Would I be crazy to chop my 6.5 barrel?

[newguy2k3v2]

I have a really good shooting 24” noveske 6.5 creedmoor barrel fitted for my mws. It doesn’t seem to care for 140s that much but 123 and 130 Elds will generally hold 3/4moa or better and hasn’t been too picky on load development. My go to is hdy brass and 43.7 h4350 which gets me about 2875fps. It’s a rifle length gas system though and to keep from trashing brass I have a FA carrier, xh buffer and adjustable gas block. It’s a boat oar to swing with a can on it. The recoil impulse isn’t bad but it’s fairly drawn out with all that mass and I can feel and see every step of it in the sight picture.

I’m thinking about cutting it to 18” or so to make it handier and with the reduced dwell time I could lighten up the operating system without wrecking brass. I’ve just been afraid to touch it because it has always seemed to shoot so well. If I have to open the port so be it but noveske always seemed to be generous on his gas ports.

I think Dwilson is sleeving some 22” proof +2 6.5 barrels to fit the mws so I could grab one of those later if I wanted some speed back.

 

[aslrookie]

Since it’s an MWS, why not just buy a shorter barrel? Then you can swap barrels as needed.

 

[b6graham]

i'd never cut a good shooting barrel

 

[GrumpyOleFart]

Yes, 100% barking mad to chop a decent shooting barrel.
If possible, interchange for a shorty.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Since it’s an MWS, why not just buy a shorter barrel? Then you can swap barrels as needed.

Because the only factory 6.5 barrels are 20” rifle gas with pressed on gas blocks and they’re unobtainium. I haven’t seen many 18” off the shelf barrels and the ones I have I wouldn’t trust enough to pay to have converted and hope it’s a shooter.

I think a rifle length gas system with a suppressor would do better with a shorter barrel so even though it groups well it’s not an ideal setup as far as tuning the operating cycle.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Don't cut, switch to Berger 130 AR hybrids. It will love them.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

eh, barrels arent like they were 10-15 years ago....getting a good shooting barrel now is as simple as ordering a new one.

i say cut it and make it more useful to you....its not like its going to go to 4 MOA.....even if you do lose accuracy, and your group size doubles, you still have a 1.5 MOA rifle....which is still FAR more accuracy than you need for any practical purpose.

Go take a look at what a MWS 6.5 CM barrel costs.

Last one I sold , Sold for $1600. They are unobtainable with a year + wait.

People saying to buy a shorter barrel are out of touch with reality and the market.

 

[Simonsza1]

It will shoot great chopped down as well. I have an 18” and it shoots awesome. Just be ready to lose a pretty good amount of speed. My 143eldx load which isn’t hot but it’s only going 2,400fps

 

[Simonsza1]

I think powder valley has some 6.5 Berger’s In stock

 

[Simonsza1]

Just 153.5 not what he’s looking for though. Probably shoot awesome out of my other 6.5 with 7.5” twist

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Don't cut, switch to Berger 130 AR hybrids. It will love them.

Are those 130 Berger’s going to reduce the dwell time from my current 130eld load so that I can reduce the reciprocating mass without trashing brass? Are they going to make the rifle easier to maneuver around?

 

[Gtscotty]

It will shoot great chopped down as well. I have an 18” and it shoots awesome. Just be ready to lose a pretty good amount of speed. My 143eldx load which isn’t hot but it’s only going 2,400fps

To be fair, that's very slow for an 18" Creedmoor, 2,600 fps should be no great challenge with RL16, RL23 or StaBall, not to mention RL26.

I say if you want it shorter, cut it, life is too short to live with guns you don't really like. I've had a couple good shooting barrels chopped and none of them got less accurate, although their preferred loads often changed somewhat.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

It will shoot great chopped down as well. I have an 18” and it shoots awesome. Just be ready to lose a pretty good amount of speed. My 143eldx load which isn’t hot but it’s only going 2,400fps

If I’m a 2850ish now I’m thinking I’d end up around 2650 if I went to 18” which wouldn’t be too bad.

 

[Simonsza1]

Well it’s technically 2,438. 42.2 gr of h4350. 18” with ultra7. Magnetospeed believe me I wish it was faster and could be if I wanted. It’s a nice accurate load I use for hunting

 

[Simonsza1]

If I’m a 2850ish now I’m thinking I’d end up around 2650 if I went to 18” which wouldn’t be too bad.

Maybe with the 130s you would be but from my loadings you would probably have to load pretty hot to hit that with 143s. I couldn’t make power factor for nrl hunter series with 140s I forget exactly what my speed was but I had pressure signs before power factor so I had to use a different rifle. I vaguely remember not being able to get past 2,660ish without pressure signs.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Well it’s technically 2,438. 42.2 gr of h4350. 18” with ultra7. Magnetospeed believe me I wish it was faster and could be if I wanted. It’s a nice accurate load I use for hunting

What brand barrel and gas system length?

This 24” noveske is a 3 groove and with the same loads it tracks right along the 22” bartlein on my fix for velocity.

 

[Simonsza1]

Mines a bolt gun. With a krieger

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Mines a bolt gun. With a krieger

Ah. I have a 16” proof cf for the fix and it runs 2550 with 42.5 of h4350 and 143eldx. Seems like you just have a slower barrel or lot of powder.

 

[Simonsza1]

SOLD - *Price Drop 12/8* 500x case of Berger 6.5mm 130gr Hybrid OTM Tactical bullets new in sealed retail box - $399 shipped

500x case of Berger 6.5mm 130gr Hybrid OTM Tactical bullets new in sealed retail box - $499 $399 shipped and insured Super hard to find. Prices are firm. Discreet PayPal F&F, Zelle, Venmo or USPS MO only. Thanks.

www.snipershide.com

Price drop!

 

[bigwatchpilot]

Cut it...life is short and your barrels should be too! Also they are easy to replace.

 

[SwedishMoose]

Fully agree. I'd send it to Adco or Dave Wilson and get it done.

 

[ellis321]

It will shoot great chopped down as well. I have an 18” and it shoots awesome. Just be ready to lose a pretty good amount of speed. My 143eldx load which isn’t hot but it’s only going 2,400fps

 

[acudaowner]

maybe if you were cutting a 28'' barrel down to 4'' id say that pretty crazy other wise it's all been done before enjoy .

 

[steve101610]

I say cut it and be happy with life. I would bet it will be more accurate if you have a good Smith do the work. Shorter barrels are stiffer and easier to find an accurate load for.