I have been wanting to pick up a 6.5CM to mess around with. I have always been the type to try to find the best bang for the buck. I have had good luck with cheap rifles turning out to be good shooters. I just shoot for fun and do not plan on any type of competitive shooting in the near future. I have access to 500 yards now and should have access to 1000 yards soon. With that being said, I found a savage model 10 in 6.5 CM with a 20 inch threaded barrel, accutrigger, no DBM. I do not mind no DBM as I usually load one round at a time. Is the 20” barrel adequate for up to 1000 yards, or do I spend $250 more and get the 24” barreled 110 tactical with DBM? Only difference to my benefit would be the extra barrel length.
- Thread starter Cfshooter
- Start date
Yes 20" is fine. You can more than make up for 4" of barrel with handloading. If you only shoot factory expect to give up about 100 fps
If it were me, I’d prolly throw down the extra $250 for the extra barrel length and DBM. I know you said that you typically single load, but it makes the rifle a little more versatile. Who knows.... maybe one day you’ll wanna check out a practical match.... or red dawn becomes a reality.... or...... ?
Zip is right though, you can easily make up the barrel diff by handloading.
Zip is right though, you can easily make up the barrel diff by handloading.
The only question is if we will be fighting the Russians, North korea or hipsters? Probabaly wouldnt need a DBM for hipsters.
If it were me, I’d prolly throw down the extra $250 for the extra barrel length and DBM. I know you said that you typically single load, but it makes the rifle a little more versatile. Who knows.... maybe one day you’ll wanna check out a practical match.... or red dawn becomes a reality.... or...... ?
Zip is right though, you can easily make up the barrel diff by handloading.
This probably will not be my battle rifle if red Dawn does happen.
If he buys the 24”.
Expect 2550-75 with the 20”
6.5 Creedmoor- Effect of Barrel Length on Velocity: Cutting up a Creedmoor!
Since its introduction by Hornady in 2007, the 6.5 Creedmoor (sometimes shortened to Creed) has established a strong foothold in the US rifle market. The 6.5 Creedmoor balances the excellent exter…
rifleshooter.com I had an 18” Criterion Rem-Age 6.5 Creedmoor and got 2664fps with 140gr Amax Match ammunition; same barrel got 2854fps with same lot ammo before I had it cut down from 26”.
For comparison, that barrel ran 42.5gr H4350 under a 140gr HPBT at 2640/2820fps, respectively.
Velocities per Magnetospeed V2 and verified on steel at distance.
YMMV...
Maybe Amax is speedier. The eldM stuff is not.
48 gr. RL26 with 147's @ 2.860" in a SAAMI chamber gives ~61,000psi in the pressure test barrel I had access to last year. Wanna say 47gr gave ~2830fps in the 24" test barrel. Obviously lot-to-lot changes can change that considerably so work up.
6.5 Creedmoor- Effect of Barrel Length on Velocity: Cutting up a Creedmoor!
Since its introduction by Hornady in 2007, the 6.5 Creedmoor (sometimes shortened to Creed) has established a strong foothold in the US rifle market. The 6.5 Creedmoor balances the excellent exter…
Take that with a grain of salt as the Creedmoor does not lose velocity after 24" as stated. Even author doesn't know why that happened. Best guess from many posts on it is that it was a new barrel and still speeding up.
OP the 20" will do ok for your use but you will get more velocity with a longer barrel if you ever wanted more then you could rebarrel easy enough down the road.
My new rifle was delivered today. I lucked out, it actually has a 22 inch barrel!
I think the 20” is fine an may be a better length if you’d want to thread it and suppress it. 6.5 should benefit from better BC than say a 20” 308. The 24” may have higher speed but it should just be a difference of dialing a different amount of dope. It’s up to you, if you’re not shooting competition or for time maybe DBM doesn’t matter as much. 250$ could go to range/ammo. But neither is a wrong answer.
I lucked out and it came with a 22” barrel. No competition with this rifle, just to have some fun with 6.5 CM to see how I like it.
I've got a 20" stainless proof 6.5creed barrel on my at, along with 24" bartlien 243win. I can get 147eldm to 2725fps with 43.3gr h4350, br4, and lapua brass. 8rds on cardboard target, 3 rds on steel at 800yds. It hit higher than expected, after reconfirming 100yd zero, barrel had sped up to 2725( only 120rds on it) 
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