6.5 Creedmoor AR | Most Accurate AR Caliber
6.5 Creedmoor AR Bolt Action Rifle Accuracy in a Semi-Automatic Rifle
6.5 Creedmoor is a modern short action rifle cartridge that brings competition level bolt action accuracy to 308 AR, AR308, and AR-10 based rifles.
Note: We often see 6.5 Creedmoor spelled 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5 Creedmoore, 6.5 Creedmor, and 6.5CM
.308 Winchester Rifle Cartridge
The .308 Winchester cartridge is unquestionably the most popular short action rifle cartridge to date. It performs well in the hands of hunters, soldiers, snipers and competition shooters. It’s near identical sibling 7.62×51 has been designated 7.62 NATO. The .308 does a lot of things very well but it’s not perfect.
The .308 Winchester was brought to market in 1952. This means as I write this page the .308 Winchester rifle cartridge is 65 years old. Consider how much technology has changed in that 65 year period. Watching “I love Lucy” on a 20″ black and white TV has been replaced with watching “The Walking Dead” on a 65″ 4K OLED. Directly speaking to humans in person has been replaced by social media text messages. These powerful electronic devices are referred to as computers. These computers have made all sorts of amazing things happen such as letting middle aged men have a website devoted to their favorite weapon platform the 308 AR/AR 308 and more importantly these computers have allowed for purpose designed ammunition to be created. One such ammunition is the 6.5 Creedmoor.
6.5 Creedmoor
If the .308 Winchester was designed for many shooting applications the 6.5 Creedmoor is the polar opposite. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed by Hornady for one specific purpose. That one purpose is competitive rifle shooting. In 2007 Hornady released the 6.5 Creedmoor to the shooting public and among competitive rifle shooters it’s popularity has been growing ever since.
Wilson Combat states it best
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a top choice of precision rifle competitors and hunters looking for the optimum AR-based extended range rifle cartridge. It makes ultra long range shooting an easy proposition and offers similar long range trajectories to a .300 Winchester Magnum with less felt recoil than a comparable .308 AR rifle. The high ballistic coefficient bullets loaded in the 6.5 caliber make this downrange performance possible because they have less wind drift and more retained energy than a comparable .30 caliber bullet at 1000 yards. When seeking the best extended-range shooting or hunting performance in an AR 308 platform rifle the 6.5 Creedmoor is the logical choice. With a wide variety of quality factory ammunition available and .308 AR magazine and receiver compatibility, the 6.5 Creedmoor is in a performance class by itself.
6.5mm Bullets
The 6.5mm (and 6mm) bullets have found their way into many benchrest and wildcat rifle calibers over the years. There is very good reason for this. The 6.5mm long and thin bullet design is inherently accurate. This slender design allows the bullet to slice through the air with less friction and wind drift over typical bullet designs. The design of the 6.5mm bullet with proper propellants enables the bullet to travel with a fairly flat trajectory. These are critical features when shooting at extreme distances.
6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Accuracy – The lower recoil 6.5 Creedmoor is ballistically superior to the 308 Winchester. The 6.5 Creedmoor shoots flatter with less wind drift than .308 Winchester. The .308 Winchester is a medium range rifle cartridge where as the 6.5 Creedmoor is a 1000 yard rifle cartridge. Under 500 yards accuracy is pretty equal for both cartridges. The 6.5 Creedmoor is inherently accurate. In fact 6.5 Creedmoor chambered premium AR’s are fast approaching custom bolt action rifle accuracy at a lower cost. This is HUGE. Advantage: 6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Recoil – The 6.5 Creedmoor has substantially less recoil than 308 Winchester. Advantage 6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Reliability – The 6.5 Creedmoor is having some growing pains with the semi automatic implementation. Feeding and cycling issues have been reported to affect some manufacturers. Advantage .308 Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Cost – Premium ammunition costs about the same for both calibers. 308 Winchester’s popularity provides a huge advantage with regards to costs. Bulk ammunition and reloading components are massively less expensive for .308 Winchester. 6.5 Creedmoor is only available as premium ammunition and reloading components. Advantage .308 Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Ammunition Availability – While the 6.5 Creedmoor is gaining in popularity and showing up on shelves of even the smallest gun shops it’s no match for .308 Winchester which is available anywhere rifle ammunition is sold. Advantage .308 Winchester
Why Choose 6.5 Creedmoor Over .308 Winchester?
