What is the shortest barrel length I could have with a 260 rem/6.5x47L/6.5 creedmoor and still be able to reach 2600 fps with 139/140 gr bullets?
6.5 barrel length / velocity
- Thread starter Jackcrow73
- Start date
Well I am shooting a GAP 6.5CM with 22" barrel and with factory Hornady 140g AMAX I am getting 2728 fps and 2739 suppressed (with 30P-1). So 2600 FPS would be pretty easy. I have read that you gain about 30fps per inch of barrel. The factory Hornady ammo states it is 2700 FPS and 41.5g of H4350, however when I pulled a bullet they had 42.9g of H4350 powder. I do know that bellow a certain point you loose a lot based on powder burn rates. I suspect 18-19" might be about as short as you would want to do. 20" in a lot of calibers seems to be good enough for velocity yet provide good barrel harmonics and handy in size.
I do wonder why you would want a short 6.5mm? If you are looking for short given the range you can shoot a 308 might be a better caliber choice. The 6.5mm are known for wind fighting but at 2600 fps you give up a lot of the advantages that caliber offers. just my 2 cents
I do wonder why you would want a short 6.5mm? If you are looking for short given the range you can shoot a 308 might be a better caliber choice. The 6.5mm are known for wind fighting but at 2600 fps you give up a lot of the advantages that caliber offers. just my 2 cents
I'm not ruling out a 308 or 7mm-08 either. I currently shoot 308 with a 24" barrel as my main deer hunting rifle. I am just looking to go shorter and since im putting a new barrel on anyway I thought it would be due diligence to research other calibers. I could have shots at deer at 600+ although I would really only be comfortable taking a shot at 400-450 yards. I just figure that the 6.5mm's will still be ballistically superior to the 308 even at slower velocities, albeit with less energy on target.
Well actually the 308 will be ballistically superior at those short ranges. The heavier bullets of a 308 actually have more terminal energy out until just over 1000 yards. Inside of the 1000 yards my 308 load (175g SMK-HP at 2697 fps from a 20" barrel) has more energy then my 6.5CM (140g AMAX) doing 2739 fps. It is out just over 1000 yards the 6.5mm bullets start to have more energy. Wind drift inside of 600 yards is pretty close to the same and on a deer I would say a non issue for sure, slow down the 6.5mm to 2600 fps and wind drift might actually swing in favor of a heavier 308 doing a similar or faster speed from say a 20" barrel. The hold over with the slower 6.5 might be very similar or possibly more then a 308 as well from the same barrel length. I would have to throw the data into a calculator to see where one would out perform the other but at the distance you are looking at I would bet the 308 is a better choice.
I have both calibers and I have to say there is nothing wrong with 308 at 600 or so, it is out at further distance the 6.5mm seem to shine. If I was only going to shoot inside of 600 yards I would just buy a 308.
Just as a frame of reference...I'm getting 2710 fps from my 7-08 with a 22" barrel and 162 Amax bullets
Short Barrel 6.5mm Rifle | Sin City Precision
Follow Up Short Barrel 6.5mm Rifle | Sin City Precision
18" should get you at least 2600fps with a 139-142gr bullet from a 260 or a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I recently completed a 20" 260 and easily get 2700fps with 140gr HPBT and a normal (ie. 42.8-43.2gr) charge of H4350.
Follow Up Short Barrel 6.5mm Rifle | Sin City Precision
18" should get you at least 2600fps with a 139-142gr bullet from a 260 or a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I recently completed a 20" 260 and easily get 2700fps with 140gr HPBT and a normal (ie. 42.8-43.2gr) charge of H4350.
18 will certainly, and I believe folks with Ruger Compact 16.5" have done 2600 with 140s, pretty sure.
Chopped a Swede from 24 to 21 and lost right at 100, so 30 fps per inch is very spot on. It is less than 2 grains diff in capacity.
Less energy w/a 6.5 is right, but hell I killed my furthest deer at 400 yds with a 105 amax, in a 6BR at 2850 MV. A 243 would do well and feed w/o a hitch, but if building, a 6.5 is my cup of tea, and flip a coin, any of the three with work. I'd run 120-130s in the 47, and confident they'd kill to your distance w/o any trouble. The 260 and CM, I'd run a 120-140. Good luck and enjoy, 6.5s are sweet.
Chopped a Swede from 24 to 21 and lost right at 100, so 30 fps per inch is very spot on. It is less than 2 grains diff in capacity.
Less energy w/a 6.5 is right, but hell I killed my furthest deer at 400 yds with a 105 amax, in a 6BR at 2850 MV. A 243 would do well and feed w/o a hitch, but if building, a 6.5 is my cup of tea, and flip a coin, any of the three with work. I'd run 120-130s in the 47, and confident they'd kill to your distance w/o any trouble. The 260 and CM, I'd run a 120-140. Good luck and enjoy, 6.5s are sweet.
With my pet load of 41.9 gr Accurate 4350 (good for about 2800 FPS out of a 24" barrel, calculated and in reality) QuickLoad reports a velocity of 2588 out of an 18" barrel with a 140 gr Nosler Custom Comp.
Joe
Joe
Thank you for all of the responses. Here's another question; the barrel that I have now is fluted. Is there any problem with having it cut and rethreaded? Other than looks, would this cause any issues? I'm thinking I may go this route initially to see how I like having a short barrel, but I had ruled it out in the past due to the barrel fluting.
My Obermeyer barreled Weatherby Vanguard gets just over 2700fps with the 140 Amax over 42.0 grains of H4350. I start getting flat primers around 42.6 and popped primers over 43 grains.
Its an Obermeyer 5R, really tight bore, finished at 22 inches. Actually, by the time I got the crown just the way I wanted I was at 21 7/8 inches
Running an IOR Valdada 10x42 fixed daysight, which is tough as nails. And for those who have jacked up their IOR turrets by removing the two screws, I gotta brag a little!! I can completely disassemble my turrets, including the top cap, and reassemble them, with no ill effect!!
It took some huevos to strip it apart the first time, but I can do it in my sleep now.
Last edited:
kinda off topic but mcrees full length folder vs mirage ulr? (same as yours) Oh and these people and their 16-20in bbl rifles makes me want to cut my 260 down
Last edited:
What is your load in the 22" barrel to have 2710 fps with Amax ??? Thanks in advance...
Tough question, to be honest I like them both for different reasons. I like how Mirage has gone outside the box and set the receiver down into to the chassis. The more I use the Mirage, the more and more I like it. I think the Mirage will get even better over time the same way the McRee did. I like that the McRee folds and how the action screws are retained with the chassis. I'm also used to it, I have a lot of time behind it.
the ulr just seems a tad bit more ergonomic. How much fps difference between 16.25 and your 26in?
As I live in France, we only have Vectan & Vitha powders available here. I looked on a burning rate chart to find a Vitha equivalence and didn't find the 2000MR powder... Do you have this kind of info ?
Looks like it is similar to N140 - 540, kind of depends which one your rifle likes. I usually get more speed out of the 500 series for the same pressure.
