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Build in 6.5 Creedmoor?


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I'm thinking of doing a new build when I return back to the UK. I would ideally like to chamber it in 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm a big fan of the round, I like it's ballistics, but more over, I like that it's designed to produce consistent results using a factory load. I don't reload, (yet), so I don't have the ability to make my own finely tuned rounds, so the appeal of being able to buy great factory ammo is really appealing to me.

 

I just wanted to know if the 6.5 Creedmoor is a readily available round back home in the UK? I've seen a lot of guys and gals on here shooting 6BR or other variants of 6mm, but just wanted to see if anyone could give me any knowledge on the 6.5 Creedmoor round in the UK?

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

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Edgar Bros are the UK Hornady importer. The first step would be to give them a call and see if they are importing the 6.5 Creedmoor. If I were Edgars I wouldn't - how many factory 6.5 Creedmoor rifles have been sold in the UK? Fingers on one hand?

 

Each to his own but maybe the 6.5 x 47 Lapua would be a much better option for you. I would speculate that the factory Lapua 6.5x47 will shoot the pants off a Creedmoor.

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Thanks for the info. I considered 6.5x47 Lapua too, and if that's more available, I'll definitely run with that. Just wanted to build something other than a .308, .300WM, etc..!!

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The UK list price for the two 6.5 Creedmoor A-Max factory loads is £150.60 / 100 as at late 2014, so may well be more now. Still, that's a lot cheaper than Norma / Lapua 6 BR or Lapua 6.5X47L at around half the price!

 

However, your chances of finding it at present range from unlikely to nil and before anybody berates Edgar Brothers, during the great US ammunition and components shortage, Hornady has virtually stopped exporting ammo except for the most popular older lines.

 

6.5 Creedmoor is as yet virtually unknown in Europe - little known of here in the UK, and likely even less in continental Europe. Not too surprising given that .260 Rem was launched 18 years ago and took at least 10 of those years to become well known to and adopted by anybody here other than a minority of savvy deerstalkers - and that was with first Remy, then most other large US rifle manufacturers listing rifles chambered for it.

 

After a lot of begging, pleading and grovelling, Stuart Anselm (Osprey Rifles) and myself have persuaded Edgar Bros to import a Savage 12 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor for review - hopefully arriving sometime in the next two or three months. Not only is the cartridge largely still the great unknown US barnstormer here, but the LRP has received rave reviews in the US, but is likely known about by all of 10 UK shooters! (Alright, I exaggerate just a little here :) !) Its US reputation may also be another reason why not many examples in any of its three chamberings have made it outside of the Land of the Free to date. So, I'm hopeful we can move this (6.5 Creedmoor) particular issue on a bit - but to be honest, it'll be uphill as the UK market (whether for factory or custom rifles) is saturated by 6.5s - the '47L, .260 Rem, 6.5X55mm, and 6.5-284 (regarded as 'old hat' now).

 

So, I'm 100% with you in your thinking, but would warn it might make for a very frustrating choice as a non-handloader. I do have a custom Stiller based Creedmoor, but have yet to obtain a single carton of factory ammunition to use in it as a 'control' to measure handloads against. Very easy nto handload for, or even to duplicate the factory rounds as Hornady publishes the load ingredients.

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Hey Laurie,

 

Thanks for the awesome advice! That's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. I've always wanted to get into reloading, I've just never known how to really get started. I'm a little hesitant to dive in without any real guidance. Maybe when I'm back in the U.K I'll find someone to learn form. I've still got one of my favorite builds chambered in .308, so maybe I'll just keep that until I've been back for a while and understand the U.K market a little more.

 

You wouldn't by chance happen to know what the law is pertaining to importing ammo / bringing it back with me? I only ask because I have a fair amount of .223 / 5/56, and .308 and I'm wondering if I should sell it here, or if I can bring it home with me. We are talking a few thousands rounds. I've tried to find some documentation about it, but it's all very vague and doesn't give any exact figures.

 

Thanks again for yours, and everyones help!

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

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For your first UK Certificate you are unlikely to be granted 'thousands of rounds' of ammunition to be possessed/purchased. The cost of importing is likely to be expensive for such a commercially small amount and you are limited on weight (5kg total I think) on what an airline will allow you to carry.

 

As far as the 6.5 Creedmoor goes there is very little in it performance wise between that and a .260 Remington, with Lapua Brass for the later widely available for the later that would probably be the more sensible way to go in the UK as the advantage of having commercially produced ammo available to buy is just not there and not ever likely to be. Get a .260 and reload.

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The situation regarding factory ammo is a shame, because the cartridge is excellent. I've built half a dozen in the calibre and took an order for another only yesterday.

 

Its my personal favourite of the 3 , because it has all the best features of them.

