AIAT with shorty barrel

[Crews]

My AIAT has a factory 24" 6.5 Creedmoor barrel, and I'm using a suppressor. It is first and foremost a field use/hunting rifle, I am a deer and hog hunter in the winter and a steel plate shooter in the summer. No competitions. Rarely shoot past 900 yards. The 24" barrel is absolutely killing me. I've had a 16.5" Creedmoor in the past and loved it; I'm no stranger to factory ammo performance in this caliber from a short barrel.

I'm getting 2730FPS across the board from 140 ELD-M, 140 Black, and 147 ELD-M. Seems a tad slow to me, but I may be mistaken.

I need a short barrel again. Would love to hear your thoughts.... should I spend $150 or so and chop the factory barrel? Or should I sell the factory barrel and buy an aftermarket one? It's only got about 300 rounds on it. Also wondering if I'd be better off with a 6 Creed with factory ammo and a 16.5-18" barrel length?

 

[MACHTECH]

Chop the one you already have to 16.25 and rethread it to 5/8"-24. You will enjoy your rifle so much more with the suppressor on!

 

[Crews]

Chop the one you already have to 16.25 and rethread it to 5/8"-24. You will enjoy your rifle so much more with the suppressor on!

Yeah the last rifle I had was that combination, 16.5" with a 5" TBAC suppressor. It was a dream in the field. Just wondering if there's any significant advantages to going with an aftermarket option, perhaps a bit faster? 2730 seems slow to me. And I wouldn't be scared of a 6 Creed for hunting either if it's more efficient in a shorter barrel.

 

[cageli]

I would do a shorty 308. Really efficient in short barrels and modern 308 bullet does not give up much in this configuration, compared to 6.5 creed

 

[clubsportmark]

I’ve an 18” 6.5 CM. I love it, but wouldn’t go any less. I personally wouldn’t go 16” but each to there own.

Getting that short kills the velocity and along with the advantages of Creedmoor cartridge IMO.

 

[Supersubes]

Your “factory” barrel is likely a Bartlein. You can’t get any better in that department. Chop what you got and run with it.

 

[Luvman]

Your “factory” barrel is likely a Bartlein. You can’t get any better in that department. Chop what you got and run with it.

Actually he has an AT so his barrel is likely a LW barrel if it has UK proof marks.

I run an 18” .308 barrel I picked up from a member here that was spun up by Gradous. It slings FGMM 185 juggs at 2530fps which get to 1K with 10.3mils of drop. My factory 20” .308 LW barrel shoots FGMM 175MK at 2550 and get to 1K with 11.5mils of drop.

I prefer shorter tubes and under 20” I think .308 makes the most sense.

When I get around to picking up a 6.5 barrel it’ll be 20” minimum.

 

[Wyfox]

I had my factory AT 6.5 barrel cut to 17.5" and with 8.5" suppressor attached it's 23.5" from the face of the action. Haven't shot it yet, I pulled the scope off and put it on a hunting rifle for this fall.

 

[Luvman]

I had my factory AT 6.5 barrel cut to 17.5" and with 8.5" suppressor attached it's 23.5" from the face of the action. Haven't shot it yet, I pulled the scope off and put it on a hunting rifle for this fall.
View attachment 7170910

Sorry in advance for the thread derailment but @Wyfox I think your pic just helped me decide on which SamB spigot to get. I’ve been going back and forth trying to decide between the Picatinny or dovetail spigot.

@Crews I would highly recommend a short barrel of some sort.

 

[JFComfort]

My 16.5” 6.5 CM shoots 140 Hybrid’s at 2,670 FPS with suppressor. I did an 18” 6 Creedmoor Tikka with a LW and it did 2,950 FPS with factory Federal Premium 105 Berger. I’d keep the factory barrel and get a 16.5”-18” when you can afford it.

 

[k80mp]

I run a 16.5” 6.5 Creed with an Ultra 9 AI AXSA. I’ve taken the rifle to 1200 yds with both Berger and Hornady 140g Factory loads. Easy to handle and a blast to shoot!

 

[Supersubes]

Actually he has an AT so his barrel is likely a LW barrel if it has UK proof marks.

I run an 18” .308 barrel I picked up from a member here that was spun up by Gradous. It slings FGMM 185 juggs at 2530fps which get to 1K with 10.3mils of drop. My factory 20” .308 LW barrel shoots FGMM 175MK at 2550 and get to 1K with 11.5mils of drop.

I prefer shorter tubes and under 20” I think .308 makes the most sense.

When I get around to picking up a 6.5 barrel it’ll be 20” minimum.

I didn’t think that division between models still existed. Good to know.

 

[6brshooter]

Factory 6.5 ae had tooley bartliens. OP, I've got a steel proof 20", my 147gr handloads are running 2730fps

 

[roamin]

From 26" to 16" 6.5cm and 308 both loose on average around 25 FPS per inch of barrel loss. 308 gains no advantage on 6.5cm in shorter barrels since they both loose an equal amount of velocity.

https://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-...el-length-on-velocity-cutting-up-a-creedmoor/

https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/

 

[tomcfc11]

@JFComfort What does your AT/X weigh in that configuration with the proof?

 

[Crews]

Actually he has an AT so his barrel is likely a LW barrel if it has UK proof marks.

Is this considered a UK proof mark?

 

[Luvman]

Is this considered a UK proof mark?


View attachment 7171208

Yes. That barrel was proofed in 2018

 

[Crews]

So I'm assuming you're referring to Lothar Walther when you say LW? Does this mean the barrel was spun up in the UK before it made it over here, or the blank came from LW over there and it was spun up in the states somewhere?

Regardless of where it's made, I am not worried about it. That's why you buy an AI to begin with as far as I'm concerned. Just curious to know the story behind my equipment.

 

[Luvman]

So I'm assuming you're referring to Lothar Walther when you say LW? Does this mean the barrel was spun up in the UK before it made it over here, or the blank came from LW over there and it was spun up in the states somewhere?

Regardless of where it's made, I am not worried about it. That's why you buy an AI to begin with as far as I'm concerned. Just curious to know the story behind my equipment.

Yes LW is Lothar-Walther.

It’s my understanding that AT’s have barrels that are spun up and proofed in the UK, and AX’s have barrels made from Bartlein blanks spun up over here.

 

[81sfo]

If you are able to handload , try Power pro 2000mr powder with 308 bullets or if you go 6.5 cm too, you wont loose much going shorter barrel and using this powder . But you gain a very handy , compact rifle ,You will enjoy it.

 

[JFComfort]

@JFComfort What does your AT/X weigh in that configuration with the proof?

The Proof saved me about 1 lb versus the med. palma Bartlein. I’m getting 14.5 lbs using a inexpensive luggage scale.