Just bought a new Savage rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor

After the last 10 years of looking at, reading about, and buying handguns (mostly S&W Revolvers), I've gotten interested in rifles and scopes.

So I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. I already have a 308 and a few lever actions in pistol calibers plus a Marlin 39A in 22 lr.

Anyway, I picked the rifle up yesterday, and decided to buy some ammo to try it out.

Found the only thing available was Hornady 143gr at $43 a box of 20.

Ouch.

At over $2 per shot, I won't be shooting my new rifle much.

What did 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo cost before the current ammo panic?

I hope is was less .

I did some reloading 30 years ago, but didn't find I had time for it while working. Maybe I'll have to reconsider.

I guess I'll do my center fire rifle shooting with the 308 Browning BLR as ammo for that is reasonable and I have some in stock.

My grandson's Ruger American Predator really like the Hornady Precision Hunter 143 grain ELD-X load. It is all we shoot out of the rifle now. Just going from memory that load's shelf price at Cabela's was $34.99 but I haven't bought any this year.

Right now no matter what you shoot; if you're buying factory ammo you kind of have to buy what you can. I know there was cheap 6.5mm Creedmoor loads that were under $20.

These are targets shot at 200 yards. Pretty much they are 1/2 MOA. The loads chronographed with standard deviation of 3 fps which blows me away.

[img]https://a4.pbase.com/o10/10/209910/1/165830886.CgU8b9Pl****GER.jpg[/img]

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Bill Bates

Yes, that's the ammo I bought.

another plus, that load has put two pronghorn in the freezer. Both were dead where they stood. The ELD-X bullet preformed like they should. It is good hunting load.

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Bill Bates

I was at the range Wednesday shooting with a buddy he had some Hornady match ammo that was tagged just under 20 buck a box I don't know when he bought it.

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SWHF #595

For me, any rifle shooting required hand loading. Part of the shooting is developing the load to fit your rifle. I can usually duplicate that 1/4 MOA depending on the accuracy of the rifle. Any Remington 700 I ever owned could do it. I did have a Savage a few years ago, with their adjustable trigger, in .243. It was a tack driver, and a 300-500 yard Prairie dog gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

The 143 grain ELD-X bullet is great for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Never used any of it in factory ammo but load my own (44.5 grains H4831SC, Win LR primer) for my Ruger 77 Hawkeye Predator which gives about 2600fps. Works well on deer, pigs, coyotes. Not sure how long this current "ammo vacuum" will last but it's never too soon (or late) to start hand loading although components are in short supply too. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Walmart and Academy Sports have some ammo thats about 17 bucks a box but the 6.5 CM has become very popular and it disappears quickly. I have a Howa Hunter with Walnut stock and Vortex Diamondback 4-12X scope and it's very accurate and doesn't kick bad at all and is a joy to shoot.

Take up reloading, play your cards right (stock up) and there never is an ammo shortage. I have a little 6.5 x 55 Swede, it loves Hornady 140 ELD bullets over 40gr. IMR 4350...one hole groups at 100yds all day long. It shoots 142gr. Matchkings also but loves those ELD's. There is a certain degree of discipline you have to have concerning dropping too low on components. I have a few calibers that I maintain a level and do not allow myself to get into that supply. Never fall below 1K primers large and small, rifle and pistol. I know when there is a critical shortage when I start to eyeball the safety stash, a few of us help each other out....Got any H-4350, trade ya a can of H-110...that sort of stuff.