Scope recommendation for 6.5 Creedmore

[jbisdlov]

Just got a Christensen Arms Mesa 6.5 Creedmore and I’m looking for ideas on riflescope. I’m going to be using this gun mostly for sheep. I’d like to keep it under $1500. I’ve read a lot of articles but I can’t make up my mind. Appreciate any info

[Harpoon1]

I just mentioned this scope on a previous thread! “Sheep rifle”, “Christensen Arms” suggests somewhat long range and a very “lightweight” rifle, at least to me.

Given your price limit, the Vortex Razor HD LHT FFP 4.5-22x50 is hard to beat! You pick MOA or MIL reticle!

Too be fair, everybody's eyes are different and respond differently to different coatings.

Less than 22 oz! High end Japanese glass with the latest coatings, 50mm objective, FFP, decent reticle, plus the Vortex Warranty! Less than $1600 on the street.

Long review……..

https://youtu.be/4DseS8h6dsc

Shorter version………..

https://youtu.be/kZ1-m8UsJY4

Good luck to you, picking a scope and on your hunt! Sheep hunting has to be the most rewarding hunting there is! Spectacularly beautiful animals and supposedly world class table fare! cool: I’m envious!

[lazyengineer]

I guess the first question, even before budget, is what is your intended usage? 1200 yard gong shooting? 1000 yard PRS? hunting at 500 yards? Hunting at 200 yards? Hunting with ability to both hit game from a blind at 600 yards, but also hit game while on foot at 50 yards?

Scope selection will change drastically depending on the answer

[Harpoon1]

I guess the first question, even before budget, is what is your intended usage? 1200 yard gong shooting? 1000 yard PRS? hunting at 500 yards? Hunting at 200 yards? Hunting with ability to both hit game from a blind at 600 yards, but also hit game while on foot at 50 yards?

Scope selection will change drastically depending on the answer

The Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 will be right at home doing all of that, easily! From 25 yds, to a “mile”! Got it covered. And it weighs less than 22 oz!

[karaRobert]

I've tried these Leupold 6x, Vortex HD LH 1.5-8x32, and Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 on my Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 Creedmoor. The SHV is back on and staying on.
Also i'd like to say the 3-10 ShV or the 2.5-10 NXS is perfect here for a Creedmoor and 500 yard shots and in on game. I have both and run the 2.5-10 on my ridgeline in 6.5CM

[lazyengineer]

The Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 will be right at home doing all of that, easily! From 25 yds, to a “mile”! Got it covered. And it weighs less than 22 oz!

Can't say I really agree. 4X is too high for snap-shooting CQB, and if it's FFP the reticle is likely all but invisible turned down from 22x down to 4x. In my experience, the best general purpose scope do-all is the Primary Arms 2.5-10x GLX with Griffin reticle; as this reticle is designed to have a large visible ring at 2.5X for snap shooting CQB at close range, and 2.5x is low enough for fast acquisition. My experiments with 4X didn't go nearly as well. And at 10X, it's a long range rifle with a nice Christmas Tree Mill dot. 10X is plenty of power to shoot 1000 yards with. However, at 22oz, even that might be too heavy for some missions.

[Klem]

10X is plenty of power to shoot 1000 yards with.

Mmm, unless you are shooting a big, big target and near enough is good enough, then 20X is the bare minimum for 1K yds.

Real close shooting (indoor) is 1-3X, but you can always rely on lasers and lights to help.

Hunting, 4-6X, maybe higher if static varmint.

[Harpoon1]

Can't say I really agree. 4X is too high for snap-shooting CQB, and if it's FFP the reticle is likely all but invisible turned down from 22x down to 4x. In my experience, the best general purpose scope do-all is the Primary Arms 2.5-10x GLX with Griffin reticle; as this reticle is designed to have a large visible ring at 2.5X for snap shooting CQB at close range, and 2.5x is low enough for fast acquisition. My experiments with 4X didn't go nearly as well. And at 10X, it's a long range rifle with a nice Christmas Tree Mill dot. 10X is plenty of power to shoot 1000 yards with. However, at 22oz, even that might be too heavy for some missions.

Ok, well, respectfully, I don’t want you to “agree”! I seriously doubt he’s gonna be doing a lot of “snap-shooting CQB” while sheep hunting with a bolt action 6.5 Creedmoor! Just saying……..

And fwiw, they (Vortex) designed this FFP reticle in the Razor HD, so it looks just like your typical old school “duplex” reticle at the lower powers. Still completely functional, 100%, cranked down, at close range. And where most people wouldn’t “need” the “Christmas tree” part of the reticle for holdover. YMMV. Too be fair, I have “NOT”
looked though a PA 2.5x10 Griffin either……..full disclosure!

While I also like the ACSS CQB reticles in general, and in fact own several iterations, and I find them the most useful on the AR platform. It would be my last choice for a bolt action “sheep hunting 6.5 Creedmoor”. However…… “To each, his own”!

[BlogSarge]

Over on Eurooptic they have a nice selection of Trijicon closeout scopes. I just snagged up a 3-18x Tenmile HX for $750.

Definitely worth checking out.

[Harpoon1]

Sweet. Thanks!

Love me “some close out”!

[Scouttracker]

I love my Trijicon Accupoint 2.5x10x56. Clear,
Bright in low light.

[Sinclair]

Asking for a friend, he bought a 6.5 Creedmore just before the outbreak of Covid. Like so many small business people in small town USA, he was hit hard by the shutdowns. He is ready to get the rifle out and pursue his dream of shooting at and beyond 1000 yds. Please recommend a suitable rifle scope. Please be specific.

Thank you for your suggestions.

[Klem]

Sinclair,

For 1K yards you pay to play, so these are not budget recommendations.

For non-tactical I would recommend a Nightforce Competition 15-55x52mm. It's a fantastic value-for-money, long range scope with all the confidence of it being a bench rest favorite. Another value-for-money but more tactical scope with slightly less top end is the NXS 8-32x56.

More expensive is the NF 7-35x56 ATACR (tactical/practical). I would not recommend their BEAST as it is more pricey with a lower 25x top end.

The other brand I would recommend is March. Plenty to choose from there up to 80x magnification. For 1K yds any reputable, repeatable scope with bare min 20x, preferably up towards 40x, or even more at the top end. I used to shoot 1Kyds F Class with a Leupold 20x but that was at big targets designed for aperture sights.

Second focal plane for fine reticles. He will not be hunting game so no need to judge distance at any magnification using the reticle. At that range he'll have other aids like known distance at ranges, or lasers and maps.

[Sinclair]

Klem, thank you for the suggestions. I knew that you would have some good advice. I will see him this coming Friday, 5th Aug, and will give to him your recommendations at that time.