6.5 creedmoor suppressed optimal barrel length

Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
6
Looking to rebarrel my 6.5 creedmoor, this will be a hunting rifle, I have a dead air nomad ti waiting on approval, barreled action currently sits in a krg bravo, Looking for opinions on barrel length, im currently thinking about a 20" but toying with the idea of 18", I would likely keep my shots with this rifle 300 ish.

Thanks!
 

Kimmo H

FNG
Joined
Jan 3, 2023
Messages
55
I built myself a 48cm, or 19" semiweight barrel for Tikka T3x and run an Ase Utra Radien suppressor on it. 8" twist, stainless Lothar Walther profiled blank. Stock barrel was 24", and with a suppressor on it was simply too long for my taste.
I think I got it just right, as it handles extremely well and shoots very accurately out to 600meters even with somewhat mild handloads.
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
2,713
Location
PA
At 300 yards you can go to 16" no problem, 130 eld or tmk will be very destructive. I'm at 18" and should have enough velocity for the bullets to perform at 600+ yards.

Monos suck at tissue destruction.
 
OP
K
Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
6
At 300 yards you can go to 16" no problem, 130 eld or tmk will be very destructive. I'm at 18" and should have enough velocity for the bullets to perform at 600+ yards.

Monos suck at tissue destruction.
What bullet do you recommend? Was thinking 120 nosler BT
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
2,713
Location
PA
130 eld, 130 tmk, 143 eldx, 140 eld, 147 eld. Basically the stars of this thread.

 
Joined
Jul 24, 2017
Messages
340
Location
AR
I did 20” but if I was keeping shots inside 300 I would just use my 223. If I had to use the 6.5 though I would cut to 16” and use a 130-140eld or 130 TMK
 
OP
K
Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
6
130 eld, 130 tmk, 143 eldx, 140 eld, 147 eld. Basically the stars of this thread.

Thank you!
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
10,475
Location
Alaska
Looking to rebarrel my 6.5 creedmoor, this will be a hunting rifle, I have a dead air nomad ti waiting on approval, barreled action currently sits in a krg bravo, Looking for opinions on barrel length, im currently thinking about a 20" but toying with the idea of 18", I would likely keep my shots with this rifle 300 ish.

Thanks!
When I cut my 6.5 it will be 20”
 

MHWASH

WKR
Joined
Aug 21, 2016
Messages
811
Location
S.E.WA
I cut my Tikka to 20". I'm getting 2924 w/130 ELDm using a Nomad can. I almost always carry my rifle in a Gun Bearer and do not typically have an issue with the length.
 
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
1,264
I've had 16", 18", 20", 22", and 24" 6.5 Creedmoors that I ran suppressed. 16" and 18" had a lot of loose carbon shit in the can from unburnt powder. One longer range session (150 rounds or so) with the 18" without removal of the can afterwards and storing it muzzle up cause me some issues and I had to clean the shit out of it, couldnt chamber rounds and had a lot of carbon back in the lugs too causing the action to not run well.

Zero issues with 20"+. Velocity wise I found 20" to be the best compromise for portability and not being neutered. The Bartlein CF barrel I'm going to have spun up for my new Impact 737 switch barrel hunting/NRL hunter rifle will be a 20" 6.5.
 

sram9102

WKR
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
1,009
Location
IN
I cut my Tikka to 20". I'm getting 2924 w/130 ELDm using a Nomad can. I almost always carry my rifle in a Gun Bearer and do not typically have an issue with the length.
Rl26? Thats blazing fast. I pressured out at 2750 with my factory barrel cut to 20".
 
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
1,264
Rl26? Thats blazing fast. I pressured out at 2750 with my factory barrel cut to 20".

That velocity is not even possible with a 20" barrel, let alone a slow Tikka barrel. He either has a happy chronograph or no chronograph and is just throwing out a number.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2014
Messages
586
Location
Montana
18-21 seems to work for me, great accuracy with short thicker barrels. 6.5 creed isn’t fast I think I’m 2725 at 20” w/out a can. Consistently slow works for me
 

brockel

WKR
Joined
Feb 8, 2017
Messages
783
Location
Baker,mt
My previous 20” creedmoor tikka went 2750 with 140s. Have another at the smith getting cut to 20”. Will see what that one does when I get it back
 

Kimmo H

FNG
Joined
Jan 3, 2023
Messages
55
Any idea on velocity? I'm thinking either 127 lrx or 120 ballistic tips.
My mildish load runs at 2630fps range with 143gr ELD-X, and slightly faster with 139gr Scenars. I could push it for more, but this load is stupid reliable no matter the conditions, so I'm sticking with it :)

I haven't tried the 120-130gr bullets that much, as the barrel clearly preferred the heavier bullets when I starter load dev. on it. I couldn't get anywhere close to the accuracy of 139gr Scenars when I tried to work up the 123gr Scenars, so I basically gave up on lighter bullets with this barrel. It sure loves the 143 eld-x when I figured out the seating depth for it.
 
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
356
Location
Alaska
Considering your suppressor is 7 inches long. Why not get an SBR stamp and cut your barrel at 13 inches? Giving you an overall barrel/suppressor length of 20 inches. Which would be cool ‘cause you’d have a short barrel, a suppressor and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Of course, this should only be done with a Tikka, topped with an SWFA scope.
 
Last edited:

sram9102

WKR
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
1,009
Location
IN
Considering your suppressor is 7 inches long. Why not get an SBR stamp and cut your barrel at 13 inches? Giving you an overall barrel length of 20 inches. Which would be cool ‘cause you’d have a short barrel, a suppressor and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Of course, this should only be done with a Tikka, topped with an SWFA scope.
I have thought about going the sbr route before. A 12" 6.5/308 would cover 90 percent of my hunting. Having to file paperwork to take it out of state is the only holdup.
 
Top