6.5x55mm Swedish vs 6.5 Creedmoor
Table of Contents
Hey all, today we are going to be going over two popular 6.5 cartridges, the 6.5x55mm Swedish and the
6.5 Creedmoor. On one hand, we have an older cartridge which has built up a solid reputation over for over a century. On the other hand, we are looking at a relatively new round which has taken the market by storm in recent years.
Today we are going to provide a brief overview of the two cartridges while also discussing some of their traits and popular use cases. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
What is 6.5x55mm Swedish?
The 6.5x55mm Swedish, also commonly referred to as the 6.5 Swede or simply 6.5x55mm, has been around for nearly a century and a half. Designed in 1891, the 6.5x55mm was an early smokeless powder cartridge which has developed a reputation for light recoil and high accuracy. Originally designed for military use, the round has also gained popularity with hunters and target shooters throughout the world.
What is 6.5 Creedmoor?
Introduced in 2007 by Hornady, the
6.5 Creedmoor is a relatively new cartridge which has become incredibly popular in recent years. 6.5 cartridges are nothing new, and the
6.5 Creedmoor represents a further evolution and optimization upon the concept of a 6.5 round.
The cartridge has received attention from military and law enforcement entities, leading to the development and adoption of weapon systems in the caliber.
The 6.5 Creedmoor has garnered a reputation as a light-recoiling and accurate round that has been enjoyed by a variety of shooters from hunters to marksmen alike.
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Availability of Firearms
In today’s market, one will encounter more firearms chambered in the
6.5 Creedmoor than those in 6.5x55mm. Not many domestic firearm manufacturers support the 6.5x55mm, with companies such as Ruger and Remington being some of the only companies to produce rifles in the chambering in recent years. Most modern 6.5x55mm chambered rifles will be produced by European countries such as CZ, Tikka, and Steyr.
One will also encounter a number of military surplus firearms in the 6.5x55mm, such as Swedish Model 1896 Mauser rifles. One will find a substantial number of firearms chambered in
6.5 Creedmoor, often in configurations optimized for target or hunting purposes.
Whether you want something lightweight and traditional for hunting or something more tactical and optimal for stationary precision shooting, the
6.5 Creedmoor market has you covered.
Availability of Ammunition
In today’s market, one can find considerably more
6.5 Creedmoor ammunition than 6.5x55mm. While there are more
6.5 Creedmoor options, this is not to say that 6.5x55mm ammunition is nonexistent by any means. Typically, one will encounter 6.5x55mm ammunition with a grain weight range of 120 to 140 grains while
6.5 Creedmoor ammunition will typically encompass 110 to 160 grains.
Most of the 6.5x55mm ammunition one can find today will be optimized for either general target shooting or for specialized ammunition for hunting use. The ammunition pool for
6.5 Creedmoor is going to encompass general target loads to specialized hunting loads and precision-oriented offerings.
While conventional projectiles such as full metal jacket (FMJ), jacketed hollow points (JHP), and soft point projectiles are available for both cartridges, more specialized projectiles such as the Hornady ELD-X and V-Max bullets are also available.
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How Would You Use 6.5x55mm Swedish?
The 6.5x55mm has established a long-standing reputation as an accurate cartridge well suited for target shooting. Prior to the development of modern loads such as the
6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5x55mm has seen use in shooting competitions in the United States and abroad.
The round is particularly popular in Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) service rifle matches where shooters can compete with historic rifles chambered in the caliber. The cartridge has also persisted as a popular hunting round as one can ethically take medium-sized game as well as some larger animals with the right load.
How Would You Use 6.5 Creedmoor?
Common use cases for the
6.5 Creedmoor encompass precision shooting and hunting applications. Whether shooting in formal matches or for fun, the
6.5 Creedmoor will excel at delivering precise hits at extended ranges. The long-range capabilities of the round allow it to excel at long range hunting applications and allow hunters to humanely dispatch medium to some larger-sized game.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, these are two popular 6.5 rounds will serve shooters well. While the
6.5 Creedmoor enjoys mainstream popularity in the United States, the 6.5x55mm is not unviable or unobtainable by any means. If you want to get into either caliber, it can certainly be done.
One might just have to look a little further than the gun rack at their local shop if they want to get into a rifle in the 6.5x55mm cartridge. As always, one should consider their practical use case when purchasing a firearm or getting into a new caliber. No matter your use case or what caliber you shoot, we here at True Shot are ready to support you with ammunition and information to help you along in your shooting journey. Happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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