16 Best 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles – 2024

 

Last Updated February 19th 2024

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Winners at a Glance

The Tikka T3x Lite is the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifle, but have some other top tier firearms here.

The Best 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles in 2024

6.5 Creedmoor was the new black when it comes to big game hunting, target shooting, more or less everything to be honest. That initial excitement has died down, but these are still great rifles that have found a place in the shooting accident.

This narrow, long, lightweight cartridge can target wild boar, deer hunting or big game. Or, you know, paper targets that are really far away.

308 Win Mag still reigns supreme to 400 yards, but beyond that there’s a proper case to be made for Creedmoor.

It is giving hunter’s clean kills with Elk, Caribou, deer, just about anything, and it’s providing epic control over your shot.

Here are our top picks for the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifle in 2024.

1. Tikka T3x Lite

• Price: $699.99
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Barrel Length: 20 inch
• Total: 42.5 inch
• Weight: 5.95lb
• Capacity: 3+1 Rounds

Best Overall

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
3/5	4/5	2/5	4/5	3.5/5

Not everybody is a Special Forces operative. Some of you are just simple hunters and target shooters that want a light and dependable firearm on your shoulder.

The best selling Tikka is that gun.

You get 20 stainless steel barrel from the master craftsmen at Sako. It is fluted, has a hand-crowned muzzle for added precision and is largely responsible for Tikka’s sub-MOA guarantee. Well, that and the two-lug bolt that Tikka claims is the smoothest on the market today.

The Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action rifle comes with a single-stage trigger that you can adjust from 2-4lb. A new steel recoil lug helps prevent deformation and keeps it consistent and on-point, and with a threaded barrel you can switch out muzzle devices and run a suppressor.

As an all-round package, we think these are the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifles on the market.

2. Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro

• Price: $2,808.99
• Barrel: 26 inch
• Total: 44 inch
• Weight: 9.5lb
• Capacity: 10+1

Best Precision Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
2/5	5/5	4/5	3/5	5/5

The Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro is probably the ultimate sniper rifle and marksman’s tool, without getting into insane custom guns. It’s a top rated, high price, high spec rifle, but it isn’t crazy money.

This is much more than that, though. The company behind the legendary AR-15s has brought a good deal of the Modern Sporting Rifle’s modular thought process to the traditional target gear and sniper platform.

The barrel with a cerakote finish switches out and you can switch between caliber. Choose from a .308, 7mm Rem Mag and of course the 6.5 Creedmoor.

The trigger is a single stage, adjustable Timney Elite that you can set for 1.5-4lb. The composite stock is carbon-reinforced polymer, the adjustable stock is fully adjustable and the partial Picatinny rail helps you position a high quality scope.

Now this rifle comes with a 0.5 MOA guarantee at 100 yards, and it’s totally good for it.

3. Smith & Wesson M&P 10

• Price: $2,058.99
• Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
• Barrel: 20 Inches
• Total: 39.5 inches
• Total Weight: 9.05lb

Best AR Platform

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
2/5	3/5	4/5	3/5	5/5

Pros and Cons

The best selling Smith & Wesson M&P 10 Performance Center rifle is the ultimate package of heritage, precision, price, weight, just about everything.

It’s an all-rounder of a 6.5 Creedmoor semi auto rifle, a real Designated Marksman Rifle. If you can handle about 1lb more on your shoulder than you’d ideally like to get a mag fed 6.5 Creedmoor semi automatic rifle.

This is the second generation, with the first generations tiny faults ironed out. So yeah that makes this Smith & Wesson rifle nigh-on perfect, from the pistol grip to the threaded barrel, muzzle device and picatinny rail on the flat top upper receiver.

The S&W semi auto rifle is 9lb, which is just light enough. But it’s still pushing the limits if you’re planning to carry it all day in hte great outdoors. So there are better rifles for hunting.

