+Peak Creedmoor Barrel

[KeepHammering]

I’ve been wanting to get an 18” barrel specifically for elk hunting. With all of the small cartridge advice I’ve gotten here, I’ve slowly worked my way from a 300 PRC, to a 7 PRC, to a 6.5 PRC the past few years.

I was planning on taking my 6 Creed this year tipped with a 116 TMK. My current 6CM barrel is a 24”.

However, with this new +Peak case coming out, I can get the speeds I’m looking for out of an 18” barrel even if I’m sizing up to the 6.5 153gr TMK.

Here’s my question: If I’m ordering an 18” barrel specifically for Elk, which Creedmoor do you think I should get now that this +Peak (and likely other brands) cases are changing the game? I’m not going all the way down to a 22 CM, but I’m considering 6CM, 25CM, and 6.5CM. Assume I’m going to run the TMK in whichever cartridge I pick.

 

[nm.otter]

6mm Creedmoor is already in the moderately overbore club.

+Peak will push it pretty hard.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

If you want one now, it’s the 6.5 + Peak

I hope they +Peak the entire creedmoor family.

Especially the 22CM !!

 

[KeepHammering]

6mm Creedmoor is already in the moderately overbore club.

+Peak will push it pretty hard.

I don’t disagree. So would that push you all the way up to 6.5 in your opinion, or consider the 25 as a happy medium?

If you want one now, it’s the 6.5 + Peak

I hope they +Peak the entire creedmoor family.

Especially the 22CM !!

I’ll be loading my own with the +Peak cases, so I don’t want the factory loadings to sway me too much one way or the other.

 

[nm.otter]

If I already owned a 6.5mm that shot well (which I do), I'd try factory +Peak in it -- and then chop/thread my barrel.

Homebrew neck-downs I'd want some time to play with before I took them on a hunt.

 

[KeepHammering]

Does anyone else have any thoughts on my question? It seems the general consensus from @Formidilosus and others is that 6mm is the way to go for a "do all" gun. Do these new high pressure cases change any thoughts on this since in theory you can push bigger pills with the same volume of powder at still reduced recoil?

 

[Azhunter10]

I’m going to try them. If they work in my 6.5 Creedmoor my 300wm will up for sale!!! Everything I’ve read says they won’t be available until August.

 

[Speaks]

Does anyone else have any thoughts on my question? It seems the general consensus from @Formidilosus and others is that 6mm is the way to go for a "do all" gun. Do these new high pressure cases change any thoughts on this since in theory you can push bigger pills with the same volume of powder at still reduced recoil?

Here is my current moderately informed thinking.

First my 6 creed is my "do all gun" and I really cant shoot at ranges where it runs out of juice and becomes a limitation.

But I had a 6.5 PRC for the theoretical situation where maybe I want to and am able to shoot further. I also had a 6.5cm that was not really filling a slot other than I have an abudnace of ammo and I use it for longer range stuff. With this I can just keep the 6.5cm and rebarrel my 6.5 prc into something more interesting...

 

[KeepHammering]

Here is my current moderately informed thinking.

First my 6 creed is my "do all gun" and I really cant shoot at ranges where it runs out of juice and becomes a limitation.

But I had a 6.5 PRC for the theoretical situation where maybe I want to and am able to shoot further. I also had a 6.5cm that was not really filling a slot other than I have an abudnace of ammo and I use it for longer range stuff. With this I can just keep the 6.5cm and rebarrel my 6.5 prc into something more interesting...

I'm in a similar situation as you with the 6CM and the 6.5 PRC, but I don't currently have a 6.5CM. Also, all of the barrels I have are 24" carbon fiber, so I assume I can't get them cut down. So, if I'm buying a new barrel for a very specific purpose, I'm having a hard time deciding which Creedmoor to go with now that we're able to safely run 80,000 PSI.

 

[MoeFaux]

I think you've got two options:

1) The Easy Button - buy the 6.5 CM and use it this season. It's the only +Peak you can use this season, so this is your answer if you want it this year.

