

Mike, I went to the lighter side ($$$-wise) as well, and picked up a Bergara B-14 yesterday. i have a Leupold 4-12x40 I'll put on it and see what all the talk is about with this docile but effective little round.

Jon, from this morning at the range. The lower two shots were sighting in. The six shots at the top were all off the bench at 100 yards. Same ammo for all shots, 120 grain Hornady A-Max. I did not have a lot of time so the six shots were fired over about 15-20 minutes . . . barrel was getting a little hot but not bad. My Redfield Tracker scope is not the greatest optical instrument in the world either. All in all, very pleased and very pleasant to shoot.

That'll work!

How did that Bergara shoot?

Matt, I haven't shot it yet...waiting on some Warne Maxima rings. I'm quite impressed by the rifle overall...trigger, stock texture, action smoothness, overall quality.

Before the trust regs on suppressors change in July, I went ahead and bought a Yankee Hill Manufacturing Phantom Ti suppressor for the 6.5 Creedmoor Ruger Predator. Hopefully I will have it by the time hunting season rolls around.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Before the trust regs on suppressors change in July...

What is this all about?

Currently if you use a firearm trust to acquire a suppressor there is no chief law enforcement officer approval or fingerprint card requirement. Effective July 13, two fingerprint cards, as well as a passport photo of each person listed on a trust, are going to be required each time you want to purchase a NFA item under the trust. The ATF estimates that NFA wait times could double once the rule change goes into effect.

Thanks for that explanation.