Going Short 6.5CM

[aslrookie]

I’m tired of overly long rifles with suppressors. I rarely shoot past 1,000 yards, so I don’t need supersonic flight out to 1200+. This rifle will be used for local matches and hunting.

I’m going with a 16” barrel, wish I could do 14.5” but my suppressor is a direct thread reflex. So I don’t want to submit a form 1 for just 1.5” less barrel length.

To keep weight down but still not have heat stringing issues during a match, what would be an ideal barrel contour?

 

[SonicBurlap]

If it's about weight, and about heat stringing just get a PROOF Research carbon fiber Sendero.

 

[Dogsniper]

If you rarely shoot to 1k just build a shorty in 308 win

 

[aslrookie]

If you rarely shoot to 1k just build a shorty in 308 win

I have a 18.5" 308, but I think the 6.5CM would be fun to try.

 

[Lazlo]

Proof makes a 20" Sendero in 6.5CM. I'd recommend going this route as well, as opposed to trying to re-invent the wheel.

 

[BoilerUP]

There's zero reason to build a 308 shorty instead of a 6.5 Creedmoor shorty.

I own a 18" 6.5 Creedmoor in Medium Palma, and love it...2550ish with Berger 135 Classic Hunter and 140gr ELD-M factory ammo.

 

[Hondo1]

I have a 16.5” barrel and can reach 2600fps with 147’s and RL16. It’s a hunting rifle and I don’t feel limited with it.

 

[Chesapeake]

I’m getting over 2700 with Barnes 127 LRX, and H4350 in my 16.5” Proof Sendero contour. I’m running suppressed as well. I love that rifle. Definitely do it. Everything seems to shoot pretty well out of it. RL16 and H4350 have worked great for me.

 

[dms416]

I remember several years ago before the 6.5CM was a thing and asking if it was worth it to short on a 6.5x47. Everybody said it was stupid...get a 308...blah, blah, blah.

Frank said something I would not forget: "less than optimal speeds aside, pushing a better (higher BC) bullet is still pushing a better bullet..."

 

[aslrookie]

I remember several years ago before the 6.5CM was a thing and asking if it was worth it to short on a 6.5x47. Everybody said it was stupid...get a 308...blah, blah, blah.

Frank said something I would not forget: "less than optimal speeds aside, pushing a better (higher BC) bullet is still pushing a better bullet..."

That's what I am starting to lean towards. A 135gr Berger bullet has a higher BC than the 185gr Beger juggernaut. Which to me means smoother to shoot with less recoil. Not that my 308 is that bad, but it would be even easier.

 

[wade2big]

I’m tired of overly long rifles with suppressors. I rarely shoot past 1,000 yards, so I don’t need supersonic flight out to 1200+. This rifle will be used for local matches and hunting.

I’m going with a 16” barrel, wish I could do 14.5” but my suppressor is a direct thread reflex. So I don’t want to submit a form 1 for just 1.5” less barrel length.

To keep weight down but still not have heat stringing issues during a match, what would be an ideal barrel contour?

I don’t shoot matches but shoot plenty. A CTR/Light Palma contour is about perfect. Heavy enough to not string shots and light enough to carry comfortably.

 

[smacha538]

I’m going through the exact problem with my build. Short .308 vs short 6.5. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Chesapeake]

There are only a few things you can do more easily with the .308 that you can’t do with the 6.5. A shorty rifle is fun in either caliber but I find the 6.5 to be more pleasant to shoot and the mid weight loads have been easy to get to shoot well in my experience.

If you were wanting to run subsonic, or occasionally compete in tactical class, I would recommend the .308 over the 6.5. Otherwise go 6.5.

 

[Lowlight]

A short 6.5 is awesome compared to a short 308,

I have an 18" 6.5CM and love it, did some videos in the past with it,

 

[Abbotm2]

My 18in Bergara comes I’m at 9.4lb with scope and can. Great hunting setup. #5 contour I believe.
M

 

[aslrookie]

There are only a few things you can do more easily with the .308 that you can’t do with the 6.5. A shorty rifle is fun in either caliber but I find the 6.5 to be more pleasant to shoot and the mid weight loads have been easy to get to shoot well in my experience.

If you were wanting to run subsonic, or occasionally compete in tactical class, I would recommend the .308 over the 6.5. Otherwise go 6.5.

I've played with the idea of subsonic 308 shooting, but the only thing I would see myself doing with it is close range coyote hunting. Tactical class is something to consider, but most matches don't have a 308 specific class.

 

[aslrookie]

A short 6.5 is awesome compared to a short 308,

I have an 18" 6.5CM and love it, did some videos in the past with it,

Frank, what is the shortest barrel length you would go for a 1,000 and in 6.5? I mean, if it's viable, I wouldn't mind doing an SBR.

