Selling a 30/06 to buy a 6.5 Creedmoor

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I grew up with a dad and a grandpa that could fix anything. They always went cheap on everything, knowing they could just fix it when it broke. My first gun was a single shot 410 to learn to squirrel hunt, then a single shot 20 ga for my first deer gun. No scope. I shot a couple of shots before deer season and then sat in a stand. I missed everything I shot at for years. Then my dad bought me an 870 express, no scope, and again, I missed everything I shot at, and my confidence was terrible. I put a scope on it, which I paid for myself in high school, practiced, and then killed my first deer. I still have that 870, and could probably be just as successful with that as any rifle I have at less than 100 yards.
We are in really weird times. Through Covid, my best times have been on my (2008 18ft bayliner) boat with my wife and kids, and spending time with my son mushroom hunting and squirrel hunting, and deer season (he is 10). I've borrowed my cousins 2006 Honda rancher for the last several years, but it barely starts in super cold. That sucks.
My point is, I don't want to buy crap, and make it work. I'm at a different point in my life, and I want to enjoy that time. I plan on buying an ATV this year, and have narrowed it down to a Suzuki KingQuad 750 PS. I'm going to buy a new rifle, and sell the one that doesn't really fit me. I want a scope that I actually like to look through. And after that, probably next year, maybe this year, I'll get a new crossbow too. It may be a couple of years, but that '08 boat will need to be traded in for a new fishing pontoon.
It just seems to me that life is too short not to figure out what matters most to you, and do it right.
 
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I need to stop reading this thread. I’ve learned my Bergara bolt handles break off and my A7 doesn’t eject... I looked up ejection issue on the net. There’s a site specializing in Sako that explains the issue. My A7 wears a Burris XLR scope and has never had an issue, but it seems it’s often related to how aggressively the user cycles the bolt so different shooters may have different issues.
 
I honestly didnt know the ejection issues followed anything but the 85s in fatter cartridges. I do know the frustration tho, just had that fight with my X-bolt in 28Nos
 
I had a muzzle break on a hunting rifle for 1 day, usually when I am hiking I stick a piece of duct tape on the muzzle to keep snow and other debris from getting in the barrel, the muzzle break made that alot more work and worry about snow getting in the barrel, I only took that rifle out once and sold it, am not a muzzle break fan for hiking in the snow
 
MacAR said:
Very true... I basically gave one in 270 to a guy in exchange for 1/2 a day's labor replacing some siding on my house. Pawn shops and gun stores won't touch them, and I didn't even want this one in my house; I made a deal with the guy prior to trading for the rifle and dropped it off to him before coming home.

Not to be nosey, but why not just buy the 6.5 outright? I understand if it's a money thing (been there!) but I'd much rather add one to the cabinet than swap them out. Regardless, if you can find the Tikka, go with it. I think you'll be satisfied.

Mac
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My cousin hunts the Black Hills of South Dakota for elk with a 243 and manages to bag one every year. If you can do it with a 243 a 6.5 will probably be no problem.
 
I second the Tikka. I have a couple and they're a solid rifle, great trigger, and the stainless model is a really great hunting rifle. The 6.5 might be perfect for what you want, but 7mm-08 is better for what I'd need for hunting deer in Maine.
 
daniel craig said:
My cousin hunts the Black Hills of South Dakota for elk with a 243 and manages to bag one every year. If you can do it with a 243 a 6.5 will probably be no problem.
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While I'm sure that's probably the case, I'm confused and maybe you can help square me away. My post that you quoted doesn't mention a .243 anywhere; I did however mention the .243 in a later post re: whitetail deer in the Ozarks:

MacAR said:
In this area, you don't shoot much over 200 yards; anything from .243 to 300 Winchester will fit the bill and kill whitetail deer graveyard dead, provided the man behind the rifle makes a good shot.
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Also, I think you've misunderstood my intention. I don't recall ever stating that the 6.5 wouldn't be suitable for elk. I really wouldn't know one way or the other, as I've never a) been elk hunting and b) don't (and won't) own a 6.5. So please, Mr. Craig, help me understand your meaning.

To be perfectly honest (and to keep somewhat on topic), I think the OP should've stayed with what he had, but he obviously wants a different rifle and that's fine by me. I still say that he'd be perfectly happy with a Tikka T3 and a nice Leupold scope. Should be just fine for most any N. American game short of moose and griz I would think. Cost a whole lot less than a custom job and be just as accurate. Heck, do you really need 1/2 moa accuracy for deer hunting? I shoot 'em in the shoulder with the '06 and they fall over; shoot 'em in the neck with the triple deuce, and they fall over. One thing is for sure, I can't tell within a couple inches whether or not the bullet hit the exact spot I was aiming for. Then again, I'm not shooting farther than 250 yards; if I was shooting over beanfields and taking shots out to 6 or 700, I'd probably want something a bit more accurate than my old beat up 700.

