Is a 25 Creedmoor with 16” barrel a bad idea?

JStrong

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Has anyone built a 25 Creedmoor with a 16” barrel? I’m going to get a 25 Creedmoor and want to get the shortest barrel possible. I plan on using it for western hunting (under 500 yards). I saw a video from Exo where Steve said he was getting 2900 fps out of his 16” 6mm Creedmoor. I wanted to see if anyone has gotten close to that with a 25. Thanks!
 
While the 25 creedmoor velocities are better than the 6.5 they’ll be a bit off of the 6. But there’s only one way to know. I say you get what you want and report back.
 
You will not be anywhere near 2900fps in a 16" 25cm with the 130-class bullets. Factory loads for the 134eldm are 2,810 in a 24" barrel. Maybe with a 100gr nosler BT but it isn't the ideal 500yd western hunting projectile. Why do you want a 16" barrel?
 
16" 6cm is safe around 2750-2800 all weather loads.

A 16" 25cm us prob gonna land at 2650-2700 same pressure.

I am on my 4th 25cm barrel since 2018, long barrels with the higher velocity combined with the extra BC is what makes the cartridge advantageous to the 65cm. However with the extra speed on tap of the 6mm cm, the 25 doesn't do anything better inside 700y. The 6cm will always have a 150ish fps advantage over the 25cm in equal length barrels, this nullifies any BC advantage within most hunting situations. You doing the same thing with a slightly heavier bullet and added recoil. Hornady sure makes it look cool on paper tho........
 
Has anyone built a 25 Creedmoor with a 16” barrel? I’m going to get a 25 Creedmoor and want to get the shortest barrel possible. I plan on using it for western hunting (under 500 yards). I saw a video from Exo where Steve said he was getting 2900 fps out of his 16” 6mm Creedmoor. I wanted to see if anyone has gotten close to that with a 25. Thanks!

When I had a 25 I was getting 2715 from a 20” with factory 134 eldms. The bc makes up for lack of speed but I didn’t see it as anything more than a less popular 6.5 cm. They’re only .007” different. There are a ton more .264 bullets and way more factory ammo. I don’t see the benefit of going that route yet. The new bullets do shine in a magnum load though. 25 saum/25 prc.


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when I first built my 20” 25cm my load was about 2620fps. Once it “sped up” and I added a suppressor it jumped to around 2740. But I’ve learned at 600 yds my group is suffering some. Not bad, but it’s not as good as it was when it was 100fps slower. I’d guess with a 16 you’ll be around 2500fps with a 134
 
I have a 20” Proof MTR in a 25 Creedmoor, and I don’t get anywhere near the speeds above. I’m currently loading 40 grains of H4350 in Alpha brass with CCI 450 primers. With right at 100 rounds on this barrel, I’m getting 2569 fps with a 134 ELD-M. Hornady’s load data says 40.8 is max, with a speed of 2800 fps. Since I’m 4” shorter in barrel length than their test barrel, I could probably safely push-up to 2700-2725 for speeds without pressuring out, but I’d be on the edge. With a 16” barrel you’re going to really have to step on the gas. I’m sure you could get higher speeds than I am seeing, but are the gains worth the wear and tear on your brass and barrel? I’ve also found over time that loading a cartridge to a mild level generally makes the load more stable and less finicky. Long brass life, and relatively easy on my barrel. Finally, I shoot 15-20 thousand rounds a year, and it plays out in real life that slowing a load down generally costs me maybe a tenth of wind at distance over a quicker load. Why push to gain speed when all I gain is a 1/10th better wind hold?
 
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