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22" barrel for 6.5 creedmoor?

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amedeo1227

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Apr 15, 2012
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Thibodaux, LA
I'm trying to get my order put together for my smith, still got time.

I'm thinking 22" barrel for my rifle.

Not gunna be shooting much, if any, past 1000yrds.

But I will be bringing it hunting from time to time. I think 22 will give me a happy medium.

What's the Hide think?
 
I went back and forth myself on this with Ken from GAP. We both agreed that 22 was a great medium for what I wanted to do (Ranges, Hunting, (One day competition)) but also wouldn't be TOO long with a Thunder beast suppressor as it is what he runs on his comp gun!

If you need to get it out of a window quickly while hunting, nope... might need a new windshield every time!
 
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That is exactly who I've been talking with, and for its worth, he's been the most patient and friendly with my noob questions, as well as not pushy on what to get.

From a search on past posts and the fact that I'm running a suppressor, it's pretty much exactly how you said it: good for range, hunting, and occasional comp.

Genhawk said:
I went back and forth myself on this with Ken from GAP. We both agreed that 22 was a great medium for what I wanted to do (Ranges, Hunting, (One day competition)) but also wouldn't be TOO long with a Thunder beast suppressor as it is what he runs on his comp gun!

If you need to get it out of a window quickly while hunting, nope... might need a new windshield every time!
Click to expand...
 
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Some data on my 22" 6.5 Creedmoor

Factory 140 Amax ammo - 2670fps

41.5 h4350 w/140 bthp - 2680fps

During a ladder test with 140 Amax I got 2786fps (1 round sample) using 42.8 h4350 with no pressure but haven't gone further yet.
 
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Everybody told me I had to go with 26" or longer. I went with 24" and kinda wish I would have gone 22". I would go for it an not look back. I saw guys on here running 18" barrel 6.5cm with pretty good velocities
 
All of the LR wanna be's that spend all their time pouring over ballistic charts will tell you that you simply must have at least a 26" barrel. They are full of shit and need to get out and actually do some shooting before posting their tripe. I have two 260 Remingtons (ballistic twin to your CM). One is a dedicated LR heavy rifle with a 26" barrel. The other is a 22" medium Palma. With the exact same load, there is less than 50 fps difference between the two. I am going to have the barrel of the 26" cut down to 22" because it is so nose heavy and out of balance. Mathematically, yest there is a difference. The difference is simply insignificant.
 
Its not a 6.5 Creed, but I do have a 20" 260 Remington and get 2700fps with 140s.

If I were shooting matches I'd say yeah you want a long barrel, but for a field gun, 22" is about as long as I'd want to go.
 
I'm running a 28" 6.5CM. Same 140's ahead of 41.5 grain H4350 load and I'm getting 2856fps chronographed. I wouldn't call that an insignificant increase....almost 200 fps over same load listed above from a 22" barrel.
 
I am currently having one built by SAC and from the last few I have seen built by them, they were 23" Bartlein Barrels. Prior to committing to build, I did a lot of research and found a lot between 22" & 24" with good MV. Mine will also be for hunting along with some LR shooting. I settled on the 23" as well and I also run a TBAC 30BA suppressor.
 
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My Spartan Precision 6.5 Creedmoor was just a hair short of 26" plus an older overlap style Surefire break (1/8.5 5R M40 Bartlein). I went with the Surefire SOCOM break so I could borrow a can from an OBR now and again so we cut off the shinny parts. The barrel is now just a hair over 22" and I only lost 50FPS with the same load. (43.5 H4350 with 140 Berger Hybrids)
I was hitting a steel IPSC consistently at 1740 yards with this 22" rifle just a few weeks back. It took me three rounds to dial in the correct wind then three hits in a row. We switched shooters and continued to hit over and over. Though the round is not supersonic past 1650 the Berger's stay very stable and Spartan's are just great shooting rifles... :)

22" barrel


26" barrel
 
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I'm running a 22" 6.5CM. Non 5R 8 twist bartlein. For whatever reason, i just can't get much speed out of it. With 130gr bergers and 42.4gr of H4350 i get 2720 10' from the muzzle, I can go hotter its just that this is where they shot the best/most consistent. With 140gr Amax i and 41.2gr of H4350 i get 2601. That's as high as i can go with the 140's (shorter chamber so can't seat them out quite as long) before hitting pressure signs. I've been playing with 123gr lapaus lately and 40.0gr of varget gets me 2920 with them. Sometimes I wish i'd gone with a 24" just to try to get out a little more velocity. But i doubt the gain would be there. I'm pretty happy with my 22" barrel. I've still got to add up what i shot yesterday but I'm not quite to 600 rounds down the barrel yet.

