6.5 CM barrel length

[Curt1521]

I'm in the early stages of assembling a 6.5 Creedmoor hunting/target rifle. It will be 90%/10% hunting/target.

I can't decide what barrel length I should get. I'm looking between 22 and 25 inches. I am going to be ordering a Brux #4 contour barrel, and get it fluted.

I want this to be a long-range hunting rifle, but I also want to keep the weight down, and be 'handy' getting in and out of a truck.
It will be my deer/coyote rifle, but I also want to stretch its legs if I need to.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

Max performance is around 26" or so for this cartridge. Guys chop em shorter but I would rather have the length an performance. Just my opinion.

 

[ANGLICOMarine]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

I have two, both 26"

 

[Jethro3898]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

I asked the same question a while back when I was ordering my AI and the general consensus was 1 in 8 twist barrel that is 26" long. A few suggested 28", but the vast majority said 26" because you want as much velocity as you can get with the Creedmoor.

However, since it is 90% hunting, I'd guess you could go shorter than 26" because most people don't hunt out past 300 yards.....and if they do, they want something bigger than a Creedmoor.

 

[Jedi]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

Modern powders all but eliminate need for longer barrel
RE17, Superformance etc
my 20" x47 runs 123amax @ 3000fps +
why tote a longer barrel for no reason

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

I have hunted with 20” barrels through 26” barrels… IMHO, I would go 23” and use a unfluted #5 contour/Remington mag contour. I can understand match shooters wanting a longer barrel for the extra velocity just as I can understand a 18-20” barrel for heavy timber/brush hunters. But a generally purpose open country hunter that’s going to be carried a lot for shots this side of 700y a 22-24” is about perfect. I currently use a 24” Remington varmint 260, if I were hunting with it 90% and 10% for range duties I would want the lighter weight contour but I don’t think I would go below a #5. My rifle and I are the reverse, 90%range and 10% hunting. The Rem varmint contour is about perfect for that application in a 6.5 bore.

 

[bas402]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

You could always go with a 26" barrel from Mark @ SAC and put in a DTA SRS and have the best of all worlds!

 

[B3dlam]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

My first 6.5 creedmoor is an AR-10 with a 24" barrel. My newest rifle is running a 26" tube I wanted to squeeze all the velocity I could out of it.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

I've been shooting matches with a 25" measured from the front of the recoil lug to the crown.

 

[Topgun07]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

I'm debating the same thing. Did some research last night on this sight and I believe I've decided on a 22"er.

 

[gugubica]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

Very happy with my 23" on my match rifle.

2800 fps from factory 140s.

 

[kurt]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

i am going with a 24" on my current build

 

[Copyleader]

Re: 6.5 CM barrel length

...if it's 90% hunting, it should be handy, carbine length if you're breaking brush, and not overly heavy if you're humping, I would recommend 22" with a #4. Also, I'm doing a build for a client right now, paper-puncher, same 6.5CR and I'm recommending a 22" simply because he's keeping his crappy/flimsy plastic stock that won't stand up to a long/heavy floated barrel, way too much flex. Barrel length is a relative thing, there's sometimes more variables to look at when choosing...other than velocity.