16 inch 6.5 Creedmoor: Build or Buy

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CavJock07

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Minuteman
Feb 15, 2017
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Richmond, Texas
#1
I am looking for some feedback on what has worked as far as a build versus what can be bought in the configuration I am looking for. 16 inch, 6.5 creedmoor, reasonable weight, regularly if not full time suppressed.

I would like to preface any comments to be made with the statement that I appreciate everyone's opinion and understand you are entitled to it. However, I want a 16inch gun, nothing longer. I realize I could have better ballistics with a 18, 20, 22 inch barrel. That is not what I am after.

If building:
Centurion arms Mk11 set
Centurion Rail
Criterion Hybrid, 16inch Rifle gas
UBR gen 2, rifle buffer
A decent trigger
Surefire closed time WarComp
etc.

If buying:
Wilson Combat Ranger (would want a 13 inch rail)
Buy and chop a DD5 18" 6.5 gun
Or chop any factory 18" gun
Would love to have a 16inch KAC gun (I have heard rumors but I'm not a fanboy and I'm not really in the know there)

I also get that building a large frame is not like building a small frame. I'd probably have the upper assembled professionally and GB pinned.

Am I missing anything? I know there are other receiver sets to use. I just like the Centurion stuff I have so far.
 
#2
You're going to have one hell of a time getting a 6.5 Creed to run with a 16" barrel, particularly suppressed.

If you're going that short why not build a Grendel? The Grendel will be far easier to tune and you will have a bunch more options with less parts compatibility headache.
 
#4
Go at least 20” with a 6.5 creedmoor, otherwise you are losing out on the ballistic advantages that round will give at higher MVs at distance, esp if running 140g+ bullets.

18.5” would be the shortest I’d run it if using 123-130 class pills.

16” is doable but not ideal. Look into an adjustable gas block or have the gas port re-sized if running it short with the can for reliability/longevity.

Also, Surefire for the can; I believe they have a 6.5 Titanium can available and handle back pressure well.

KAC does have 6.5 creedmoor upper but it has a 22” barrel. The 16” upper used by SOCOM in the M110K1 during their T/E of 6.5mm rounds isn’t available commercially as far as I know.
 
#7
cherokeefan03 said:
The 16" and even a 14.5" SR25 upper is reportedly in the works for commercial release. Probably gonna get formal announcement at SHOT.
Click to expand...

Good to know...Wonder if they will roll with the standard URX4s or offer an M110/110K1 variant.

Edit: Link to information related to the above mentioned SOCOM testing:
soldiersystems.net

USSOCOM Adopts 6.5 Creedmoor | Soldier Systems Daily

Last Spring, USSOCOM undertook a study of 6.5 family cartridges to determine a path forward for Precision Intermediate Caliber Ammunition. Over the last yea ...
soldiersystems.net

Test rifles in 6.5 had 22” barrels
 
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#11
nn8734 said:
Good to know...Wonder if they will roll with the standard URX4s or offer an M110/110K1 variant.

Edit: Link to information related to the above mentioned SOCOM testing:
soldiersystems.net

USSOCOM Adopts 6.5 Creedmoor | Soldier Systems Daily

Last Spring, USSOCOM undertook a study of 6.5 family cartridges to determine a path forward for Precision Intermediate Caliber Ammunition. Over the last yea ...
soldiersystems.net

Test rifles in 6.5 had 22” barrels
Click to expand...
That is quite an old article, there have been additional tests, the program right now IIRC is a plan for a system that includes a short and long upper that can be swapped according to mission parameters. The photos are also placeholders from the original K1.
 
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#12
@cherokeefan03 Yep, it’s a bit dated, plus the test rifles resembled m110s not the K1 seen in the pic. That said, the T/E data is interesting and speaks to the merits of the 6.5mm class chamberings relative to the .30 cal stuff in service today.

I’m eager to see what sort of loads are ultimately fielded...eventually the DOD will release a write up of sorts once an ammo contract has been awarded.
 
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#14
I built an 18" with the faxon match .750 barrel. I run it primarily suppressed. I had issues with blowing primers until I installed a JP bolt and that's paired with an SLR adjustable gas block. I see 2540 FPS with the 140s and 2730 with the 120 class. I haven't tried the 130 yet. That's an old pic it has a 5-25 eotech vudu on it now.
 

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#15
mavrick said:
I built an 18" with the faxon match .750 barrel. I run it primarily suppressed. I had issues with blowing primers until I installed a JP bolt and that's paired with an SLR adjustable gas block. I see 2540 FPS with the 140s and 2730 with the 120 class. I haven't tried the 130 yet. That's an old pic it has a 5-25 eotech vudu on it now.
Click to expand...
I'm going with the Criterion 16" Hybrid in 6.5 CM. The numbers I came up with show only 150 yd loss under a 24". My only concern is the gas, short dwell, large port, as the barrel has rifle gas and something on the order of .090-.100" gas port diameter. Hopefully it runs well!
 
#17
Just sent a 20” Brux 6.5 Creedmoore barrel with rifle gas in to be chopped to 16.5”. Most of my shooting is inside 600 yards so no need for a “joust”. I much prefer a compact handy rifle. Should be interesting to see how it compares to the 20” .
 
