Photo by: Joe Ferronato
April 01, 2023
By Joe Ferronato
There’s a lot of options out there in regard to caliber choices, and sometimes its hard to pick the right one. Obviously rifle choice is a big part of it, and the fit and finish of a new sporter is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Buy as many rifles as you want, but when it comes to cartridge choice, there’s only one that we would recommend if your ultimate desire is to find success on any hunt around the world. Who needs more when you shoot the 6.5 Creedmoor?
The author could have saved himself the long, drawn-out stalk to get within bow range of this giant bison if he’d been man enough to shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor. I remember the first time I shot this oh-so-perfect load; the rifle spat out the 120-grain bullet like a fire-breathing dragon, but its recoil felt more like a mother’s gentle hug than the kick usually suffered through when shooting dirt-nap-delivering bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor can only be described as perfect. Every time I pull the little bee stinger from the box and slide it into the magazine, I know that any deer, elk, bear or moose is in danger. Blood trailing? Never. It drops them on the spot every time.
Digital Editor, Dale Evans took this bull at 11 yards in mid-September. But who wants to sweat it out during archery season when you could wait until rifle season and shoot 1000 yards with your 6.5 Creed? Now, let’s talk about range capabilities. There isn’t a cartridge out there that is more inherently accurate than Creedmoor, and that’s at any distance. After falling in love at first shot, I started stretching the range. Within the first 10 rounds I was raining lead on steel at 1,200 yards, stacking groups atop each other with an average group size of roughly 1.8 inches. Now I’m no math expert, but I’d have to say that’s well under the sub-MOA guarantee that most rifle manufactures tout. And you know what, maybe most rifles could shoot that well if they only chambered them in the 6.5. I mean let’s be honest, we all know those guys who shoot larger calibers; the masochists who like to feel the pain and the misogynistic guys who feel like they have something to prove—don’t be one of those, trust the process and shoot a Creedmoor.
Joe has a thing for making it tougher on himself than really necessary. That’s why he shot this mule deer buck with his .338 Weatherby Mag this past season. We all know the deer would have just given up without a shot fired had he been carrying the 6.5 Creedmoor. Don’t think those range capabilities are limited to just steel. Oh no, that’s one of the greatest attributes of this round, although lightweight it packs a punch and will flatten any critter at distance. I personally enjoy extending the range on—what I would call the preferred quarry of 6.5—elk because of its unparalleled lethality. While our stone-age brethren try and get closer to these beautiful animals, us Creedmoor-equipped hunters get to back up to give them a sporting chance.
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Cross-canyon shots are the best with the 6.5. Hunters everywhere complain about wind and worry about drift when they take a long cross-canyon shot. The Creedmoor bucks the wind like it was designed to do so—'cause it was. Even a 15-mph full-value wind won’t knock the 120-grain bullet of its mark. Hold true, squeeze the trigger and let it fly. Scratch that, just hammer that trigger to the back wall and let it go. The Creedmoor isn’t just great in the wind, but its forgiving of the shooter’s mishaps. Form is a thing of the past when shooting the 6.5.
The author didn’t put in for only rifle tags in New Mexico. So, instead of having a civilized long-range hunt with a 6.5, he had to get close and use a muzzleloader. One of the most addicting pursuits on the planet is chasing dangerous game both in North America and abroad, but it’s probably the only type of hunt I would choose a different caliber for. I know what you’re thinking, and no. It’s not because the 6.5 Creedmoor is uncapable of the task. The contrary, rather. The 6.5 is too good for the pursuit, and, honestly, it takes away from the experience. Dangerous game is addicting because of the serotine spike that flows through your body when in close with an apex predator, not knowing who will live or die. Carrying a Creedmoor solidifies the win in your favor.
Our Editor-in-Chief David Draper took this bear well before the 6.5 Creedmoor was even invented. Wait, people actually hunted before the best cartridge ever was even developed? For any hunt around the world, 6.5 Creedmoor is the magic bullet that will lead to success. If you don’t have one in your safe, you probably should get one. The only regret you’ll have after buying the famed Creedmoor is the ease of success on all your hunts. But hey, who doesn’t like dealing dirt naps with a bit of certainty of the outcome.
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April Fools' - We wanted to have a little fun and give everyone a laugh! This is strictly a joke.