Choices abound when it comes to top 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. Here are some of the best to get the red-hot round dead on target

The 6.5 Creedmoor, heard of it? If you haven’t, then perhaps you’re new to firearms or maybe you’ve been cloistered in some cave outside Moab for the past decade living off prickly pears and raw fish. At this point, those are about the only acceptable excuses why you haven’t caught wind of the hottest cartridge to hit shooting since .30 met aught six.

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The cartridge has gained notoriety for its ability to clip a gnat’s ass at 1,000 yards without the shooter enduring rented-mule levels of punishment. However, the cartridge is really only one half of the story; the other is the marvelous array of precision shooters to deliver the long-range wunderkind where it needs to be.

With this in mind, here are some of the top 6.5 Creedmoor rifles on the market today. These babies will deliver, no matter the round,  all you have to do is provide a steady hand.

Ruger Precision Rifle

 

Arguably the gun that kicked off the long-range shooting craze, the Ruger Precision Rifle remains among the top in 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. Built around the American Rifle action, Ruger fitted a 24-inch cold hammer-forged medium contour barrel, complete with 5R rifling to protect the integrity of the 6.5’s bullets. Mated to a pre-hardened 4140 chrome-moly steel upper, the platform provides rigidity and a true free-floating barrel.

Additionally, its inline recoil system, which directs kick straight backwards, makes the rifle more accurate shot to shot. A mainstay now, the Precision Rifle (also chambered .308 Win. and 6mm Creedmoor) was among the first economy long-range shooter to offer a fully adjustable stock. The Precision Rifle’s competition has grown, but it more than has the yarbels to hold its own among other 6.5 Creedmoor rifles and otherwise. MSRP $1,599.

Bergara B-14 HMR

 

Suited to tackle any shooting situation you get a 6.5 Creedmoor tangled up in — from match to field — Bergara’s B-14 HMR (Hunting & Match Rifle) is as flexible as they come. Not as tactically aggressive as some long-range rifles, the B-14 HMR (also available in .308 Win. and .450 Bushmaster) nonetheless is as advanced, with an aluminum skeleton (mini-chassis) molded into the polymer stock to provide indispensable rigidity any precision platform requires. Furthermore, fully adjustable length of pull and cheek riser fits the stock perfectly to any shooter.

Renowned for their actions and barrels, Bergara does not disappoint with its tack-driver, outfitting it with a 22-inch bull barrel and rock-solid B-14 action, known for its silky-smooth operation. A 3-pound trigger, threaded muzzle, AICS detachable box magazine and integrated QD flush cup mounts round out the system. If you can’t truly decide your ultimate aim in the world of 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, Bergara’s economical Jack-of-all-trades is your ticket. MSRP: $1,150

RISE Armament 1121XR

 

Designed for those who expect more out of their firearms, the 1121XR delivers in the form of a light and capable AR-10 chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor. The gas-operated semi-auto (also chambered .308 Win.) dispenses bolt-action sub-MOA accuracy with lightning speed aided by RISE Armament’s exceptional RA-535 Advanced-Performance Trigger with a 3.5-pound pull, terse release and micro reset.

Furthermore, the 22-inch barreled rifle has all the accouterments to make life easy off the bench or in the field: streamlined billet aluminum M-LOK compatible handguard, Picatinny upper rail and an overall weight just a tick north of 10 pounds. Additionally, the whole shebang gets a durable Cerakote finish available in three color choices — black, foliage green and flat dark earth. If that’s not enough, RISE Armaments throws in two 10-round magazines and a hard case to safely transport the tactical gem. Of all 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, the 1121XR is most certainly the fastest to get you on target again and again. MSRP: $2,449

Savage Model 10 GRS

 

A no-compromise precision rifle with a relatively decent price point, Savage’s 10 GRS comes outfitted with a stock certain to help you deliver a 6.5 round where it needs to go. Constructed of 65-percent fiberglass and featuring pillar-bedding blocks, the Norwegian made stock is the sturdy and stiff platform long-range shooters aim for in their rifles. Moreover, slip-nut controls make length of pull and the cheek rest adjustment push-button matters and an ergonomic full grip gives you the ability to provide the needed rear pressure for solid shouldering.

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Time-tested, Savage’s Model 10 short action is a near perfect heart for the rifle and gets matted with a 24-inch fluted barrel, which provides great harmonics, while keeping the overall platform at a reasonable weight — a hair under 9 pounds. The GRS also comes chambered in .308 Win., and 6mm Creedmoor. The 6.5 Creedmoor rifle feds off AICS magazines, boasts Savage’s popular adjustable AccuTrigger and comes outfitted with optics rail and sling swivels. MSRP: $1,449

Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon SPEED


Built for long-range backcountry hunting, Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon SPEED is wickedly effective at everything it’s designed to do, particularly not bog you down. At 6 pounds 5 ounces, the rifle (available in 13 calibers) is among the lightest 6.5 Creedmoor rifles on the market, hastened by its featherweight composite stock and just enough barrel (a 22-inch sporter) to ensure optimal ballistic performance.

