I’m in analysis paralysis. Because I am never going to be one of those guys who has every flavor of ice cream in the freezer, I am trying to find the cartridge that is best suited to my goal. That goal is for a catridge that will do great at long range (I can access ranges out to a mile) and occationally go on a white tail or boar hunt, but nothing bigger than a big boar.
My first thought was the 6.5CM. Its Ubiquitous, cheap and does really well on the range. It will certainly put down the game I’m looking at.
Then I re-watched Jim’s video on the 6.5CM vs the 25CM and I thought, the quarter bore (which I am kinda enamoured with) would be the way to go. But I don’t reload yet - but that is something I plan to do in 2026 once I sock away a few coins for it.
Then Jim said the 6CM might be better than the 25CM, but I hear its a barrel burner and I already have a .243 I love.
Then I keep hearing how the 6Dasher and 6GT are just killers at ELR.
Of all of those the 6.5 Creedmoor is the obvious easy button. Plenty of wonderful rifles available in it, widely available ammo in it. It can shoot and do everything you’re asking for.
The six Creedmoor certainly has popularity in certain parts of the country. Around here it’s completely non-existent. You’re not going to find any rifles on the shelf or any ammo for it on the Shelf around here. But I’m also in the Deep south. The only PRC we have is 6.5 also. If you go to the gun store and ask about an ARC they’re going to think you’re talking about Noah. It’s really not going to offer you much more than your 243.
If I were just getting into 25 caliber, then the Creedmoor would be the obvious good choice. But I’m invested in a 25-06 which shoots great as well as a couple of 257 Roberts old school rifles which have some sentimental feelings for me and I’m not going to want to get rid of them or do something that’s going to make me shoot them even less than I already do.
I have a 6 gt. But it’s a big heavy competition style rifle. It’s fun to shoot at the range but I would have absolutely no fun taking it into the deer woods.
I can’t remember where the recent podcast I listened to was about the difference between the 6.5 and all of the 6 mm for competition shooting. The guy basically said it boils down to how the stages are designed. If it’s a lot of really long distance stuff and in a windy conditions, the ones with the higher BC are going to be more forgiving. But other stage conditions would favor the other rifle.
I should have mentioned that this will be a custom built on the Aero Solus. If I went 6.5CM I could holdoff on reloading fo a while. That’s why it was my early choice…
Personally I would stick with the easy button. That is specifically because you mentioned you didn’t want to have a bunch of different rifles. Also forgot to mention that when you do get into hand loading there is a metric ton of good load data for 6.5 creedmoor. There certainly is load data for all the others, but not to the extent of the creedmoor.
I have a couple of 6.5 Creedmoors and they are very enjoyable to shoot. One is a Savage 110 and the other is an Aero Precision Solus. The Savage is a 3/4+ MOA the Solus is a 3/8 MOA if I do my part.
I am also enamored with the 25 Creedmoor and it is my next build. I do reload so there is that, but what I have found is that I am a tinkerer…I like to use different powders and combinations to see if I can make all my rifles shoot smaller groups. My son claims that I’m like a “mad scientist” searching for the perfect combination. I have a 257 Weatherby Magnum that I really enjoy shooting but it is a barrel burner! The Creedmoor is not going to be anywhere near as much.
My thoughts on the 6’s are that they are all very good PRS calibers. They are going to be barrel burners to some extent to get the velocity and will have more wind drift at the longer ranges because of the lighter projectiles.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to go with! I am curious about all these as well.
I would pick the 6 CM and then the 6.5 CM, but they are both superb options.
6 CM will have higher velocity at same barrel lengths. That’s a longer distance you can have a bullet reliably expand. A bit flatter shooting which equates to more forgiveness when ranging. You’re also around 30% less recoil than the 6.5CM - which I know there’s not a ton of recoil, but it all helps you be a better shooter.
I’ve stopped worrying about ammo selection on shelves. I buy online and have never had an issue finding what I want, usually at better prices.
The 6.5 CM does have the better barrel life. It might be the better choice if you are putting a lot of bullets downrange.
My thoughts on the 22 is just based on what I’ve seen online - excellent out to 500-600 yards, but at 1000 + is get pushed around quite a bit more because of its size. Since I want to be able to shoot extended distances, I was looking at 6mm as the smallest I would go.
I will throw my $0.02 your way. I love shooting. Period. I don’t currently shoot competitions but like shooting to 1000 yds and have access to a range with this distance. Its not close by so I don’t get to go often but can shoot to 300 weekly if I chose. I have a Tikka TAC-A1 6.5 creedmore precision rifle and it lives up to its name. Its a heavy gun so not likely to be taken hunting but at 13-14 lbs fully tricked out its not impossible. We have a few other 6.5 CM guns and all shoot well, including Kimber and Christensen Arms with factory ammo like Barnes LRx and Hornday Eldx.
I just got my 25 Creedmore Altus barreled action and fired the first 20 shots yesterday. Its a very different barrel than I have ever owned before. If first impressions are worth anything, I am gonna love shooting it. Its not a hunting rifle. MDT chassis and gun only, weigh in at 16 lbs.
