Tag Archives: 6.5 creedmoor

Light in the Dark Storm Industries DS-25 Modern Fighting Rifle

June 8, 2026Product review, Shooting hardware6.5 creedmoor, dark storm industries, DS-25, DSI, MFR, modern fighting rifle, sbrcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Modernity has spawned some of the most interesting variants of America’s favorite rifle. With ever evolving purposes and more manufacturing technologies it should come as no surprise that the AR market is so deep. Dark Storm Industries (DSI) has been in the business for over a decade, both as a retailer of fine products and manufacturing their own. After relocating to gun friendly Florida, their manufacturing went into overdrive. DSI offers everything from compliant state firearms for their former home, to bolt-action and semi-auto high performance AR-style rifles. I was offered a look at one of their most recent products, and today I share that experience with you. Our subject is the Dark Storm Industries DS-25 Modern Fighting Rifle, a small framed SBR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, packaging, unboxing,

The DS-25 MFR

As a civilian, I’ve never had to actually fight with a rifle. But as a rabid firearms enthusiast, I have spent more time than most behind rifles. So I was very eager to see what the DS-25 offered over what I was used to. Since this rifle was designed as a rifle meant for defensive and duty use, that is the perspective I will approach it from. It could also be easily moved into other roles as well, which we may touch on.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, a flat dark earth small frame ar laying on clean concrete floor

The DS-25 packs many features into its compact and lightweight frame. DSI not only built the rifle to be lean and mean, but apparently wanted to make it a bit posh at the same time. The receiver set are machined with robust facets where they are needed, and thinned out where weight can be saved. As an novice engineering student, I have been impressed with many of the small yet significant built-in innovations. Their M-Lok Multi-Lithic™ handguard is married to the upper receiver via index pins and fasteners. It also connects through the front take-down pin locking the whole upper assembly in with the lower. Take-down pins are extended for easy cleaning and maintenance.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, magwell and handguard details — Note: easy-pull take down pins, right side bolt release, handguard/take-down pin interface

The upper receiver is also packed with little features. Starting with a 14.5-inch hand-lapped 416R stainless steel barrel, like something you’d see in a match rifle. The barrel is free-floated from the handguard, with no contact of the barrel nut. Made from an “aerospace alloy”, the barrel nut itself is made to greatly increase heat dissipation.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, disassembled, bolt carrier, bcg,

Also on the upper receiver, you will find a traditional forward assist. I am guessing this was included because of some kind of contract requirement. Most people I talk to dislike them and see them as superfluous. The only thing I have ever experienced with them is wedging a cartridge into the chamber that should have been pulled out not “assisted” into a hard jam.

I love the **Primary Arms PLXc**, and it might be the perfect companion for this rifle

DSI’s ATACH charging handle uses dual locking claws to prevent unwanted reciprocation. And the jaws lock against replaceable steel pins incorporated into the pic rail. With an extra shelf built-in, the tight-fitting charging handle is also built to keep gas from getting in your face when suppressed. It even has a vented buffer tube to allow water to drain out for you d*ck hunters out there.

Specifications

Precision Matched Receiver Set	• Machined from US Produced 7075 T651 Aluminum • Mil-Spec Type III Class 2 Hardcoat Anodized Finish • Cerakote H-Series (Flat Dark Earth)
Billet Lower Receiver	• Premium investment‑cast flat shoe DLC coated two‑stage trigger (3.5lb pull) • Ambidextrous Magazine Release • Ambidextrous 90° Safety Selector w/ Billet Arms • Ambidextrous Bolt Catch and Release • Threaded Bolt Catch Screw • Extended Takedown and Pivot Pins
Billet Upper Receiver	• Multi-Lithic™ Handguard Attachment with Twin Index Pins • Chainlink™ Locks the Handguard to the Upper and Lower via the Pivot Pin • ATACH™ Ambi Charging Handle with Duo-Lock™ • Dual Serviceable Steel Pin for Charging Handle Retention • Mil-Spec Pinned (not glued) Forward Assist • Threaded Forward Assist Retaining Screw • Mil-Spec Dry Film Lubricant Applied to Bore • Additional Rear Pic Rail Slot
DSI DS-25 Bolt Carrier Group	• DLC Nickel Chrome TB42 Bolt Carrier Group per MIL-PRF-32711 • 8620AQ Bolt Carrier (Diamond‑Honed Bore) • 9310AQ Dual Ejector Enhanced Profile Bolt for .308/6.5C • 4130 Gas Key (Grade 8+ Torx‑staked) • 8740 Steel Ground Chrome Firing Pin • SpringCo XP 5‑Coil Extractor Spring
DSI 14.5″ Medium Taper Profile Barrel	• 416R Stainless Steel, Lead Lapped • 5R Button‑rifled; Twist: 1:7 or 1:8 • Mid‑length Gas System with Pinned Gas Block • Mil-Spec Hard Chrome Bore and Chamber • Optional Pin/Weld for Flash Hider
DSI Extended Buffer System	• Extended 7075 7-Position Buffer Tube with Drain and Vent Holes • Electropolished 17‑7 Stainless Extended 40 Coil Buffer Spring • Neoprene‑Dampened 3.0oz Carbine Buffer with High Durometer Bump‑Stop • Dry Film Lubricant in Tube Bore • Dual‑staked QD end plate & castle nut
Included Accessories	• 20‑round Magpul MCT magazine • Keyed cable lock
Dimensions	• Length (stock collapsed) • Weight: 6.9 lbs (w/ Mag)

Rifle Setup

I decided to try several different setups with this rifle, as I expect it to shine in any of them. My first setup would be for all out accuracy, with a mid-power rifle scope and bipod to see what the rifle’s accuracy potential is. The 14.5-inch chrome-lined barrel is made to shoot well, and with some match grade 6.5 Creedmoor ammo I could expect to get the best of it.

I am a big fan of low power variable optics (LPVO), and would for sure install my Primary Arms PLXc 1-8 on the rifle. This would be great for short and mid-range shooting where a rifle like this should shine.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, primary arms, plxc, lpvo, loading magpul magazine

Lastly I would also use a micro prism/magnifier combo as I expect many folks out there might consider shooting it that way as well. For that I selected the Vector Optics Paragon line, an affordable brand that has performed well for me.

Suppressed

You can buy this rifle as an SBR, or you can order it with a pinned and welded muzzle device from either Huxwrx or SiCo. I used an ASR mount to use my Omega 36M on this rifle, and used it for most of the shooting. There was a bit of extra blowback when suppressed, I believe the above picture caught the very worst of it. To be fair to the rifle, I hardly noticed the gas at all while shooting.

Just for some variability, I also used my new CMMG Zeroed 36 suppressor. It also did a fine job at making the MFR pleasant to shoot. It is a little shorter than the Omega, making the overall package more compact.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, mueller optics, cmmg, zeroed 36, — for additional accuracy testing I used the **Mueller Optics** TacHunter 6-24 rifle scope, you can see more on that scope here

On the Range

My initial impressions from the DS-25 were that it recoils more than expected. It feels like an AR15 in your hands, so its easy to forget you are shooting full-house Creedmoor loads from this small rifle.

In the Field

**Federal Gold Medal Match 130 grain ammo** was just shy of 2600 FPS, not bad for an SBR

Accuracy

Testing accuracy from this rifle varied depending on which sighting system was in use. With the 1x Micro prism, and together with its 3x magnifier I found accuracy to be minute of dude out to some pretty reasonable distances. Hitting a 10-inch target was doable out to three or four-hundred yards depending on how stable you could remain.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, vector optics, micro prism, magnifier, silencerco, omega 36m, suppressor, silencer, FDE, shooting from the bed of a pickup truck, — shooting a little further with the **Vector Paragon 3x magnifier**

To get a realistic accuracy test I switched over to rifle scopes. Both the PLXc 1-8 and the Mueller TacHunter 6-24 gave much more precise shots. Shooting groups right around one MOA at 100 yards without trying particularly hard. Most of my shooting was done using one suppressor or another which also might help calm the rifle down.

