I’m in the process of adding another barrel to a custom 6 Creedmoor build on a Stiller Tac 30 action. I always shoot with a can no matter what, so that’s one of the main reasons I’m going to a 20” barrel. It will be for hunting and all around use. All of my cans range from 6” to 9” so it will help having a 20” barrel. I’m wanting to know if anyone has had any bad results or reasons why a 20” wouldn’t be a good choice. Also if anyone has had good results with a 20” 6.5 Creedmoor I would like to hear. Anyway I plan to just build a switch barrel, whether or not I use the WTO Switch Lug or just snug it up to the recoil lug with index marks on the barrel.
20” Proof Carbon 6.5 Creedmoor
- Thread starter Willie Miller V
- Start date
I don't have one personally, but I'm about to build a 20" 6.5 Creed gas gun for the same reasons. There are tons of threads on here talking about 6.5 creed in short barrels and how well it still performs.
Search bar up top is always a good place to go.
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6-5-shorty-rifle-build.6878445/
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/16-18-inch-shorty-rifles.68099/page-22#post-7236088
Search bar up top is always a good place to go.
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6-5-shorty-rifle-build.6878445/
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/16-18-inch-shorty-rifles.68099/page-22#post-7236088
Unless you’re a velocity freak you will be fine my 20”ctr shoots lights out, and as far a whitetail is concerned I’m not sure they care if a VLD hits him going 2650 or 2850 he’s still going down instantly lol
In fact all my rifles from now on will be 22” or less, unless I’m building something that absolutely needs them extra few inches
In fact all my rifles from now on will be 22” or less, unless I’m building something that absolutely needs them extra few inches
What I was reading about barrel length and velocity loss wasn’t as much as I thought. With the heavier 142 SMK the loss from 26” to 20” was around 65-70 FPS. The 120 Amax was around 130. I shoot mostly 140-143 grain bullets and some 130s.
I have a 20in barrel on a custom build LRI did for me. I don’t have any problem connecting at distance. I have been shooting nothing but Hornady 140 eld-m factory loads. Once I work up a load I can gain some velocity back. That factory load shoots 2550 out of my 20 inch barrel.
My 20" ctr was about 2650 with 139 scenars, my new 26" barrel is about 2850 with a similar load. Tikkas are known to be slow, but 65-70 loss from 26" to 20" doesn't seem like much at all to me.
My 24" TIkka CTR 6.5 shoots 147s at 2875 fps.
That same load in my wife's 20" CTR is 2700-2720 fps.
Losing 150 fps+ in 4" between those two guns. But its two different rifles, chambers slightly different etc. Who knows how fast my 24" would be cut back...not gonna find out though.
My 24" TIkka CTR 6.5 shoots 147s at 2875 fps.
That same load in my wife's 20" CTR is 2700-2720 fps.
Losing 150 fps+ in 4" between those two guns. But its two different rifles, chambers slightly different etc. Who knows how fast my 24" would be cut back...not gonna find out though.
Right, it's hard to compare from one rifle to another. I guess if you had a fast 20" barrel and a slow 26" barrel you might only lose 10 fps/inch or so, but in general, i think you're going to lose quite a bit more than that.
If you always shoot suppressed then go with 20" . You wont regret it unless you are weird about speed. I have a 16.5" 6.5 creed and 20" 260 rem for which i handload for both,and always run suppressed too. You can gain some lost speed by using Hornady brass and 2000mr powder otherwise i wouldnt worry about it. Pick any of the mentioned bullet weights 123s 130s 140s 142s all will fly well. Think how short barrel 308s are just fine , 6.5 will out do 308 in shorties aswell. Good luck .
Today I ordered a 20" Proof for my Defiance Action. I just sent to action off to get ion bonded with the company Defiance recommended. Should be all done in about 4weeks. Marc at Spartan will finish all the work. Its going to be a long 4 weeks.......
