Help me decide on Bear/Deer rifle please?

[mtnbound]

Hey everyone, Looking to purchase my first rifle mostly for black bear/deer. I'm looking at 6.5 creed or 6.5 PRC most likely... Which would be better to go with?

Also, what specific rifle would you recommend I'm debating on these:


Tikka T3x Ace Game rifle (New for tikka)

Sig Cross OR Bergara Mg micro lite (Love how both fold up compact and light for backpacking)

The 6.5 PRC with factory Hornady ammo is the easy button if you don't reload. If you reload, it opens up more options, such as the 6CM. While I think the 6.5 PRC is probably the perfect cartridge for most, the 6CM is incredible in terms of shotability and killing effectiveness with the right bullet. I have a Cross, and it's okay, but you cannot get one in 6.5 PRC. You can get a 6CM barrel for a Cross, but I feel that to get the most out of the 6CM you need to reload or limit your range to around 1800fps for bullet impact. I have only had 1 Bergara and sold it, and bought the Cross. The Micro/Lite line of Bergara is a nice package, but I built my Tikka for considerably less.

 

[DeadSound]

You want the 6.5 Creed, Any one of those rifles will be fine, but you want the Creed. The PRC is magnum bolt face, you're running more powder, harder to find brass or ammo, large rifle magnum primers are non-existent.

I shot my black bear last year with a 25 Creed, 134 ELD match bullet and he was dead instantly so don't worry about that.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I would say creed over prc. 99% of guys will never feel under gunned in what almost all hunters should be shooting 500 and in…. Less expensive factory ammo. It’s really a do all rifle

 

[TradLife406]

I've got an Sig Cross in Creed. It's ok but dang it took a bit to find a load it likes. But she shoots a 20 shot mean radian of .30. The trigger took me a long time to figure out since it's a two stage. And the adjustment had to be just right to get a solid wall and still be light.
Being able to fold it is super handy.

But honestly Id get a tikka and Rokstock it. It will be a lighter gun finished out. By a pound or two.

That tikka ace is heavy. Not sure what they were thinking.


I love the PRC. The Creed is great though too. But if I had to go buy a gun off the shelf right now I'd get the 22" threaded Tikka in 6.5 PRC Rokstock it and be done. Having that extra fps of the PRC helps push the 156 Bergers or a 147 at a good clip if you're handloading.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nm.otter]

6.5 Creedmoor and a few hundred rounds of factory ammo to start with. Save the brass.

Once you get through shooting all that, you can choose 6mm Creed or .25 Creed with a barrel swap and a sizing die -- or just reload the 6.5 and keep shooting.