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real world review on 6.5 creedmore please

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14K views 92 replies 20 participants last post by  Bryan Heimann  
#1 ·
looking to buy the oldest granddaughter a Savage "lady hunter". Last year it seems the calibers where limited to 243,7-08,6.5 and 308, this year it seems to be also include 223, 22-250 ,270 and Yikes 30-06..

My son has a 7-08 so we are familiar with that caliber as well as 243,270,308 and 06 what I'm not familiar with is the 6.5 and oddly enough is the cheapest option from Bud's Gun shop.

For those who don't know the "Lady Hunter it is a tweener between a youth and a regular sized rifle much akin to the Browning "Micro"

So tell me in your real world experiences the good bad and the ugly of the 6.5
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
ducksNbucks said:
Womens round fo sho
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insightful input aside my Granddaughter already does well with her Grandmother's Browning Micro in 308 but Grandma is taking it back and being that the younger Granddaughters may end up with this rifle on down the line something softer may be in line.

Looking for more ballistic type/post mortem info real world hands on input.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Steve6949 said:
My daughter who is 30 but short like me grew up shooting 22-250 and although she killed lots of deer but got tired of just stumble around looking for dead deer due to limited blood so we switched to 6.5 creed. We shot a 7-08 a 308 and others I forget but settled on the 6.5 because of the guns we shot. Hers is a compact tikka and was the less felt recoil of them all and I was impressed on how quick it was putting them down with factory 129 grain hornady sst that I bought a CVA cascade in 6.5. The hornady didnt shoot as well in mine and I ended up shooting sellier & bellot solid point so two different bullets but seemed to anchor them just as well. She has taken them from 30 yards out to 300. I have only shot a few with it and have had same results. You mentioned lots of great calibers but based on recoil, ability to shoot consistent groups, way it puts down deer, the option to use for bigger stuff if needed (although 708 or 308 probably better) and availability, cost of shells the 6.5 has been our favorite....man bun just added bonus. Not sure I answered your questions so pm me if you want to talk creedmoor. Think your daughter and you will love!!
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that is most helpful . Yea my granddaughter is one of those 4'11" 90 #rs she's not recoil sensitive in the least but still no use in getting something that she wont enjoy shooting
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
2 the Plug said:
Sidebar I love Savage as well. Still wish I owned the one Long Range Hunter 6.5CM I sold here. Now that's a much heavier gun than you're talking and clearly I like carrying lightweight afield rifles now but Savage has those too. Savage Customer Service for me was phenomenal. I lost the accutrigger tool and they mailed me a new one at no cost with just my Serial No over the phone. I would be confident giving any of my family members one of the post accutrigger savages. On balance they have really done well as a company in the last decade plus in my opinion.
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what grain bullet did you find shot/performed best? I have always been a fan of Hornaday Whitetail or Winny Power Points. Hornaday shoots slightly better in all of them both performed similar enough not to matter. OBTW these "Lady Hunters" area 20 inch barrel too.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
BackyardBandit said:
People get caught up with whether or not a certain caliber or cartridge is good.
Need to focus more on the actual bullet as far as performance goes. You can but a 6.5 caliber bonded bullet, cup and core, exploding, etc...
A Vmax is going to perform much differently than an accubond.

But to your question, I've seen a 143gr eldx 6.5 creedmoor kill an elk at 702 yards so I'd say it will do fine on a deer.
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I have friend that used to Guide in New Mexico and he had a hunter plow a big Bull Elk at several hundy yrds as well.. it took a couple of rounds to the heart but it was short track according to him
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
I see we are going down that MWT Rabbit Hole gain. I appreciate the input.

of the options that the Lady Hunter Comes in oddly enough the 6.5 Creedmore is the Cheapest, The 7-08 the most expensive and we are talking sizeable amounts. The oldest altho the smallest of the 3 sisters is more the guy's girl and shoots her Granny's 308 just fine but having to take into account the other 2 possibly using it on down the line that also has to be considered. That being said @trapperBR549 243 around here OTC is NOT an easy find and if you do no variety, 6.5 seems to be everywhere. Tat being said I'm not seeing paying $45+ a box for those Eld-Xs or whatever they are but that's her Dad's call not mine also 260 is not an option nor is the 6.5 prc so how they became part of this discussion is beyond me.

Thank you one and all
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
rat said:
Most of the time I get a deer rifle, I intend to keep it for a pretty long time. I reload and had plans to load for the creedmoor but I never factored in the price of factory ammo but I don’t buy deer rifles to shoot casually. A box of ammunition for deer hunting lasts me several seasons.

I can see if you shoot a LOT the extra $0.25 per bullet or whatever would add up.

For the distances likely and the shooter considered, I’d get the .308
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as much as I agree with you for younger shooters range time with the hunting weapon is a must x's that by 3 girls it all adds up. altho the oldest is ok with the 308 we ( son & I) are not willing to bet the younger 2 will be, 308 is not one of the possibilities
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
callaojoe said:
Honestly Bean, if you like the 6.5CM, nothing wrong with it. It's a good solid deer cartridge. Like I said earlier, about the same as the 6.5 Swede, and it's an excellent deer cartridge. I handload, so I have no first hand info on OTC ammo or it's prices.

6.5CM has become pretty much the "standard" rifle cartridge for most rifle makers it seems, the 30-06 of the new Millenium. :D
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the finalist is the 243, 7-08 or 6.5cm. We have a 7-08 already so ease of ammo is a big + 243 is not easy to find locally OTC and the 6.5cm is the cheapest of the options in that rifle ( why I have no idea) and I know next to nothing about the 6.5 is why I asked for my own education.

I'll bang heads with the Son and see what he thinks..He seems to be in favor of the 243 the last we spoke
 
Discussion starter · #45 ·
seems Son is leaning to the 7-08 simply because he has a Savage 7-08 and with the hope the LH too likes the Hornaday American White Tail rounds. That was my original reasoning at the beginning of our conversation a few months back, there is the difference of a 22" barrel to the LH's 20" so there is that to be determined. I'm a big believer in continuity and why the wife and I also have 40cal CCWs

So I guess until further notice that has been decided

other than Buds what are other good places ( cheaper prices) to mail order rifles from?
 
Discussion starter · #50 ·
BackyardBandit said:
@beanpile bud's gun shop sucks.
www.guns.com

Savage 11 - For Sale - New :: Guns.com

The 11 Lady Hunter is literally built around the needs of female hunters. Its oil-finish American walnut stock features a raised comb custom-tailored to a woman's contours as well as a shortened length of pull and slender grip and fore-end. The balance point of the 20-inch light-taper barrel has...
www.guns.com www.guns.com
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I have bought a couple from them and had no issues but ok lol I'm always open to saving $$ but yea that's a great price!
 
Discussion starter · #58 ·
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