Making sight adjustments between optics (middle), followed by a 5-shot group of Federal 130 grain Gold Medal Match (top right)

I kept forgetting that I was shooting an SBR here, with a can in place it felt more like a full sized rifle. But accuracy was pretty good in my opinion, and the velocity didn’t seem to suffer as much as expected. Typical 130 and 140 grain loads were running around 2550 fps which is pretty good compared to a typical 14-inch AR-15. Even if it was shooting 77-grain ammo at 27-2800, the MFR’s Creedmoor barrel has a hell of a lot more lead in its pencil.

Reliability

I only had a few issues with this rifle while testing, and it seemed to be related to ammunition. On a couple shots it seemed as though there wasn’t enough momentum to get the next round into battery. Again, this could be a little bit of break-in, or perhaps completely related to the ammunition. It wasn’t a recurring event after the first range trip, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, mueller optics, shooting an FDE ar15 with pine trees and mountains in the background, — removing the suppressor from this rifle quickly reminded me how short and quick to bear it was

Of the many little extras on this rifle, dual staking of important parts are part of increasing reliability. The DLC bolt-carrier has dual staked gas key screws, as does the castle nut on the buffer tube.

Ergonomics

I must start by saying this, I have had a few large frame AR10 rifles. And you can have them SOB’s, way to heavy and long. I can’t imagine having to use one for any kind of defensive or quick shooting, when there are so many better options like the MFR. This rifle is quick to maneuver and get on target, even with a suppressor.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, primary arms, plxc, lpvo, silencerco, omega 36m, shooting a flat dark earth suppressed AR15 rifle with clear skies and mountains in the background

The grip angle is great, and the narrow handguard is easy to manhandle. Though it might be nice to add a down-grip somewhere. Adjusting the length of pull is easy of course with the Magpul stock.

Interacting with the controls of the rifle feels excellent. One of my favorite additions to AR lower receivers is the right side bolt-release. I have them on several of my rifles, and this one also has the feature. It makes reloads faster, and better control for unloading a hot rifle.

The safety is ok, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to put a 45-degree safety instead. But the trigger is fantastic, despite being a touch gritty at first, I think it just needed breaking in. Now it feels fantastic for an action rifle. And the dual claw locking charging handle is very robust and much smoother than many of the charging handles I’ve used.

Value

Dark Storm has packed this rifle with a bunch of small and large features that greatly increase it’s value for those looking. That is a thin line to walk, as AR people can’t wait to change out parts on a gun once purchased. And many folks are not going to want to pay the price for so many little parts and features that they might change out anyways. That said, this rifle is pretty immaculate. It has just about everything I would want a rifle like this to have.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, vector optics, micro prism, magnifier, — Note: ambidextrous controls, QD sling cup under castle nut, gas reduction features on the charging handle

Looking at other 6.5 Creedmoor AR rifles that are comparable, the price is not that different. Peers for the MFR come from companies like Daniel Defense, JP, and Christensen Arms. But to be honest, unless they are small frame rifles I wouldn’t even consider any of those over this one. With an MSRP of $2995 it is certainly not for the casual shooter, but more for professional and dedicated marksmen.

Pros and Cons

I can start out by saying this is a very nice rifle, sure you could maybe upgrade the Magpul parts if you’re that kinda guy. But overall this rifle is very well put together and finished. With so many little niceties added up, it stands out. Everything from lightening cuts down to fasteners and finishes.

+Lightweight	-Not inexpensive
+Accurate match grade barrel	-The one minor short-stroking thing I mentioned
+Ambidextrous controls	-Forward assist
+High Quality parts (inside and out)
+Excellent suppressor host
+Available as SBR or pinned and welded MD
+Handbuilt and tested

My Verdict

I really like this rifle, its a great blend of high quality and rich in features. Its the kind of rifle I would love to have after the inevitable collapse of society into a apocalyptic hellscape. At least it would be if I had enough Creedmoor ammo. It is accurate, compact and hard hitting. Allowing mobility in tight spaces without weighing a ton. And still bringing the downrange power and accuracy that the Creedmoor is known for.

-CBM

Check out more 6.5 Creedmoor rifles here

Why the 6.5 Creedmoor?

March 2, 2026blog6.5, 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5cm, creedmoorcoldboremiracle

Preface

When Hornady released the 6.5 Creedmoor over a decade ago, it showed great promise with claims of flat trajectory, superior wind deflection, low recoil and many other positive attributes. All this as compared to the extremely common and widely used 308 Winchester. We have all had a great deal of time and experience now to see how the Creedmoor stands up to its purported goal, and today we are going to dive into it.

PFI, pride fowler industries, evolution, rifle scope, bergara b-14, hmr — This Bergara rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor has worked fantastic for us the last few seasons, taking its share of venison

History

The design of the Creedmoor case was based on a few criteria; small enough to feed from short-actions, fit neatly in magazines and provide enough power to propel high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets to a reasonable speed. Some of you might ask why when there was already well-established cartridges that did just that. The .260 Remington does about the same things as the Creedmoor, but has long fallen by the wayside compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Cartridge designers based the Creedmoor case off the 30 Thompson Center case, and necked it down to .264 with a 30-degree shoulder. The Creedmoor case is a bit shorter than the .260 Remington and the very popular 308 Winchester. This is by design, as it allows room to seat the longer high BC bullets that make the cartridge perform so well. You can shoot the exact same bullets from the .260 Remington, and often at faster velocity. But you’ll also have a hard time getting them to fit and feed from a box magazine.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12, Hornady ammunition — this Franchi Momentum rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor shoots very well when fed the **Hornady 140 Match ammo**

Perhaps just as important as the Creedmoors performance, was the huge support of the cartridge by Hornady and others. Excellent bullets and ammunition lines of Creedmoor cartridges ensured that people shot the cartridge and quickly learned of its value in shooting.

Let’s Look at the Numbers

Taking a look at the raw numbers of the 6.5 Creedmoor will help shed some light on its success. The Creedmoor case head uses the same .473 bolt-face as many popular cartridges, this would make it easy to chamber all the popular rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor. The maximum SAAMI overall length for the 6.5 Creedmoor is 2.825 inches, only .015 longer than the 308 Winchester. This would make it compatible with the plethora of magazine systems for precision rifles that were designed around the .308.

Creedmoor cartridges fit nicely in most magazines whether they be AICS pattern for competition or factory hunting rifle magazines like this one from a Mossberg Patriot

The capacity of the Creedmoor is slightly less than the .308 Winchester, holding 52 grains versus the 308’s 56 grains. This is likely due to the shorter case. But the Creedmoor has a trick up its sleeve over the 308. Higher BC bullets like those used in the Creedmoor are more efficient. Two bullets with identical ballistic coefficients fired at the same velocity will perform very similar. But a bullet with a higher BC and fired at a higher velocity will do much better on its way to the target.