4. Savage Axis II

• Price: $455.99
• Barrel: 20 inch
• Total: 39.5 inch
• Weight: 6.25lb

Best Low Budget Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
4/5	2.5/5	2/5	5/5	3/5

This is a light, cheap rifle that is just about the perfect starter rifle.

Don’t expect the Savage Arms Axis to last a lifetime, but it is low price point and it comes with a Savage barrel and adjustable Accutrigger.

So it’s fine for hunting at anything like sane distances and you can shoulder this all day.

As you would expect for a 6.25lb rifle, there really isn’t much in the way of creature comforts with the Savage Axis. The barrel is carbon steel, the stock is and it comes with a basic rubber recoil pad and a one-piece scope rail basically glued to the top.

If you want to spend more than the Savage Axis II Precision is gaining a reputation among target shooters at the range and this is the best rifle if you’re on a budget.

• Full line here. Click here for best price.

5. Christensen Arms MPR

• Price: $1,741.99
• Barrel: 22 inch
• Total: 42.75 inch
• Weight: 7.9lb

Featherweight Sniper

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
3.5/5	3.5/5	3/5	5/5	4.5/5

This ultra light sniper rifle features a massive amount of carbon fiber and advanced materials to shave the pounds off. The end result is a sub-8lb rifle that is an absolute tack driver and arguably the best rifle here if you need both long range accuracy and portability.

With the Christensen Arms MPR you get a folding stock, aerospace grade carbon fiber barrel and a fluted bolt. Now all that complexity means it’s a high maintenance rifle in terms of spares costs, and there are more accurate shooters here on much heavier platforms.

But you can take it anywhere, it’s a stunning piece of engineering to look at and you will love it. The price has come down significantly, too, and with the current gun deals it’s a seriously tempting proposition.

6. Ruger American Predator

• Price: $448.99
• Capacity: 3+1 rounds
• Barrel length: 22 
• Total (Inches): 42
• Weight: 6.6lb

Solid and Cheap

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
2.5/5	3.5/5	2/5	5/5	3/5

The Ruger American Predator is an intriguing example of the economies of scale in action. It’s pretty much 90% as good as the most expensive offerings, but it’s less than half the money thanks to the beauty of mass manufacturing.

The Ruger American rifle is also a light, and that’s a bigger deal than I first realized.

I got carried away with AR-platforms and military until the comments section told me to pull my head out my ass and focus on weight. This Ruger fits the bill.

It’s a free-floating barrel thanks to the Ruger Power Bedding system. A 70 degree bolt plays nice with your optic, the stock is molded for a positive grip and everything just works.

The trigger is a fully adjustable Marksman Adjustable Trigger, so you can set it up for a hair trigger or a long pull.

It’s 6.6lb, which means you can sling it on your shoulder and take it out for the day, before setting up and taking a 1000-yard White Tail or something bigger.

You can order a wild camo stock, a left handed gun and you can choose from a range of calibers.

7. Seekins Precision Havak PH2

• Price: $1,849.99
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds
• Barrel: 24 inches
• Weight: 6.9lb

Best High End Hunting Rifle

The carbon fiber stock comes with a hand bedded action on this Seekins Precision and you’re getting a premium hunter and great target shooter.

Now the price point on the Seekins Pro Hunter is a little hard to accept, but then nice things cost money and there are some seriously premium features like that stainless steel fluted barrel for better cooling and consistency, as well as a lighter weight..

This is one of the best 6.5 Creedmoor rifles for sale in 2024.

8. Ruger Precision

• Price: $1,547.97
• Rifle: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel (Inches): 24 inches
• Total Length (Inches): 42
• Total Weight: 10.7lb

Best Low Budget Precision Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
4/5	4.5/5	3/5	4/5	4/5

This Ruger Precision is a precision shooting gun, rather than a field weapon. That’s down to the weight really, which is going to stop all but the most determined hunter running all day with this on their back for longer distances.

It’s a long range precision rifle meant for paper punching and the near infinite level of adjustment reflects that. You could spend a day tuning the stock, and adjustable length of pull, and it will test your precision shooting before you invest a ton of money.

