28" 6.5 Cr.

owtlaw

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Feb 27, 2013
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Anyone else running a 28" tube for 6.5 Cr? My gunsmith had one handy and made me a great deal on a Bartlien. It is a 1-8 twist M24 contour. What kind of velocities are you getting with 140 and 147 grain pills?
 
I think @Rob01 might be running his 6.5 CMs at this length

Yup have been since 2008.

Factory 140 ELDs will be in the 2750-2850fps and the 147s were about 2740-2775fps depending on lot numbers for both obviously. You can easily load them to those speeds also.

28" is an excellent length for the Creedmoor. I am loading the 153 ATips in it now at 2680fps for matches. Below is my 28" M24 contour 8 twist Bartlein on my Origin action.

Origin.jpg
 
Yup have been since 2008.

Factory 140 ELDs will be in the 2750-2850fps and the 147s were about 2740-2775fps depending on lot numbers for both obviously. You can easily load them to those speeds also.

28" is an excellent length for the Creedmoor. I am loading the 153 ATips in it now at 2680fps for matches. Below is my 28" M24 contour 8 twist Bartlein on my Origin action.

View attachment 8486260

Man! This thing looks sick. How do you like that glass and do you find it compares to anything else, glass wise?
 
Man! This thing looks sick. How do you like that glass and do you find it compares to anything else, glass wise?

Thanks. That's the Tract Toric 4-25x50 and I really like it. Glass isn't as good as my Zeiss S3 but the glass close and is plenty good enough for matches. The reticle is also excellent for holds. I got it for LE/Mil pricing and it's an excellent buy at that price and still a very good buy at the normal price.
 
Yup have been since 2008.

Factory 140 ELDs will be in the 2750-2850fps and the 147s were about 2740-2775fps depending on lot numbers for both obviously. You can easily load them to those speeds also.

28" is an excellent length for the Creedmoor. I am loading the 153 ATips in it now at 2680fps for matches. Below is my 28" M24 contour 8 twist Bartlein on my Origin action.

View attachment 8486260
That's almost exactly the same as my build. Dumb question, are you loading the 153's light? 2680 seems kinda slow compared to the 147. Not criticism, just curious.
 
That's almost exactly the same as my build. Dumb question, are you loading the 153's light? 2680 seems kinda slow compared to the 147. Not criticism, just curious.

No that’s where they are accurate and being a 153 they are heavier and won’t be able to go as fast as the 140/147 but speed isn’t everything in the sport. You know the range so shooting flatter is not needed but lighter recoil and more ToF allows you to see impact better. Most shooting the 153 in matches are in about the same velocity area.
 
If anything, 2680 with 153s is on the higher side of things. Agree that they do better around there, but I have had a hell of a time breaking 2600 with my last 3 lots of H4350

Re: length, 28in is optimal if you don’t have any length concerns. Running a 30in right now, will be my last
 
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Anyone else running a 28" tube for 6.5 Cr? My gunsmith had one handy and made me a great deal on a Bartlien. It is a 1-8 twist M24 contour. What kind of velocities are you getting with 140 and 147 grain pills?
This is my CM rig with a 28” 1.25” straight contour 1:8” barrel. With 44.0gr of IMR4350 and the Berger 140gr Hybrid Target bullet, my velocity is 2880fps average.

If you’re going to do PRS, wouldn’t that 28” pipe be a tad long to maneuver easily?

DSCN2099.jpg
 
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This is my CM rig with a 28” 1.25” straight contour 1:8” barrel. With 44.0gr of IMR4350 and the Berger 140gr Hybrid Target bullet, my velocity is 2880fps average.

If you’re going to do PRS, wouldn’t that 28” pipe be a tad long to maneuver easily?

DSCN2099.jpg
28" isn't that bad or uncommon. and still shorter than a 26" with a can
 
I didn’t say it was bad. But it seemed long for maneuvering in prs. I’ve seem mostly 24’s and a few 26’s up here.

It’s not long at all. No problems moving around props and stages with it. Got guys with 240 barrels and 6-8” cans that move around fine. It’s all about knowing and practicing with it.
 
It’s not long at all. No problems moving around props and stages with it. Got guys with 240 barrels and 6-8” cans that move around fine. It’s all about knowing and practicing with it.