Mac
 
MacAR said:
While I'm sure that's probably the case, I'm confused and maybe you can help square me away. My post that you quoted doesn't mention a .243 anywhere; I did however mention the .243 in a later post re: whitetail deer in the Ozarks:



Also, I think you've misunderstood my intention. I don't recall ever stating that the 6.5 wouldn't be suitable for elk. I really wouldn't know one way or the other, as I've never a) been elk hunting and b) don't (and won't) own a 6.5. So please, Mr. Craig, help me understand your meaning.

To be perfectly honest (and to keep somewhat on topic), I think the OP should've stayed with what he had, but he obviously wants a different rifle and that's fine by me. I still say that he'd be perfectly happy with a Tikka T3 and a nice Leupold scope. Should be just fine for most any N. American game short of moose and griz I would think. Cost a whole lot less than a custom job and be just as accurate. Heck, do you really need 1/2 moa accuracy for deer hunting? I shoot 'em in the shoulder with the '06 and they fall over; shoot 'em in the neck with the triple deuce, and they fall over. One thing is for sure, I can't tell within a couple inches whether or not the bullet hit the exact spot I was aiming for. Then again, I'm not shooting farther than 250 yards; if I was shooting over beanfields and taking shots out to 6 or 700, I'd probably want something a bit more accurate than my old beat up 700.

Mac
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Uuuh yup. Looks like I quoted the wrong post. Sorry!
 
rayatphonix said:
I need to stop reading this thread. I’ve learned my Bergara bolt handles break off and my A7 doesn’t eject... I looked up ejection issue on the net. There’s a site specializing in Sako that explains the issue. My A7 wears a Burris XLR scope and has never had an issue, but it seems it’s often related to how aggressively the user cycles the bolt so different shooters may have different issues.
Click to expand...


Is the Bergara bolt handle silver soldered on like a Remington? I broke two Remington's, both I had put on a tactical knob. Couldn't take the extra stress I guess, they broke while speed bolting.

Both repaired by TIG welding. Not just any welder, this guy specializes in build up and repair of dies so he really understands heat control and can run a very fine bead. He chamfered and ran a bead on three sides, Also he drilled a hole, chamfered it and made a plug weld.
 
I have 2 Bergara's in 6.5 Creedmoor and I would not hesitate to recommend them. The fit, finish, smoothness, trigger, shootability, precision, etc. seems very good for the price points they hit.

The first one I bought was an early B-14 HMR. I've had zero problems with it. It is easy to reload sub MOA loads for it. (It shoots formerly cheap Hornady American Gunner ammo amazingly well.) It has taken a few deer but is more suited for blind hunting than humping around the hills due to its size and weight.

I bought the B-14 Ridge with the 18 inch threaded barrel for the somewhat petite significant other to hunt with. This is not who I bought it from but is showing in stock.
Bergara B-14 Ridge Special Purpose 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle, Threaded Barrel, 18" - B14S512 | Nagel's Gun Shop | San Antonio, Texas
The fit and finish on it are great. The stock feels much nicer than many other budget rifles. It shoots very well. It is not ultra light but is extremely handy. It has put every deer (including a large mulie buck) into the freezer that it has shot at.
She wanted to try a muzzle brake on it to tame the recoil so I got her one. I can't remember which one. It did greatly reduce the recoil but is now painfully loud with a nasty concussion. Definitely a plugs and muffs and go two benches down at the range situation. I don't think that I'd recommend a brake on it for hunting purposes.
 
Blackbeard 44 said:
I had a muzzle break on a hunting rifle for 1 day, usually when I am hiking I stick a piece of duct tape on the muzzle to keep snow and other debris from getting in the barrel, the muzzle break made that alot more work and worry about snow getting in the barrel, I only took that rifle out once and sold it, am not a muzzle break fan for hiking in the snow
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finger cots are what I use for muzzle covers brake or otherwise they work well.
 