I plan on putting a can on the rifle.....someday. But for overall handling, this thing can't be beat. I've only had it out to 675 so far but the bergers did just fine at that distance.
 
Yep, Ken is one kick ass individual! I am 100% FNG when it comes to precision rifle shooting and I don't know how many times I would ask a question, he would giggle and answer without me feeling TOO much like a complete novice.

I will NEVER in my lifetime out shoot the rifle that Ken is building for me and at 22 inches, I can do everything from 1st place in competition to rabbit hunting with it (if I can actually hit anything with it!)

I went with:

22" 6.5 CM
Manners T4A / Badger Bottom
Templar Action
Black Metal
Shortbus Custom Flectarn Paint job

Can't wait!


amedeo1227 said:
That is exactly who I've been talking with, and for its worth, he's been the most patient and friendly with my noob questions, as well as not pushy on what to get.

From a search on past posts and the fact that I'm running a suppressor, it's pretty much exactly how you said it: good for range, hunting, and occasional comp.
Click to expand...
 
I thought over this same situation for quite a while before sending parts off for my .260 build. First I chose a bullet weight class, 140gr, then I plugged in some ballistic info to figure what I wanted to hunt medium-large game animals to ~600yd (velocity/energy on target). That gave me about 2600-2700fps muzzle velocity. Surely not the same as the 2800-2900fps game everyone is shooting for, but "good 'nuff" for what I want, plus if I'm going to lug this piece around, I don't want it weighing 16lbs. So I looked at reloading data from a few sites (this one included-- probably the most helpful), comparing real world velocities to barrel lengths and figured that 20" was about as low as I could go. I chose 22" in hopes that initially I'm over 2700fps and as the barrel wears it'll maybe drop to 2600-2650 before I grab a new barrel. Worst case scenario is it shoots slow and I put more dope on the scope. Realistically hunting, I'm not gonna get past 400yd very often.
 
I run a 24" barrel and the 130's at 2950. Could run them a little faster but they are extremely accurate where its at. From what I have seen its basically 25-30fps/inch of barrel. Will have a 22" finished up soon and can give results from it as well, but I am guessing close to 2900 with the 130's.
 
Rebarreling to 6.5CM and am going 23" 1 inch difference but i plan on running comps, shooting, and hunting with a suppressor so a 9" or so can comes into play.
 
I just shot Bushnell Brawl with a 22" 6.5 CM. I was getting 2650 fps with factory Hornady 140 A-max. It was a noticeable compromise.

A better man made it to 4th place with a 22" .308.
 
epaultmbt said:
I just shot Bushnell Brawl with a 22" 6.5 CM. I was getting 2650 fps with factory Hornady 140 A-max. It was a noticeable compromise.

A better man made it to 4th place with a 22" .308.
Click to expand...

I too just shot the Brawl with a 21" Creedmoor. Mine does 2730 with factory 140's or my handloads at 42.6 grains H4350. My freebore is short and it jams the factory ammo, which may explain the good velocity I get. The rifle definitely was not my limiting factor. ;)
 
ddavis said:
I too just shot the Brawl with a 21" Creedmoor. Mine does 2730 with factory 140's or my handloads at 42.6 grains H4350. My freebore is short and it jams the factory ammo, which may explain the good velocity I get. The rifle definitely was not my limiting factor. ;)
Click to expand...

What is you freebore? Mine was chambered with .125" freebore since I will mainly shoot 100-123gr bullets. I was told that I would have to re-seat 140 factory ammo if I ever wanted to shoot them. I have wanted to try some 130 bergers too but haven't pick up any yet.
 
Barrel length is always a give and take. If you want a shorter handy hunting rifle then you will give up velocity. If you want a longer barrel to get the most out of the cartridge to shoot comps then it will be longer although through practice can be just has handy although heavier. My original Creedmoor barrel was a 28" and I had no problem getting through obstacles or the RO rat trap with it.

I am getting 2870fps from my 26.5" Creedmoor barrel with my latest lot of factory 140 AMAX load. That's a 220fps difference than the Epaul above and 140 for than DD. I can load mine to 2930fps with H4350 safetly. Some might find that velocity difference "simply insignificant" but I like having the velocity in shooting comps to shoot flatter and take any small wind advantage I can. Not everyone does though and some like short barrels, which is fine, but trying to make yourself feel tough and insulting people who actually look at ballistics and plan for a certain game just shows your own knowledge base.