Semi-automatic rifles like this **Desert Tech WLVRN** with a 20-inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel pack an incredible amount of accuracy and firepower in a compact and mobile rifle

The way these numbers actually look from a real world application is like this; Let’s look at two of the most popular precision loads for the 6.5 and 308. The Federal Gold Medal Match 175 grain load has long been the literal gold standard for 308 sharp shooting. And the Hornady Match 140 ELDM is pretty much the equivalent for the Creedmoor. The 308 has a 35 grain weight advantage but it comes with a lower velocity leaving the muzzle at 2600 Feet per second (FPS). The Creedmoor while lighter, starts out a bit faster with a muzzle velocity of 2710FPS. The following graphs show how the 308 has an energy advantage in the first 300 yards, but after that it quickly loses ground to the Creedmoor.

The Creedmoor never loses its velocity advantage, this is due its superior bullet efficiency. And being fired at a higher muzzle velocity, the lighter bullet is easier to get to higher velocities with similar or less powder charges.

The drop of both bullets in inches also shows a clear advantage for the Creedmoor. The 308 requires significantly more corrective elevation at distance. And though I didn’t graph it here, the wind deflection show the same trend. The 6.5 bullets are less affected by wind drift than the larger diameter 308 bullets. And their faster speed and shorter flight time gives the wind less time to affect the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Hint: being at the top of this graph isn’t good

All these numbers are just a fairly broad comparison, and only to the 308 Winchester. If you were to compare the same numbers against a .260 Remington there would be very little difference. The same might be said for the 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser cartridge or the 6.5X47 Lapua. The curves you see here are why some people say the 6.5 Creedmoor gives 300WM ballistics with less recoil than a 308 Win.

Paper Puncher VS. Hunting Cartridge

Many of the 6.5 Creedmoor’s detractors often like to relegate it as a target round only. After looking at the numbers we just went over, it’s laughable when these same folks say something along the lines of “I’d rather hunt with something with more power like the 308.” It would be silly to reduce the Creedmoor to a target round even though it does the job very well. But the same attributes that make it good on the target range make it a good choice for hunters.

both of these elk were taken with 6.5’s, one shot put em on ice

Excellent wind deflection and flat, accurate shooting are just as important for competitive shooters. Feeding from a detachable box magazine is more of a sport function than a hunting one, as many hunters still use the simple two or three round top-load magazines. But the Creedmoor does well from either.

Competition rifles like this one chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor from Master Piece Arms do fantastic in precision shooting

We have used the 6.5 Creedmoor many times now for deer and elk hunting. it does a fantastic job putting energy in the right spot. And the excellent bullet selection allows you to choose what you prefer. It might be a bit on the light side for elk hunting, but the Swedes have been using their 6.5 on moose for the last century. And the Creedmoor produces similar if not superior results depending on how they are loaded.

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Handy rifles like this CVA Cascade are excellent hunting options when chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor

Creedmoor Family Tree

February 17, 2026blog22 creedmoor, 25 creedmoor, 6.5 creedmoor, 6mm creedmoor, 8.6blk, cartridge, creedmoor, creedmoor familycoldboremiracle

Cartridge Families

Cartridge families have been a thing since shortly after the first cartridges were made. A family refers to a group of cartridges based on the same parent cartridge, and it’s how some of our best cartridges came into being. A well-known family would be the 30-06 Springfield clan, with the .270 Winchester and the 25-06 Remington being some of its popular kin. Today we are taking a look at the Creedmoor Family Tree, on their ascent to being one of the great dynasties in the cartridge world.

Creedmoor cartridges enjoy flawless function from various magazine systems

6.5 Creedmoor History

Back in the early 2000’s, the Creedmoor was developed by a group of folks looking to design a perfect cartridge. Their goal was a flat-shooting, low-recoil cartridge with high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets that would feed well from a magazine. They based the cartridge from the 30 Thompson Center, another cartridge looking for fame. The case was shouldered at thirty-degrees and necked down to .264 and the Creedmoor was born.

Since then, the cartridge has been adopted widely by nearly every corner of the shooting market. Much to the chagrin of Creedmoor haters, whose sophomoric insults are blind to the obvious performance of the cartridge.

6.5 creedmoor, prs, prs rifles, competition rifles, savage, mdt, christensen arms, mpr, mpa, — PRS rifles like these are very often chambered in 6.5CM, though these days they are switching to 6mm cartridges.

The 6.5 Creedmoor has also spawned a whole family of descendants that have become well-known titans in their own bore-size. There is no free lunch however, so the advantages of each come with their liabilities as well. Today we’ll look at some of them and evaluate their attributes and how they might best fit into your next rifle purchase.

22 Creedmoor

Barrel Life Estimate: 800-1100 rounds

Bullet Weights: 50-80 grains

Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1500yds

Component Suppliers: Hornady, Alpha Munitions, Petersen, Nosler

Let’s start at the bottom of the pile, with the 22 Creedmoor. Necking is the process of narrowing the case mouth of a cartridge to hold a different caliber bullet. The 22 Creedmoor is the result of necking the 6.5 down to .224 caliber, I understand there is some thinning of the neck during this process as well to make it work.

22 Creedmoor, alpha munitions, hornady, — 22 Creedmoor components like **Alpha Munitions cases** and **Hornady Dies** provide great performance

The result is a hot-rod overbore 22 centerfire cartridge, similar to the extremely popular 22-250. The 22 Creedmoor has done very well in the hunting and target shooting arenas. Mainly because it has large displacement and the horsepower to push even the large .224 caliber bullets fast. Typically made with a 1:8 twist, the 22CM can push big 75 and 80 grain bullets well over 3200 FPS. This leaves cartridges like the 22-250 and 220 Swift in the dust. And makes the 22CM an obvious choice for varmint hunting and long-range target shooting.

22 Creedmoor, patriot valley arms, barrel, — Using even faster twists like this 1:7 allow use of the heaviest 22 caliber bullets

Feeding the 22CM is easily done from popular magazine systems, and it cycles well from all the popular actions. Handloading is fairly easily done with support from companies like Hornady and Redding. You can buy ammunition and components from Hornady, Alpha Munitions and others. The scorching performance of the 22CM come at a cost, as it has an appetite for barrel throats. Making this cartridge a choice for the bold shooters out there.

6mm Creedmoor

Barrel Life Estimate: 1500-2200 rounds

Bullet Weights: 58-115 grains

Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1700yds

Component Suppliers: Hornady, Alpha Munitions, Petersen, Lapua, Nosler, Starline

The next step up in the necking process is the 6 Creedmoor. Very comparable to the venerable .243 Winchester, the 6CM offers high speed 6mm/.243 bullets for either sport or hunting. The 6CM uses a faster twist than the older .243 design, typically 1:7 to 1:8 twist. This gives the 6CM the ability to shoot more modern bullets, many of which were basically designed for this cartridge. The longer high BC bullets of today won’t fly from the 1:10 or 1:9 twist rates of decades passed. This gives the 6CM a leg up over cartridges like the .243 and 6mm Remington.

this **Browning X-Bolt** chambered in 6mm Creedmoor was a blast, you can read about it here

The 6CM offers the same performance as those older cartridges when shooting comparable bullets. And its optimal for use in the same types of hunting situations, arguably better due to efficiency. Getting similar velocities from the Creedmoor with less powder and bore erosion than the other cartridges mentioned. It would be an excellent choice for a light big game hunting cartridge, or as a competition cartridge as it has been used extensively over the years.

6 Creedmoor fits into rifles and other common accessories like this Cole-TAC ammo novel

Whether you wish to shoot 58-grain bullets at coyotes or 115 grain match bullets in a PRS match the 6mm Creedmoor has a diverse hand of talents. It has been pushed aside somewhat by smaller 6mm cartridges in the competition circuit, due to its lower barrel life and recoil. But still has quite a following of dedicated loaders and shooters, thanks to the support from the companies I mentioned above.

