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

[JStrong]

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!

 

[TradLife406]

22 creed in that length is amazing. But I know some states don't allow 22 cal.

 

[peaceful_ruler]

yes

 

[AkMtnRunner]

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.

 

[puckhead]

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?

 

[khuber84]

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........

 

[echampion8]

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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[Pickettpuncher]

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

 

[Finaddictions]

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?

 

[cbuck516]

I have an 18 inch 1:7” 25 Creedmoor that I built for hunting suppressed for shots inside 400 yards.

I am shooting the burger 135 in the 2640 FPS range and my hunting load is the hammer 107 HBC going 2970 FPS. There are other powder options that will allow you to get a little bit more speed, but the powder I’m usingt gets 100% burn well before the muzzle and provides really small ES/SD.

I’m going to assume since you are wanting as short as possible that you are also planning to shoot suppressed. It is wise to ensure that your bullet powder combo will achieve 100% burn inside the barrel in situations like this to ensure that you never get carbon buildup inside your suppressor. I know manufacturers say that you don’t need to worry about this happening, but I just got done cleaning a quarter pound of carbon buildup from the inside of my sealed suppressor and I can tell you it’s not easy to remove once you get that much buildup.

 

[RockAndSage]

With your question on anything being wrong with a 16" barrel - what matters is knowing impact velocities with the bullet you want to shoot, at the max distance you're personally capable of 10 for 10 hits on vitals at, in field conditions. As long as those velocities have the bullet opening up, everything else is pretty marginal, almost to the point of not mattering. I love me some cartridge geekery, but that's reality as I know it.

It's really easy to get wrapped up in velocity minutiae when talking cartridge advantages, but one of the most important realities to respect is that little to none of the differences matter in killing when we're talking 400 yards or less. And in field conditions, reality for most people is closer to 350 or even 300 for absolutely consistent hits on vitals. Everything with BC, caliber, cartridge, etc, at those distances is pretty marginal.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I would do the 16inch with the Berger 115s and go kill with impunity!

 

[JStrong]

Thank you to everyone for their insight and suggestions!