MoD bans 6.5 Creedmoor ammo on Salisbury Plain

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which is responsible for safety on all Ministry of Defence (MoD) ranges, has banned the use of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition on Salisbury Plain. 

The ban appears to have been imposed for safety reasons. The chambering of 6.5 Creedmoor is believed to exceed the necessary safety template of 7.62mm/.308 Win by enough of a margin to be deemed unsafe for use on fixed firing ranges (FFRs). Currently this ban only covers Salisbury Plain, but it is likely to be rolled out across all MoD training areas where FFRs are used by civilian clubs. 

The National Rifle Association (NRA) says it is working with DIO to better understand the restrictions, and any broader implications for civilian users of MoD ranges elsewhere in the UK. 

Former RAF officer and stalking outfitter Chris Dalton advocates 6.5 Creedmoor as a deerstalking calibre. He told ST: ‘’I am rather puzzled as to the reason for this [ban], but it does have some potentially far-reaching consequences: it is even more surprising as I am led to believe that the Royal Marines have chosen this calibre for their new battle rifles — I wonder where they will practise if this is rolled out?”