 

[Lowlight]

I have seen 14", but as you said, why bother SBR'ing a bolt gun seems silly, but I know guys do it.

I would do 16" as the shortest, but personally I would never build one without a real reason like I was doing a covert project for someone.

If it was me, I would not go shorter than 18" with a bolt gun unless there was a valid reason, or I had more money than sense

Maybe if you said, " I have an AI, and access to a barrel, you can always chop one up for an AI because of the Quickloc

I tend notice short-barreled stuff under 18" has no resale value

 

[aslrookie]

I have seen 14", but as you said, why bother SBR'ing a bolt gun seems silly, but I know guys do it.

I would do 16" as the shortest, but personally I would never build one without a real reason like I was doing a covert project for someone.

If it was me, I would not go shorter than 18" with a bolt gun unless there was a valid reason, or I had more money than sense

Maybe if you said, " I have an AI, and access to a barrel, you can always chop one up for an AI because of the Quickloc

I tend notice short-barreled stuff under 18" has no resale value

Sounds good.

 

[Tazman]

I am currently having a 18 inch Proof Sendero 6.5 creed barrel installed on my LTR. My fear is it will obsolete my 24 inch GAP Proof barrel rifle. DMR is bulding it and coating the action stainless part of the barrel SIG grey and the bolt black. I got a 6.25 inch titanium suppressor that is still in jail that I plan to run on it.

 

[Ahogue]

Ive been tossing up the same for what im doing length isnt a big deal so been tossing up 26in proof or an 18in carbonsix in 6.5cm

 

[Scotch_egg]

I have seen 14", but as you said, why bother SBR'ing a bolt gun seems silly, but I know guys do it.

I would do 16" as the shortest, but personally I would never build one without a real reason like I was doing a covert project for someone.

If it was me, I would not go shorter than 18" with a bolt gun unless there was a valid reason, or I had more money than sense

Maybe if you said, " I have an AI, and access to a barrel, you can always chop one up for an AI because of the Quickloc

I tend notice short-barreled stuff under 18" has no resale value

what 6.5 creed barrel length would you recommend for all round shooting with a silencer?

 

[perttime]

A short 6.5 is awesome compared to a short 308,

...

How is muzzle blast between short 6.5 CM and 308?

 

[aslrookie]

How is muzzle blast between short 6.5 CM and 308?

Doesn't exist when shooting suppressed

 

[perttime]

Doesn't exist when shooting suppressed

I'm sure. If I get a shorty at some point, I'll buy a suppressor too. No sweat.

But I'm still curious about blast and noise without a can.

 

[aslrookie]

I'm sure. If I get a shorty at some point, I'll buy a suppressor too. No sweat.

But I'm still curious about blast and noise without a can.

I know mine suppressed was a big difference going from 26” to 18.5”. I wouldn’t want to shoot mine unsuppressed at all at 18.5”.

 

[Lowlight]

Seriously you are worried about blast

I posted videos you can SEE what it looks like

A 6.5 is smaller with a lighter bullet and less powder than a 308 so what do you think will recoil more ?

Most of my general rifles are 22” suppressed but people use what suits them, vs what suits other people

 

[Tazman]

Most of my 6.5's and 308 are 22 inches. 6mm creedmore and 7mm saum 24 inches. 7-300, 300wm and 338 Lapua are 26 inches. This new 6.5 creedmoor is 18 inches but it just meant to be a general purpose truck gun which is why I left the bottom metal on it and no DBM. It will be interesting to see the difference in velocity once the new rifle is broke in. Both my 6.5 Creedmoors have Proof Sendero barrels that are the same twist.

 

[perttime]

Sorry I asked. Won't do that again.

 

[308Gunner]

? Welcome to the Hide, check your feelings at the door and you will learn a lot. When the HMFIC give you some advice run with it.

 

[CaptNemo]

Sorry I asked. Won't do that again.

If you were looking for information, you got what you requested.
If you were looking for affirmation, that can be a bit tougher to find around here.
Lots of sharp people on this board with a lot of differing opinions, the vast majority are valid depending on end use.
No one will try to steer you in the wrong direction.

 

[xTBIRDx]

I remember several years ago before the 6.5CM was a thing and asking if it was worth it to short on a 6.5x47. Everybody said it was stupid...get a 308...blah, blah, blah.

Frank said something I would not forget: "less than optimal speeds aside, pushing a better (higher BC) bullet is still pushing a better bullet..."

My buddy cut his 6.5x47 Lapua down to 17" and was running the same speed as my Creed with a 22" barrel. High 26's to low 27's. Reloads not factory.