9. Bergara B-14 HMR

• Price: $1,005.99
• Weight: 7.1lb
• Barrel: 22 inch
• Total: 42 inch
• Capacity: 3+1 Rounds

Best Hunting & Match Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
2.5/5	4.5/5	3/5	4/5	4/5

The Bergara B-14 HMR Hunting & Match Rifle is another one that has scorched through the ranks thanks to its lightweight chassis and tack driver performance.

You get an adjustable cheek riser and length of pull, but this is a relatively simple mini chassis rifle by design.

The free floated barrel is 4140 Chrome Moly Steel and it received a simple blued finish.

The 22″ cold hammer forged barrel rifle features in Bergara’s heavier chassis as a target shooter, so it goes without saying it’s got the goods in the field. It’s a 1:10 rate of twist and the trigger pull is a simple, clean breaking single-stage trigger that breaks at 3lb.

It’s a lightweight 6.5 Creedmoor rifle that ticks all the boxes. The Spanish firm will sell you a heavy barrel weapon and heavy chassis rifles, but this is the one we really like.

Left handed models are available and these are among the best rifles for hunting big game and you can also take this lightweight long range rifle hunting Whitetail deer.

10. Browning X-Bolt Mountain Pro SPR

• Price: $2,240.99
• Barrel length: 18 inch
• Weight: 5.9lb
• Capacity: 4+1

Best Mountain Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
4/5	2.5/5	2/5	5/5	3/5

The Browning X-Bolt Mountain Pro SPR is a legend that has helped forge the company’s reputation in recent years.

Here you get a consistent grip and weather-proofing.

The company says this is the Browning X-Bolt for hardcore hunters and shooters who like to hit things really far away. So it could be the best rifle for mountain hunts.

Of course there are cheaper, but the Browning X-Bolt is an icon and one of the value packages on this list if you listen to seasoned hunters.

These are mainly hunting rifles that can give you long distance skills with the right optic up top on the wild camo stock. It’s one of the best rifles for hutning big game and mule deer hunting, and it’s an icon for good reason.

11. Sig Sauer Cross

• Price: $1,599.99
• Barrel: 18 inch
• Weight: 6.8lb
• Capacity: 6.8lb

Lightweight Chassis Hunting Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
4/5	3/5	3.5/5	5/5	3/5

Sig Sauer gave us the answer to a question nobody really asked with the Sig Sauer Cross. It’s a chassis rifle that isn’t meant for punching paper, it’s for hunting in the field and after a rocky start it has started to win over the hunting fraternity.

It’s a super lightweight rifle with way more adjustability than you might be used to in this weight class, from the adjustable cheek riser to the length of pull and trigger pull.

Folks treated it like a pure precision shooter in the early days, and its lack of weight means it really isn’t stable enough for serious bench shooting. A couple of reliability issues, including accidental discharges due to a poor bolt design, also counted against it.

But now, with the reliability concerns fixed, it is starting to find its feet. Out in the field when you’re going after game animals and need to haul ass, it’s a revelation. Especially with the shorter barrel and folding stock that makes it a breeze to carry. And we really like this pistol grip and shooting position.

12. Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor

• Price: $1,632.99
• Barrel: 22 inch
• Total: 42 inch
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds
• Weight: 8.9lb

A Great Hunter

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
2.5/5	3.5/5	2/5	5/5	3/5

The Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor rifle is light enough to go anywhere, precise enough to take big game at unreasonable distances and cheap enough to be a best-seller.

So far it has proved a winning recipe for the Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter, which is still a relative newcomer.

The Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter gets a Mauser type controlled feed action and a one-piece stainless bolt. The muzzle brake is sexy and it is fun to shoot.

These are some of the best rifles for hunting big game,mule deer hunting and other large to medium game animals.

