Best 6.5 Creedmoor Hunting Rifle

For thousands of Americans, hunting is not a past-time or simple recreation, but the food they can put on their table for their families.

As a former teacher, I remember the entire state of West Virginia getting the first week of hunting season off of school to go into the woods and hunt. It took time for me to process and become educated enough to understand the need for West Virginians to hunt.

It wasn’t until I gave hunting a chance (literally last year!) that I realized the importance of hunting and providing for your family. I have been fortunate enough to shoot dozens of rifles in the past year, and this blog will rate the best ones that I’ve either shot or learned about through other hunters.

Does the Caliber of the Chamber matter?

For those new to hunting or have an interest in hunting, the short answer is yes, the caliber of the round matters a great deal. With this in mind, I will rate 3 hunting rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor to give you an idea of what the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifles are.

The caliber of round your rifle is chambered in matters, but you need to figure out what kind of animal you’re hunting and what is required to safely and humanely put that animal down with little suffering. As we get into each rifle, I’ll explain the difference between them and which ammo works best for the game you’re hunting.

Grading Criteria

Each rifle will be graded on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best and 1 being the worse, and will be placed 1st through 5th place. Each rifle will be graded on its accuracy, maximum distance of fire, price, and quality of materials used.

I believe the rifle you use to hunt should be comfortable, affordable, reliable, and durable enough to withstand environmental conditions.

What is a 6.5 Creedmoor?

The first thing to understand is the spelling of the cartridge, which is not Creedmore (I’m guilty of this error); the correct spelling is Creedmoor, which was named after a competition rifle range in Long Island, New York in the late 19th Century. Creedmoor was the site of long-range competition shooting, which gave birth to the cartridge with its namesake.

The 6.5 Creedmoor was released in 2007 by Hornady Ammunition as an alternative to the .308 chambered rifles. The 6.5 Creedmore is specially designed for distance shooting, which makes it the perfect hunting rifle for hunters covering large areas that require further shots.

What are the Best Rifles Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor?

The best 6.5 Creedmore rifles are the Daniel Defense Delta 5, the Remington 700 SPS, and the Tikka T3X. Each of these rifles is incredible, and you’d be fortunate to own any of them. However, there has to be a winner. I chose Delta 5 as the winner because of its supreme quality and precision from its famous CNC machine and the fact that it’s ready to use right when you open the box.

The Tikka came very close and is one of my all-time favorite rifles because of its price, quality, and it’s silky-smooth operation. One thing you’ll notice is I chose all barrels that are longer than 20″ because of the extended reach and capability.

Winner: Delta 5 6.5 Creedmoor

The Delta 5, 6.5 Creedmoor is a 44″ rifle with a 24″ barrel that reaches incredible ranges, with impeccable accuracy and consistency. This is one of the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifles on the planet because of the quality, reliability, and accuracy of this 24″ cold-hammer-forged barrel. If you want a full review of the Delta 5 and Daniel Defense, read my Daniel Defense blog.

The best part of this rifle is it comes zeroed in at less than 3 MOA at 100 yards, which will get you a group about the size of a fist at 100 yards. Once you’re able to get the proper scope and adjust your cheek plate, this rifle can give you less than a 1 MOA at 100 yards. 4.8/5

Specs:

Pros:

• Incredible Accuracy
• Extended range
• Durable
• Double-Safety trigger mechanism
• 1.4 lbs trigger pull weight
• Adjustable cheek-riser

Cons:

• The price kept it from a perfect score

Features:

• 11 M-Lok attachment points
• 3 M-Lok attachment points for a sling
• Magpul magazine
• Adjustable cheek-riser
• Configurable buttstock
• Cold-Hammer-Forged Barrel makes it ready to use right out of the box

Why You Should Buy This Gun

If you were to put a nice mil-dot Leopold scope and a bipod on the front Picatinny Rail, this rifle could comfortably shoot up to 600 meters in good weather. The M-Lok attachment points provide as many opportunities as you could want for customization. One of the most underrated aspects of Delta 5 is the adjustable cheek plate that can be raised to line up your eye better with the scope. In the military, many snipers and marksmen wrap their stock with duck tape to provide the correct angle with the scope. This rifle allows you to avoid the ducktape and quickly adjust your cheek placement within a few seconds.

Runner-Up: Tikka T3X 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle

As many of our readers know, I am a complete fanboy of the Tikka T3X, and if I had the funds to buy one, the 6.5 Creedmoor would be the one I buy. Some might ask if I love the Tikka so much, why would it come in at number two? The answer is the M-Lok attachment holes, along with the Magpul magazines, finish the rifle off with class and style. The adjustable cheek riser is a revolutionary concept that more companies are going towards to accommodate the individuality of shooters. However, the Tikka T3 features a better recoil pad that reduces the felt recoil to almost nothing. This allows the shooter to concentrate on the shot and not the aftermath of a hurt shoulder or pulling a shot due to the anticipation of the bang. 4.3/5

Specs:

Pros:

• 24.3″ barrel provides better range and accuracy
• 6.5 Creedmoor offers excellent stopping power and range
• Incredibly light trigger pull (2 lbs)

Cons:

• People have complained about the barrel overheating after a few rounds

Features:

• T1x has a new modular synthetic stock that has interchangeable pistol grips, making it possible to modify the angle of the grip, this allows for multiple shooting positions
• The T3x synthetic stock has a new asymmetrical grip pattern and shape that has been specifically designed to give a solid grip in all conditions
• T3x models come with a new recoil pad technology that reduces the impact of recoil on the shooter, the new robust pad allows you to fully concentrate on the accuracy of your shots
• T3x synthetic stocks now have a foam insert within the interior of the rear stock – this lowers the stock-generated noise and can help you keep your target in sight
• The new T3x receiver introduces a widened angular ejection port that makes it easier to feed one cartridge at a time
• Steel recoil lug – this extra-strong lug has minimal deformation – even with larger calibers

Why You Should Buy This Gun

If you want to know my full thoughts on Tikka as a company and the Tikka T3, specifically, read my Tikka Review. For those who feel more comfortable with a pistol grip than a rifle grip, the Tikka T3X is an excellent option. You can purchase aftermarket grips that fit you better or adjust the grip to fit multiple grip angles that provide the best possible angle for your comfort.

3rd Place: REMINGTON 700 SPS 6.5 CREEDMOOR 24″ BOLT ACTION RIFLE

The Remington 700 SPS chambered in a 6.5 Creedmoor is a top 3 rifle because of the consistency, price point, and reliability of Remington. The Remington 700 is the standard-issue sniper rifle for the United States military for these same reasons. One thing I can assure you if you’re up in the air about purchasing this gun is if it’s reliable and accurate enough for some of our nation’s best marksmen, it’s accurate and dependable enough to hunt with. With the extra range from the 24″ barrel and the 6.5 Creedmoor, you’ll be able to reach targets at 500 meters, easily. However, the thing I like most about this rifle is the price point, sitting under $600 for a rifle of this quality is the best deal you’ll get for a new gun. If you want to learn more about the Remington 700, read this blog for a more comprehensive review. 4/5

Specs:

Pros:

• 24″ barrel provides better range and accuracy
• 6.5 Creedmoor offers excellent stopping power and range
• Incredibly light trigger pull (1.5 lbs)
• The best-priced rifle you’ll ever own
• Comes in a left-handed model

Cons:

• Some people complain about the trigger going off even when not suppressed (I believe most of it is operator error)

Features:

• Ergonomically designed synthetic stock
• Drilled and tapped receiver
• Carbon steel barrel
• Barrel surrounds bolt shroud for additional strength

Why You Should Buy This Gun

If you’re anything like me, money is sometimes hard to come by, and spending $2,200 on a rifle is not financially responsible for me. This rifle is less than $550, which allows you to place a great scope to take advantage of the 24″ barrel and the 6.5 Creedmoor. After buying a great scope, you could end up having a great rifle that shoots true and lasts decades (if you take care of it) for less than $2,000.

Buy Here

Accessories

Many people wonder what the best attachments are to place on their rifles, which is too relative to have an exact answer. However, everyone will agree that a great scope, a range finder, and maybe even a bipod would be great for hunting. I only have a scope on my rifle because here in Virginia, we don’t take shots at more than a couple hundred yards very often, if ever. The density of the trees and lower elevation allow for more cover and concealment for hunters to close distances either in tree stands or ground blinds.

Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Rifle Scope

This Leupold riflescope is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, allowing you to hunt in the rain, snow, and low light conditions. The most impressive attribute of this scope is the Zero Lock Custom Dial System (CDS), which takes the stress away from attempting longer shots by eliminating the need for ballistic calculations. The Leupold scope also boasts the Twilight Max HD Light Management System that significantly reduces the glare from the sun and provides 30 minutes of shooting light. Finally, the Guard-Ion Hydrophobic Lens Coating makes this the most durable and scratch-resistant lens on the market.

Want to Learn more about rifle scopes? Read this blog about Vudu Scopes

Magpul Rifle Bipod

Humility is one of the most underrated and valuable lessons you could ever learn as a hunter (or in life). I bring this up because people view bipods as a crutch or something to be shunned at because of the clear advantage it offers. Having a bipod will increase your accuracy and control of your rifle and increase your chance of hitting your target. This Magpul bipod weighs 11 oz (.68 lbs) and is designed to stay out of the way during your stalk in the mountains. Many bipods can be stiff and rust easily, but this Magpul is made from Mil-Spec hard-anodized aluminum, which helps prevent rust and deterioration. I love the fact that you can extend the legs of the bipod with a finger so your firing hand can stay on the rifle to maintain target identification.

Conclusion

A 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is a more advanced .308 with capabilities of reaching further distances in your rifle. I prefer the 6.5 Creedmore over most other cartridges because of the increased accuracy and range that it provides (we’ll get into the 300 Win Mag next blog!).

The Delta 5 and Tikka T3X are so close that it’s challenging to choose one over the other, but the accessories and rail system of the Delta 5 give it the edge over the Tikka.

Attaching a Leupold VX scope to your rifle with a Magpul Rifle Bipod will provide you accurate shots at distances well over 500 meters. Although I believe there are a dozen other rifles that you could buy, these 3 are the best chambered in a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Just remember that the most important way to improve your shooting is to train and practice with your rifle every month, at least. Good Luck and let us know what you think of the blog!