25 Creedmoor

Barrel Life Estimate: 2000-3000 rounds

Bullet Weights: 86-135 grains

Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1900yds

Component Suppliers: Hornady, Alpha Munitions, Petersen

Coming out of nowhere, the 25 Creedmoor is one of my favorites, likely because I was part of it’s renaissance. The 25CM came about because of new bullet designs that made the 25 caliber a better option than the original 6.5CM. Bullets with higher BC and lower weight meant that the 25CM could shoot faster than the 6.5, and enjoy flatter-still trajectories and more energy on target.

All of the Creedmoor family have excellent components available

This made the 25CM an outstanding choice for many shooters. Hunters and competition shooters alike have adopted the 25CM, and once again the aftermarket has stepped in to support it as well. Hornady only recently legitimized the 25CM, but Alpha Munitions and Petersen Cartridge Company have been making brass for it for some time. This is one Creedmoor that has actually gotten more love from companies besides Hornady, at least till now. With excellent components available from Sierra and Berger.

the 25 Creedmoor has been a fantastic hunting cartridge, you can read about this hunt here

Using the 25CM in competition like the NRL Hunter matches has become very popular due to its power and low recoil. It might be one of my favorite hunting cartridges as well, the incredible consistency has allowed me to make many one-shot kills on deer and elk. Some of which were so far out that it’s better to leave unsaid.

6.5 Creedmoor

Barrel Life Estimate: 3000-4000 rounds

Bullet Weights: 90-150 grains

Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1800yds

Component Suppliers: Hornady, Alpha Munitions, Petersen, Lapua, Nosler, Everyone at this point

The OG Creedmoor, a cartridge that stormed the precision rifle shooting circuit when it came out. At the time (2006-ish maybe) there were three 6.5 cartridges fighting for dominance. Besides the Creedmoor, the 6.5×47 Lapua and .260 Remington were all extremely popular. But likely due to support from Big Red and others, the 6.5 Creedmoor quickly became the dominant 6.5.

Still an excellent choice for many competitors, the 6.5CM might be the only cartridge today that has a shot at taking the place of the 308 Winchester in popularity. The 6.5CM does everything the 308 does, and it often does it better. The narrow 6.5 bullets have a higher ballistic performance and speed than the old Winchester, making it an excellent successor. The 6.5CM is the easy-button of sharpshooting, and because of that it enjoys support from nearly every corner of the shooting world. Whether you are looking for semi-auto rifles or bolt-action there is a great option in 6.5CM. And ammunition options are as deep and diverse as any other cartridge.

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The 6.5 Cartridge Dilemma

September 3, 2025blog.264, 264winmag, 6.5, 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 pR, 6.5 remington, 6.5x284, 6.5x55, cartridgecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Many Americans seem to have been born with a .30 caliber fixation, nothing to be ashamed of believe me. But there is a rivalry coming for America’s top spot, and its coming from the metric system believe it or not. 6.5 caliber cartridges are nothing new, even in North America. Today we are going to discuss a variety of the 6.5 cartridges and why they have such a cult following that continues to grow. Perhaps by the time we are done, you might feel a taste for the 6.5 Koolaid yourself.

the **Ruger American Rifle** is available in various calibers like 6.5CM and 6.5 PRC

6.5 or .264?

I remember speaking to an old gunsmith who claimed to have trained under P.O. Ackley. He told me that allegedly Ackley believed the 6.5 to be the ideal bore for accuracy. I believe both of them were simply a product of their time, and I also believe there isn’t an “ideal bore”. Instead there are simply perfect proportions, bullet lengths and angles as compared to the bore.

What you cannot deny is that 6.5mm bullets (or .264 inches for the Yanks) typically have excellent ballistic coefficients (BC). And these high BC bullet are usually easy to get up to excellent speeds due to their weights. Most 6.5 bullets fall within the range of 100 to 150 grains.

Whether .264 or 6.5, there is an incredible variety of cartridge cases designed to push them. And choosing which one of these cases is incredibly important as to the performance. A diminutive 6.5 Grendel can shoot the exact same bullet as the massively overbore 26 Nosler, but the performance will be just as distinct.

The Rise of 6.5 Cartridges

Back in the late 19th century, the 6.5 craze had already begun in Scandinavia with the 6.5×55 Swedish. It was used widely for so many purposes and in such numbers that it spilled into other firearm markets. For over a hundred years the Swede’s have been taking moose and reindeer with a 6.5. This might be downright shocking if you are one of those who uses a 300WM to pile up a 110-pound bean field whitetail from a ground blind.

both of these elk were taken with 6.5 cartridges, on the left a .260 Ackley, on the right a 6.5 Creedmoor, both taken from 520 yards. Watch the VIDEO HERE

It took some time for the 6.5’s to catch on across the American heartland. Ballistic tinkerers like the aforementioned Mr. Ackley made wildcats like the 6.5-06 popular. There were others like the 6.5 Remington magnum, but they didn’t catch on like their designers had hoped. It was like trying to sell a bullpup to Americans who love AR15’s.

One of my favorite cartridges for largely sentimental reasons is the .264 Winchester Magnum. A product from the 1950’s, it actually predates its 7mm twin, the 7mm Remington Magnum that gained far more attention.

this bull fell at 500 yards to my father’s .264 Win Mag shooting 140 gr bullets

Modern 6.5 Cartridges

Most of us are likely more familiar with modern 6.5 cartridges, but which one will best suit your needs? Many people love to hate on the 6.5 Creedmoor, but it’s impossible to deny its versatility. And it’s literally a ballistic twin to the 6.5×55 and we’ve already discussed how useful that cartridge has been and still is today.

Over a decade ago, there was an outright brawl between the three most popular 6.5 cartridges in the precision shooting space. The three protagonists were the 6.5 Creedmoor, the equally new 6.5×47 Lapua, and another American classic the .260 Remington. All three were hugely popular for short-action precision rifles, but the Creedmoor has seemed to win the popularity contest. Each of them had their strong points, but there’s nothing wrong with any of them.

The newly popular 6.5 PRC has gained an impressive following among big game hunters. While it often shoots the same bullets as the Creedmoor, it shoots them much faster. With a four to five hundred feet per second advantage, the PRC is lighting on deer and elk.

my 6.5 PRC has been a supreme tool for taking game, read more about it here

In long-action cartridges, Nosler more recently released their 26 Nosler cartridge. With a huge powder column, it is made to move fast. Of course this comes with a Nosler sized price tag as well.

Considerations

All of these cartridges have positive attributes that you should consider for your purpose. Whether you are a casual hunter, a serious competitor or even a Law Enforcement sniper there is something for you in this family of cartridges.

If you find yourself shooting deer or other comparable game within ranges of two to three-hundred yards any of them will do. One of my kids will be hunting with a 6.5 Grendel this season, shooting 120 grain bullets. Another of my kids will be hunting with the same little .260 I built for him when he turned 12.

260 remington, mule deer, ridley, — Junior has done well with this little .260 Remington

My brother and I both will be shooting 6.5 PRC’s most likely, which are definitely good for a bit more distance. We’ve both taken .260’s and Creedmoors beyond the 1,000 yard line, but the PRC is a better tool for such a task.

My father would be shooting his .264 Win Mag, which he’s used in the past to take mule deer, antelope and mature bull elk. Sharing a ballistic profile with the 6.5 PRC it too has a more useful range envelope.