 

[perttime]

If you were looking for information, you got what you requested.
If you were looking for affirmation, that can be a bit tougher to find around here.
Lots of sharp people on this board with a lot of differing opinions, the vast majority are valid depending on end use.
No one will try to steer you in the wrong direction.

My questions was:
"How is muzzle blast between short 6.5 CM and 308 "

I did not get that information.

 

[meestermeetch]

6.5 shoots flatter, deals with wind better and recoils less. All while shooting a smaller, lighter bullet.

I want a short and relatively light ("handy") suppressed (sandman S) bolt gun, for hunting within 600 yards. I do not reload, so common hunting rounds are needed, both calibers here have that.

Does one caliber perform better on game (pigs, coyotes, deer) than the other? And does a particular barrel length favor a specific caliber - IE - if 16" go .308, but if 18" go 6.5?

 

[meestermeetch]

Perttime- I think the idea is that a smaller bullet (diameter and weight) with less powder behind it, won't have as much muzzle blast or recoil as a 308. Quantifying how much different they are will be difficult.

However from experience, shorter barrels, particularly those with muzzle brakes will have a fairly serious (you want ear protection) muzzle blast. I doubt it's worse than an unsuppressed SBR.

 

[roamin]

 

[Snipe260]

Would a 260 rem be good for 18 inch.? Add anymore velocity?

 

[perttime]

Perttime- I think the idea is that a smaller bullet (diameter and weight) with less powder behind it, won't have as much muzzle blast or recoil as a 308. ...

Why would 6.5 have less powder?
What I see in reloading data is similar amounts of slower burning powder, than 308.

 

[346ci]

Sounds like the same reason I went with a 18" 6.5cm, wanted short with a can for hunting.

 

[Crews]

I love short barrels with a suppressor for a hunting rifle. It's all you need for 600 yards and in. Realistically, that's a really far shot at an animal for 99% of us.

Below, you'll see some Magnetospeed MV info for Hornady factory ammo and a Kreiger Light Palma barrel that was 21" and chopped down to 16.5". For reference, the TBAC Ultra 5 adds ~25FPS if I remember correctly. Don't shoot much without it.

 

[BoilerUP]

Why would 6.5 have less powder?
What I see in reloading data is similar amounts of slower burning powder, than 308.

6.5 Creedmoors running 140s with H4350 generally use 1-2 grains less powder than a 308 with 175-185s and Varget.

 

[bigwatchpilot]

I'm sure. If I get a shorty at some point, I'll buy a suppressor too. No sweat.

But I'm still curious about blast and noise without a can.

You will not see much of a difference. If you find it to scary put a flash hider on it...I have never had an issue with muzzle blast on any short barrel, unsuppressed, short action caliber and smaller rifles...

 

[chrome]

Shorty (16.5in) 6.5cm owner here, with a SF brake shooting indoors with hearing pro, feels like everything else.

 

[perttime]

6.5 Creedmoors running 140s with H4350 generally use 1-2 grains less powder than a 308 with 175-185s and Varget.

... which is not a huge difference. And with 6.5 CM you generally use powders that burn more slowly.

 

[trob_205]

Before I had my AX I cut a Ruger RPR in 6.5cm to 17” and it was the handiest little thing. Now my AX has a 18” 308 barrel and 24” 6.5cm barrel and while I like shooting the 6.5cm better I love how small and handy it is with the shorty 308 barrel. This thread my put me over the edge for a chopity chop on the 6.5 barrel

 

[Hunt]

Hit the easy button. Tikka CTR 6.5 CM with 20" barrel.

 

[jwhjwh54]

Bergara ridgeline Sp in 6.5 will be my next gun

 

[chrome]

FWIW, did some ad-hoc data analysis for a 16.5in vs 22in 6.5cm in this thread:

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...al-data-across-several-factory-loads.6974292/

 

[Zero Fox]

I'm sure. If I get a shorty at some point, I'll buy a suppressor too. No sweat.

But I'm still curious about blast and noise without a can.

I recently picked up a PWS MK218 in 6.5 (18" AR10 piston rifle) and took it out for the first time this weekend. Even with the aggressive PWS comp and semi enclosed shooting area, it seemed very mild. This was my first time shooting 6.5 and I was very surprised, especially compared to my previous experiences with .308 gas guns. I had a suppressor with me and didn't feel the need to put it on. I do plan on eventually having a dedicated can for this rifle because I want to have a suppressor on every gun I own. The recoil is mild enough I was able to settle back in time to just catch my impacts on steel at 200 yards. Several ROs and other shooters came and sat next to me to converse while shooting and no one seemed to mind. The guy several stalls down with a comped 16" AR in 5.56 seemed to be causing more of a stir.

 

[Conrad]

Pushing 130 Hybrids at 2805 with R16 out of an 18” Proof sendero.