Quick Intel for 26" 6.5CM

[707FreedomFan]

I'm a big fan of a 22" 6.5CM but bought a 26" Proof barrel for some reason and an finishing up the build here shortly.

I think most guys are probably shooting a 22"+/-2" and most loads we've worked on were for that or 18" etc

Any wisdom on bullet/powder combination to take advantage of the barrel length that wouldn't perhaps apply to the more typical lengths?

Heavy/slow would be my conventional wisdom but I'm no authority on the subject.

Thanks in advance!

Ps feel free to bash my 26" barrel as useless ha

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

What bullet do you intend to run? You can coax a little more velocity out of the longer tube, but it's not going to be anything life changing or drastically different from the 22-24 inchers.

 

[wil_pt]

I use a 26in barrel for matches. A little more speed helps. What’s your build for? Best powders to try would be H4350 and RL16 with 130/140 projectiles.

 

[Kadams1563]

I believe “most” are actually running a 24”-26” barrel for the 6.5 creed lol.

for my26” I loaded 41.3-42.2 grains of H4350 behind a 140 eld.

thay was giving me 2820-2830 BUT I had to start upping powder to keep that velocity before 2000 rounds.

 

[707FreedomFan]

I was kind of keyed in to 156eol and RL-26.. but also have no idea ha

Rifle's purpose is undetermined. Will weigh about 8 lbs pre-glass. Use is probably intermediate range hunting(600y?), little bit of 1000y+ goofing off

 

[Gustav7]

I was kind of keyed in to 156eol and RL-26.. but also have no idea ha

Rifle's purpose is undetermined. Will weigh about 8 lbs pre-glass. Use is probably intermediate range hunting(600y?), little bit of 1000y+ goofing off

Initially my RL26 tests with 147’s was getting me around 2830 out of a 24” Factory savage barrel. I have more loaded up but haven’t tested them yet. If it helps, my barrel seems a bit slow compared to a lot

 

[707FreedomFan]

I guess what I'm after is anything I can make it do that I can't do with my 18" SRS ha

The 2800+ numbers are inspiring but I'm hoping to do that with 147/156gr etc as the 18" netted something like 2660 with factory 140eld

Thank you, gentlemen

 

[Kadams1563]

I wouldn’t put a 156 in a 6.5 creed and expect to get any speed. That’s more of a 6.5 SAUM bullet. If hunting go with the 143 Eld-X.

Lots of people feel the 147 is too large for the creed.

 

[stello1001]

I wouldn’t put a 156 in a 6.5 creed and expect to get any speed. That’s more of a 6.5 SAUM bullet. If hunting go with the 143 Eld-X.

Lots of people feel the 147 is too large for the creed.

You'd have to scavenge R16 or R26 to make it worth loading and trying the real heavies...

 

[Nimothy]

I’m a fan of h4350 and 147eld. 41.5 gets me around 2790 out of a 24” but my oal is pretty long

 

[Shootnwrench]

Only have tried the 140 class, but my 26” tube loads so far. Lapua LR cases, F210M’s.

140 ELDM @ 2.765col runs 2830fps with
42.2 H4350
42.3 RL16

140 Berger Hybrid @ 2.910col runs 2850fps with
42.3 RL16

More speed can be had but shoots great there.