2) The Waiting Game - hunt with the 6mm this year and enjoy it. Wait to see what else comes out in +Peak before committing to the new barrel.

This is kind of like the famous marshmallow experiment. . . do you demand the immediate gratification, or are you willing to wait for a potentially more satisfying future reward?

 

[Chris in TN]

I think a 16" 6CM shooting standard pressure loads is all the power 99% of us need and that other 1% isn't here asking questions.

 

[Speaks]

I'm in a similar situation as you with the 6CM and the 6.5 PRC, but I don't currently have a 6.5CM. Also, all of the barrels I have are 24" carbon fiber, so I assume I can't get them cut down. So, if I'm buying a new barrel for a very specific purpose, I'm having a hard time deciding which Creedmoor to go with now that we're able to safely run 80,000 PSI.

Yea I had kind of looked at the 6.5 cm as really an unnecessary place holder between the 6 creed and the 6.5 prc and that I would rebarrel it after shooting it out. Now with peak+ I figure I would rather keep it and get rid of the PRC.

 

[KeepHammering]

I think a 16" 6CM shooting standard pressure loads is all the power 99% of us need and that other 1% isn't here asking questions.

I'm definitely part of the 99%, but I still like to ask questions and learn. Whenever there's new information and the rules of the game are changed, then I'm certainly going to reconsider things. I'm interested in how this "new" approach to case design might factor into the equation. The whole small caliber debate is primarily based around lighter recoil. These higher pressures allow you to push the larger caliber bullets to higher speeds without the recoil penalty (or at least that's what they're saying), so why not factor this new variable into the equation?

Yea I had kind of looked at the 6.5 cm as really an unnecessary place holder between the 6 creed and the 6.5 prc and that I would rebarrel it after shooting it out. Now with peak+ I figure I would rather keep it and get rid of the PRC.

I agree. Definitely a paradigm shifter!

 

[H2901]

I'm definitely part of the 99%, but I still like to ask questions and learn. Whenever there's new information and the rules of the game are changed, then I'm certainly going to reconsider things. I'm interested in how this "new" approach to case design might factor into the equation. The whole small caliber debate is primarily based around lighter recoil. These higher pressures allow you to push the larger caliber bullets to higher speeds without the recoil penalty (or at least that's what they're saying), so why not factor this new variable into the equation?


I agree. Definitely a paradigm shifter!

THIS. Been bouncing this exact thought around in my head for weeks. I’m extremely new (but totally bought in) to the small caliber/low recoil hunting concept, with a Tikka 6 cm on backorder. But seems like a whirlwind of new shit coming out: more + peak cartridges, PXT barrels, Rokstok (new concept to me but I dig it).

So much happening and it’s awesome, but definitely a lot to think about and hopefully get feedback on in the coming months.

 

[nm.otter]

I'm interested in how this "new" approach to case design might factor into the equation.

Choose a not-so-overbore cartridge and enjoy long barrel life shooting conventional brass-cased ammo.

Think of HP rounds like race fuel: Shoot them when you need a bit more speed/reach, at some cost to engine (barrel) life.

 

[ACHILLES]

Does anyone else have any thoughts on my question? It seems the general consensus from @Formidilosus and others is that 6mm is the way to go for a "do all" gun. Do these new high pressure cases change any thoughts on this since in theory you can push bigger pills with the same volume of powder at still reduced recoil?

I doubt recoil will be much different than a 6.5prc. 6.5cm+peak 45-47ish grains at 80kpsi vs 6.5prc at 57-58gr at 62k psi

I’ve never seen detailed accuracy testing with nas3 like cases vs brass but it may not be any different. Why not just run a 6.5prc at similar recoil and speeds. Especially if you have already had one and have dies. Also it seems you can only get 1-3firings from nas3 cases although the word is dies are coming. If you want one cause it’s cool and new or to have the option of 6.5cm-6.5prc performance I get that. But I wouldn’t get one thinking it can do something the 6.5prc can’t for long range hunting.
If you want a big 6 soon I wouldn’t wait around for 6cm+peak cases and I don’t think you can neck down 6.5cm +peak cases. Run the 6SST,6prc,or6UM, they all have cases, dies, and reamers available now.