Continue Reading Here

CVA Cascade SB

April 30, 2025Product review, Shooting hardware6.5 creedmoor, cascade, cascade sb, cva, cva cascade sbcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Today we are bringing you another rifle review, and I’m a bit excited about this one. Our subject is the CVA Cascade, which entails quite a few models. The model we are looking at today is the Cascade SB which I assume means Short Barrel. I’ve had the luck of playing with another Cascade in the past, and I quite enjoyed it. So I was excited to see how this newer model performed to see what if anything changed.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr,

The CVA Cascade SB

The Cascade is a bolt action rifle, with a three lug bolt resulting in a 60 degree lift. It has a similar design to the Ruger American action, using the bolt release as a bolt stop to prevent it’s aft travel as well as to keep the bolt clocked properly.

note rear action screw in front of the trigger, instead of on the tang

A Remington 700 style trigger is used, and it is fed by a detachable magazine that holds 4-rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor. There is an interesting change from typical bolt-action design; the rear action screw has been placed in front of the trigger, instead of in the tang at the rear of the action.

The threaded eighteen-inch barrel is of a slightly heavier profile than typical hunting rifles, but I am here for it. I like the performance of medium weight barrels over the skinny barrels typically used on hunting rifles.

CVA Cascade Short Barrel 6.5 Creedmoor
Weight	6.8 Pounds
Barrel Length	18-Inches
Barrel Twist	1:8 inches
Barrel Thread	⅝-24
Finish	Graphite Black Cerakote
Overall Length	38.5-Inches
Length of Pull	14-Inches
Capacity	4+1 rounds
Safety	2-Position
Stock	Polymer w/ Veil Tactical Black Camo Finish

CVA Cascade History

CVA is a well known brand among smoke pole subscribers, I can remember hearing about CVA muzzleloaders as far back as I can remember. Connecticut Valley Arms has been around since the early seventies, and before entering the centerfire market had been best known for pioneering inline muzzleloader rifles. Their bolt-action inline muzzleloaders likely had something to do with the Cascade’s development. As it would seem they decided to bring their manufacturing and knowledge to the centerfire realm with the Cascade series of rifles.

the Cascade SB fit perfectly into my **Eberlestock Just One backpack**

CVA has been aided in their ascent by its parent company BPI Outdoors, who purchased the company just before the turn of the last century. BPI manufactures multiple brands in the same space as CVA, which also adds to their knowledge and position.

CVA Cascade SB Review

As usual, I would take the Cascade up into the Rocky Mountains above my home to test it out. The solitude seems to help focus on the function and flaws of the guns I test. But before we got to that point, I would need to prepare the rifle for this outing.

First up the rifle would need a scope, I settled on using the Athlon Optics Heras SPR 6-24×56. The rifle had come with some Weaver scope ring bases installed, so I simply bolted up the scope using a set of Warne split rings. With the scope leveled and mounted I boresighted it using my toolless method. Next up I would stick a Harris 6-9 bipod to the front sling-stud for supported shooting. And lastly because I’m a purist, I installed my Banish Meateater suppressor on the muzzle. Before doing so I changed out the suppressor’s muzzle bushing to the smaller 6.5 for maximum suppression.

I gathered up a variety of ammunition to test in the rifle, with factory options from Federal, Hornady, and Sierra. And again because of the purist in me, I also brought some of my favored handloads to see how the Cascade liked them.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr, PVA Jetblast Muzzle brake — the PVA Jet Blast muzzle brake was an excellent option for the Cascade

For maximum compactness, I also shot the Cascade with only a muzzle brake installed. For that I used the Patriot Valley Arms 6.5 Jet Blast brake. It is self timing, and very lightweight, which makes it quick and easy to install and remove. And it is exceptional at reducing felt recoil while shooting, even with a modest cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Shootability

The oversized bolt handle makes for easy operation of the action. It has a smooth lift and stroke, better I would say than some of the typical comparable actions. There is less slop in the bolt while it is open, giving a much better feel of quality and control.

It came as no surprise that the trigger felt great, while I saw no reason to adjust it. I like knowing that I can. It’s also nice to know you could swap it out for one of the popular aftermarket triggers like Timney or Trigger Tech.

With such solid construction, the Cascade SB has minimal recoil, particularly with a suppressor or muzzle brake installed. I could see myself adding a stock pack to the rifle, as the comb is a touch low for the scope as I had it mounted.

Reliability

Cycling cartridges through the Cascade was fantastic. The polymer magazine is particularly slippery, which resulted in flawless feeding. So smooth in fact that there is little difference between running the action with or without cartridges. The bolt uses a sliding extractor to pull the cartridge from the chamber, and the single plunger ejector does a fine job of expelling the spent cases from the action.

bolt-head detail, note extractor design and ejector plunger

While we experienced no malfunctions while shooting the Cascade SB, it did seem that because of the tight fit of the bolt to the action, it was susceptible to crud building up. After shooting quite a bit, some of the debris from shooting did cause the feel of the bolt to suffer a little. Not a huge deal, but worth noting.

Ergonomics

I will say this about the rifle, as I pulled it naked from the factory box, my first impression was different. I wouldn’t say the gun is heavy, but it feels thick and stout. It has a robust and solid feel that delivers a great sensation of quality.

The rubberized exterior is very easy to grip, and feels good in the hands. The buttstock too is very unlikely to slip out of place, as it too has a soft rubber feel. This helped when running the oversized bolt knob, generally there is great purchase on everything. The safety requires a fair amount of pressure to engage, which is fine by me. That makes it harder to accidentally safe the rifle in the heat of shooting.

Releasing the magazine from the rifle is done at the front of the magwell. It was very easy to eject the magazine, I was actually worried it might be too easy, resulting in a lost magazine. But the release is safely recessed to avoid just such a thing.

Accuracy

I had a lot of hope for the Cascade in the accuracy department. I wouldn’t say I was let down, I was just hoping it was going to be a touch better. It definitely liked the Sierra Bullets Match King ammunition, and would regularly print 3/4 MOA five shot groups. I am quite confident that with a little load work up I can get it shooting even better.

As it was, I was using the Cascade SB to engage targets the size of a deers vitals at 300 and 450 yards without a care in the world. It certainly made me wish I was deer hunting with this little rifle instead of just playing.

CVA cascade, cascade SB, 6.5 creedmoor, athlon optics, heras spr, target, accuracy — a typical group from the Cascade SB shooting **SIerra Match King ammunition**

Value

A quick search of the internet shows the Cascade SB we tested here today can be had for under $650. In my opinion that is a pretty good price for what you are getting. There is a great deal of competition for rifles like this in the four to seven-hundred dollar price range. For a touch more money you can get something very similar like a Franchi Momentum or a Tikka T3. And for a little less money, you can get something like a Ruger American Gen 2. All of these are good choices, and very competitive. I would say that the Cascade seems to match the quality of the higher price point rifles mentioned above, despite its lower price.

Cascade Pros and Cons

Keeping in the same line of comparison with those other comparable rifles, I wish the Cascade had a higher comb to rest your cheek on. Both the Ruger and Franchi mentioned have a high-comb that is perfect for sight alignment. And while 6.8 pounds isn’t heavy in my opinion, the Cascade could shave a little more weight by adding some flutes to the barrel. Some folks might prefer the rifle was fed by AI pattern magazines, and I’ll admit it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. But as good as this magazine works and fits flush, I’d keep it just like it is.

All three of these rifles can be found at Sportsman’s Warehouse

The action on this rifle feels great, it cycles cartridges smoothly and is built to last. Great trigger and magazine operation matched by good looks across the board on this rifle. There is little not to like about the Cascade, it is compact and great for maneuvering through forests and mountains. And it shoots as good as it looks.

