25 creedmoor or 6.5 creedmoor

[rlproctor03]

25 or 6.5 creed for a hunting/nrl rifle? What would you go with and why?

 

[glock233]

I like the bottom 3 creeds better than the 6.5. I’ve popped 2x Elk with the 25 creed 128 ELDX and it worked great.

25 gives you extra effective range and wind resistance, but more limited factory ammo options. Factory Hornady precision hunter stays over 1600 fps to 1000 yards out of my 22” proof barrel.

If you hand load, or like the 128 ELDX, 25 is clearly the choice. If you want variety, it’s not.

One thing I will say is the 134 ELDM scares me for use on game. Too narrow and lead filled up front. Hopefully the heavy TMK coming out is a winner.

 

[grfox92]

I like the bottom 3 creeds better than the 6.5. I’ve popped 2x Elk with the 25 creed 128 ELDX and it worked great.

25 gives you extra effective range and wind resistance, but more limited factory ammo options. Factory Hornady precision hunter stays over 1600 fps to 1000 yards out of my 22” proof barrel.

If you hand load, or like the 128 ELDX, 25 is clearly the choice. If you want variety, it’s not.

One thing I will say is the 134 ELDM scares me for use on game. Too narrow and lead filled up front. Hopefully the heavy TMK coming out is a winner.

What ^this guy^ said.

As soon as I saw the new .25 TMKs were coming out I decided I would be rebarrelijg my X Bolt to 25 Creed.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[Jordan Smith]

I like the bottom 3 creeds better than the 6.5…

25 gives you extra effective range and wind resistance…

If you hand load, or like the 128 ELDX, 25 is clearly the choice…

Not really. The 6.5 with 147 ELD-M drifts less and stays supersonic further.

 

[wpeach1912]

For NRL, 25 creed is right at the limit, and you’ll likely need to stand on it to meet power factor. Other than that, it is nice that it’s flatter and it generally has less or the same wind drift. 6.5 creed with 153 Berger’s is pretty tough to beat though. It seems like those bullets are generally comfortable at 2630ish out of a 24”.

 

[Justin Crossley]

They are both great choices and the difference is negligible. The biggest difference is factory ammo availability.

Over the last three years, I have shot both in NRL Hunter (and hunting) and I don't see any real world difference.

 

[glock233]

Not really. The 6.5 with 147 ELD-M drifts less and stays supersonic further.

Maybe it’s me but my 134 ELDM loads blow my 147ELDM loads away. Maybe the extra powder?

 

[Jordan Smith]

Maybe it’s me but my 134 ELDM loads blow my 147ELDM loads away. Maybe the extra powder?

FWIW, my comment was with respect to the 128 ELD-X in the .25. With the 134 ELD-M, the ballistic performance is near identical between the 134 and 147 out to several hundred meters in SAC.

Using Hornady factory loads for both to maintain an apples-to-apples comparison, by 500 m, the 134 (2800 fps at the muzzle) drops ~4” (6%) less, drifts ~0.5” (3%) more, and the impact speed advantage has dropped to ~35 fps (2%) compared to the 147 launched at 2695 fps at the muzzle. By 700 m, that difference is ~9” (6%) less drop, ~1.25” (4%) more drift, and essentially the same impact speed.

I’m not sure why you’re seeing what you are, but physics doesn’t lie, and I would suggest something else is responsible (zero offset, scope adjustment increment error, etc.).

 

[4th_point]

For lead bullets, they seem to be a wash.

For those that shoot solid copper, the new Barnes LRX 117gr in .257" is advertised with 0.530 G1 vs 0.468 for the 127gr .264".

According the Barnes load data for 24", the 25 should be 2900-ish for MV vs 2800-ish for the 6.5mm. So the 25 could have a MV and BC advantage. Take with heaping of salt of course, but the 117gr is good news for fans that shoot solid copper if the BC holds true.

I'm rooting for the Quartermoor and will try one with a shorter barrel later this year. Still have one 6.5mm as a LR plinker.

 

[Xperimental]

I’ve had my .25 Creedmoor since 2022, before it was standardized by Hornady. I love that cartridge. With Berger 133 Elites, it’s pushing insane velocity with a 20” barrel and StaBall 6.5, and putting down sub-1/3 MOA 5-shot groups. Can’t complain.

 

[Slick8]

I've been out of the quarter bore loop and not too interested. Looking at the new offerings, I'd say the 25 really bridges a gap between the 6 and 6.5 very effectively.

I was just talking to a smith the other day who's playing with a 25-6.5 PRC running 135 hybrids at 3k from a 21 inch barrel. That really has me thinking about a 25-06AI with a 20 inch tube as I have a LA Std donor action laying in the safe right now.

 

[rlproctor03]

I’ve had my .25 Creedmoor since 2022, before it was standardized by Hornady. I love that cartridge. With Berger 133 Elites, it’s pushing insane velocity with a 20” barrel and StaBall 6.5, and putting down sub-1/3 MOA 5-shot groups. Can’t complain.

What’s insane velocity?

 

[alexnelon]

What’s insane velocity?

You have to really step on it to even make NRL power factor at 2875 with a 24” barrel.

“Insane” velocity out of a 20” has to be like 2800 tops.

 

[schmidty3]

Im going 25 creed...if carbon 6 didnt mess up my barrel.

If it ever comes....its a 28" barrel and intend to get it over 2950 fps (the guy who won OH at foundation was shooting 2960 fps). For the record, 135s at 2815 hits PF. If that doesnt make it then there's the 138s at 2755. There is a risk with a slower barrel that you dont make PF.

The wind and drop numbers are much better. The ability to watch the bullet will decrease.

Some people bloop out heavy 6.5s and do fine. Some people run 140-144s in the 2700s and do fine.

For hunting i like the extra speed. Ive got a 25 prc for that.

 

[flyfisher117]

Do you reload?

I don’t think 98% of us can shoot or see a difference between either. Pick one and party on.

 

[DangerRanger]

I feel like we get way too in the weeds with this stuff

 

[Shortschaf]

Yeah to @DangerRanger's point .257 and .264 are hilariously close in size

Flip a coin
Shoot 6.5 if you voted for Kamala
Shoot .25 if you voted for Trump

Doesnt matter. either way you go to war with Iran

 

[Juan_ID]

I feel like we get way too in the weeds with this stuff

 

[alexnelon]

The whole min-max game is fun on paper.

Not so fun when you’re shooting a cartridge that needs to be absolutely whipped to make power factor and you find yourself dropping 6 points on a stage because you timed out trying to mortar a case out of your min-spec chamber because a raindrop got in and your .0015 shoulder bump wasn’t enough to avoid a pressure spike and split the case.

All that to say, they’re the same. 0-2 points in an NRL match advantage to the 25.

 

[KenLee]

Yeah to @DangerRanger's point .257 and .264 are hilariously close in size

Flip a coin
Shoot 6.5 if you voted for Kamala
Shoot .25 if you voted for Trump

Doesnt matter. either way you go to war with Iran

I figured feed the little kids more cheeseburgers and stay with the five or six youth 243s.