Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor: models, barrels and loads

The Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor is our most-stocked combination, with 29 versions in stock. That’s no accident. The 6.5 Creedmoor is mild to shoot and accurate, and it works for deer as well as long-range steel. Here’s how to pick the right Howa 6.5 Creedmoor for you.

Why the 6.5 Creedmoor fits the Howa 1500

Hornady introduced the 6.5 Creedmoor in 2007 as a match round. It fires long, high-BC bullets that hold speed and resist wind, and it recoils noticeably less than a 308. The 1:8 twist on Howa’s 6.5 Creedmoor barrels stabilizes the 140 and 147 grain match bullets as well as lighter hunting bullets. The 6.5 Creedmoor history is worth a read.

Every Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor model we stock

• Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor, $499: Italian walnut, 22-inch barrel.
• Hogue 6.5 Creedmoor, $518: the everyday hunting rifle in a black OverMolded stock.
• Gamepro 2 6.5 Creedmoor, $676: Hogue stock plus a 3.5-10×44 scope.
• Fence Line 6.5 Creedmoor, $604: Cerakote, camo and a brake.
• Hera H7 6.5 Creedmoor, $754: polymer chassis, 22-inch barrel, also in 24-inch and carbon.
• Superlite Gen2 6.5 Creedmoor, $977: 4.9 lb mountain rifle.
• TSP X 6.5 Creedmoor, $1,224, and the APC 6.5 Creedmoor, $1,498: chassis rifles with 4-16×50 scopes.

Howa 1500 Hogue 6.5 Creedmoor$518Howa Hera H7 6.5 Creedmoor 24 Inch Black$819Howa Fence Line 6.5 Creedmoor Prairie Reaper$604Howa APC 6.5 Creedmoor Carbon With Diamond 4-16×50 Scope$1,735

Howa 6.5 Creedmoor barrel length: 20, 22 or 24 inches?

A 22-inch barrel is the sweet spot for most hunters. The 20-inch Superlite gives up a little velocity for a handier rifle, and the 16.25-inch scoped Superlite is the pick for suppressed or truck use. A 24-inch barrel, like the Hera H7 24-inch and the APC, gets the most speed out of the cartridge, which helps past 600 yards.

Ammo for the Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor

For deer, use a controlled-expansion bullet around 120 to 143 grains. For targets, 140 to 147 grain match loads are standard. Try two or three loads and buy more of the one that groups best. Factory ammo is built to SAAMI dimensions; see the ANSI/SAAMI standards for the details.

Picking a scope for your Howa 6.5 Creedmoor

For hunting inside 400 yards, a 3-9x or 3.5-10x scope is plenty, and it keeps the rifle light. If you plan to shoot steel at 600 to 1,000 yards, a 4-16x or 5-25x with turrets you can dial makes more sense. Several of our rifles skip the decision: the Gamepro 2 comes with a 3.5-10×44 and the APC with a Diamond 4-16×50.

Whatever you choose, zero it at 100 yards, then shoot at the distances you plan to hunt and write down where the bullet lands. That card will be worth more than any app in the field.

6.5 Creedmoor or 308 in a Howa?

Both are excellent. The 6.5 Creedmoor recoils less and drifts less in the wind; the 308 has heavier bullet options and ammo is everywhere. If you can’t decide, compare our Howa 6.5 Creedmoor rifles with the Howa 308 rifles side by side.

Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor FAQ