11 Best 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles Under $1000 – 2023

Savage Axis II 6.5 Creedmoor, is this the best Creedmoor rifle under $1000? Maybe. Go here to find out.

The best 6.5 Creedmoor rifles under $1000 is a fierce battleground as manufacturers launch relatively cheap rifles that can ring steel or drop deer at 1000 yards.

6.5 Creedmoor is a target round at heart, but it has crossed over and now it’s a hunting favorite as people live out their sniper rifle fantasies. 308 Win Mag is arguably the more effective round up to 500 yards, but beyond that 6.5 Creedmoor reigns supreme.

The rifles can get expensive, but there are a lot of low budget rifles that cost a lot less than $1000.

So what is the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifle under $1000 in 2023?


Tikka T3x Superlite rifle for sale, get a lightweight hunting rifle for $625

1. Tikka T3x Lite

  • Price: $869.99
  • Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
  • Barrel Length: 24.33 inch
  • Total: 44.5 inch
  • Weight: 5.95lb
  • Capacity: 3+1 Rounds

The Tikka is a lightweight hunting rifle that manages to cram a 24 inch barrel into a sub-6lb overall package. That’s pretty impressive, before we get to the really good stuff.

Now that free-floating barrel on the T3X Lite comes from the master craftsmen at Sako in Finland, who generally work on much more expensive rifles like the Sako TRG. This fluted barrel comes with a hand crowned muzzle for greater precision and this rifle comes with a 3 shot sub-MOA groups guarantee out the box.

It also has a 2-lug bolt that Tikka claims is the smoothest on the market. Plenty of experienced shooters agree with this claim. They also like the adjustable trigger with 2.25-4.5lb of trigger pull weight.

Modular for Performance and Style

A modular design to the synthetic stock means you can change the grips and forends for increased comfort or just for stylish accent colors.

On top of that a foam insert helps reduce the noise, a redesigned ejection port allows for single feeding when required and a steel recoil lug prevents deformation with more powerful calibers. An extended and enlarged bolt knob means it’s easy to operate with gloves on too.

The T3x is the complete rifle and it’s going to take something truly unique to move it off the top spot here and right near the top of our best Creedmoor rifles with no price limit.

It really is that special and more than the sum of reasonably simple hunting rifle parts.

If you can afford a little more then the Tikka T3x CTR with an upgraded polymer stock and heavy barrel. But this version with the simple stock is half the price of the Tikka T3x CTR, so it’s still our recommendation.


Sig Sauer Cross. A great Creedmoor rifle.

2. Sig Sauer Cross

  • Price: $1,599.99
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 22 
  • Total (Inches): 44
  • Weight: 6.1lb

The Sig Sauer Cross brings all the precision shooting goodies to lightweight and portable hunting rifles. And that might just make it the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifle under $1000.

A folding stock, a relatively short barrel and a 6.1lb curbweight turns the Sig Sauer bolt action rifle into something really quite special.

Serious range shooters might prefer a more heavyweight platform, but out in the real world this is a do it all bolt action rifle you can shoulder all day. That extended bolt handle is designed to be used in the depths of winter with heavy gloves too.

We love this Sig Sauer rifle with a fully adjustable comb height, length of pull and match grade barrel. It features heavily on our 308 rifles list and we feature this new Sig Sauer whenever we can.

Along with the Christensen Arms Modern Precision, this is one of a new breed of mini chassis rifles that make traditional hunting rifles look a little last century. It is a great rifle and it comes with a proper pistol grip and oversized trigger guard, as well as the fully adjustable stuff.


Diamondback DB10 in 6.5 Creedmoor. Buy one today

3. Diamondback DB10

  • Price: $1,022.99
  • Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
  • Barrel: 20 inch
  • Total: 36-9.5 inch
  • Weight: 9.1lb
  • Capacity: 20+1

OK it busts the budget by like $40, but this is an affordable semi-auto rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. And that is kind of amazing.

Most Designated Marksman Rifles like these, battle rifles, call them what you like, are way more expensive. Diamondback Firearms is one of the few that has built a low budget semi-automatic AR-10 in 6.5 Creedmoor.

For that, we salute them.

The semi-automatic DB-15 is one of our favorite cheap AR-15 rifles and now the DB10 joins our favorite cheap Creedmoor rifles. It’s fair to say we have a lot of time for Diamondback Firearms and we think they produce some of the best guns for the money in several categories.