Why Choose 6.5 Creedmoor Over .308 Winchester? The answer is simple. At this time the 6.5 Creedmoor is one of the most accurate long range mass produced rifle cartridges available for the AR-10, 308 AR and AR 308 platforms. If group size at 1000 yards in an AR is important to you the 6.5 Creedmoor is the best choice. If throwing a bunch of inexpensive lead down range is your idea of fun stick with the .308. Lighter recoil and higher hit probability. Whats not to love?
6.5 Creedmoor vs .308 Winchester Conclusion
I was born with a Remington 760 .308 in my hands. Through inheritance I had that rifle before my first .22. It’s not easy in fact it’s a bitter pill to swallow that the new kid on the block the 6.5 creedmoor in many ways is superior in performance to my beloved .308 Winchester. In fact in many ways a more fair comparison would be against the 30-06 and 300 Winchester Magnum. Fortunately there’s room in my safe for all of them.
Build Your Own 6.5 Creedmoor or Upgrade an Existing 308 AR/AR 308 Rifle Barrel
Whether you want to build a rifle from scratch or upgrade an AR you already own the conversion to 6.5 Creedmoor is in most cases a simple barrel swap. Two extreme choices are the Proof Research Carbon Fiber and our favorite from our friends at Criterion Barrels.
6.5 Creedmoor AR Rifles
As I write this we are beginning to see several manufacturers bring 6.5 Creedmoor to market. In most examples these rifles are setup for competition, benchrest and prone style shooting. They feature fixed stocks, long heavy barrels and muzzle brakes. Currently by most accounts the JP LRP-07 seems to be the most accurate. At half the price of the JP we have entries from Aero Precision, Smith & Wesson, Wilson Combat, Savage, Seekins Precision and Fulton Armory to name a few.
US Army Special Operations Command Seeks Precision Intermediate Caliber Ammunition
During a briefing earlier this week at the NDIA Armaments Congerence in Fredericksburg, Virginia, COL Samuel Ashley, the DCS G8 for the US Army Special Operations Command, discussed a current initiative to identify a Precision Intermediate Caliber ammunition from within the 6.5mm family. In this joint effort between USASOC and PEO Soldier’s PM for Soldier Weapons, they will test 23 different cartridges in 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington later this month, using the Army’s 2000m Doppler RADAR equipped range, at the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Based on this research, they will conduct a user evaluation of the selected cartridge, in October. This is a very fast paced effort which aims to identify a 6.5mm family cartridge for integration into a USASOC requirement for a new semiautomatic sniper weapon. It will also give others a leg up in identifying a viable option for an intermediate caliber.
Precision Intermediate Caliber 6.5 Creedmoor
USSOCOM briefer, LTC Mark Owens, PM for Ammo, Weapons and Visual Augmentation Systems supports the efforts of SOF components like USASOC, and added some additional insight into where the ammunition selected from the USASOC study might go. He mentioned that in FY18 we should see the development of a 6.5mm Assault Machine Gun which would result in the fielding, soon thereafter, of an Intermediate Caliber Assault Machine Gun. The cartridge decision will also lead to the fielding of an Intermediate Caliber Sniper Rifle/Carbine in the years FY19-23.
Below is our 6.5 Creedmoor Blog Posts that cover 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles and Rifle Barrels
Wilson Combat Super Sniper Rifle Barrel 6.5 Creedmoor
Each Wilson Combat 6.5 Creedmoor Super Sniper Barrel is built with a rifle-length gas system. It is purpose-built to deliver a level of match-grade accuracy not seen before in AR 308-size rifles.
Cry Havoc Takedown Kit QRB Quick Detach Barrel
Cry Havoc Tactical takes their QRB (Quick Release Barrel) Upper Receiver Takedown Kit and scales it up for the big guns! Designed for your 308 AR or 6.5 Creedmoor the QRB allows you to quickly detach the barrel giving you the ability to store or carry your rifle in a much-reduced profile and then when needed quickly reassemble the rifle while holding within 1 MOA.
Nemo Arms XO Steel 6.5 Creedmoor AR
Nemo Arms XO Steel 6.5 Creedmoor AR is an versatile long-range 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. Engineered to take optimal advantage of the superb 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, the XO Steel is as visually stunning as it is functional. The rifle displays gorgeous ergonomic aesthetics designed to cut a significant amount of weight, and the 22″ Bartlein blank barrel, machined in-house by NEMO, can assist in producing groups with scalpel-like surgical precision.
SIG SAUER SIG716G2 DMR FDE RIFLE 6-5 CREEDMOOR
Right out-of-the box, the second generation 6.5 CREEDMOOR SIG SAUER SIG716G2 DMR RIFLE features an improved gas system, lightweight handguard, and an overall weight reduction of more than two pounds. The two-stage match trigger and muzzle brake help shrink groups to less than a single minute-of-angle, accuracy simply thought impossible from a gas piston. This two-position adjustable gas system keeps carbon, excessive heat and other fouling out of the chamber, enhancing reliability and accuracy. Chambered in 7.62 x 51mm, the SIG716 DMR G2 works well with any model suppressor or muzzle device.