Final Thoughts on the Cascade SB

I was very optimistic about how I would feel about this rifle, and after shooting it for a few weeks now I think those feelings were right. The CVA Cascade SB is a very stout little rifle, it has smooth function with fantastic features for hunters. It is compact and very maneuverable which is handy when you are pursuing anything. It shoots well and has very reliable operation, again, one of the few things I would change if I could would be to flute the barrel to lower weight. But even that isn’t much of a problem. I really like the Cascade SB, and I look forward to taking it into the forests this fall to put it against our mule deer and elk. I expect it will perform very well.

-CBM

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint Rifle

March 23, 2025Product review, Shooting hardware6.5 creedmoor, elite varmint, franchi, momentumcoldboremiracle

Introduction

It had been some time since I checked in on Franchi, long enough that I had no idea they made a rifle that was right up my alley. Today I bring something a little different and new, a fresh look at the Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle.

I’d always known Franchi as a reputable shotgun manufacturer, but partially because I’m a rifle nerd I never really looked into the brand. Until I found out they made a bolt-action rifle. But would this first impression of Franchi’s rifles sway me into a fan?

franchi momentum, elite varmint, 5.4 creedmoor, banish backcountry suppressor, athlon optics helos

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint 6.5 Creedmoor

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint Rifle Features
Caliber	6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Length	24 Inches
Barrel Twist	1 in 8 inches
Capacity	One 3-round and one 8-round magazine
Trigger	Adjustable 2-4 Lb
Bolt	Three-lug 60-degree throw
Muzzle	Threaded ⅝-24 includes radial brake
Recoil pad	Interchangeable for LOP
Finish	Midnight Bronze Cerakote
Accuracy Guarantee	1 MOA
Warranty	7 Years

Opening the box of the Franchi Momentum I was impressed, the handsome look and some of the extras included caught my eye immediately. As we spread the items out I saw an included matching thread protector should you decide to remove the muzzle brake. I inspected the curious polymer magazines which both fit nicely into the rifle, released by a button within the trigger guard.

Shouldering the rifle I could appreciate the texturing of the stock in its grip areas, as well as the raised comb to align with optics. Again I was impressed seeing QD flush cup in the stock for sling attachment. This made for easy attachment of my sling. The stock came without the traditional front sling stud installed, which made sense because of the QD cups. But a sling stud was included that you can use to attach a bipod up front, you just pull out a plastic plug and screw it in.

I lifted the bolt and gave it a few strokes, the short throw was very nice and quick. The chromed and fluted bolt slid nicely within the action, though it did seem a touch longer than I was expecting. The back end of the bolt comes awfully close to my nose when pulled to the rear.

The Relia Trigger of the Momentum felt fantastic. I thought about adjusting it but I ended up just leaving it right where it was, as it functioned perfectly and broke very clean. The safety is a two position on the right side of the bolt-shroud, it has a slightly oversized lever which makes it very easy to find and operate. The Momentum uses a V-block style recoil lug, with two notches cut into the bottom of the action. The recoil lug is v-shaped and fits into the stock and engages the action notches.

The twenty-four inch fluted barrel looks great with its Cerakote finish. I broke free the muzzle brake which was much easier than I expected, for some reason manufacturers love to attach muzzle devices like a wheel lug-nut. This one came right off with minimal effort, it was secured with threadlocker that I cleaned off the threads. The handsome tenon would be perfect for mounting one of my suppressors later.

I was quite surprised how much the Momentum resembled the Ruger American, another rifle I quite enjoy. Testing would tell if it would match the performance.

Franchi Momentum Configuration

Before heading out to shoot the Momentum, I needed to kit it out. For that I started with a good riflescope. I mounted a brand new Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12X42 scope, I think this is a great size for hunting rifles. This rifle would end up doing quite a bit of deer hunting and this scope would be provide great features for that purpose. I mounted the scope in a set of Warne rings, and attached them to the included picatinny scope rail of the Momentum.

franchi momentum, elite varmint, 6.5 creedmoor, banish backcountry suppressor, athlon optics helos

After installing the front sling-stud, it was easy to attach a Harris SL bipod which would allow supported shooting. Additionally using the provided QD cups, I attached a good QD sling using the pushbutton swivels.

Having pulled the muzzle brake off, I also planned on shooting the rifle suppressed. For that purpose I grabbed my Banish Backcountry suppressor. The lightweight titanium construction is great for hunting rifles, and with its interchangeable hub system you can fit it to any rifle.

All that was left was a good selection of ammunition to feed the Franchi. For that I grabbed a few boxes of Sierra Matchking Competition, some Hornady 140gr Match, Federal Gold Medal Match 130gr, and some DTM 140gr Match ammunition.

this suppressor was a great match to the Momentum, read more about it here: Banish Backcountry review

Shooting the Franchi Momentum

The Momentum ended up being a very pleasant rifle to shoot. The muzzle brake was very effective at reducing recoil, but for obvious reasons we did most of our shooting with a suppressor. We shot the rifle in the arid mountains of the Great Basin, with some gusting winds every now and then. Testing a variety of ammunition from various different positions and distances.

Ergonomics

I was pleased with the feel of the Momentum’s stock and action. The grip area has a nice vertical feel to it, and the textured areas make it easy to hold on to. The grip and comb can both be removed and changed for different height and feel. I suppose that requires you to purchase the additional parts since they don’t come with the gun but you have the option to adjust at least.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12

The 60-degree bolt throw was really nice and allowed quick manipulation of the bolt. Though I did notice that the rear of the bolt almost touches the raised comb of the stock. I did on at least one occasion pinch my finger between them.

Controls of the Franchi Momentum are fantastic. The trigger feels great right out of the box, and though its adjustable I saw no reason to mess with it. The oversized safety makes it easy to both identify and manipulate the safe condition of the rifle. The magazine release being tucked within the trigger guard is just stiff enough to avoid being pressed accidentally.

Accuracy

The one MOA accuracy guarantee of the Franchi Momentum is nice, I would prefer a half MOA guarantee, but preferences are like you know whats…

That said we had no problem shooting what we were aiming at with the Momentum. The rifle shot well with all the ammunitions we tested, but seemed to really like the Hornady Match and Federal Gold Medal. We shot the rifle as far as 730 yards, and considering the windy conditions it did very well. Even at that distance a coyote wouldn’t be safe from this Elite Varmint rifle.

Franchi Momentum, accuracy, target, — a couple typical groups from **Hornady Match** (top) and **Federal Gold Medal Match** (below)

Reliability

As you might imagine, bolt action rifles are pretty reliable. And the Franchi Momentum proved to be just that. We experienced zero failures while shooting the rifle, no feeding issues of any kind, and positive ejection was the norm. The rifle cycled through rounds smoothly but for a slight issue I had with magazines that I’ll detail below.

Value

This particular rifle was bought on a promotion, a good one from Sportsmans Warehouse. And I must say that at the price of that promo it was a no-brainer. But even at the regular street price between about 750 to 850 dollars, this gun is a pretty safe buy. The standard momentum rifles can be had for even a hundred or more less. But the Elite Varmint models command a little higher price with their heavier barrels and camo finishes.

Pros and Cons

There are just a few things I didn’t like about the Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint. Some of them are a little subjective I’ll admit, but others were more a general concern. The interchangeable comb is nice, but the one that came with the rifle forced you to remove it in order to pull the bolt from the action. Not a big deal, but they could have made a slight indent at the front to avoid this. That also might have prevented fingers getting pinched between the bolt shroud and the comb.

The magazines worked fine, but I did have a small gripe about them. First off, everybody is switching to AI mags. There are plenty of inexpensive options for AI mags out there, and I can’t imagine why Franchi didn’t just make the rifle accept AI mags instead of having to manufacture their own. Additionally, the Momentum mags have a little ramp at the front of the follower, and when you run the bolt slowly it hangs up on the ramp when it gets between the bolt-body and the bolt-lugs. It works fine when you run it fast, but its a little irritating when you don’t.