This is a typical beefed up AR semi auto rifle with a free floating barrel, pistol grip and M-LOK handguard. There’s a partial Picatinny rail and it looks just like the budet AR-15 with a collapsible stock and sexy muzzle brake.


Savage Axis II in 6.5 Creedmoor. One of the cheapest Creedmoor rifles on the market, and a great long range shooting experience.

4. Savage Axis II XP Compact

  • Price: $440.99
  • Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
  • Barrel: 20 inch
  • Total: 39.5 inch
  • Capacity: 6.25lb

This Savage Axis II is the perfect 6.5 Creedmoor starter rifle at a price point that might just offer the best value for money.

I mean this bolt action rifle offers simple engineering, but it’s also a Savage Arms barrel and they are famously good. And if a gun shoots straight and true, is reliable, accurate and simple, well that’s a good gun right?

This Savage Arms bolt-action rifle is an easy gateway into long range shooting and you can fit a bipod, proper scope and go target shooting with it. It comes withg a two stage trigger and there are lots of upgrades out there on the market.

We think it’s more of a hunting rifle, but others disagree. One thing we all seem to agree on, though, is that is one of the best cheap rifles on sale and a good long range rifle.


Browning X-Bolt. Get a $1000 Creedmoor rifle and one of the most famous bolt action rifles out there.

5. Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range

  • Price: $858.99
  • Barrel: 26 inch
  • Total: 46 inch
  • Weight: 7.8lb
  • Capacity: 4+1

The Browning X-Bolt is one of the most famous bolt-action rifles on the market and this best-seller can cost well in excess of $2,000 in a more expensive spec. This is the entry-level rifle, and it is still absolutely sensational.

While the Hell’s Canyon tends to grab the headlines, this X-Bolt Stalker Long Range bolt action rifle comes with a similar length 26 inch cold hammer forged barrel and integral muzzle brake.

It is a limited production rifle with luxuries that include a gold plated trigger set to beat corrosion and ensure a smooth action for months and years to come. This is almost as good for long range shooting specialists and all the bolt action rifle you need for deer hunting etc.

The X-Bolt Stalker Composite Long Range 6.5 Creedmoor is technically out of production now. But they are still relatively freely available in the best gun stores online and there are some great gun deals out there for this synthetic stock hunting special.

You can get a left handed Browning, obviously, which will make lefties happy.


Sauer 100 Classic XT rifle. A great bolt action rifle with some unique design touches.

6. Sauer 100 Classic XT

  • Price: $912.54
  • Capacity: 5+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 22 
  • Total (Inches): 42
  • Weight: 6.7lb

The Sauer 100 Classic XT comes with a neutral stock for left handed shooters as well as righties and the ERGO MAX contour gives a rising back that helps maintain correct form and soak up recoil.

With a 5+1 magazine it’s got amazing capacity for this format and there are other premium touches here. The oversize 3 lug bolt, free floated barrel and a fully adjustable trigger that you can fix on the move with an allen key entry point just ahead of the extra wide trigger.

The company calls this an entry-level rifle and you can spend a lot more with this German firm. But you don’t need to, because this is one of the best bolt action rifles you’ll find at any price. At this price, this short action rifle is a stunner.


Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmor.

7. Ruger American Predator

  • Price: $420.99
  • Capacity: 3+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 22 
  • Total (Inches): 42
  • Weight: 6.6lb

The beauty of mass manufacturing means Ruger can churn out thousands of this Ruger American bolt action rifle in a wide range of calibers and you end up with an amazing rifle for the money thanks to the endless R&D that goes into the basic formula.

So the Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor, the 308 Win Mag and more are all dependable rifles that offer maybe 80% of the performance for much less money than some other big names.

If you want a cheap rifle that won’t let you down and you’re not looking for that last nth degree of performance, this is a great gun to start off with.

If you’re hunting big game, do you really need half inch groups at 1000 yards and SUB-MOA accuracy, or do you just want a long range rifle with stopping power?

We like the Picatinny rail up top, too, that can handle everything you’ve got, scope wise. It can also handle big game hunting in this caliber and you can harvest more or less anything North america has to offer with this simple bolt action rifle.


Remington 700 SPS 6.5 Creedmoor rifle

8. Remington SPS 700

  • Price: $665.99
  • Capacity: 3+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 24 
  • Total (Inches): 44
  • Weight: 7.25lb

The Remington Model 700 has remained basically unchanged since forever. Sure we have had some new materials and engineering has improved, but the Remington Model 700 action is basically the same as it was 50 years ago.