 

[KeepHammering]

I doubt recoil will be much different than a 6.5prc. 6.5cm+peak 45-47ish grains at 80kpsi vs 6.5prc at 57-58gr at 62k psi

I’ve never seen detailed accuracy testing with nas3 like cases vs brass but it may not be any different. Why not just run a 6.5prc at similar recoil and speeds. Especially if you have already had one and have dies. Also it seems you can only get 1-3firings from nas3 cases although the word is dies are coming. If you want one cause it’s cool and new or to have the option of 6.5cm-6.5prc performance I get that. But I wouldn’t get one thinking it can do something the 6.5prc can’t for long range hunting.
If you want a big 6 soon I wouldn’t wait around for 6cm+peak cases and I don’t think you can neck down 6.5cm +peak cases. Run the 6SST,6prc,or6UM, they all have cases, dies, and reamers available now.

In theory, what you said makes a lot of sense and is what I was thinking at first but:

- I ran the numbers in a recoil calculator. Leaving bullet weight (153gr), velocity, and gun weight all the same, and ONLY changing the powder charge, the CM was 19.4% less recoil than the PRC.

- Also, SAC released a short video of them necking down a 6.5 CM +Peak case to a 6 CM. They said these dies are coming out this summer.

Only time will tell, but I think there's a much larger conversation here with the barrel and case technology advancing this rapidly. I truly think the 6.5 CM could literally be a much less recoiling 6.5 PRC performance cartridge. Which brings me back to my original question, if we can push larger bullets faster without the recoil penalty, should the pendulum swing back toward the 6.5 (or 25) rather than the 6? Or are there still more advantages to staying with the 6mm that I'm not thinking of?

I appreciate everyone's responses and please keep the feedback and discussion going!

 

[omicron1792]

I doubt recoil will be much different than a 6.5prc. 6.5cm+peak 45-47ish grains at 80kpsi vs 6.5prc at 57-58gr at 62k psi

I’ve never seen detailed accuracy testing with nas3 like cases vs brass but it may not be any different. Why not just run a 6.5prc at similar recoil and speeds. Especially if you have already had one and have dies. Also it seems you can only get 1-3firings from nas3 cases although the word is dies are coming. If you want one cause it’s cool and new or to have the option of 6.5cm-6.5prc performance I get that. But I wouldn’t get one thinking it can do something the 6.5prc can’t for long range hunting.
If you want a big 6 soon I wouldn’t wait around for 6cm+peak cases and I don’t think you can neck down 6.5cm +peak cases. Run the 6SST,6prc,or6UM, they all have cases, dies, and reamers available now.

Plenty of videos of people necking down to 6cm already. One posted last night.

Also the recoil will be significantly lower with the 6.5cm plus peak than the 6.5prc

 

[Chris in TN]

I'm definitely part of the 99%, but I still like to ask questions and learn. Whenever there's new information and the rules of the game are changed, then I'm certainly going to reconsider things. I'm interested in how this "new" approach to case design might factor into the equation. The whole small caliber debate is primarily based around lighter recoil. These higher pressures allow you to push the larger caliber bullets to higher speeds without the recoil penalty (or at least that's what they're saying), so why not factor this new variable into the equation?

Sure! Do it!

I'm just saying - even without the new high pressure ammo, the 6mmCM will do all the things you actually need to do. No need whatsoever for a larger case, or bore, IMO. That puts you in a very good place to be. You can build a smaller caliber rifle than you thought, and get better performance from it than you need. That's a win-win IMO.

 

[boogapew1776]

I don’t disagree. So would that push you all the way up to 6.5 in your opinion, or consider the 25 as a happy medium?


I’ll be loading my own with the +Peak cases, so I don’t want the factory loadings to sway me too much one way or the other.

This is my plan, load’em with 125 hammer Hunter tipped. When y’all think cases will come out?