long and lean or short and stubby?

[lsm62]

looking to do a 6.5 creedmoor build and am looking for input in barrel length.

should i go with a 24in .875 or a 20 in .900?
both are about the same in weight with the shorter being .3lbs lighter.

looking for sub moa accuracy out to 800yd and moa to moa+1/2 at 1200 or 1400.

barreled action will be switched between two stocks, one light for hunting and 1 heavy for prone target shooting.

thanks for your help
lsm62

 

[ddavis]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

Mine is a 21" Medium Palma. If I could do it again, I would go 21-22" Light Palma.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I have a 260 with a 24 inch heavy palma and love it, my next one will be 20" plus brake in a medium palma.

 

[TRAAV]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I like short fat ones over tall and skinny.

 

[ranger1183]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

Shorter makes it a lot easier to pack around. With the six-fives, you will loose some velocity with every inch you cut back. But how much do you really need to get your job done? I'm not sure how much energy and velocity you will have left if your goal is to shoot 1400 yards with a 20 inch Creedmoor.

 

[excess]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I'd go 24 if you truly plan on shooting it to 1400. My Creedmoor is 24" Bartlein Tubb contour.

 

[fishdog]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

short and thick makes it a bit handier imo

 

[SPfeiffer]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I was wanting a 22 inch on my 260 just to be in between not short like a 20 and not long like a 24 but after looking at the benefits I am going with a 24 just to get the extra horsepower and faster bullet

 

[raider1v1]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

id say since you are looking for the long range accuracy, the extra FPS will help with the length. id go longer.

 

[lsm62]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I should probably add that i am not a big guy. About 150 and just under 6 foot. I would like to get more into unsupported shooting and think the shorter barrel would be more applicable. But the extra velocity always helps.

 

[dk-1]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

I just went through the same dilemna... I went with a #18 Krieger (light Varmint, very close to M40 contour) finished with 5/8x24 threads at 23". I was going to go 22" but didn't want to give up that extra 20-30 FPS :-0

You could always have a heavier contoured barrel fluted.

 

[dk-1]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

FWIW, my shooting partner built an identical rifle, one week apart from mine with the same smith, barrel, reamer, and he is pushing 140 VLD's behind RL17 with no pressure signs at 2650... With a 20" tube!! I have yet to start load developement as I'm still doing some finish work to the rifle.

 

[turbo54]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lsm62</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I should probably add that i am not a big guy. About 150 and just under 6 foot. I would like to get more into unsupported shooting and think the shorter barrel would be more applicable. But the extra velocity always helps. </div></div>

I had a 26" M40 on my rifle and switched to a 28" Palma. The rifle is now lighter, balances better, and has better velocity with less pressure.

In use, the weight matters a lot regardless of balance. The length matters little. My only complaint with my long wang rifle is trails with low branches and doorways when it's in my pack.

 

[Swift]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lsm62</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I should probably add that i am not a big guy. About 150 and just under 6 foot. I would like to get more into unsupported shooting and think the shorter barrel would be more applicable. But the extra velocity always helps. </div></div>

You just answered your own question. If positional is important, you have to make that compromise on downrange velocity and go with a shorter barrel; keeping weight off the front will reduce shooter fatigue and increase accuracy(your physical stature is negligible, it's all technique). You can't have your cake... so determine which is more important to you.

 

[cwatson308]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

shortie vote here. but a 22-24 gives you that little extra needed to remain super sonic out there.

 

[Swift]

Re: long and lean or short and stubby?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cwatson308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">shortie vote here. but a 22-24 gives you that little extra needed to remain super sonic out there. </div></div>

Says the guy who just took delivery of an 18.5" Gladius haha

The shorter the better. Unless you're constantly stretching the limitations of your cartridge, it's just extra weight. Track down Topstrap on here and ask him about his 15" XP100s in the "dreaded" "velocity-sensitive" 260. I watched bewildered as he hit at 1k over and over again. Then he let a couple other guys, myself included, give it a whack and I think we all scored first round hits. His words were, "It's just a couple more clicks. That's all."

Then I saw this thread and I was sold. If I burnt out this Brux tomorrow it would be too soon.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1373758