Premium features include a button-rifled barrel, 5/8×24 threads for a suppressor and a fully adjustable trigger system set with a pull weight of 4.2lb. The length of pull is user adjustable too.

At the back a simple SuperCell recoil pad absorbs recoil, which is pretty minimal in the first place. This is a lightweight round and the polymer frame absorbs some of the impact by design.

Considering how short that barrel is, the final weight is a little disappointing. This is pushing the bounds for a bolt action rifle, especially for hunting rifles.

But it is a proper heavy barrel and some people prefer a little additional weight to for a more stable precision shooting platform.

You can get a cheaper entry level Remington bolt action rifle, but this is the one we think you’ll love.


Bergara B-14 HMR. This HUnt and Match rifle offers traditional hunting rifle strengths combined with modern precision touches.

9. Bergara B-14 HMR

  • Price: $959.99
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 22 
  • Total (Inches): 44
  • Weight: 7.5lb

The Bergara B-14 HMR Hunting and Match rifle is an intriguing combination of precision shooting specialist and basic field rifle.

THe highlights include a fully free-floated 4140 steel barrel with a matte bued finish, a muzzle brake and a threaded barrel for a suppressor.

Now the b-14 action is a two lug system with a Sako style extractor and a coned bolt nose and breech to ensure a smoth feed and cycling.

Bergara’s synthetic stock comes with additional webbing for a secure grip, while helping the rifle blend into the rugged outdoors environment. It also has a soft touch finish, and user adjustable comb and adjustable length of pull with spacers.

The basic B14 Wilderness Range barreled action gets a cerakote finish, too, which is a pretty big deal at this price point.

For an all round hunter, that is a great rifle. But if you’re looking for long range rifles and you want a little more precision with your long range shooting, check out the match grade Bergara B-14 HMR.


Ready to Spend a Little More?

If you’re ready to go beyond an entry level bolt action rifle and spend a bit more money, then a world of opportunities opens up. Here are some rifles you might want to look at in higher price brackets…


Ruger Enhanced Precision Rifle for sale 6.5 Creedmoor

10. Ruger Precision Rifle

  • Price: $1,482.99
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 24 
  • Total (Inches): 44
  • Weight: 10.6lb

The Ruger Precision Rifle is an entry level precision rifle that still blows this budget by a million miles.

But if you want the fully adjustable Ruger Precision Rifle and you want to take your 1000 yard shooting seriously, then this is a solid foundation together with some match grade ammo in that detachable box magazine with 10 rounds.

Features include a medium contour barrel and a Ruger Marksman adjustable trigger. The comb height and length of pull is fully adjustable, too, and the whole rifle is set up to absorb along an inline recoil path. That’s good for target shooting.

Long range shooting is an expensive sport, but this is about the cheapest way to get started seriously. Of course you can buy lots of add ons, before you get to the spotting scopes. Decent optics can set you back at least $1000. It also features on our list of the best sniper rifles.


Springfield Waypoint 2020, a great long distance rifle and a hunting specialist.

11. Springfield Armory Waypoint

  • Price: $2,109.99
  • Capacity: 10+1 rounds
  • Barrel (Inches): 22 
  • Total (Inches): 44
  • Weight: 6.1lb

Springfield Armory has created a stunning long range rifle, although it is kind of expensive.

You get a carbon fiber stock and a carbon fiber wrapped steel barrel to add strength and cut weight. There’s a lot of carbon fiber on this Springfield Armory long range rifle, that’s for sure, but the final weight is still kind of amazing.

Carbon fiber wrapped barrel is a relatively new thing designed to save weight. Basically you can use much thinner stainless steel battel walls when you wrap the whole thing in a carbon fiber sleeve. This is clever applied tech and the barrels can cost close to $1000 as an aftermarket part.

So this rifle is cheap, if you think about it that way.

Is it a tactical bolt action rifle, are they hunting rifles or target shooting specialists dressed up? Does it really matter? It’s just a great long range rifle.

Precision rifles touches include the adjustable pull and comb height, the usual really. But it’s all done just that little bit better.

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Author

  • Nick Hall

    Nick is a lifelong gun enthusiast who has a simple mission. He wants to find the best deals for guns online and help you make the best choices with weapons your life may depend on one day.Nick won a minor league shooting competition at the age of 11 and it all went from there. Now he runs one of the biggest firearms websites on the net and his work has featured in Playboy US, Tatler Asia, Forbes and a whole host of national magazines and websites.

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