I second the Tikka also. I have a Tikka T3 Lite that is the “D18” version that Cabelas and Sportsman’s Warehouse sells, 24” fluted barrel with muzzle brake included, all cerakoted, camo synthetic stock. It is super light, weather tough, and almost no recoil on it. Light enough to hike comfortably with in the mountains and has enough balance to shoot offhand if you’re breathing heavy after hiking up a hill for a quick shot. Shoots sub moa out of the box, even with cheap factory ammo. Shoots phenomenally with hand loads. Only thing I wish it has was a blind magazine instead of box magazine. I love mine and you can’t go wrong with it IMHO
 
After reading the whole thread, I don't understand why the X-Bolt has been excluded of the short list. I like the look of that rifle more than any other listed in the original post. Someday, I will have to find a very good excuse to buy one (I can't lie well enough to say I need another rifle) and judge the product myself. Maybe .375 H&H will cut it for that kind of an excuse at some point. Good luck with the one you end up buying, there is always a part of it into the equation. I agree with the better glass on a rifle opinion. It is very important.
 
I didn't win the CA Mesa. It was used never fired, and I was hoping to get a deal, but it went for nearly what a NIB from a dealer costs, so I let it go.
I'm down to 3 rifles, and 5 scope combinations. I would like to have a muzzle break, and I would like to have an illuminated scope. I wouldn't be heartbroken without either though, if it means better accuracy or better glass. Looking at this list, what would you pick, and why? I can get both a break and an illuminated scope in the Bergara and Athlon combo for $1270, which is basically the price of the CA Mesa. I like the Mesa the best, and it seems as it has the best components. And of course it would be nice to have a Zeiss or Swarovski Scope, but in a hunting scenario, will it really improve me? Probably not justified for the price difference. I do hunt over huge corn/bean fields in late November and the deer don't come out until just minutes before legal shooting light ends, and I shoot out to 400-500 yards, so an illuminated scope seems like a wise choice, but is the Athlon or Zeiss illuminated better for me than the non illuminated Swarovski glass? What is the best combo in your opinion? Would you spend more for the Zeiss or Swarovski for a hunting scope? Is it worth it? Will the Bergara be as accurate as the Tikka or CA Mesa?
 
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Another thought is that both the Tikka and CA have stainless barrels, and CA is stainless and cerakoted. I think Bergara is just cerakoted
 
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Id still vote
Mesa.
The "custom" features on the Mesa. Carbon foam stock, heavy duty pillar bedding (glob of bedding goop they use for the recoil lug is unattractive, but seems to usually work well), Triggertech trigger, sako extractor, cerakote over stainless, and easily changable bolt knobs are all....kinda not NECESSARY...but IMO, for that next step up rifle they really do make a difference in feel and at least my appreciation.
I also KNOW the muzzle brake on the Mesa is effective, where as ive been disappointed in most of the factory brakes ive gotten.

Were I choosing the rifle for myself, it would literally not even be a question (im stashing for a Mesa right now, cant decide between 6.5 or 6 CMs), but the truth of the matter is your not buying a whole lot more "performance" for the extra cost. Are those features worth the premium to you?

Scope wise, im in the same place. If cost isnt an issue Zeiss, if cost IS HMR.

Contrary to what alot of folks would opinion, I would buy the HMR and the Mesa. Rather than the Tikka or Bergara and the Zeiss or Swaro, were it a cost issue.
That said it wouldnt be my first choice.
Optically i dont think your loosing much, but the weight and size of the HMR are ill suited to the Mesa imo. So the zeiss would be my preferred option, with the swaro second just based on spec because ive never used one.
 
LoonWulf said:
Id still vote
Mesa.
The "custom" features on the Mesa. Carbon foam stock, heavy duty pillar bedding (glob of bedding goop they use for the recoil lug is unattractive, but seems to usually work well), Triggertech trigger, sako extractor, cerakote over stainless, and easily changable bolt knobs are all....kinda not NECESSARY...but IMO, for that next step up rifle they really do make a difference in feel and at least my appreciation.
I also KNOW the muzzle brake on the Mesa is effective, where as ive been disappointed in most of the factory brakes ive gotten.

Were I choosing the rifle for myself, it would literally not even be a question (im stashing for a Mesa right now, cant decide between 6.5 or 6 CMs), but the truth of the matter is your not buying a whole lot more "performance" for the extra cost. Are those features worth the premium to you?

Scope wise, im in the same place. If cost isnt an issue Zeiss, if cost IS HMR.

Contrary to what alot of folks would opinion, I would buy the HMR and the Mesa. Rather than the Tikka or Bergara and the Zeiss or Swaro, were it a cost issue.
That said it wouldnt be my first choice.
Optically i dont think your loosing much, but the weight and size of the HMR are ill suited to the Mesa imo. So the zeiss would be my preferred option, with the swaro second just based on spec because ive never used one.
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Cost really isn’t an issue, but it seems silly to buy the Mesa and $$ Swaro combo when I can buy both the Tikka and Bergara for the same amount.
 
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