Should I get my boy a 6.5 Creedmoor?

Zee · July 2020

I have ammo. I have brass. I have dies. But, currently I only have a CVA Scout Pistol in 6.5 Creedmoor.

He has used one of my .243 Winchesters for deer & axis, couple of my .260 Remingtons to take deer and shoot 750 yards. He’s used a .308 Winchester rifle and pistol for deer and a pig as well. Even a .223 Remington to take deer and do positional shooting!

But, they are kinda my guns. The world is Ga-Ga for the Creedmoor and I have ammo and plenty of brass. So my thoughts........I have the following that could make a decent rifle.

-Rem 700 HS Precision Stock
-Rem 700 Pic Base
-Remington 40x Trigger
-Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50 Scope
-Leupold Mark 4 Rings
-Surefire Brake
-Surefire Suppressor
-Brass
-Ammo
-Dies
-Bullets

What I don’t have is a rifle. But, I can get a Remington 700 SPS Tactical w/ 22” threaded barrel.

Strip it down and build her back up with my pieces parts. Give it to the boy for this hunting season. And, I think he’s getting ready for some distance shooting this year.

Thoughts?

Zee · July 2020

The cheap route is to get a CVA Scout V2 Takedown Rifle w/ 24” threaded barrel at half the cost of a Remington.

I just don’t get to use the parts I’ve accumulated.

GunNut · July 2020

If this is the first rifle that will be HIS gun, make it a good one! Not that the CVA Scout is not a good gun but the Remington upgraded by dad with his spares will be world class and something he can show his kids a few years down the line with pride and say “Dad built this for me.”.

JKP · July 2020

Looks like a good build to me. The less trendy route would be .243 Win.

Let me know if you need a good Savage recommendation.

shotgunshooter3 · July 2020

It looks like the 6.5 CM is here to stay on the market, and it's utility is pretty well known. I'd go for it.

JunkCollector · July 2020

Is he up to an 06 yet ?
IIRC dad's first gun would be a pretty good one for him too.

sakodude · July 2020

JunkCollector said:

Is he up to an 06 yet ?
IIRC dad's first gun would be a pretty good one for him too.

I was thinking the same thing. A custom build would be cool but I would think handing down a first gun keeps the memories alive.

Varmintmist · July 2020

Does he want a 6.5 Creedmore? If yes, build it. If no, then build what he wants.

Zee · July 2020

JunkCollector said:

Is he up to an 06 yet ?
IIRC dad's first gun would be a pretty good one for him too.

No. He’s not ready for that recoil yet. Or at least, I don’t want to subject him to it.

Zee · July 2020

Varmintmist said:

Does he want a 6.5 Creedmore? If yes, build it. If no, then build what he wants.

Ha! He doesn’t know/understand cartridges. Just shoots whatever I put in his hands.

Unlike me, when I was young, he doesn’t read/study gun magazines. He likes to shoot. But, he doesn’t study or research it.

AlleyCat · July 2020

Zee said:

Varmintmist said:

Does he want a 6.5 Creedmore? If yes, build it. If no, then build what he wants.

Unlike me, when I was young, he doesn’t read/study gun magazines. He likes to shoot. But, he doesn’t study or research it.

But what will he base his excuses on in later life, if and when if ever he misses.

shotgunshooter3 · July 2020

Zee said:

Varmintmist said:

Does he want a 6.5 Creedmore? If yes, build it. If no, then build what he wants.

Ha! He doesn’t know/understand cartridges. Just shoots whatever I put in his hands.
Unlike me, when I was young, he doesn’t read/study gun magazines. He likes to shoot. But, he doesn’t study or research it.

Honestly, if that's his level of interest, a 6.5 Creedmoor is a great choice:

- Mild recoil
- Still capable of taking elk sized game with the right bullet
- Readily available and relatively affordable factory ammo
- At this point, the 6.5 CM is probably here to stay
- Tons of long range ballistic potential
- Troves of hand loading info available If his interest in the details does expand

GunNut · July 2020

shotgunshooter3 said:

Zee said:

Varmintmist said:

Does he want a 6.5 Creedmore? If yes, build it. If no, then build what he wants.

Ha! He doesn’t know/understand cartridges. Just shoots whatever I put in his hands.
Unlike me, when I was young, he doesn’t read/study gun magazines. He likes to shoot. But, he doesn’t study or research it.

Honestly, if that's his level of interest, a 6.5 Creedmoor is a great choice:

- Mild recoil
- Still capable of taking elk sized game with the right bullet
- Readily available and relatively affordable factory ammo
- At this point, the 6.5 CM is probably here to stay
- Tons of long range ballistic potential
- Troves of hand loading info available If his interest in the details does expand

Agreed with all of the above.

Michakav · July 2020

Zee said:

Ha! He doesn’t know/understand cartridges. Just shoots whatever I put in his hands.
Unlike me, when I was young, he doesn’t read/study gun magazines. He likes to shoot. But, he doesn’t study or research it.

I would go the create your own route. But, I would sit him down and let him know this will be HIS rifle and see if he wants a place in picking the caliber. If he doesn't, I say go with the Creed.

Bigslug · July 2020

There's a time and place for exotics. I'm not sure that a kid who might be soon be fueling his hunts with store-bought ammo while in college, living in small confines with no reloading press while living on ramen is it.

Plain vanilla .308 is everywhere and rock-busting ammo is cheap, you know it can reach a long way, and at the point he needs to fell a critter larger or farther than it can handle reasonably, he'll be in the money for more expensive hunting and guns anyway.