On the positive side, the Franchi Momentum has some great features to appreciate. Despite my gripes the stock is great and feels comfortable while shooting. The addition of the QD sling cups was a touch of class. The action feels fantastic and runs cartridges flawlessly, and the trigger is crisp! The included pic-rail for optics mounting is another added value, and its all pretty handsome finished in the Bronze Cerakote. Flutes in the barrel reduce some weight, but they also add some aestheticly pleasing lines to the rifle. And thank goodness they didn’t miss the boat by leaving the muzzle feature-less, and even gives you options with the brake or simple thread protector. Of course, all this wouldn’t mean much if the rifle didn’t perform well, but it most certainly does.

The Verdict

I would happily recommend this rifle to someone looking for a hunting rifle. I could see myself hunting for decades with a rifle like this, and whether it was coyotes out in the desert or big bull elk up in the high country I would feel confident going after them with the Franchi Momentum in hand.

Turns out that I should have paid more attention to Franchi. Because the shotguns they make that I enjoy so much were just the beginning of my infatuation with the Italian brand. I am looking forward to seeing this rifle put to good use this fall, and every confidence it will work well.

-CBM

Are you a Franchi-phile? Here’s another Franchi Review

Ruger American Gen 2

November 24, 2024Product review, Shooting hardware308 in, 6.5 creedmoor, american, gen 2, gen2, generation II, ruger, ruger american, ruger american rifle generation IIcoldboremiracle

Preface

I guess you could say I’ve always been a Ruger fan, the very first centerfire rifles I bought were from the 75 year old manufacturer. Back then, I couldn’t have known how many Ruger rifles would come my way. And in the many years since I have found many virtues in Ruger’s firearms. Today we are taking a look at the new Ruger American Gen 2, a modestly priced rifle made for the American shooting public. The Gen 2 Ruger American builds on the reputation of the incredibly popular Ruger American, which has become a mainstay with firearms enthusiasts and gun shops.

I bring you this review today, because I quite enjoyed the Gen 1 Ruger American. So I purchased the new Gen 2 to see how they compare, and if the upgrade is worth your time. Some of this review will be comparing the rifle to its predecessor, as well as comparing it to other competitors rifles. The market that the Ruger American is after, is incredibly competitive. Price is a big factor, as is performance and reliability. Let’s start down the bore…

Ruger American Gen 2

Specifications

Caliber	308 Winchester
Barrel Length	20 Inches
Barrel Twist	1:10
Stock	Gen 2 American Gray Splatter polymer
Overall Length	41.25 inches
Length of Pull	12-13.75 inches
Capacity	3 Round included
Magazine	AICS pattern
Barrel	5 Groove Spiral Fluted
Weight	6.2 pounds
Material	Alloy Steel
Finish	Gun metal gray Cerakote
Sight option	Picatinny scope rail
Muzzle thread	⅝-24 threaded with radial brake
MSRP	$729.00

Ruger American Gen 2 action — the bolt-stop does double-duty serving as a timing guide for the bolt assembly

The Ruger American Gen 2 rifle is based on the American action, a steel action with a three-lug bolt. The oversized bolt-body in my opinion gives the action its smooth stroke, and it is guided by the bolt stop which does double duty keeping the bolt clocked properly. Its bolt-handle is oversized and threaded 5/16-24 to allow changing it should you desire. The large round bolt-knob gives great purchase while running the bolt.

For a trigger, the American uses Ruger’s Marksman trigger which can be adjusted from 3 to 5 pounds. As usual, there is a blade safety on the trigger, something I am not particularly fond of. On the action-tang, there is a three position safety. With a bolt-lock safe position, as well as safe with bolt operation, and the firing position.

ruger american generation 2, maven optics — note trigger blade safety and AICS magazine release

Caliber Options

One of the many appealing options of this rifle is the spectrum of caliber options. Nearly any sized cartridge can be put into the American action. According to Ruger’s website, these are the current options:

22 ARC	.243 Win	.270 Winchester
6mm ARC	6mm Creedmoor	30-06 Springfield
6.5 Grendel	6.5 Creedmoor	6.5 PRC
223 Remington	308 Winchester	7mm PRC
204 Ruger	7mm-08 Remington	300 Win. Magnum
350 Legend	450 Bushmaster	400 Legend

There are three distinct Gen 2 American models, the Standard we have here, the Ranch model that uses shorter barrels and a Cobalt Cerakote/FDE color, and the Predator model that uses a longer barrel and Bronze Cerakote on green color.

All the above options made it challenging to pick one, as several of them are my fave’s. But I ended up going 308 Winchester simply because it’s such an easy choice and quickly comparable to other rifles.

ruger American gen 2 rifle, muzzle brake — the radial muzzle brake of the Gen 2 American, nice flats made removal easy

All models of the Gen 2 American rifle come with the spiral fluted barrel, and comes with a threaded muzzle should you wish to change the muzzle device. I would certainly take advantage of this feature to see how the rifle shot suppressed. Getting the brake off was easy with provided flats, and I appreciated that it hadn’t been torqued on by the same guy who did my Gen 1.

The polymer stock feels like an upgrade from the Gen 1. It feels a bit harder and less flexible, which was one of my complaints about the Gen 1. While there is still some flex in the stock, at a price point like this it’s tough to ask for more. Interestingly, the magwell area of the stock is interchangeable. This allows the same basic stock to be used, and simply change out the magwell depending on the cartridge feeding needs.

Ruger American Generation II magazine well — a look at the magwell and its detail

Apart from the handsome finish, the stock also features an elevated comb. This was very welcome, as it allowed perfect alignment of my eye with the scope once mounted. At the tail-end, you find a very soft rubber recoil-pad. I imagine this is very nice on the larger long-actions, as well as the short-action’s like mine. I also like the way they set the rear sling-stud at an angle, the natural angle it would pull from on the sling.

Ruger American Gen 2 Setup

As a hunter at heart, I wanted to set this rifle up the same way I would to hunt these wild Rocky Mountains. The Gen 2 American would be a great rifle for the kind of hunting I do, so I picked out some great accessories for it.

A Riflescope

A good hunting rifle needs a good scope. The wide open mountains where I hunt and shoot definitely need something suitable for long-range shooting. I like semi-compact scopes like 3-12X or 3-18X for my hunting rifles. But because I could, I picked a higher magnification scope. The Maven Optics RS3 is a 30mm scope with a 5-30X magnification spread, and it fit the space on the Ruger American perfectly. I used a set of Warne scope rings that set the height perfectly on the pic rail of the receiver.

A Suppressor

The radial brake on the muzzle of the Ruger American rifles works well to reduce recoil. But there are a few things I don’t like about it; for starters its way too damn loud. Aside from the noise, radial brakes often kick up dirt and debris when you shoot. Both of these issues can be addressed by adding a suppressor, and it will make you more popular among your shooting friends and women of culture.

Ruger American Gen 2 rifle, suppressor, silencer, Maven Optics — the Ruger American makes a great suppressor host

Because the Ruger American Gen 2 rifles are pretty light, I wanted to add a suppressor that would keep it that way. For that purpose I installed my Banish Backcountry suppressor, it’s lightweight titanium construction and compact size matched the Ruger handsomely.

Additional Accessories

I prefer to shoot from a supported position, so most of my rifles have a bipod installed. And this little Ruger would get the same treatment. For simplicity I installed one of my Harris 3-9 bipods, its a well-known option that I use frequently so it was an easy choice.

Because I like to shoot extensively, I also figured I would get some extra magazines for the rifle. Since Ruger did me the favor of making the American Gen 2 accept AICS magazines, I could select from a variety of options from 3 to 10 round capacity.

