$1000 6.5 Creedmoor

[TradLife406]

Our union finally did something good and I'll be getting a decent backpay check in the morning.

I have "a few" rifles suitable for hunting. They're OK. But I really want something I can build learn to shoot accurately and consistent to 500.

My shooting experience and knowledge is average at best to be honest.

This will be a prairie rifle. So deer and speed goats in the wind. And probably p-dogs for practice and lots of rage time. Don't really want to hunt too far out, I just want to be able to smack deer in the wind at a few hundred yards.

So I'd assume a 6.5 Creedmoor or a 260 would be perfect for that. I do hand load a bit so that opens the options.

I think I'd like something with a heavier barrel.

A friend who's a very knowledgeable long range guy said he has a Savage 110 Desert Tactical in 6mm Creed that's right up there with his custom guns for the money. Would this be a good route? What about the Long Range Hunter?

I was also looking at the Bergara Ridge, how are these?

Tikka would be an option but it seems their barrels in the Creedmoor are only 22" or they use a thin barrel. Do they offer a 24" heavy to medium barrel?

The Ruger Precision and the chassis rifles look kinda like a pain to hunt with, are they?

How's Remington these days? I've heard mixed things.

What about Christensen rifles? Their Mesa Range looks kinda sexy. But is it with the coin?

And then what's the deal with Browning? I see they are offering some expensive stuff but I looked around on here and guys said they were kinda blah, like nothing to get to excited about.

Any other suggestions?







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[ReddingArcher]

Take a look at the tikka ctr or tikka varmint rifle, I believe you can get both in the 6.5. Either one of those sounds like it would fit the bill nicely!

 

[Gunnersdad49]

The Ruger precision is a really fun rifle to shoot. It is a terrible choice to try to spot and stalk with. If I were looking for a hunting 6.5, I would take a serious look at Bergara and Tikka. A less expensive option is the Ruger American,

 

[TradLife406]

Take a look at the tikka ctr or tikka varmint rifle, I believe you can get both in the 6.5. Either one of those sounds like it would fit the bill nicely!

Good call! I just saw this option on Lipsey's! That looks like the way to go. And still have money to buy at carbon bipod!

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[mt100gr.]

The heavy barrel savages shoot very well. But they don't mess around when they call it HEAVY compared to some of the "sporters".

I haven't seen a poor shooting Tikka either.

I have a Savage 10T, 24" barrel that I'd sell if you are interested. Accustock, accutrigger, etc. It would steady up nice in the wind but you won't want to pack it to terribly far. PM me if you want.

Good luck.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

My tikka t3x came with a 24” barrel. I’d look at the tikka ctr if I were you. Right now I want to get my hands on a savage lightweight hunter in 6.5, one of those ones with the kuiu Camo stocks.

 

[X-fike]

I just picked up a Bergara b14 her. Slightly different from. The ridge. I took it out for break in and first shooting session this weekend. It flat out shoots better than I do. The nice thing about it is the heavy barrel and threads. The trigger is decent. I too looked at the Christiansen Mesa long range but for the same price I was able to pick up he Bergara and put a vortex hst scope on it.


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[Brightwhite]

I personally would buy the Christensen Mesa and not look back. I have never shot one, but in that budget range I think the reviews and thoughts from others on the product would make it an easy decision for me.

 

[cornfedkiller]

I spent some time handling some guns yesterday because I'm in the same boat you are - here are my thoughts...

Friend of mine has a new Tikka and I've shot it some and liked it, but I dont love the stock or the fact that it uses a magazine. 3rd favorite gun though.

The Brownings are OK - the duratouch on the stock feels nice, has a muzzle brake, but I don't like the 60 degree bolt, and again, it uses a magazine.

The Remingtons are nice, but are just as expensive as guns I feel are probably better.

Easily my 2nd favorite gun was the Bergara. Obviously a great barrel and going to be an accurate shooter, stock feels nice, trigger feels surprisingly good for a factory trigger, just a hair over 7# so not super light but not terrible either, Hunter model does not come with a threaded barrel but the Ridge model does. The biggest downside to me for the Hunter model is that it's only offered with the green stock. If if was offered in the black stock like the Ridge has, it would've come home with me.

My favorite gun was the Mesa - that thing is just sexy as hell. The cerakote coating on the barrel looks awesome, the stock is great, removable brake, triggertech trigger, and a half pound lighter than the bergara, BUT not sure if its worth another $600 over the Bergara - that money could be spent on a scope, which would probably improve my shooting more than the gun.

 

[TradLife406]

I spent some time handling some guns yesterday because I'm in the same boat you are - here are my thoughts...

Friend of mine has a new Tikka and I've shot it some and liked it, but I dont love the stock or the fact that it uses a magazine. 3rd favorite gun though.

The Brownings are OK - the duratouch on the stock feels nice, has a muzzle brake, but I don't like the 60 degree bolt, and again, it uses a magazine.

The Remingtons are nice, but are just as expensive as guns I feel are probably better.

Easily my 2nd favorite gun was the Bergara. Obviously a great barrel and going to be an accurate shooter, stock feels nice, trigger feels surprisingly good for a factory trigger, just a hair over 7# so not super light but not terrible either, Hunter model does not come with a threaded barrel but the Ridge model does. The biggest downside to me for the Hunter model is that it's only offered with the green stock. If if was offered in the black stock like the Ridge has, it would've come home with me.

