Assembling a 6.5 Creedmoor

NavyVette

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I picked up a Bergera B14 Wilderness HMR today, and now I need to get a scope, rings, and bipod :D
I'm thinking Talley rings. Just haven't decided on 0MOA or 20MOA
This is the scope I am thinking of, in 5-25*56. It has a 90MOA elevation adjustment, so the odds of me needing the 20MOA rings diminishes as fast as my ability :ROFLMAO:

Still researching the rest of the accessories.

Also picked up 2 boxes of Hornady 147 grain ELD Match to start with.
 
Nice rifle.

For 5-600 bucks, I'd go with Vortex. Viper, Crossfire 2, Strike Eagle are all around that same price range.

The sweet spot is between 400-600 yards with 6.5 CRM. Viper HS 4-16x50 LR would be my choice. If you are going to be shooting long a lot (using the zoom), a second focal plane scope is going to work out better for you. Especially if you are hunting.
 
If you are going to be shooting long a lot (using the zoom), a second focal plane scope is going to work out better for you. Especially if you are hunting.
Do you mean First focal plane? Where the reticle changes size along with the zoom?

I have the Viper HST 6-24 X 50 on my 6.5CM rifle, which is a 2nd focal plane scope. The reticle stays the same and is calibrated for 18X power. So, I pretty much stick with 18X, but I'm not hunting.
 
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Nice rifle.

For 5-600 bucks, I'd go with Vortex. Viper, Crossfire 2, Strike Eagle are all around that same price range.

The sweet spot is between 400-600 yards with 6.5 CRM. Viper HS 4-16x50 LR would be my choice. If you are going to be shooting long a lot (using the zoom), a second focal plane scope is going to work out better for you. Especially if you are hunting.

Solid scopes - I have Vortex Vipers on the 308 and 30-06.
Little guys - 1-8x24

The 6.5 is for my intro to long range shooting, for hunting I have other rifles.
I'm with the L.T. Did you mean FFP for long range?
That's how I read it:
 
I picked the 6.5 Creedmoor based in part on this article which shows a max effective precision range of 1,500-2,000 yards

Another part of the equation is I can get brass from Starline :ROFLMAO:
 
I picked the 6.5 Creedmoor based in part on this article which shows a max effective precision range of 1,500-2,000 yards
I haven't clicked that, yet. But my understanding was that 6.5CM goes trans sonic at about 1400 yards, making that the real max range. Once it goes subsonic, the bullet loses stability.
 
My local range tops out at 500, so it will be a while before I test the maximum distance.
Once I buy myself a rangefinder and some steel targets for my birthday I can hit the local BLM land and go further.

I'm getting quite a list from me for my birthday already.
I'd thought buying myself a rifle for an early birthday present would be enough, but apparently I was wrong
 
I'm seeing about 1400 on Sniper's Hide too....
But I read that Abraham Lincoln says not to believe everything you read on the Internet, so there's that
 
My local range tops out at 500, so it will be a while before I test the maximum distance.
My local range tops out at 300, and that part of the range has been closed for a year and may not re-open until next summer.

But my 6.5CM Ruger Precision Rifle can easily (and regularly) shoot sub-MOA at 300 yards. On a good day, I've gotten 5-shot groups down to 1/2-MOA and even 1/3-MOA.

I'm getting quite a list from me for my birthday already.
Oh, it's another rabbit hole, for sure! But it's fun, too!
 
If you are doing long distance shooting, most would choose second focal plane. Check this out:

Screenshot 2025-01-20 at 9.29.37 PM.png

I cant remember where I found this ages ago but it pretty much calls out the difference between FFP and SFP. What I was trying to say is that if you plan on shooting that rifle at the optimal range for the 6.5 CRM, we are talking 400-600 yards. You need a fair amount of magnification at that distance. Shooting small groups at that distance I want to see the target, not a proportionate reticle.

As the chart illustrates, first focal plane can obscure the target when you magnify. The further in your zoom, the bigger the reticle appears. Second focal plane the reticle is always the same size.

In the end, a lot of this is preference. Some don't care, others dig in their heels and debate this like they do ammo calibers. Hunting, especially big game that may be out 300-400 yards... you might find if difficult to make an accurate kill shot if the animal is obscured by the reticle. Most but not all the hunters I know prefer SFP. Because the reticle is consistent at any degree of magnification.

I recently put a Vortex Viper on my RPR. I swapped out another Vortex that was FFP.

