16” 6.5 Creedmoor

[Gunnersm]

Anyone have experience shooting a 16.5” 6.5 Creedmoor?

Been looking for a good hunting 6.5 Creedmoor rifle intended for my daughter and found a budget priced compact Howa rifle.

I hesitated on buying it as I have never seen a 6.5 Creedmoor with anything less than an 18” barrel. I’m sure the rifle will do fine as a hunting rifle but wanted make sure before I bought.

Full transparency, I am a .308 guy but am slowly starting to accept the 6.5 round.

 

[Joeg26er]

GTG. - reports are good when using 130g and under 900 yards

 

[Gunnersm]

Appreciate it, Sir.

 

[Mrindecisive]

 

[trob_205]

This is a good read to put it perspective. I’ll post some of the bigger eye opener charts for me with 6.5cm (taken from this article)

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

 

[Another Casual]

Just keep in mind it will be loud. I went 16.5" on an ar-10 and wish I had gone longer for the noise alone. If the gun is a lot louder you kid might think it kicks more than it does. I'm at the point where I shoot the ar-10 only when I can put my can on it.

 

[B_w.]

I am running 140g elds at 2510 out of a 16 inch. So far been good to 800 for me. It is loud but no more than any other braked rifle. Nice and compact with a folding stock.

 

[Gunnersm]

I should have mentioned I’m running a can on it. I started looking for a 20” barrel and stumbled on the 16.5” barrel.

I was dead set on a 20” barrel but now have second thoughts.

 

[ma smith]

The 18inch barrel CM is better performing if you care about the 800-1000yd type shot,
but if that's not the goal, then the barrel length is less of an issue...

For whatever reason the 16inch CM doesn't really standout vs the 308, in ballistic performance
but the 308 isn't a better pick in this case since OP cares more about shootability.

 

[SRPowah]

I currently own a 16.5" 6.5CM barrel, and planned on going similar on the new rifle for suppressor use. Instead, I am leaning towards 18" because any extra velocity helps quality of life when you start going to 800+ often.

In your situation though: a hunting rifle and stuck with factory options of 16 and 20"? Well, 1.5moa out to 600 yards isn't hard if you can read wind. I would trust the 16" to drop any medium game out to 400 yards. The only thing you want to keep an eye on is energy, so choose the right bullet or put even more emphasis on the "I will 110% hit the vitals" mentality before pulling the trigger.

 

[BoilerUP]

I've got an 18" 6.5 Creedmoor...I think its just about perfect. That said, you're not really gonna miss 1.5-2", that'll be 50-60fps and will be negligible within 600m. Having previously owned a 16.5" 308, I don't think a stub-nose 6.5 is gonna be any more blasty and you'll get a pretty fair bump in ballistics for a bit less recoil and powder.

Run 130s and have a ball...

 

[30338]

Since you are suppressing it, I'd think 16.5" would be great.

 

[Gunnersm]

Appreciate all the feedback.

My biggest concern was the ballistics for a hunting set up which has been answered.

I don’t foresee a 400+ yard shot anytime soon but kids do grow up fast.

 

[81sfo]

I run a 16.5" and a 18.5 " 6.5 creed barrel in my AX always suppressed. 16" will do the job in my opinion , I've shot it up to 1k yards and its very capable. I use the 123 grain bullets in the 16.5" and 130 and 140s on the 18.5" creed barrel.