Light for caliber 6.5 creedmoor vs 6mm Creed

H80Hunter

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I’ve been getting the itch for a 6mm Creed (or possibly 6 ARC). In trying to stave it off I started looking at some of the numbers and it actually seems like there’s too much overlap to justify it. I know this is the internet, always buy another gun, but it looks like:

The 6.5 CM 100 gr ELDVT says 3200 on the box, if I can get 2950 out of my 18” Sig Cross that’s pretty much does exactly what a 6 creed 108 ELDM would do for me. Slightly higher BC on the 6mm (.536 vs .448) but it doesn’t look to be a big issue inside 500. I’m also seeing about 0.4 MOA more wind on the 6.5 with a full 10 mph wind vs the 6 CM/108 ELDM. I would ASSUME the recoil on this would be very similar to a 6 creed?

Without going into the same details the 120 ELDM out of my 6.5 looks to match the 6 ARC very closely in trajectory and wind out to 500. However this time there will be an obvious recoil advantage in favor of the 6 ARC.

However it seems REALLY hard to justify a 6 Creed (or ARC) after crunching these numbers… Any thoughts on any of this or angles I’m missing? Starting to feel like the old, “put the phone down and go shoot” situation.
 
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H80Hunter

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I guess yeah that makes sense. I’m picturing continuing to use the 147 ELDM for whitetails and the 100 for practice, coyotes, and maybe some late season doe hunts.

I didn’t really lay that out but yeah I guess I do realize the bullets terminally won’t be the same. At least in this case. I bet the 120 ELDM in the 6.5 and the 108 ELDM in the 6 would be pretty comparable.
 
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I haven’t use the 120 ELDM, but have used a lot of the 120 A max, they were a softer bullet designed for the slower 6.5s
The 130 ELDM is a good bullet and I have used a lot of them with good results
 

Afhunter1

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I have a 6.5 in a fieldcraft and a 6 in a havak element. I also have a 6.5/284 in a tikka and am getting the itch for a 22 creed so it may turn into that. If I was gonna only have two it would def be 6 and 22. If I wanted a 6.5 I’d go saum.
 

hereinaz

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IMO, if the ballistics of two rifles in your “killable zone” are close enough, there is no need for a small jump down, unless you want to reduce recoil or build a differently configured rifle.

If you keep your 6.5, you should go down to 22 creed or ARC to make a bigger difference in recoil and rifle.
 

fishdart

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I guess yeah that makes sense. I’m picturing continuing to use the 147 ELDM for whitetails and the 100 for practice, coyotes, and maybe some late season doe hunts.

I didn’t really lay that out but yeah I guess I do realize the bullets terminally won’t be the same. At least in this case. I bet the 120 ELDM in the 6.5 and the 108 ELDM in the 6 would be pretty comparable.


There is also a 100 grain ELD-M offered in 6.5mm. Should be less frangible than the VT.

1000049867.jpg
 
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I’ve been getting the itch for a 6mm Creed (or possibly 6 ARC). In trying to stave it off I started looking at some of the numbers and it actually seems like there’s too much overlap to justify it. I know this is the internet, always buy another gun, but it looks like:

The 6.5 CM 100 gr ELDVT says 3200 on the box, if I can get 2950 out of my 18” Sig Cross that’s pretty much does exactly what a 6 creed 108 ELDM would do for me. Slightly higher BC on the 6mm (.536 vs .448) but it doesn’t look to be a big issue inside 500. I’m also seeing about 0.4 MOA more wind on the 6.5 with a full 10 mph wind vs the 6 CM/108 ELDM. I would ASSUME the recoil on this would be very similar to a 6 creed?

Without going into the same details the 120 ELDM out of my 6.5 looks to match the 6 ARC very closely in trajectory and wind out to 500. However this time there will be an obvious recoil advantage in favor of the 6 ARC.

However it seems REALLY hard to justify a 6 Creed (or ARC) after crunching these numbers… Any thoughts on any of this or angles I’m missing? Starting to feel like the old, “put the phone down and go shoot” situation.
I've thought a lot about this lately. A ~100 gr bullet at ~2800 is all going to recoil about the same, whether it's a downloaded Creed or a 6 ARC. Might burn a little more powder in the Creed and have a tad less BC, but is it really noticeable?

The VT bullet really makes this even more of a close race, assuming performance on game is similar to the ELDMs. Guess we'll have to wait and see about that.

Also, unless we're talking about the Howa Mini, action sizes are the same for the Tikka and Kimber anyway...
 
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H80Hunter

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IMO, if the ballistics of two rifles in your “killable zone” are close enough, there is no need for a small jump down, unless you want to reduce recoil or build a differently configured rifle.

If you keep your 6.5, you should go down to 22 creed or ARC to make a bigger difference in recoil and rifle.
This is my other problem is I really don’t NEED another rifle. My stable of centerfires has enough overlap as is… I already have a .223 bolt gun so even 22 ARC seems redundant. Maybe I should stop buying guns.
 

hereinaz

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This is my other problem is I really don’t NEED another rifle. My stable of centerfires has enough overlap as is… I already have a .223 bolt gun so even 22 ARC seems redundant. Maybe I should stop buying guns.
Only if you need more money for bullets.
 
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Unless you’re running a heavy full blown prs rig or a super lightweight build where every possible advantage counts you’re not going to “gain” anything. The 6 arc,dasher,gt,creed will sling that 108gr bullet at give or take 2800fps. Their entire existence is to sling high bc 6mm just fast enough to take advantage of their high bc with minimal recoil.
Sounds like you’ve got the short action cases pretty well covered. Time to build a long action, a magnum or a 22lr. 🤣
 

MHWASH

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This is my other problem is I really don’t NEED another rifle. My stable of centerfires has enough overlap as is… I already have a .223 bolt gun so even 22 ARC seems redundant. Maybe I should stop buying guns.

There's enough difference between the .223 vs the 22 Creed to make the 22 Creed a viable choice. Light recoil with magnum like velocities. My 20" 22-250AI pushes the 80 ELDm @3200 fps
 
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H80Hunter

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I don’t reload otherwise I’m almost positive I’d have a 22 creedmoor. Really exciting cartridge but factory ammo limits me right now.

Does anyone know when the Hornady stuff won’t be exclusive through 1 supplier?
 

hereinaz

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I wouldn’t expect much from anyone else until rifles start coming in the market. But, boutique places will reload.

I would have no problem relying on Hornady, just buy a bunch with the rifle.
 

feanor

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I’d really like to see some real world results on this as well. Your idea is interesting to me as well since I have an 18” 6.5 and have a .243 I’ve thought about putting a new barrel on for a 6cm.
 
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H80Hunter

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I sighted in the 100 ELDVTs I’m gonna shoot a couple does at some point in December. Not sure what I’ll get for pictures, depends on when and where I can get them but I’ll report back!
 
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H80Hunter

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is the 120 ELDM the best (and lightest) light for caliber 6.5 bullet? This would be for whitetail only. I don’t see anything below 120 that is marketed as a hunting round for anything above coyotes.
 
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If you load light for the 6.5 CM, the only thing you are giving up is some long distance performance and wind drift. Interesting project and I have considered it.
 
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