Browning X-Bolt 6.5 Creedmoor, Synthetic, Stalker

The 6.5 Creedmoor was introduced by Hornady in 2008. Uniquely, it was designed for accuracy with long-range competition in mind. Using a 308 Winchester (30 TC, 300 Savage) case shortened to 1.920 inches, it will feed through the shortest existing bolt actions, but remains supersonic to well beyond 1000 yards. Standard velocity is a 140-grain .264-inch bullet at 2820 fps, also making it an effective but mild-recoiling medium-range hunting cartridge. The 6.5 Creedmoor was introduced with little fanfare, but after it started winning matches shooters took notice. This is an unusual phenomenon for a cartridge to suddenly "take off" years after its introduction, but that's the story of the 6.5 Creedmoor--after about 2016 it became one of the most-talked-about cartridges, with both rifle and ammunition offerings expanding rapidly. — Craig Boddington