6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor)
Backcountry Hunting Podcast
Joseph von Benedikt
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2026
⏱️ 58 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Which is better: 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x55 "Swede?" Ever since it was first introduced, savvy shooters have been commenting that the 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't do anything better than their classic 6.5x55. Is this true? Could the 6.5x55 even be (GASP!) better than the 6.5 Creedmoor? Or do the modern characteristics of the 6.5 Creedmoor provide additional performance that's launched the 6.5mm cartridge to stardom?
In this episode, we take a candid look at both cartridges, and consider the pros and cons of each within it's respective performance zone. Take a listen, and then YOU decide which is better. ENJOY!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Folks, the 6.5 Creedmoor is absolutely the single most popular 6.5 caliber cartridge that has |
| 0:07.5 | ever come down the pipeline, especially in America. But is it really the best? We're here to |
| 0:14.1 | discuss that today. And challenging its claim to fame as the best 6-5 cartridge ever designed is a legendary old classic. |
| 0:24.0 | The 6-5 by 55, often colloquially termed, yeah, I barely got that word out right. |
| 0:31.9 | The 6-5 Swede, this cartridge was designed in 1892. |
| 0:37.3 | Now, it doesn't actually officially wear the 6-5 Swede name from the very beginning, |
| 0:42.9 | but the term has come to be so ubiquitously used with the cartridge that even the Sammy |
| 0:48.5 | guidelines for pressure and loading it and so forth, rifling, twist, right, all those things, |
| 0:54.5 | have at least once published the data for this cartridge as the 6-5 Swede. |
| 0:59.2 | So I'm going to call it that. |
| 1:01.0 | Most folks call it that. |
| 1:02.5 | No disrespect meant to the Norwegians, who, if my history doesn't fail me, actually |
| 1:10.4 | had a greater part in designing this cartridge than the Swedes, |
| 1:14.6 | but all that's kind of beside the point. |
| 1:17.2 | There's a lot of fun history to be found with this cartridge if you do a little digging. |
| 1:22.1 | But what we're here to talk about today is in terms of performance, can it does it, actually still outperform the 6-5 Creedmoor. |
| 1:32.6 | So, got lots of notes, got a computer going, got some, what do you call these? |
| 1:38.9 | Well, I'm going to call them exam. |
| 1:40.3 | Visual aids, that's what they're called on the desk here with me, for those who are going to be viewing this on YouTube, |
| 1:48.5 | I've got a shammy skull that I took last week. |
| 1:53.5 | And yes, I already have it home. |
| 1:55.9 | Took it last week in New Zealand with a 65 by 55 cartridge. |
... |
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