Ruger American Gen 2 magazine, MDT, AICS

Other than a good sling, this rifle was ready for field shooting. By pure luck I happened to visit a public range that day, something I prefer to avoid. But it gave me an easy opportunity to boresight the rifle using my tool-less method, and zeroing the rifle with just a couple shots.

Ruger American Gen 2 Rifle on the Range

With targets hung at one hundred yards, I snuggled-up behind the rifle and settled my eye through the scope. I’d already loaded the magazine with a fine selection of Hornady Precision Hunter 178 grain ammunition. I touched off the first few rounds, and made a scope adjustment to bring my impact and aim-points together. After a few more rounds, and shooting a few groups, I felt it was close enough to call for now.

First Impressions: Running the bolt on the Ruger American Gen 2 felt great, but I did notice that the very first few rounds I really had to run the bolt like I meant it. Whether it was the ejector tension or something else, it seemed to not like being pussy-footed into battery. This issue went away with additional shooting. I also found that the magazine fit quite tight, which is good for a hunting rifle, but bad when your trying to hurry up the next magazine into place. I’m sure with practice this will get better. The trigger felt great, whatever the factory setting is works just fine for my shooting needs.

ruger american gen 2, 308 winchester, ruger American generation II accuracy — one of the better groups from my testing

From there, we would venture into the high country where I spend most of my time. The snow covered mountains where deer, elk and moose wander is the best place to practice in my opinion. Practicing where I hunt helps familiarize with real world shooting, and better preps us for hunting season. And that is where we would put the little Ruger American through its testing.

Shooting long-range with the Ruger American was fantastic. Hitting 1 MOA sized targets at distances like 730 yards was easily repeatable, and brought a smile to my face. Using a drop chart I’d calculated prior allowed me to make deadly accurate shots at various real-world long-range hunting distances. From 450 yards and in, it seemed we couldn’t miss while shooting the DTM match ammunition.

Shootability

I already mentioned the little issue I had closing the bolt too slow, that issue seemed to be mostly related to break-in. The three-lug bolt of the American has a shorter bolt throw than some of its competitors, which makes it easier to run. I really liked the round bolt-knob and saw no reason to change it to something different, but it’s nice to know you can.

The new three position safety worked great, though I don’t often use them. I did think that there is a good positive click between settings, though it was also easy to think you un-safed the rifle and still have one more click to go.

Ruger American generation II, gen 2, maven optics — extraction and cartridge cycling was flawless

Ruger’s Marksman trigger felt just like I expected it to, and for a rifle at this price point I wouldn’t complain. I mentioned I don’t like blade safeties, mainly because of aesthetics, but I found this trigger and I immediately got along. It felt crisp and predictable, allowing me to shoot some pretty good groups.

The stock has a nice feel to it, the texture is nice for gripping it. And yet it seems the stock is thin enough in all the right places to get a good grip even with smaller hands. My kids were all quite comfortable behind the rifle, which is an easy test metric.

I did notice that my MDT 10 Round magazine seemed to rub the bottom of the bolt while reloading. It never interfered with operation, but perhaps another 10-round option wouldn’t rub.

Ruger American second gen, maven optics, silencer, suppressor

Reliability

It seems the second generation Ruger American continues the reliable operation established by the first generation rifle. During our testing, the rifle never malfunctioned. It fed flawlessly from the factory magazine as well as from several aftermarket mags. Cycling a variety of ammunition types without issue, with clean and smooth ejection.

I expect that long-term testing of this rifle will show continued reliability. With a rifle priced around $600 or less, you can expect there will be some plastic parts which some of us feel are less durable. However it feels like the Ruger American Gen 2 rifle has a healthy balance of good materials where it matters. And I expect this rifle will last me a long time.

Ergonomics

Ruger engineers really got it right when designing this stock. The grip angle is comfortable making the rifle easily manipulated. The grooves in the fore-end are great for holding onto the rifle, and one-handed carrying. The bolt-throw and controls of the rifle are all easily accessible and function smoothly. I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about the ergonomics.

Gen 2 Ruger American rifle, maven optics, long-range

Accuracy

Hornady 178 gr PH	Hornady Black 155 gr	DTM 175 gr Match
0.923 MOA Average	0.944 MOA Average	0.597 MOA Average

Only accurate rifles interest me, and in my experience I’ve had some very accurate Ruger rifles. You can read more about my other Ruger experiences here. The Ruger American Gen 2 fit in with my excellent past experiences, the rifle performed very well right out of the box.

The above accuracy results are a pretty good average, though there were plenty of better than average groups. I’d expect if you handloaded for this rifle it would be easy to tune them to what this rifle likes. And doing so, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this rifle shot 1/2 MOA groups regularly.

Value Proposition

I often mention my secret fascination for inexpensive rifles that shoot like very expensive rifles. This little Ruger definitely gives me those vibes, much like other Ruger rifles this one seems to punch above its weight.

You’ll have a hard time escaping the feel of a six-hundred dollar gun, but as the hits keep coming you won’t care. You really get a great functioning and sweet shooting rifle for that price. Ruger has done well in this realm of firearms, and it seems the American Gen 2 rifle has upped their game a little bit more.

With new features like the safety and trigger, the Gen 2 may or may not be worth upgrading for you. If your Gen 1 shoots good, roll with it. I do prefer the handsome looks of the second generation myself.

Recommendations

I mentioned this rifle market is incredibly competitive, for just a little more you can get some nice rifles. And there are certainly cheaper options as well. There are some great Bergara rifles that are around the same price, and bring Remington 700 compatibility which is very nice. Mossberg and Savage both make cheaper rifles that can perform well, but based on my experience with them I would choose the American over those even at their lower price. And for a hundred or two more dollars you can get into a Tikka T3, which is also a fantastic rifle.

If the cost dictates your choice then go the way you must. The Gen 1 American’s can often be had for less, as can the other brands I mentioned. If you’ve got your sights set on this rifle I can strongly recommend it.

Conclusion

The Ruger American Gen 2 rifle turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be. A great little hunting rifle with features and price that appeal to the heartland hunters of America. There are few things you’d need a bolt-action rifle for that this rifle wouldn’t do quite well. I would feel more than comfortable taking this rifle on a backcountry elk hunt here in these mountains. And that is what matters most to me; would I take it hunting.

Thanks for reading along this far, make sure to follow us for more information on this and other great firearms.

-CBM

If you like new Ruger firearms, check out this one

Mossberg Patriot 6.5 Creedmoor

May 10, 2024Product review, Shooting hardware6.5 creedmoor, mossberg, patriotcoldboremiracle

Introduction

O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been around for over a hundred years now, crafting firearms for American hunters and shooters. Being a bit of a rifle enthusiast I never had much experience with Mossberg firearms as they were mostly shotguns. I do remember my little brother knocking ducks out of the sky with his Mossberg Model 500 though. Today we are looking at something relatively new from the Connecticut based manufacturer. The Patriot series of rifles has already been around for years, today we are going to have a look at the basic Mossberg Patriot Synthetic rifle chambered in 6.5 .Creedmoor.

Continue reading here

The Patriot came to me already configured from the vendor with a Vortex 3-9 scope already mounted. Not sure if they did it right or not, but it seemed to function as designed so I ran with it. It appeared to be the exact combination you might pick up from your local sporting goods retailer. It’s a simple rifle that retails for under $400.

Mossberg Patriot

A good trigger is always a welcome feature, and the Patriot trigger feels pretty good

A 100 yards group

Check out this other Mossberg Patriot that I like much more

-CBM