The whole story... My Custom 6.5 Creedmoor from Mesa Precision

[MarkTheFark]

My rifle opener was soaking wet in Missouri and I did some still-hunting in the hardwoods. Although I built this rifle for backpack hunts in the mountains, it is also handles really well for this type of hunting...

 

[BAKPAKR]

What are you thinking about swapping the Vortex for?

 

[MarkTheFark]

What are you thinking about swapping the Vortex for?

I like the LHT and had it on-hand, which is why I'm using on this rifle. The initial scope I had in mind for this rifle is the NF NXS 2.5-10.

 

[duckhunter175]

@Mark @ Exo any updates on how your season went with this rifle and scope combo??

Which height rings did you go with for the LHT?? I just ordered the 50mm MOA version from Euro Optic and can't wait to try it out.

 

[MarkTheFark]

@Mark @ Exo any updates on how your season went with this rifle and scope combo??

Which height rings did you go with for the LHT?? I just ordered the 50mm MOA version from Euro Optic and can't wait to try it out.

I like the LHT a lot, but don't absolutely love it. My quest for my perfect hunting scope continues. Between the LHT, VX-5HD and the Conquest V4, which are all very good, the Zeiss is currently at the top for me.

The LHT was clear, return-to-zero was great, and I like the function of the turrets (pull up to adjust, push down to lock). The relief wasn't bad, but wasn't great. My main gripe was some bleeding of the illuminated reticle.

 

[MarkTheFark]

Swapped to my VX-5HD today. Quick zero at 100, then some rung some steel at 750. Really impressed with how consistent this shoots for the lightweight and my mediocre skill...

(One shot hit the bolt, creating that "arc" of splatter just above it.)

 

[Jakeweb09]

Perks of working for exo..an exo silencer cover lol

 

[duckhunter175]

Swapped to my VX-5HD today. Quick zero at 100, then some rung some steel at 750. Really impressed with how consistent this shoots for the lightweight and my mediocre skill...

View attachment 238332
(One shot hit the bolt, creating that "arc" of splatter just above it.)

Which Leupold reticle did you go with? I think the VX5HD is a great value and had great luck with my Duplex and Impact 29-- wanted the same magnification range but illumination, a larger obj and the LHT reticle seems like a good hunting choice.

 

[MarkTheFark]

Which Leupold reticle did you go with? I think the VX5HD is a great value and had great luck with my Duplex and Impact 29-- wanted the same magnification range but illumination, a larger obj and the LHT reticle seems like a good hunting choice.

I think the 50mm LHT is a good choice for what you are wanting. I actually prefer the LHT turret system over the VX5 as well.

I have the Windplex reticle on the VX5. Been using it for years and really like the simplicity for a hunting scope.

The LHT reticle is fine, but I just don't use reticle elevation holds on a 2FP scope much.

 

[MarkTheFark]

Started playing with the 129g Absolute Hammers in this rifle today. I haven't seen anyone run the 129s in a 6.5 Creed yet, and that makes sense, given that the point of Absolutes are to run lighter and faster, and also that the 129s have a minimum twist of 1:7.5, which is faster than most Creeds out there.

That said, given that I have the 1:7.5, I thought it'd be interested to find out what they did. First though, I shot a baseline 3-shot group with my "normal" load of 40.2g Varget behind the 124 Hammer Hunter. It happened to be my best group yet at .18 MOA

For the Absolute Hammers I loaded a 10-round ladder with Varget, and another 10-round Ladder with BL-C(2)...

VARGET

• 38.5g, 2709
• 39.0g, 2748
• 39.5g, 2804
• 40.0g, 2814
• 40.5g, 2850
• 41.0g, 2886
• 41.5g, 2925
• 42.0g, 2950
• 42.5g, 2973
• 43.0g, 2999

BL-C(2)

• 39.5g, 2661
• 40.0g, 2700
• 40.5g, 2730
• 41.0g, 2756
• 41.5g, 2810
• 42.0g, 2874
• 42.5g, 2895
• 43.0g, 2940
• 43.5g, 2983
• 44.0g, 3007

No pressure signs at the top of either ladder. Bolt lift was good, primers and brass look good.

The idea of running a 129g mono at 3000+ FPS out of a 20" Creed has me excited. I'll be sure to share more when I get some final load data and group validation put together.