If you aren't hunting or just shooting steel and don't care so much about groups, and choose a scope without a lot of magnification, FFP is fine. Or if you prefer the reticle changing size on a long shot - the decision is yours.

6.5 CRM can be lethal out to 1000 yards but the drop at that distance is around 300 inches. A gun guru would suggest the effective range for that caliber is 500 yards. As you probably know it shoots flatter and a bit longer than 308.
 
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My local range tops out at 300, and that part of the range has been closed for a year and may not re-open until next summer.

But my 6.5CM Ruger Precision Rifle can easily (and regularly) shoot sub-MOA at 300 yards. On a good day, I've gotten 5-shot groups down to 1/2-MOA and even 1/3-MOA.


Oh, it's another rabbit hole, for sure! But it's fun, too!
The Bergera has a sub-MOA guarantee. I do not think that means for MY abilities at this moment :ROFLMAO:
 
If you are doing long distance shooting, most would choose second focal plane. Check this out:

View attachment 28284
I cant remember where I found this ages ago but it pretty much calls out the difference between FFP and SFP. What I was trying to say is that if you plan on shooting that rifle at the optimal range for the 6.5 CRM, we are talking 400-600 yards. You need a fair amount of magnification at that distance. Shooting small groups at that distance I want to see the target, not a proportionate reticle.

As the chart illustrates, first focal plane can obscure the target when you magnify. The further in your zoom, the bigger the reticle appears. Second focal plane the reticle is always the same size.

In the end, a lot of this is preference. Some don't care, others dig in their heels and debate this like they do ammo calibers. Hunting, especially big game that may be out 300-400 yards... you might find if difficult to make an accurate kill shot if the animal is obscured by the reticle. Most but not all the hunters I know prefer SFP. Because the reticle is consistent at any degree of magnification.

I recently put a Vortex Viper on my RPR. I swapped out an another Vortex that was FFP.

If you aren't hunting or just shooting steel and don't care so much about groups, and choose a scope without a lot of magnification, FFP is fine. Or if you prefer the reticle changing size on a long shot - the decision is yours.

6.5 CRM can be lethal out to 1000 yards but the drop at that distance is around 300 inches. A gun guru would suggest the effective range for that caliber is 500 yards. As you probably know it shoots flatter and a bit longer than 308.
Ok, this is making sense.

Same reason I do not like a fixed dot size on a red dot.

The dot size on my Tacticon is adjustable and I adjusted it to the smallest size when I was aligning it to my iron sites after siting in at 100 yards. Anything larger was obscuring the steel target,
 
1000 yard.... I'd go with 338 Lapua, 7mm, or 300 Win Mag.

Lots of guys shoot 308, 30-06, other rifle calibers in 1000 yard matches. They just don't win :)

For your range 300-500.... 6.5 Creedmoor is a great choice.

But I don't want to start a caliber debate. :) Nobody wins and they never end.

My preferred elk rifle for quite a long time is a 7mm Sako. I'm comfortable taking an ethical shot at deer or elk out to 5-600 yards with that rifle. The scope is Leupold.
 
Ok, this is making sense.

Same reason I do not like a fixed dot size on a red dot.

The dot size on my Tacticon is adjustable and I adjusted it to the smallest size when I was aligning it to my iron sites after siting in at 100 yards. Anything larger was obscuring the steel target,
There's really no definitive right or wrong. Pick a scope give it a rip. If you don't like it, it's easy to change the glass.
 
The Bergera has a sub-MOA guarantee. I do not think that means for MY abilities at this moment :ROFLMAO:
That gun will definitely not hold you back. Long distance is a hard discipline to learn. The challenge is what makes it fun. When you can predictably put 5 rounds in a 2-3 inch group at 500 yards you will have arrived. Mind the wind! It's not trivial.

Basketball, golf, shooting sports... same 3 rules rule apply. Practice practice practice.
 
Post some pics when you get it all together. There's not a lot of bolt action related posts.

My other fav is a Tikka. Also 7mm. Great gun. Super accurate. Very lightweight. Sako and Tikka rifles are made in the same factory.
 
Ok, this is making sense.

Same reason I do not like a fixed dot size on a red dot.

The dot size on my Tacticon is adjustable and I adjusted it to the smallest size when I was aligning it to my iron sites after siting in at 100 yards. Anything larger was obscuring the steel target,
Red dots on pistols I tend to go 6 MOA. 99% of the time the threat is going to be up close and landing two rounds in the center mass is not a precision shooting exercise. For fun pistols I would never carry, I usually go with 2 or 3 MOA. I'm more inclined to practice longer shots with those.
 
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