6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC build

[BigGameJames87]

This gun will be meant for hunting timber country like the lost coast or B zone. I’d be surprised if it’d shoot something 350 yards since there wouldn’t be a lot of open country.

I'd recommend the Creed in that case. I have a PRC and love it but I also hunt in pretty open country where a longer shot might be all you can get.

Do you reload? If you do another possibility since you're after deer is a .243 Win. That gives you less recoil than the 6.5s and Tikka makes it in a 1-8" twist so you have more bullet options than the standard 1-10" twist. Of course if you plan to replace the barrel anyway you can have whatever twist you want.

 

[wind gypsy]

Weight reduction. I do keep all the tikka barrels. I still have my tikka 30-06 that I converted to a 280 AI.

Don’t think there is any weight reduction in many cases, possibly the opposite.

Proofs weight chart:


Tikka lite 6.5 creed chopped at 18”:

 

[MHWASH]

I think your headed in the wrong direction for what your purpose is. You stated shooting standing and reduced recoil. To me this says CM chopped to 18". Why go light weight if your concerned about spotting your shots. I also think your choice of scope magnification is wrong to. Stick with 10x for the maximum magnification.