Yup, a 28" barrel is no problem for PRS.

Last match I shot was with a 28" barrel and 6" can. Still manageable, though I wouldn't say it was optimal.

Knowing how to move around a stage with a long barrel efficiently is certainly one of many skill sets in PRS.
 
I did about 3 barrels at 28", but I ran the 130 hybrids about 2920 or so. Now a 25 cm 28".
The length is fine.

For 6.5 CM I've been running 24" - still get decent velocities and the shorter length works good with cans. I'm running 140s at about 2800 fps.

I think 28" is smart if you want to go with the 150+ class projectiles like what @Rob01 is doing. Shorter barrels need lighter projectiles.
 
I went and shot it today. I'm running the 140 ELDM over 41 gr of H4350. 5 shot velocity average was 2797. ES of 21 SD showed as 9.8. 100 yard 5 shot group was .42 moa. I kinda thought my velocity would be slightly higher as my 24" savage shoots the same load at 2772. That said, at .42 moa from the 1st 10 rounds, I'm pretty happy.
 
I've been running the 6.5 CM in a 24" but have a new 26" Bartlein to put on when the 24" is toast.
Want fast velocities with heavy bullets go with RL26....even more speed, go with the hybrid cases, 140 gr over 3100 fps in the 24".
 
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Both work but the 147s have a history of blowing up in some cases. I don't think that's an issue today but some may still prefer to steer away from them. If they work for you, run them.
I never had any trouble with the 147 gr ELDM, and prefer it over the 140 ELDM because of the higher BC. And also like the 150 gr SMK, probably the best..
I have ran the 147ELDM over 3000 fps in 24" with hybrid cases, with no bullet problems...maybe manufacturing changes to the bullet have been made...but use what you have confidence in, and what your barrel likes.
 
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I never had any trouble with the 147 gr ELDM, and prefer it over the 140 ELDM because of the higher BC. And also like the 150 gr SMK, probably the best..
I have ran the 147ELDM over 3000 fps in 24" with hybrid cases, with no bullet problems...maybe manufacturing changes to the bullet have been made...but use what you have confidence in, and what your barrel likes.

Yup, thats why I said if they work for him, to use them.

When you used the 150 smk, were you twisted fast enough for it? Does a standard 8 twist work? And how long were you loading them?
 
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Yup, thats why I said if they work for him, to use them.

When you used the 150 smk, were you twisted fast enough for it? Does a standard 8 twist work? And how long were you loading them?
I'm stabilizing the 150 SMK in a 24" 8 twist, my new Bartlein 26" is 7.5 twist.
Here is the load data...minus the powder charge of RL 26.
They are loaded to 2.954" from center feed MDT metal mag. The average velocity is 2980 fps from the hybrid cases in a 24" 6n5 CM, this is an accuracy load
Here is the 147 ELDM info with hybrid cases top velocity is around 3033, but accuracy was at 2976.
The 153 ATip is similar accuracy load 2965 fps with the hybrid case set up.
The 140 gr topped out at 3156 fps with hybrid cases.
I still use brass cases, but not with these high pressure loads....but these are the ones I'm currently shooting. COAL is the same just a bit less powder.
 

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I went and shot it today. I'm running the 140 ELDM over 41 gr of H4350. 5 shot velocity average was 2797. ES of 21 SD showed as 9.8. 100 yard 5 shot group was .42 moa. I kinda thought my velocity would be slightly higher as my 24" savage shoots the same load at 2772. That said, at .42 moa from the 1st 10 rounds, I'm pretty happy.

It’s a new barrel. Give it 100-150 rounds and it should speed up a little. That said speed isn’t everything and if you are at about 2800 fps and accurate then be happy and run it.

As to 147 or 140, they doth work. Try them and see what your rifle likes. I have shot factory 140 elds to a mile so they work fine for long range. H4350 will push either fine. If you get either in the 2750-2800 area then it will be plenty fast enough for matches.
 
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28" comp contour 7.5tw, 153.5 Bergers at 2610 with 39.1gr H4350. Hammers......have shot a lot of matches with it, not a problem maneuvering at all, we normally shoot 120sec stages.