MRD, I am no long time expert into Benchrest shooting. Now with that said I do have opionions based on facts as I know them. I have taken a hard and long look at almost all of the 6.5 Cartridges. My research says it is a very accurate family, but with some draw backs. Number one drawback in some 6.5 like the 6.5-.284 and the 6.5-06 is barrel life. From what I have learned in both of the above mentioned cartridges it looks like a guy could count on a 1,000 rounds (or So) of competition shooting before you need to replace that tube. It appears that that doesn't hold true with the 6.5 Creedmoor, it apppears to have a much longer barrel life. For as I shoot a LOT that is a big deal.
I have had the pleasure of shooting only one 6.5 Creedmoor. It was very accurate at 1,000 yds and the owner has one many local matches shooting this rifle. From my reading the idea of the 6.5 Creedmoor was Hornady's wish to bring to the line a competitive "Long Range" cartiridge that could shoot and win with Factory ammo. It looks like they succeded in that goal at least from my reading manly becuase of the excellent high 6.5 BC bullets we have to choose from, actually as "ALL" 6.5 shooters have to choose from no matter the cartiridge. As an example the Factory loaded Hornady with a A-Max 140 gr. bullet is loaded with H4350 and a Federal 210M Match primer. That information was easy to find as Hornady prints the load right on the Factory Ammo box. the Hornady 140 gr A-Max has I blieve a G1 BC of .585 Thats not a bad start.
I look forward to reading others comments on the 6.5 Creedmoor. I am right now building a new Long Range Rifle it is going to be chambered in 6mm Dasher, however I also bought a second Broughton Barrel in 6.5 to make this new rifle a switch barrel gun. The second chambering is going to be the 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle is being built around a Drop Port Defiance Action with a Jewell 2 oz trigger, both barrels are Broughton and both are going to finish at 30". Then I will see what there is to see about the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Roland