 

I,ve never had a problem containing brass for it, even though only Hornady make it [ and its excellent ] The now defunct Midway was an easy source, and Brownells now list it.

 

I gave up on Edgars some time ago. Their rep never visited me in 5 years, despite my premises being axactly 10 yards from another he visited regularly, and i,ve been begging for the last 5 years for up to date price lists...to no avail.

 

Learn to handload my friend. I have a customer coming this morning for a 1 to 1 introduction , he will leave at dinnertime with a box full of ammo and the knowledge of how to reload it for his new gun.

 

I love the Creedmoor...my next 6.5 barrel for my AX will be chambered in it.

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Hey Laurie,

 

Thanks for the awesome advice! That's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. I've always wanted to get into reloading, I've just never known how to really get started. I'm a little hesitant to dive in without any real guidance. Maybe when I'm back in the U.K I'll find someone to learn form. I've still got one of my favorite builds chambered in .308, so maybe I'll just keep that until I've been back for a while and understand the U.K market a little more.

 

You wouldn't by chance happen to know what the law is pertaining to importing ammo / bringing it back with me? I only ask because I have a fair amount of .223 / 5/56, and .308 and I'm wondering if I should sell it here, or if I can bring it home with me. We are talking a few thousands rounds. I've tried to find some documentation about it, but it's all very vague and doesn't give any exact figures.

 

Thanks again for yours, and everyones help!

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

Jamie

 

Sell the ammo and buy a decent reloading kit whilst you can get them at US prices, if you are shipping back stuff to here it'll be lots cheaper than buying the gear over here.

 

As Dave says plenty of people will help get you started reloading,

 

Alan

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Another one of those ongoing battles Betamax vs VHS, Blu-Ray vs HD DVD, there was winners on those battles but to be honest the 6.5 battle is a little more unclear between the 260Rem and the 6.5x47Lapua with the Creedmore the outsider.

Creedmoor.....

 

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/history-story-of-creedmoor.html

 

Regards JCS

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Thanks again everyone for all the info! The general theme I'm getting is learn to handload, so that's probably what I will do. I'll probably also do away with the ammo too, and swap it out for some reloading gear. The possibilities here are endless on what gear is available, so if anyone has any good advice on what gear such as single stage press, progressive press and what other components I need, it would be much appreciated.

 

Also, would I be correct in saying that the 6.5 x 47 Lapua and possibly the 6.5 Creedmoor share the same boltface as a .308? If that's the case, I may just bring back my .308 rifle and a barrel blank and keep the blank until I know what 6.5 I want to chamber in.

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

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Three salient points to consider, and are facts, not hearsay.

 

1. The 6.5 x 47 was never designed to push 140 grain bullets. Its optimum with 123 grain bullets and up to 130. If its run with 140,s the velocity is poor for that weight.

 

2. The .260 rarely makes full use of its case capacity, even with 140 grain bullets. Why people then ackley it is beyond me. It won't load secant ogive bullets on the lands and still mag feed from an aics magazine either.

 

3. The creedmoor has almost the .260 case capacity, and a fair bit more than the 6.5 x 47. The case is slightly shorter than a .260 and has a sharper shoulder and parallel sides. The crucial part is that the case can be filled to bursting, and a 140 grain secant ogive bullet loaded, that will sit in the lands, and still load from a magazine.

 

Win, Win, Win.

 

All tiny, some would say finicky points, but all relevant.

 

Your bolt face will suit all three. Bring a 1 in 8" twist blank back with you and take your pick. :)

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Baldie,

 

I see the Valkyrie Rifles URL in your posts. I just checked out the site, and saw the builds and custom actions offered. Would you be the person to talk to about a custom build? I was about to purchase a Defiance Deviant custom action over here and bring it home with me, but the Valhalla action looks pretty damn good from what I see. Let me know if you are the person to talk to!

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

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Baldie,

 

I see the Valkyrie Rifles URL in your posts. I just checked out the site, and saw the builds and custom actions offered. Would you be the person to talk to about a custom build? I was about to purchase a Defiance Deviant custom action over here and bring it home with me, but the Valhalla action looks pretty damn good from what I see. Let me know if you are the person to talk to!

 

Cheers,

 

Jamie

 

I specialise in this type of rifle. Ask around, there are plenty of owners of my rifles on here. ;)

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Meles meles,

 

I can't speak for the x47, but some of the reasons 6.5 Creedmoor is becoming more and more popular in the US is because of the quality and accuracy you get from a factory match round. It's availability and price compared to the 6BR, also play a part for more everyday precision shooters. From what I've heard and read, it also gets a far superior barrel life compared to other 6's. As much as a 1-2 thousand more rounds.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jamie

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All use less powder for very similar performance.

 

Less recoil.

 

10 round mags readily available/useable.

 

Modern load data.

 

They make you a goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus.

 

:D

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