Best 6.5 Creedmoor Build Kits – Reviews And Buyer’s Guide

Hate it or love it, the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is here to stay – and if you plan on using it, you might want to consider a truly personalized shooting experience via your own build. Although the utilization of the standard AR10 style platform is what you are gunning for (pun intended), you are more likely to find better luck with upper and lower kits designed as the LR308 – a more universal, widely available, and compatible fit option. 

We’ve compiled some of the best 6.5 Creedmoor build kits for your consideration, and to help you narrow down your choices for getting the most out of your favorite caliber round. 

Comparison Table of The 5 Best 6.5 Creedmoor Build Kits

Understanding the LR308 vs AR-10

The 6.5 CM was built for long range competition accuracy and serves well for medium game hunting. Designed originally as an answer to the need for a high energy load with a low recoil, it has moved from wildcat cartridge category to common and accessible as its popularity has grown. 

Because it was created as a modified .30 cal round, it is most comparable to the .308 Win, and is shot best through an AR-10 style rifle – EXCEPT, what most people think is an AR-10 is more commonly a DPMS LR308. After the original Armalite patent expired it opened the door to other firearm manufacturers to develop their own based off the original, and the DPMS design has become the Universal Mil-Spec leader that is what many people are unknowingly in possession of. 

DPMS compatible parts are compatible across many brands, and provide a ton of interchangeability, whereas true Armalite parts are proprietary to their own. Some brands also create proprietary compatibility as well between upper and lower kits, so always be sure to check before committing to the purchase. 

Types of Build Kits

If you can score a deal on both the upper and lower as a complete kit to ensure compatibility, that is great, but you still have to put together both receivers for a finished build. 

Upper Receiver Kit

The upper is the bulk of the firearm, but cannot fire without the lower – therefore, is not as regulated as the lower (which is considered the actual “firearm” due to the firing mechanism). It contains, amongst other things, the barrel, handguard, gas block and tube, bolt carrier group, charging handle, forward assist (if included), and the rail system set-up for accessory addition. 

An important note you need to be aware of when looking to build your upper: the 6.5 cartridge is designed to fire out of an AR-10 or LR308 with a 6.5 CM barrel – which is designed to be a drop-in option for easy conversion. Many complete builds may come with a barrel, but be aware that for a .308 Win, you are required to purchase the barrel separately. Most uppers are complete as well due to the simplicity of the overall design, but are incredibly easy to customize and modify. 

Lower Receiver Kit

The lower, as mentioned, is the “firing” portion of the rifle, and includes the serial number as it is considered the actual gun. This kit will typically contain the trigger group, magazine release, buffer tube, safety selector, buttstock, and grip. 

What Skills Do I Need Before Building?

Putting together your own buildisn’t an easy task, and at the very least you should have the basic skills of recognizing and knowing what each part does, and how it operates. Basic gunsmithing skills are a must, and you may want to know a local gunsmith for backup and help should the need arise. 

Luckily, most build kits are well designed and provide good step by step guides to the parts and their placement, but your own knowledge must be up to par. You’ll also need to supply much of your own basic tools, such as Allen and regular wrenches, and various screwdrivers. 

6.5 Creedmoor Building Kit Buyer’s Guide

Once you get looking, you are going to find quite a few different options from which to choose. As mentioned, the true Armalite, AR-10 is very proprietary in how parts match up, so it is best to stick to the same brand and what they suggest. Your most affordable, and easiest to piece together are DPMS compatible parts and will provide you easy-to-match parts for the life of your weapon whenever you want to upgrade or replace a component. Keep in mind some gun manufacturers have their own proprietary fits as well in relation to upper and lower compatibility, although they can generally accept other DPMS parts with ease. 

Watch for What Parts are Included

Just because something is labeled as a kit, doesn’t mean it automatically has everything you need, and may simply be a partial collection of specific parts. Be sure to know what you need for either a complete or partial build. There are many kits specific to modification of existing rifles as well, which is often a great starting point for beginners. 

Check Brand Names

Be sure to get trusted gun manufacturing brands that offer warranties and parts support. It is tempting to take advantage of off brand and inexpensive names, but a good supplier will be transparent in parts materials, where they are made, and what they offer you for a guarantee and customer satisfaction. 