My father & I went through our Ackley Improved phase - him more than me. He's also into his vintage black powder cartridges. I appreciate all that stuff greatly, but really don't know how I'll handle that stuff when it's mine. More and more, I just want to go have fun with a firearm without a lot of preamble.

Basic transportation ain't a bad thing.

bullsi1911 · July 2020

Why buy a complete 700 when you are just keeping the barreled action? Can you buy the barreled action and bolt all the other stuff you have on it?

Zee · July 2020

bullsi1911 said:

Why buy a complete 700 when you are just keeping the barreled action? Can you buy the barreled action and bolt all the other stuff you have on it?

I don’t know anyone who sells just barreled actions for Rem 700s.

Uncle Fester · July 2020

When I decided to set aside the 243 for my wife/kids, I wanted to by a rifle that could take any game I wanted to shoot in the Southwest. While there are a lot of rounds that fit in that window, I went with the 6.5 creedmoor because it supposedly has a mild recoil and it passed my “Walmart Test” (available everywhere at a reasonable price.”

I like the M700 option you are looking at.

GunNut · July 2020

bullsi1911 said:

Why buy a complete 700 when you are just keeping the barreled action? Can you buy the barreled action and bolt all the other stuff you have on it?

Much cheaper to buy an SPS and sell the take off parts on eBay.

Uncle Fester · July 2020

Zee said:

bullsi1911 said:

Why buy a complete 700 when you are just keeping the barreled action? Can you buy the barreled action and bolt all the other stuff you have on it?

I don’t know anyone who sells just barreled actions for Rem 700s.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/2385/remington+action+700+sa+stainless+steel+308

At that price, you might as well buy the whole rifle and sell the parts you don’t want.

Zee · July 2020

Uncle Fester said:

Zee said:

bullsi1911 said:

Why buy a complete 700 when you are just keeping the barreled action? Can you buy the barreled action and bolt all the other stuff you have on it?

I don’t know anyone who sells just barreled actions for Rem 700s.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/2385/remington+action+700+sa+stainless+steel+308

At that price, you might as well buy the whole rifle and sell the parts you don’t want.

I’d still have to buy a chambered/threaded barrel. Which is every bit of $400+.

RugerFan · July 2020

If it's not gonna be a surprise gift, maybe ask him if he has a preference. It might get him started researching guns and such.

Also, if it's not surprise, it could be an excellent father-son project. Let him help you or you help HIM build his rifle with the 700 parts you already have.

Zee · July 2020

I like the Father-Son project idea! Thanks.

Zee · July 2020

Bigslug said:

There's a time and place for exotics. I'm not sure that a kid who might be soon be fueling his hunts with store-bought ammo while in college, living in small confines with no reloading press while living on ramen is it.

Plain vanilla .308 is everywhere and rock-busting ammo is cheap, you know it can reach a long way, and at the point he needs to fell a critter larger or farther than it can handle reasonably, he'll be in the money for more expensive hunting and guns anyway.

My father & I went through our Ackley Improved phase - him more than me. He's also into his vintage black powder cartridges. I appreciate all that stuff greatly, but really don't know how I'll handle that stuff when it's mine. More and more, I just want to go have fun with a firearm without a lot of preamble.

Basic transportation ain't a bad thing.

Well, America has finally embraced the 6.5 caliber and the trend is moving towards professional acceptance as well. So, the future could be promising for the lad in regards to brass/ammo.

I do have enough .308 Supplies to choke an elephant. But, I may live long enough to deplete it if I’m lucky. 😁

Zee · July 2020

Zee said:

JunkCollector said:

Is he up to an 06 yet ?
IIRC dad's first gun would be a pretty good one for him too.

No. He’s not ready for that recoil yet. Or at least, I don’t want to subject him to it.

He will still get that rifle eventually. It’s still retired and waiting on him. But, that will be a bit. Waiting for him to mature some more and be able to fully understand the meaning of a rifle From Grandpa, to father, to son.
When he is able to appreciate that, regardless the recoil, he will be ready for it.

I’ve actually contemplated taking one more deer with it myself. Having him and my father with me at the time. Just to create a bond with the gun for 3 generations. Before passing it along.

Zee · July 2020

JKP said:

Looks like a good build to me. The less trendy route would be .243 Win.

Let me know if you need a good Savage recommendation.

He’s used my .243 Win (Short Rifle) to good effect. Even this past season still. But, having used a .260 Rem and .308 Win this season as well, I think he’s ready to step up to something with a little more “umph”.

mitdr774 · July 2020

Zee said:

I like the Father-Son project idea! Thanks.

That would be my suggestion as well. Once my dad is fully retired and I am not working as much, I plan on sitting down with my dad to figure out some projects we can work on together. The time working on the project is more valuable than the rifle will ever be.

Varmintmist · July 2020

If he gets to pick the cartridge (you can likely guide him to the 6.5), then helps to select components, it will be fun. I wouldnt go out and buy a different X if you already have an X that will do, but id you dont have it, then its time for his input.

GunNut · July 2020

Zee said:

I like the Father-Son project idea! Thanks.

That is a GREAT idea! And the pride he'll feel when he makes something he helped dad build go bang will probably ignite the fire to et deeper into it. Leave the gun mags laying around.

CHIRO1989 · July 2020

Since you lack a 6.5 rifle, then yes, he has a plethora of .308 to inherit from you, expand the inventory, otherwise I would say stick with .308.

ojr · July 2020

Post one
Yes.

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