The cat got let out of the bag this morning, and some of you are still processing what is 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak while others might be hearing it for the first time. This isn’t just another magnum. It’s not someone simply stuffing too much powder into a case and making a dangerous hot load. Federal really went into the lab on this one to make a scorching fast version of the 6.5 Creedmoor that is actually safe to shoot out of your normal 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. Let’s dive in to see if the hype is real, or if this is something you will want to pass on.
Federal @ TFB:
Federal 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak – Features and Benefits
This new cartridge is compatible with most 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. You can visit HERE for a list of supporting rifle manufacturers. As I alluded to earlier, a madman from the Federal factory floor didn’t just jam a bunch of powder into a 6.5 Creedmoor and call it a day. There is a lot more going on here than that. In fact, it is quite a lot! Federal expands on all of the selling points in this list of features and benefits listed below:
- Peak Alloy case technology allows higher pressures for faster velocities and better overall ballistic performance
- 300 FPS faster than conventional brass case 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition
- 100 FPS faster than 6.5 PRC through existing 6.5 Creedmoor rifles
- Same velocity as a 24” barrel 6.5 PRC when fired through a 20” barrel
- Maximizes ballistic performance through shorter barrels
- High BC, heavier-for-caliber bullets minimize drop and drift for longer effective range
- More power provides ample energy and terminal performance for bigger game like elk
- Excellent for long-range target shooting and competition
A Word from Federal on the New 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Round
Get the ballistic leap of an all-new cartridge from a rifle that’s already in your safe. Federal’s new 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak is a high-performance version of the proven 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge that uses patented Peak Alloy™ case technology to boost velocities 300 fps over standard 6.5 Creedmoor and offer 100 fps over 6.5 PRC. Compatible with 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, with more energy, higher velocities, less drop, and longer effective range. Make the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge what it was always meant to be and rethink the very nature of ammunition.
What’s the Upsell? What’s the 30-Second Elevator Pitch?
So, what’s the upsell? What’s the metaphorical and literal 30-second elevator pitch? For the 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammunition, you’re looking at several prominent traits that might tip the scale in favor of this new round as opposed to other 6.5 cartridges at a similar price-point.
- 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak is Reloadable – Federal is planning to offer first-run unprimed cases for handloaders
- 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak can be fired in my existing 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles – Federal’s testing has shown 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak operates in a variety of 6.5 Creedmoor firearm platforms: bolt-action, lever-action, and semi-auto.
- Peak Alloy Casings are less susceptible to Rust or Corrosion – Peak Alloy cases feature durable nickel plating that protects against corrosion and rust and provides next-level protection from the elements.
Range Experience – Federal 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak
So, what was 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak like on the firing line? I headed to my favorite gun range in Minnesota to put this ammo through its paces, and that is F5 Range. Small plug for the owner, Josh… I’ve taken medical, pistol, long-range, and 2-gun classes at his facility as well as rented machine guns that’ll make any grown man giggle. If you want a rad time, hit him up.
The ammo out of the box was shiny, smooth, and slick. I say those things positively because an attribute about Peak Alloy casings is they have a higher lubricity. So, they pop into your magazines easier, feed better into a chamber, and simply have an aura of quality about them. The fit and finish on this ammo is clean
Recoil – Suppressed and Un-Suppressed
I only had one box of engineering samples (20 rounds) to get an experience with this new cartridge before the launch date. So, the ammo I fired was as pre-production as pre-production gets. I’m not making excuses for anything I’m about to say. I’m simply setting the stage and being as transparent as possible.
The recoil for the 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak with a standard muzzle brake on my Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint felt pretty sharp (for 6.5 Creedmoor standards). The recoil felt like an actual 6.5 PRC as opposed to the 6.5 Creedmoor that it was supposed to be.
Conversely, when I fired 10 rounds of the 20 with a Dead Air Nomad 30 silencer attached, I could not tell the difference. Meaning, I had no clue this was 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammo. It felt like normal, suppressed 6.5 Creedmoor.
Velocity – Chronograph Data
To test the velocity of this new and to see if it is as scintillating as Federal advertises it to be, I fired 10 rounds un-suppressed (factory muzzle brake) and 10 rounds suppressed (noise tamed by my Nomad 30). For the un-suppressed rounds, my data looked like this:
- Average Velocity: 3,101.6 FPS
- Slowest: 3,073.8 FPS
- Fastest: 3,122.4 FPS
This ammunition – 130 Grain Terminal Ascent – should have been at 3,100 FPS and my average was 3,101.6 FPS. So, it was spot on. To follow that up, I then fired 10 rounds suppressed with my data coming back like this:
- Average Velocity: 3,110.7 FPS
- Slowest: 3,086.9 FPS
- Fastest: 3,134.5 FPS
Again, the data we confirmed was spot on. Our average suppressed was 3,110.7 FPS. Maybe the ammo was 10 FPS faster with a silencer. Or, it could have been that my rifle heated up shooting 20 rounds in 80°F heat. I would lean towards my gun heating up a bit because our “slowest” and “fastest” velocities reported were also ~12 FPS faster as well, loosely.
Final Thoughts
So, what are my final thoughts on Federal’s 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammunition?… Overall, it does everything Federal advertises that it should. The only two tests that remain are raw accuracy testing (which we didn’t perform because these were very raw engineering samples) and placing an ethical, humane shot on wild game. As more ammo becomes available and hunting seasons open up this fall, I should be able to follow up on one of our sister-websites like AllOutdoor.com or OutdoorHub.com to give a secondary review of accuracy and hunting. For now, I am impressed. Federal’s 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak is fast, flat, and a hard-hitter. Any miniscule complaints I’ve ever had about my 6.5 Creedmoor are remedied by 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammo.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Federal for allowing The Firearm Blog and myself the opportunity to try out their new 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammunition. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think?
Do you believe that the 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammunition is something worth spending your money on? Would you potentially deploy it to shoot a league or competition? Use it for a future hunt? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Federal and their new 6.5 Creedmoor + Peak ammunition in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback and engagement.
