Best 6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Tools

You’re going to need specific tools to reload 6.5 Creedmoor ammo. These are the best 6.5 Creedmoor Reloading tools that I have tested and used to reload multiple rifle calibers. Using the following tools will give you a great start on building your own reloading collection. Most of the tools I included are universal tools that work with most rifle calibers because you’ll save money and time with universal tools. 

Must-Have Reloading Tools

Before we get too far into the 6.5 Creedmoor, there are tools that you need for all calibers of reloading. For example, you’re going to need to clean hundreds of shell cases at a time and there is nothing better than Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler. Before you ever charge your cases or load the bullets, you must clean your brass before you load it with new powder.

There is really nothing easier to use than the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler because you can set it and forget it. After every range day, I pick up all my brass and place them in a bucket. Once I’m ready to start reloading, I just fill up my tumbler and follow the directions for the first wash.

I love to turn it on Saturday morning when I wake up and let it run for 3 hours. I can get my household chores and family obligations done and not have to think about cleaning my brass. It’s like a washing machine for brass cases that is capable of washing upwards of 400-500 6.5 Creedmoor brass. 

The other tool that is needed before you get into specific tools, is the Intellidroper. You have to have a way to measure your powder for the 6.5 Creedmoor and there is nothing better than the Intellidropper Electronic Powder Measure.

This tool is universal and unlike many of its competitors, it saves your load data for future use. You will never have to spend hours trying to calibrate your load data for different calibers because the Intellidropper does it all for you. 

Finally, you must have the M-Press Coaxial Reloading Machine to be able to use your bullet seating die and adjust the settings to the 6.5 Creedmoor specifications. There are coaxial press machines available for similar prices, but none with the universal features of the M-Press. With the ease of changing bullet dies to the correct sizing of each bullet and case, this tool is the best I’ve seen. 

6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Supplies

There are tools that you need that are specific to the type of ammo you want to load. The first thing you’ll need before you worry about your bullets is priming or charging the case. The most universal tool for the job is the Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool. You can use the #2 shell holder for the 6.5 Creedmoor and use the large VLD Seating Stem for the perfectly primed case, every time. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the Frankford Arsenal Hand Primer, read my hands-on guide to get a full understanding of the tool. 

Once you run your brass through the rotary tumbler and get it cleaned, you need to inspect each piece of brass to ensure there are no defects. The best way to get as much out of each piece of brass is to use the Frankford Arsenal Case Prep Center. This machine will allow you to trim and deburr your cases so you can get extra uses out of them. One thing a lot of beginners don’t know is that your case will expand after each time it’s shot. Cases can become too long after a couple of uses, but the case prep center gets your brass back to specs within seconds.

Before you get into the Frankford Case Prep Center, you’re going to want to dry each piece of brass off and spray it with a lubricant. There are dozens of lubes you can use, but I like the 8 oz. case lube spray bottle. 

The reason I like the Frankford Arsenal Case Lube so much is the spray dries almost instantly and still provides enough lube to each case. You can use some lubes and you’ll be cleaning up for gel for hours, but this spray dries quickly and does the job right. Best thing, is you can get this bottle for around $13.00 at Amazon. 

How Much Money Can I Save Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor ammo?

We know that rifle ammo, in general, is expensive, but 6.5 Creedmoor is still not close to the number of .308 Win and 30-06 chambered rifles. This means it’s harder to find and demand always drives the price higher. 

There are a lot of great companies out there that make great 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, but there is really only one that most professionals use; Berger Bullets. When you consider 6.5 Creedmoor is designed to be a long-range competition shooting bullet, you need the best components. Berger 6.5 Creedmoor bullets can be found for around $43.00 for 20 Bullets.

As great as Berger bullets are at making a universally accurate and dependable bullet, no company can come close to matching the precision you get from reloading. The difference between reloading your own ammo versus any stock brand is substantial. To simplify, Commerical bullets are made with many different rifles in mind, not any specific rifle. The reason being is that companies won’t make as much money if they tried to dial in a bullet depth to every rifle made. 

However, you can experiment with everything from the type and amount of powder used to the depth of the bullet and maker of the case. if you really want to be accurate at the competition ranges of a mile, you need to reload for your specific rifle. 

The best thing about reloading, besides improved control and accuracy for your rifle, is the amount of money you’ll save. Generally speaking, you can expect to spend about $4-$8 for a box of 20 rounds, even if loaded with Berger bullets.

To be transparent, I’ve only loaded my 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag, but I know the price of the 6.5 Creedmoor is similar to the 30-06. The most expensive components are the powder and the bullets. If you’re able to find a deal on bullets or powder, that’s when you can really save a lot of money. 

What Dies To Use When Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor?

Next, you need to make sure you have the right bullet seating die for the 6.5 Creedmoor. The best way to do this is to buy the Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die. The 6.5 Creedmoor fits the .264 caliber die. Always make sure your VLD Seating Stem fits the primer correctly you could risk minor injury from punctured or unevenly smashed primers. The best thing about the Universal Bullet Seating Die kit is it works for every rifle I’ve seen, including my 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. 

How Many Times Can I Reuse a 6.5 Creedmoor Brass Case?

You can use a brass case for most shells at least 3-5 times before you need to worry about using other cases or trimming your case. Every time you go to the range and pick up your brass, always inspect the case for any kind of warping, denting, or gouges. Jarrod Grove, from Frankford, tells me that I should be able to get at least 3-4 reloads out of each piece of brass. 

If you consider the fact that you can use 6.5 Creedmoor brass multiple times, the money you’ll save is compounded by several times. In short, if you shoot every weekend, you’ll end up saving thousands of dollars every year in ammo. 

Conclusion

Reloading can be a lot of fun to do, but most importantly it can make shooting an affordable hobby to have. As much as I like to shoot guns in the woods and work on my accuracy on the range, it’s expensive. However, if you learn to reload your ammo, you’ll save thousands of dollars for avid shooters.

If you’re a weekend warrior, you’re going to save about $50-$150, depending on how much you shoot. For most of us, shooting 1 box isn’t worth the trip and effort to get to a range. Ever since I started using Frankford Arsenal tools, I’ve been able to shoot twice as often as I would before. Good luck and try to remember, explaining to your wife/husband that you shot $20 of ammo is a lot better than explaining $100 every weekend.

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