I guess bottom line, you will be good to go long distance with either caliber you chose. I think more 25 caliber ammo will be out sooner rather than later. I think the easy button is the 6.5 creedmore with tons of bullet options for hunting and target shooting. With you not reloading yet, 6.5 will get you shooting long range much sooner. There is a bit of a learning curve with reloading. I am only 4 yrs into reloading ammo and find things that help every month it seems. Building a components stockpile takes time/money. You will find that you love the satisfaction of shooting a round into small groups that you created and frustrated with the gun that just won’t shoot small after several powders and a few different bullets. Shopping is part of the fun, enjoy the process.
Hi Ben, my 2 cents, I shoot the 6 arc, 6 creed, 6.5 creed and the 6.5 prc out to over 1000 yards routinely and all these rifles are configured slightly differently for different applications. I can hit 1 moa steel with all but mine and my wife’s favorite is the 6 creed for target and PRS style shooting. It is a heavy rifle running a 26” comp contour proof steel barrel in a mpa matrix pro chassis but it is a laser. At our range we have a board up with golf balls as targets set at 1004 yards. My wife hit the golf ball on her 4th shot with the 6 creed. It is more than capable and as others have stated online ammo is readily available. We are shooting hornady 108 eldm’s. If you are chasing NRL hunter power factor is a consideration as well as rifle weight and I use the 6.5 creed for that as the 6 is too light a round to meet minimum requirements. PRS and others dont have this concern. Never tried the 25 but would love to.
Hitting a golf ball at 1000 yards is REDICULOUS! Like shooting the eye out of a Bear at 1000. Wow.
Interesting thoughts on the 6CM. But, to be honest I think I am leaning to the 25CM at the moment as it bests the 6.5 in BC, has better barrel life than the 6CM, and I found ammo pretty easily at Buds; which was only about 50 cents more per box of 20 than the 6.5CM - which is really why I was considering the 6.5.
I already know my wife is getting me the Solus action for Christmas , so this build will certainly be a 2026 project. Something for me to look forward to.
Bartlein barrel if I can get it in 25CM - I think their custom shop can do it - 24”. If I like the Backfire stock, I’ll go that route. If not, I may go with The UD 5 by Ultradyne. BixNAndy TacSport 2 stage. I’m still not decided on the glass, but the front runner right now is either the Athlon Ares 4.5-30x56 or the Burris Veracity ph 4-20x50… will probably be the Burris. I’ll put can on it, but I have no idea now which one.
OK - resurrecting this “old” thread. I have some updates:
I got the Aero Solus (Soulless?) barrelled action - 6.5CM @22". I also decied to put it on the new Ultradyne Picatinny chassis with the folding stock. It prices out at the same price as the Backlight and so far I have really liked UD chassis.
Here is what I need some help with as all of my other scopes I would consider hunting scopes or at hunting maginfications (Element Titan 3-18) and I would like this to have more zoomies and be more for the range.
I am looking at the:
Arken EPL4 6-24 for ~$330
Arken EP5 5-25 for ~$470
Athlon Ares 4.5-27 for ~580
I can’t get what I want this time in scope, I am on a budget. The weight of the EP5 is not a deal breaker for me, this rifle will hunt, but never backcountry as configured. I would have to make major changes.
If anyone has experience with these and can provide some insight (glass quality, tracking, smoothness of turrets, etc), I would appreciate it.
If your considering Arken, you might as well look at ZeroTech, Riton, and some of the Vortex-strike eagle-Viper-Venom series… I’ve had several Riton’s that have been very good and clear. I’m patiently waiting for for my barreled action to show…. From Areo…. If your not in a rush, Sportsman Warehouse will have there Anniversary Ballon Pop February 21st, and if your a rewards member you get 2 ballon’s, which have discount codes from anywhere from 5%~100% off your entire purchase. I hit a 50% off ballon 2 years ago on a Swarovski 20-60x80 $3200 spotting scope. So you might check there inventory, or order something have it delivered to the store then pick it up on the 21st etc..
If your considering Arken, you might as well look at ZeroTech, Riton, and some of the Vortex-strike eagle-Viper-Venom series… I’ve had several Riton’s that have been very good and clear. I’m patiently waiting for for my barreled action to show…. From Areo…. If your not in a rush, Sportsman Warehouse will have there Anniversary Ballon Pop February 21st, and if your a rewards member you get 2 ballon’s, which have discount codes from anywhere from 5%~100% off your entire purchase. I hit a 50% off ballon 2 years ago on a Swarovski 20-60x80 $3200 spotting scope. So you might check there inventory, or order something have it delivered to the store then pick it up on the 21st etc..
Sportman’s Wharehouse isn’t in TX :(. Is it in store only, or online as well?
I’ll look at those others, but I’ve shied away from China brands I don’t know as I fear that I’m getting junk. Better to spend an extra $200 than waste $100.
In store only, you walk in and they hand u a green ballon, and if your a rewards member they give u a gold ballon. The worst I got has been 15%, that was last year. Lucky I had ordered the Weatherby Alpine CT, so I was able to take 15% off it…
Riton is based out of AZ and I’ve had great customer service with them. Quick to answer the phone, 1/2 there stuff is China the other 1/2(higher end) is Japanese.
