I'm relatively new to long range shooting and rifle hunting. I currently have a 6.5 Creedmoor Howa in an MDT chassis that I've been using for fun range shooting and whitetail hunting in the eastern US. I have a safe full of other guns, but the Howa is the closest I have to a serious bolt rifle.
I'd like to get a second nice bolt gun and have it focused specifically on mobile hunting, specifically whitetail inside of 400 yards, and ideally as light/small as possible to facilitate longer hikes in, climbing into a tree, going through brush, etc. The Howa has a 24" barrel and weighs almost 17 pounds, so it's seriously inconvenient for anything aside from shooting long range when you have a nice setup at ground level at the end of a short walk. I'd never lug it through brush or haul it up a tree.
I'd like to stick with 6.5 Creedmoor so I only need one ammo supply. I'd also like a plastic stock and stainless or carbon barrel to keep it weatherproof. I'm in NY, so this will be used without a suppressor.
I've narrowed my search to the Springfield 2020 Redline, and I've been on the verge of picking one up a couple times over the last few weeks, but I'm conflicted on barrel length between the 16" or 20" options. I feel like the overriding theme is longer is almost always better, but in a use case like mine where weight/length/convenience is important, is there any reason to not go with the 16" barrel? It's only a few ounces less, but the shorter overall length is really appealing as well. I do see threads on here where people are shooting 6.5 Creedmoor out of short barrels but it also seems like a lot of those people are only choosing the short option because they're hanging a suppressor on it. I just want a rifle that's easy to carry.
TLDR: Is a 16" barrel OK for 6.5 Creedmoor as a mobile hunting gun for whitetail under 400 yards? Especially considering I already have another 6.5 Creedmoor rifle with a longer/heavier barrel if I need it? Or should I play it safe and stick with the 20" barrel?
The voices in my head are sick of debating this, so I figured I'd ask here.
I'd like to get a second nice bolt gun and have it focused specifically on mobile hunting, specifically whitetail inside of 400 yards, and ideally as light/small as possible to facilitate longer hikes in, climbing into a tree, going through brush, etc. The Howa has a 24" barrel and weighs almost 17 pounds, so it's seriously inconvenient for anything aside from shooting long range when you have a nice setup at ground level at the end of a short walk. I'd never lug it through brush or haul it up a tree.
I'd like to stick with 6.5 Creedmoor so I only need one ammo supply. I'd also like a plastic stock and stainless or carbon barrel to keep it weatherproof. I'm in NY, so this will be used without a suppressor.
I've narrowed my search to the Springfield 2020 Redline, and I've been on the verge of picking one up a couple times over the last few weeks, but I'm conflicted on barrel length between the 16" or 20" options. I feel like the overriding theme is longer is almost always better, but in a use case like mine where weight/length/convenience is important, is there any reason to not go with the 16" barrel? It's only a few ounces less, but the shorter overall length is really appealing as well. I do see threads on here where people are shooting 6.5 Creedmoor out of short barrels but it also seems like a lot of those people are only choosing the short option because they're hanging a suppressor on it. I just want a rifle that's easy to carry.
TLDR: Is a 16" barrel OK for 6.5 Creedmoor as a mobile hunting gun for whitetail under 400 yards? Especially considering I already have another 6.5 Creedmoor rifle with a longer/heavier barrel if I need it? Or should I play it safe and stick with the 20" barrel?
The voices in my head are sick of debating this, so I figured I'd ask here.