My favorite gun was the Mesa - that thing is just sexy as hell. The cerakote coating on the barrel looks awesome, the stock is great, removable brake, triggertech trigger, and a half pound lighter than the bergara, BUT not sure if its worth another $600 over the Bergara - that money could be spent on a scope, which would probably improve my shooting more than the gun.

That Mesa would be sweet but realistically I'd be better off buying glass and other hunting gear.

Will that Bergara take a Remmy Timney?

Yeah the Tikka stocks seem very cheap.

Almost thinking the Bergara or the Savage LR hunter.

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[cornfedkiller]

That Mesa would be sweet but realistically I'd be better off buying glass and other hunting gear.

Will that Bergara take a Remmy Timney? I believe so. I don't want to say 100%, but everything on the gun is modeled after a 700 for that reason, so I would guess the trigger is no different. Although I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at their factory trigger.

Yeah the Tikka stocks seem very cheap. Didnt mean to sound like the Tikka stock is cheap - it actually felt like the stiffest of them all, I just didnt like the feel of it (the grips on it mainly, personal preference).

Almost thinking the Bergara or the Savage LR hunter. I can't speak to the savages because although they make great rifles, I personally don't like accutriggers. I dont like the 2 stage thing.

If you got a Bergara Ridge, you wouldn't happen to want a green stock on it rather than the black would ya?!?

 

[TradLife406]

If you got a Bergara Ridge, you wouldn't happen to want a green stock on it rather than the black would ya?!?

I like green... Are these bedded or anything? That Ridge seems too new for any reviews.

I think where I'm at now is Bergara Ridge or the Savage LR Hunter. I just can't get past the Tikka stock and I'd hate to spend extra on a "real" stock.





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[Formidilosus]

I like green... Are these bedded or anything? That Ridge seems too new for any reviews.

I think where I'm at now is Bergara Ridge or the Savage LR Hunter. I just can't get past the Tikka stock and I'd hate to spend extra on a "real" stock.
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??

The Tikka stock is significantly better than the stock on the Savage.


As an entire rifle system, the CTR in 6.5C is easily the pick.

 

[cornfedkiller]

I like green... Are these bedded or anything? That Ridge seems too new for any reviews.

I think where I'm at now is Bergara Ridge or the Savage LR Hunter. I just can't get past the Tikka stock and I'd hate to spend extra on a "real" stock.





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Bergara's site says the green stocks have solid steel pillars molded into place, while the description of the black stocks say solid epoxy pillars molded in.

 

[pchrisla]

I'll throw Brownings Hell Canyon Speed into the mix. The fit, feel, and performance of that rifle is fantastic. But I think all suggestions here would be great. My order would be hells canyon, mesa, tikka, then bergara personally. All great rifles though.

 

[TradLife406]

I'll throw Brownings Hell Canyon Speed into the mix. The fit, feel, and performance of that rifle is fantastic. But I think all suggestions here would be great. My order would be hells canyon, mesa, tikka, then bergara personally. All great rifles though.

I almost bought a Hells Canyon LR a month ago but I didn't have the funds and the wife was with me lol. How are they? I really liked the looks of this rifle and the feel. How's the trigger? I love the texture of the stock. I had a Maxus like this and it was awesome!

That's good to know about the Tikka stocks!

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[2five7]

I almost bought a Hells Canyon LR a month ago but I didn't have the funds and the wife was with me lol. How are they? I really liked the looks of this rifle and the feel. How's the trigger? I love the texture of the stock. I had a Maxus like this and it was awesome!

That's good to know about the Tikka stocks!

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The X-bolt trigger is very good with a $15 trigger spring, breaks clean right at 2 lbs. They will flat out shoot with almost anything you put in them.

Another option is this Savage Long Range Hunter, for $499 you can't touch it. Put the rest of your money into some awesome optics. These shoot very well also.


11 Long Range Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor 26 Bolt Action 4 Round Black Savage 22648

 

[SEtoNWHunter]

For under $1k, I'll put my vote in for the Tikka CTR... For over $1k, Christensen, but only if you want to spend the $$$ on the Ridgeline (carbon wrapped barrel). I don't see the Mesa as worth the money over a Tikka, or nearly as expensive as a Barrett FC. Although the Barrett FC is an ultralight, and that sounds like it isn't what you're looking for. Savages look/feel a little crude compared to the others, but shoot really well in my experience, and are cheap.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m wishing I could find somebody who wants to get rid of their ctr stock/magazine so I could put one together like luke has. Until then, I’m just messing with the straight grip for the t3x.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

Don’t overlook Weatherby. I have a standard 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24” sporter barrel that I dropped in a Bell & Carlson stock. The same is offered from the factory in their SUB-MOA. It will put 3 shots touching at 100 yards, and the first time I shot it at 400 I dialed my range and hit less than an inch from where I was holding.

I don’t think you want a heavy barrel on a walking rifle for deer and antelope. The advantage to them is being able to shoot more rounds before the barrel heats up and starts stringing shots. 3 shots in a minute from a 6.5 still leaves the barrel cool enough to touch. They do offer a 20” heavy barrel with a ventilated forend if you plan on higher-volume shooting.