Reloading for 6.5 Creedmoor

Reloading for 6.5 Creedmoor

6.5 Creedmoor

Fitting in between the 7mm-08 and the 243 Winchester, the 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent for long range shooting as well as hunting CXP2 (deer, antelope) sized animals. Ballistically, 6.5mm bullets are better suited for 1000 yard shots than a .30 cal bullet like the 308 Winchester uses. They’re longer, faster, and stay supersonic to longer distances when fired from about a 308 sized case. It also recoils less than 308, which is nice if you’re doing a lot of shooting or reloading for someone of a smaller stature. It gives a bump in energy delivered at medium range over the 243 Winchester, which could be important if it’s being used for hunting.

Smokeless Powder for the 6.5 Creedmoor

H4350 and IMR4350 are both clear favorites for reloading 6.5 Creedmoor. Reloder 17, Hybrid 100V, W760, Superformance, 4007 SSC, and Varget are also great choices.

Cases for the 6.5mm Creedmoor

Hornady brought the 6.5 Creedmoor out and they offer decent quality brass. Factory brass is also available from Norma. Thanks to the relatively sharp shoulder on the 6.5 Creedmoor, brass life should be excellent.

6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Dies

Dies are not extremely common where I’m at, but are available from all the major die manufacturers:

Bullets for 6.5 Creedmoor

There is a huge selection of 6.5mm bullets. While not as popular as 30 caliber, selection is excellent. The 6.5 Creedmoor performs best with a bullet between 120 and 140 grains and that’s all I’ve included below. When looking for bullets, look for one in 6.5mm in metric or 0.264″ if they’re measuring in Imperial.

Brand Hunting/Match Style Weight G1 BC Link
Hornady Hunting GMX (lead-free) 120 0.45 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-120-gr-GMX/
Hornady Hunting Interbond 129 0.485 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-129-gr-InterBond/
Hornady Hunting Interlock SP 129 0.445 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-129-gr-SP/
Hornady Hunting SST 129 0.485 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-129-gr-SST/
Hornady Hunting Interlock 140 0.465 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-140-gr-SP/
Hornady Hunting SST 140 0.52 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-140-gr-SST/
Nosler Hunting Ballistic Tip 120 0.458 http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-bullet
Nosler Hunting E-Tip (lead-free) 120 0.497 http://www.nosler.com/e-tip-lead-free-bullet
Nosler Hunting Accubond LR 129 0.561 http://www.nosler.com/accubond-long-range-bullet
Nosler Hunting Accubond 130 0.488 http://www.nosler.com/accubond-bullet
Nosler Hunting Ballistic Tip 140 0.509 http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-bullet
Nosler Hunting Accubond 140 0.509 http://www.nosler.com/accubond-bullet
Nosler Hunting Accubond LR 140 0.719 http://www.nosler.com/accubond-long-range-bullet
Berger Hunting VLD Hunting 130 0.552 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/hunting-bullets/
Berger Hunting VLD Hunting 140 0.612 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/hunting-bullets/
Sierra Hunting SPT Spitzer 120 0.356 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1720/264-dia-65mm-120-gr-SPT
Sierra Hunting HPBT hunting 130 0.355 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1728/264-dia-65mm-130-gr-HPBT
Sierra Hunting SBT 140 0.495 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1730/264-dia-65mm-140-gr-SBT
Sierra Match HPBT Matchking 120 0.421 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1725/264-dia-65mm-120-gr-HPBT-MatchKing
Sierra Match HPBT Matchking LR 123 0.51 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1727/264-dia-65mm-123-gr-HPBT-MatchKing
Sierra Match HPBT Matchking 140 0.535 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1740/264-dia-65mm-140-gr-HPBT-MatchKing
Hornady Match A-Max 120 0.465 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-120-gr-A-MAX/
Hornady Match A-Max 140 0.585 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-140-gr-A-MAX/
Hornady Match BTHP Match 140 0.58 http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-140-GR-BTHP-Match/
Nosler Match HPBT 123 0.51 http://www.nosler.com/custom-competition-bullet
Nosler Match HPBT 140 0.529 http://www.nosler.com/custom-competition-bullet
Berger Match Match BT 120 0.453 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/target-bullets/
Berger Match AR Hybrid OTM Tactical 130 0.564 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/tactical-bullets/
Berger Match Match VLD 130 0.552 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/target-bullets/
Berger Match Match VLD 140 0.612 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/target-bullets/
Berger Match Match Long Range BT Target 140 0.592 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/target-bullets/
Berger Match Match Hybrid Target 140 0.618 http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/target-bullets/

Box front

Factory Ammo?

One of the nice things about 6.5 Creedmoor is that accurate factory ammunition is available in both hunting-capable bullets like Hornady’s GMX, Interbond, and SST, as well as in match-focused bullets like the A-Max. The Precision Rifle Blog made a great case for simply buying factory 6.5 Creedmoor for competition instead of reloading here. At the very least, it’s nice to know that it’s available and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Full box

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