Pay Attention to Compatibility

Another tempting habit is to shop across brands to find the best bang for your buck. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with doing so, but if you are new to this and the overall terminology – you could end up with parts that won’t fit together. Watch for parts compatibility and proprietorship to ensure you don’t waste your money. 

Watch the Price Point

Just because the best advice I can give is to stick with tried and true brands and companies that offer transparency doesn’t mean there aren’t some great budget friendly kits out there! Shop around, make lists, and don’t be afraid to ask questions of the company and even a gunsmith to get the best quality deal. 

Our Top 6.5 Creedmoor Build Kit Picks for You to Consider

The following build kit picks are some of the best quality for the price available through dependable parts manufacturers. Some of these do offer proprietary materials, so keep that in mind, but they also provide a wide range of options to choose from for both upper and lower receiver needs. 

This is a complete lower kit for rebuild or a new 308 compatible AR rifle in the DPMS LR-308 pattern. It is a high-quality choice made from durable materials to ensure smooth operation, and to make the build even easier, the parts are color-coded in bags for proper placement and organization – making it ideal for the beginner builder.

A molded-polymer A2 pistol grip and Mil-Spec trigger is included to provide a convenient, and conventional single-stage service rifle pull – weighing in between 6 and 6.5 pounds. This is a complete kit and includes everything needed, such as all the main parts, pins, springs, detent, and screws 

If you love the look of a stripped AR platform rifle, Palmetto State Armory creates excellent build kits that are proprietary to the manufacturer’s specs to ensure a good fit each and every time when building from the ground up. Called the PA-10, this is a lower that is designed to work with your choice of PA-10 upper and caliber type. 

Everything you need is included and is complete with a Fire Control Group, Buffer Tube Assembly, Takedown and Pivot Pin Assembly, Bolt Catch Assembly, Magazine Catch Assembly, and Safety Selector Assembly. A Magpul MOE grip and stock is also included, as well as a six-position, 7075-T6, PA-15 buffer tube. All front and rear pins, springs, and detents are part of the package. 

Palmetto State Armory truly does offer an awesome range of build kits since this is their specialty. Although many other kits, partial and complete, do exist – they don’t always offer all of what PSA does since this is a major focus of the manufacturer. Take this classic lower parts kit for the AR10 platform design that is proprietary to their own upper and lower receivers.

The PSA PA10 Classic includes the Fire Control Group, Magazine Catch Assembly, Front and Rear Takedown Pins, Springs, and Detents; PA10 Bolt Catch Assembly, Safety Selector Assembly, and Grip Assembly. It is less the buffer tube assembly to provide you the choice of your own for further firearm customization. 

Since all you need for a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle conversion is the barrel and sometimes the bolt carrier group for a more customized shooting experience, you won’t often find an upper build kit specific to the 6.5 Creedmoor. Rather, you will find an AR10 or LR308 complete upper that will easily convert that build to what you want. 

This stainless steel barrel and BCG combo is the kit conversion you need to make this happen. The perks of doing it this way provides you the opportunity to have a rifle that will shoot 2 different calibers with a quick barrel change. This kit includes a 20 inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel with a 1:8 inch twist rate; and the rifle length, full-auto capable BCG. 

This is one of the few full build kits you can find specific to the 6.5 Creedmoor that includes the lower and upper, complete with a 20-inch stainless steel barrel and rifle length bolt carrier group. The Gen3 model is the best of the PA65 platform made by PSA. Enhanced durability and improved function is the stand out feature. A black nitride stainless gas tube resists high heat and corrosion, maintains the glassy black finish for awesome aesthetics. 

The dimpled barrel makes gas block replacement easy, and the included click switch 5-position adjustable gas block is perfect for specific load tuning. A 7075 T6 charging handle is included, as well as a free-float, anti-slip, and anti-rotation handguard. The bolt carrier group is designed with double ejectors for flawless cycling, adding to your overall experience while shooting. 

Conclusion

Building your own AR-style rifles can take a lot of work to piece together the parts you want for the most customizable experience, which is why starting with a kit can provide you all you need to get started. A 6.5 Creedmoor is a popular platform and is enhanced by your own modifications which can start with the build. 

The quality options highlighted here are a great place to see which type of kit is best for your needs since they provide a durable design, top-notch materials, and great finishes for whatever you are looking for.  

We’d love to hear what feedback you may have on these options, so please leave a comment below. And, as always, please share.