#18
Stavey said:
Just sent a 20” Brux 6.5 Creedmoore barrel with rifle gas in to be chopped to 16.5”. Most of my shooting is inside 600 yards so no need for a “joust”. I much prefer a compact handy rifle. Should be interesting to see how it compares to the 20” .
Click to expand...
Nice! Good luck!
Do you know the gas port diameter?
 
#20
I forgot I even made this post. So as it turns out I did go the 16inch route. I bought a factory upper from Wilson Combat and paired it with their lower that I built out myself, how I wanted it. Essentially got the almost $4k plus Wilson combat gun for half that. The upper was on sale when I picked it up after Christmas.

It shoots lights out for what it is, .6-.75 with Prime 130s. Muzzle Velocity with the Prime was 2530 fps. It is light and handy and easily makes it to 1k. Because of this I want to put my 6.5 creedmoor bolt gun up on the exchange. I don't really see the need for it now that I have this gun. Plus, like most of us I assume, I have more fun coming up with what I want to have built next.

Happy to answer any questions on specs if anyone cares to ask.
 

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#22
CavJock07 said:
I forgot I even made this post. So as it turns out I did go the 16inch route. I bought a factory upper from Wilson Combat and paired it with their lower that I built out myself, how I wanted it. Essentially got the almost $4k plus Wilson combat gun for half that. The upper was on sale when I picked it up after Christmas.

It shoots lights out for what it is, .6-.75 with Prime 130s. Muzzle Velocity with the Prime was 2530 fps. It is light and handy and easily makes it to 1k. Because of this I want to put my 6.5 creedmoor bolt gun up on the exchange. I don't really see the need for it now that I have this gun. Plus, like most of us I assume, I have more fun coming up with what I want to have built next.

Happy to answer any questions on specs if anyone cares to ask.
Click to expand...
2530 fps is not too shabby! Just a guess, thst ammo would be around 300 fps faster in a 24"?
CavJock07 said:
I forgot I even made this post. So as it turns out I did go the 16inch route. I bought a factory upper from Wilson Combat and paired it with their lower that I built out myself, how I wanted it. Essentially got the almost $4k plus Wilson combat gun for half that. The upper was on sale when I picked it up after Christmas.

It shoots lights out for what it is, .6-.75 with Prime 130s. Muzzle Velocity with the Prime was 2530 fps. It is light and handy and easily makes it to 1k. Because of this I want to put my 6.5 creedmoor bolt gun up on the exchange. I don't really see the need for it now that I have this gun. Plus, like most of us I assume, I have more fun coming up with what I want to have built next.

Happy to answer any questions on specs if anyone cares to ask.
Click to expand...
2530 fps is not too shabby! I'm assuming it would be 300 fps faster in a 24"? So we're only talking 250yds shorter range? Still plenty zap for hunting inside of 400 yds, and hitting steel out past 1000.
 
#27
I guess I’m kind of a noob here, but I’ve been trying very hard to find out if a 16” rifle length gas system creedmoor wouldn’t be the best option. There’s another forum that suggests the newer trend of +2 gas systems in the longer barrels would mean rifle length in a short barrel would allow it to cycle without being overgassed or having insufficient dwell time. I haven’t found any tangible proof saying this plays out in actual live fire. There’s always a million factors with firearms, but my question is what would be the advantage of doing the Wilson intermediate gas over the criterion rifle length gas barrel?
 
#29
Sorry to revive old an old post but, as usual my search engine brought me to the hide. I got a great deal on my DB10. Then I found a NOS 16" SS Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile tube listed for $100, and after watching it just sit there for a few weeks the seller dropped the price to $50, I swooped it up. I bought all my parts from Diamondback to build a complete upper, and have it mostly assembled, my barrel nut is just hand tight as I want to face the receiver extension and shim the barrel extension, I have propensity to buy parts in bulk, 10-pack of adjustable gas blocks, they will be on everything. I was sold on 16" 308s 25 years ago and now that I'm finally budging away from 7.62x51, I just ordered a new Howa heavy 16" 6.5 creedmoor.
I guess if I had a question, it would be pertaining to bullet weights, how has your experience been from light to heavy? Mine will never be competition guns, but used for deer hunting. Not having shot a 6.5 yet, I have been buying an assortment of ammo to try. Once I zero in on a desirable load, I'll buy components to try and match/tune hand loads.
 
#30
BAMAboy18 said:
Sorry to revive old an old post but, as usual my search engine brought me to the hide. I got a great deal on my DB10. Then I found a NOS 16" SS Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile tube listed for $100, and after watching it just sit there for a few weeks the seller dropped the price to $50, I swooped it up.
Click to expand...
Without fact checking myself, I'd assume a BA 16" 6.5CM will be mid gas. I hope it works for you.
 
#31
TonyTheTiger said:
Without fact checking myself, I'd assume a BA 16" 6.5CM will be mid gas. I hope it works for you.
Click to expand...
Yes mid length gas system. It's actually marked DSG, but everything I can find out suggested it was made by Ballistic Advantage for them. Bead blasted SS in their Hanson profile. Had I ordered one, I'd probably had gone with at least an 18", but at that price I just couldn't pass it up.
www.ballisticadvantage.com

16

This is a 16 inch .6.5 Creedmoor BA Hanson AR 308 Premium Series Barrel. Shop more AR308 products at ballisticadvantage.com.
www.ballisticadvantage.com www.ballisticadvantage.com
 
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