BSF BARRELS 6.5 CREEDMOOR RIFLE+2 GAS 1-8 TWIST 22 INCH FLUTED
After turning down the barrel, BSF Barrels jacket a 416R Stainless steel match barrel in a roll-wrapped carbon fiber sleeve and load it under tension. BSF Barrels use this jacketing method rather than wrapping the barrel in carbon fiber because this method of wrapping has been proven to trap heat and cause delamination. The carbon fiber used is specially designed to move at the same expansion rate as 416R stainless steel. BSF Barrels drill holes into the carbon fiber allowing air to move around the barrel and vent heat quicker without any delamination issues. Using the Carbon Fiber this way keeps the rifling straighter the warmer the barrel gets because it’s under tension. This allows us to maintain superior stiffness and strength while keeping the barrel extremely lightweight.
PSA GEN2 PA-65 20″ 6.5 CREEDMOOR 1:8 SS 15″ M-LOK UPPER
The PSA GEN2 PA-65 20″ 6.5 CREEDMOOR 1:8 SS 15″ M-LOK UPPER RECEIVER by Palmetto State Armory is a relatively inexpensive way for PA-10 owners to get in the 6.5 Creedmoor game. Today with market saturation PSA is frequently offering these 6.5 Creedmoor uppers for $550 versus $790. PSA has done a great job with their GEN2 PA-10 308 AR platform. PSA GEN2 6.5 Creedmoor uppers should only be used with their corresponding PA-10 lowers. They do not mate perfectly with any other 308 AR platform.
SAVAGE MSR 10 LONG RANGE 6 5 CREEDMOOR RIFLE 22905
The SAVAGE MSR 10 LONG RANGE 6.5 CREEDMOOR RIFLE Model #22905 packs all the features and upgrades you would expect from a Savage precision rifle into a single platform. This MSR 10 is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and is built on a compact frame with a non-reciprocating side charging handle. It’s BLACKHAWK!® nickel boron treated two-stage target trigger and Magpul PRS® adjustable buttstock optimize the inherent accuracy of the upgraded Savage barrel, which features 5R rifling and a Melonite QPQ finish.
DIAMONDBACK DB1065CB 6.5 CREEDMOOR AR308 (Cheap)
Hat tip to follower Scott D for making us aware of the Diamondback DB10 line of 308 AR Rifles. Product Specs Model: DB1065CB Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor Finish: Black Anodized Hardcoat Barrel: 20” Stainless Steel Fluted Twist: 1:8 Gas System: Rifle Length Gas System Bolt Carrier Group: Azimuth Black Nitride, AR 10 Carrier w/ Multi-Cal Bolt, DPMS Style Barrel Extension, High Pressure Firing Pin Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum Upper Receiver: Flattop Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum, T-Marked Handguard: 15” M-LOK Rail Selector: Ambidextrous Safety Selector Grip: Fab Defense Rubberized Ergonomic Pistol Grip Stock: Fab Defense GL Shock Mag: 5 and 20 Round Metal Mag Weight: 9lbs 1oz. Overall Length (Stock Collapsed): 38.5” Overall Length (Stock Expanded): 41.75” Muzzle Device:
Lilja 6.5 Creedmoor Drop In AR308 Barrels
When it comes to rifle barrels they can often be separated into different classes of performance. The top level performers are what I refer to as “No Excuses Barrels”. Lilja is one of the small handful of custom barrel manufactures producing these no excuses barrels for winning competitive shooters world wide. More importantly Lilja Rifle Barrels was named exclusive supplier for .30 caliber Mk13, Mod 7, and .50 caliber Mk15 barrels for the Navy SEALS. Lilja is now offering benchrest level performance 6.5 Creedmoor drop in barrels for 308 AR/AR308 shooters. They are available in 20″, 24″ fluted and unfluted. Barrels are also available in .260 and .308 Winchester.
Links to Other 308 AR | AR-10 | AR 308 Content
Manufacturers | 308 AR Compatibility | Charging Handles | Carbon Fiber Barrels| Barrels | AR Rifle Build Guides | AR Receiver Selection Guide | Trigger Selection Guide | Bolt Carriers | Armalite AR-10 Rifle Parts | AR-10 Rifle Barrel Selection Guide | 308 Scope Selection Guide | Tools | Scope Mounts |