13. Springfield Armory M1A Loaded

• Price: $1,921.99
• Rifle: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
• Barrel length: 22
• Total: 44.3
• Weight: 9.3lb

Best Garand Based Precision Rifle

Price	Accuracy	Capacity	Weight	Prestige
3/5	3.5/5	2/5	5/5	3/5

The Springfield M1A Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor semi auto rifle is certainly reminiscent of the M14 military rifle that replaced the M1 Garand in the hands of the American military, if only for a brief time from 1959 to 1964.

You get the iron sights as standard and those rears are adjustable match-spec irons on the Springfield M1A Loaded semi automatic rifle. It’s national match barrel, too, and a joy at the range.

You can fold the iron sights away. The Springfield Armory comes drilled and tapped ready for your preferred optic and, in the right hands, this is a long range precision shooting winner with a traditional vibe and modern tech.

You can also buy a 308 Win mag rifle.

Check out some $1000 rifle scopes for sale in 2024 here.

Modern Take on Vintage Design

This is a bewitching blend of vintage firearms and modern material science. The stainless steel barrel has four grooves and a 1:8 rate of twist, the ported muzzle brake is a work of art and it’s almost infinitely adjustable. That includes the adjustable length of pull and the adjustable comb.

You could still easily take aim at 1000 yards with this bad boy when you’re range shooting. While it is heavy for big game hunting, you could do that too…

14. Winchester XPR

• Price: $614.99
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds
• Barrel: 22 inches
• Total: (inches): 42
• Weight: 6.8lb

Good for the Money

The Winchester XPR line is built round the Winchester Repeating Arms Winchester MOA trigger system mated to a simple synthetic stock.

The major parts are built from hardened and polished carbon steel with a blued finish for durability. While the bolt is constructed from CMV steel barstock on this 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action rifle.

That is Nickel Teflon coated for smooth operation now and for many years to come and it’s drilled and tapped for scope mounts.

15. Mossberg Patriot 65

• Price: $491.99
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds
• Barrel: 22 inches
• Total: (inches): 42
• Weight: 6.5lb

Simple Rifle, Pure Mass Production

The Mossberg Patriot Predator is another multi-caliber line of bolt action rifles and it has good chemistry with the Creedmoor cartridge.

The Mossberg Patriot Synthetic stock 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action rifle has a 22-inch fluted barrel and not much else. Of course that means it’s light, which is great if you’re out hunting deer, and your rifle simply tugs at your shoulder for 99.5% of the day.

 

16. Henry Long Ranger

• Price: $1,155.99
• Barrel: 22 inch barrel
• Total Length: 42 inch
• Weight: 7lb

Best Lever Action Creedmoor

The Henry Long Ranger is a selection of lever action rifles, 6.5 Creedmoor in the chamber in this case and a 22″ barrel for long distances.

You’re going to love this Henry Repeating Arms or hate it and nothing I say here will make the slightest bit of difference. Even at this price point.

So buy your Henry Long Ranger, or don’t. Your call.

It’s certainly a different way to go deer hunting anyway.

Now Let’s Talk Ammunition

If you are looking for rifle ammo, handgun ammo, rimfire ammo, 9mm amm cans, shotgun ammo or something in between, then you normally end up at the same ammo shops.

So it is with 6.5 Creedmoor ammo deals.

Palmetto State Armory is generally our favorite bulk supplier of 9mm and 45 ACP. The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is a slightly special case, but Palmetto State Armory can help with ammo for punching paper and White Tail deer hunting. We have a couple of ammo shop alternatives too.

• Palmetto State Armory – Small selection of high quality 6.5 Cartridge choices.
• Lucky Gunner – Lots of ammo in stock at great prices. Rifle ammo deals.

What Scope Should You Buy?

The scope is actually more important than the gun and will certainly outlive it. But I have done a separate post for $1000 scopes that you can read here and most of them went to 25x magnification. Because why not?

3-9×40 Scopes seem to be the most because not everybody wants to shoot deer on the distant horizon.

Vortex Optics are a popular choice and the centerfire rifle with Vortex Crossfire II Scope combo is getting a lot of love. That’s a $200 scope, so it’s on the budget end, but the Vortex Crossfire does the job.