Nothing is going to guarantee you get a fast 22" barrel. You can always cut off some barrel if you get longer and find you don't need it but you get a slow 22" barrel and you can't add on to it. I have been shooting the Creedmoor longer than anyone here and I will continue to advise a 24-26" barrel if you want to get the most out of the cartridge whether handloading or factory ammo but if you wanted it shorter for balance, handling or to add a can then that's fine as well. Your choice and money but go into it knowing the facts of what you are getting and make the right choice for the end use of the rifle.
 
Rob01 said:
Barrel length is always a give and take. If you want a shorter handy hunting rifle then you will give up velocity. If you want a longer barrel to get the most out of the cartridge to shoot comps then it will be longer although through practice can be just has handy although heavier. My original Creedmoor barrel was a 28" and I had no problem getting through obstacles or the RO rat trap with it.

I am getting 2870fps from my 26.5" Creedmoor barrel with my latest lot of factory 140 AMAX load. That's a 220fps difference than the Epaul above and 140 for than DD. I can load mine to 2930fps with H4350 safetly. Some might find that velocity difference "simply insignificant" but I like having the velocity in shooting comps to shoot flatter and take any small wind advantage I can. Not everyone does though and some like short barrels, which is fine, but trying to make yourself feel tough and insulting people who actually look at ballistics and plan for a certain game just shows your own knowledge base.

Nothing is going to guarantee you get a fast 22" barrel. You can always cut off some barrel if you get longer and find you don't need it but you get a slow 22" barrel and you can't add on to it. I have been shooting the Creedmoor longer than anyone here and I will continue to advise a 24-26" barrel if you want to get the most out of the cartridge whether handloading or factory ammo but if you wanted it shorter for balance, handling or to add a can then that's fine as well. Your choice and money but go into it knowing the facts of what you are getting and make the right choice for the end use of the rifle.
Click to expand...

Getting a barrel and checking the velocity before having it cut down is definitely a good suggestion. A friend of mine has a 29" .260 barrel that doesn't get much better velocity than mine does. I'd hate to see his velocity with 8" less barrel.
 
jhopkins said:
What is you freebore? Mine was chambered with .125" freebore since I will mainly shoot 100-123gr bullets. I was told that I would have to re-seat 140 factory ammo if I ever wanted to shoot them. I have wanted to try some 130 bergers too but haven't pick up any yet.
Click to expand...

I don't know what my freebore is, but I have to load the 140 Amax's at 2.74" and several other bullets in the 2.6_" range.
 
I went with a 22" on my .260 and I'm glad I did. i don't see the advantage being that great for a longer barrel. I had a 17REM built with a 24" and wish everyday that I had went with 22". I will be cutting it back in the future.
 
I'd say i definitly fall in the 22" slow barrel lot. It happens. Gun shoots good so for the ranges I shoot and my overall uses it's acceptable. Although, i haven't been kind to the barrel (can't wait to shoot it out and rebarrel), I'll probably do a 24" and then maybe get it cut down later on.
 
Similarities can be drawn with the 5.56, which was developed for a 20” barrel, where using less than that comes compromises such as velocity drop and incomplete powder burn.
Most recreational users use a 16” barrel without too much compromise, but going less than 14.5” starts to get loud.

As Rob01 notes here, you can’t add length later.
6.5 Creedmore was originally developed around a 28” barrel;
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...6851-optimum-barrel-length-6-5-creedmoor.html

I’ve ordered an AI AT 26” Bartlein/Tooley 6.5 Creedmore over the 24” option, and would have ordered 28” if it was available, for killing paper at 600 yards with Hornady 140 A-MAX.
 
My GAP in 6.5 Creedmoor is 22" as well. Factory 140 AMAX runs about 2740 out of it. I have played with some reloads with 1 grain more in powder and have gotten 2798-2807. I have shot it out to 1,227 yards without issue (factory loads). I went shorter since I run a can on it a lot and I wanted something a little more compact for travel etc. It out shoots me all day long!
 
Shooting a Savage Model 10, H4350, CCI BR2, 24" BBL. Hornady Brass. Recently switched from ELDM 140 gr to Berger 140 MHT. Had difficulty getting low ES and SD with the Bergers until... I started loading hot! 3 grains above the recommended high. After my initial ladder, 10 rounds at 44.3 grains, average velocity 2870, ES=9. Best part, no pressure signs on brass.
Don't get me wrong I know I am wrecking brass. I never get more that 5 firings before primers start slipping out pockets before I get a bullet sat in the cartridge. What do you guys think? Let it eat or slow it down?
 
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