Solid as a concrete slab, the X-Bolt remains a top choice among precision hunters with its fast-operating 60-degree bolt lift, dependable detachable rotary magazine and three-lever Feather Trigger. Drilled and tapped, the receiver comes ready for scope mounts and the free-floating barrel is hand chambered to ensure the tightest tolerances. MSRP: $1,200

Kimber Advanced Tactical SOC II


Engineered to meet the exacting needs of military, law enforcement and serious precision shooters, the Kimber Advanced Tactical SOC II (Special Operations Capable) comes with a sub-0.5-MOA guarantee, which it delivers. The fastidiously designed and executed instrument is hand built, outfitted with an adjustable aluminum folding stock, 22-inch stainless-steel barrel and threaded muzzle with protector.

Moreover, Kimber hits the right notes with traditionalists in the SOC II (also chambered .308 Win.) with a Mauser Action, complete with an oversized claw extractor for controlled feed. Rounding out the rifle, a whisper-break trigger factory set to 2.5 pounds, a match-grade chamber and M-LOK compatible accessory rail. The SOC II runs at the upper end of 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, but is worth every penny. MSRP: $2,450

Howa HCR

 

Marrying accuracy and affordability in exquisite fashion, the Howa HCR is the ‘Everyman’s’ chassis rifle. Sturdy as the day is long, the rifle (available in five calibers) boasts an Accurate-Mag monolithic 6061-T6 aluminum chassis, free floating the 6.5 Creedmoor’s 24-inch bull barrel and comes with a fully adjustable LUTH-AR stock with six positions of adjustment. A nice touch, the comb is ambidextrous making the rifle left-hand friendly.

Built off the company’s cornerstone 1500 action, the HCR (Howa Chassis Rifle) features a two-lug push-feed bolt, which grazes off a 10-round Teflon-coated all-steel magazine. Howa offers scoped packages of the rifle, outfitted with Nikko Stirling’s Diamond Long Range 4-16x50mm scope. Regardless of what optic is slapped on top of this Howa, it should prove to be one sharpshooter. MSRP: $1,670

Mossberg MVP Precision


Mossberg is a newcomer to the chassis rifle game, but is right on target with its MVP Precision — a professional-grade firearm at a reasonable price. Common to 6.5 Creedmoor rifles of this style, the MVP features a modular chassis, in-house designed and constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum, and sports a slim-profile M-LOK compatible handguard.

A full-length 20 MOA Picatinny rail gives shooters more range on their optics, mounting them higher, and a LUTH-AR MBA-3 stock adjusts for length of pull, cast and comb height. The rifle (also chambered .308 Win.) boasts a patented LBA Adjustable Trigger, tunable from 3 to 7 pounds, and comes outfitted with a threaded (cap included) 24-inch medium bull barrel. Cleverly, a scalloped tactical bolt handle provides more clearance for large or gloved hands. MSRP: $1,407

Tikka T3x Tactical Compact Rifle


6.5 Creedmoor rifles generally tend toward long barrels, but Tikka gives shooters a more petite option with this neat little tactical gem. Available with a 20- or 24-inch semi-heavy contour barrel, the T3x Tactical Compact Rifle can fill the role of traditional long-range shooter or nimble sniper rifle.

Built around Tikka’s broached action, the Finnish rifle (also available in .260 Rem., and .308 Win.) is stiff as starched sheets and features an enlarged ejection port making it possible to feed a round directly into the action. More traditional, the lightweight rifle’s fiberglass-reinforced stock nevertheless provides desired rigidity to the firearm and an oversized bolt handle makes the bolt-action lightening fast in operation. An interesting touch, the buttstock comes with a foam insert to keep the rifle whisper quiet when stealth is at a premium. MSRP: $1,275

Springfield M1A Loaded

 

A staple in match shoots for decades, Springfield took the M1A’s accuracy a step further with the introduction of a 6.5 Creedmoor model. The semi-automatic version of the M14 platform (also available in .308 Win.) has everything you need to shoot a country mile in a New York minute: air-gauged National Match barrel, 4.5-pound two-stage trigger, front blade and rear aperture sights.

However, this M1A goes a step further than its siblings boasting a stock fully adjustable for length of pull and comb height. The rifle is a beast, tipping the scales at 11.4 pounds and measuring 45-46.25 inches, but the extra material should make the M1A among the softest shooting 6.5 Creedmoor rifles at the range or anywhere else. MSRP: $2,045

Do you have a favorite you think should figure into this list? Think we’ve included a stinker? Tell us about it in the comments.