“Short” Barrels, why not?

[PanhandlePilgrim]

With the 215 gr I actually used N568, the 225 gr was with R26. .220 Freebore

 

[Pepepotamo]

I'm dropping the rifle I'm building for my all purpose gun off at the gunsmith tomorrow.

Going to 18" (6.5cm)

Did you got the rifle back? I'm curious to see the speeds you get, I cannot decide between 18" and 20" for a 6.5Cm (unsupressed)

 

[displacedtexan]

Did you got the rifle back? I'm curious to see the speeds you get, I cannot decide between 18" and 20" for a 6.5Cm (unsupressed)

I did.

Wound up not cutting it because when I was making the plan and budget he didn't mention that cut and crown is $150, but to cut more than 2" off he pulls the barrel which is another $275...

And I don't care about the weight savings enough to spend $425, and weight was about 98% of why I was doing it.

 

[ACHILLES]

Did you got the rifle back? I'm curious to see the speeds you get, I cannot decide between 18" and 20" for a 6.5Cm (unsupressed)

I have a 18” 6.5 creed, browning x bolt.. I’m running 140gr berger vld-h’s at 2600 fps. It’s a mild load.

 

[Pepepotamo]

I did.

Wound up not cutting it because when I was making the plan and budget he didn't mention that cut and crown is $150, but to cut more than 2" off he pulls the barrel which is another $275...

And I don't care about the weight savings enough to spend $425, and weight was about 98% of why I was doing it.

I have a 18” 6.5 creed, browning x bolt.. I’m running 140gr berger vld-h’s at 2600 fps. It’s a mild load.

Thanks! I'm still trying to decide if a 18" 6.5CM is a waste or not...

 

[Mark at EXO]

Thanks! I'm still trying to decide if a 18" 6.5CM is a waste or not...

I love my 20" 6.5CM for deer-sized game. The 124 Hammer Hunter (2900+) and 130 Terminal Ascent (2840) have been killers. To compare to the 18" data that @ACHILLES shared, I have a 140 VLD-H load at 2675, which is also mild.

 

[ACHILLES]

I also ran 120 SMK’s at 2650 in the 18” 6.5 creed, a mild load but they shot best there.

My 16” 30/06 suppressed will run 215 bergers at 2580 with RL17 (warm load) And at 2500 with H4350 but shoots best at 2420 with H4350. I originally built this gun for a lighter brush gun and to hunt hogs at night with lighter bullets. I run 124gr hammer hunters with a very mild load at 3050. I’ve ran the 124s up to 3250fps and not seen any pressure signs but dropped it down to 3050 for mild recoil and faster follow up shots at night. Also saw no need to go faster as I get full pass throughs at 3050 on hogs.
I never thought of using this as a long range gun until one day I was shooting it side by side with the 18” creedmoor at 750 yards. I was running 120 SMK’s at 2650 with the creed and 215s at 2420 with the 06 in heavy winds and it was much easier to hit my 12” plate with the 06. Had do dial in a lot more wind with 6.5 creed. Also went a couple of days in a row taking cold bore shots on the 12” plate in winds 5-10mph. And hit it every day except for one with the 06. I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt with that combo out to 600-650 yards.

 

[ElPollo]

Thanks! I'm still trying to decide if a 18" 6.5CM is a waste or not...

I’m having one cut to 16.5” to use a can on. Based on the numbers I ran, it should kill well out to 400-450 with the right bullet. Considering that is 25-75 yards further than I’ve ever shot an actual animal, I don’t think it’ll be a waste.

 

[kthomas]

I'm just getting into the hunting game. My background is precision rifles, of which I have plenty of long, heavy contoured barrels.

For a hunting barrel, I decided to have my gunsmith spin up an 18" 6.5 Creedmoor in a contour similar to Bartleins 3B for my Mausingfield. I wanted to save on length, and especially weight, over my current barrels. I'll be using it with a 5.5" suppressor.

The short barrel is pretty slow with heavy projectiles. The original plan was to use 143 ELD-X Precision Hunter rounds, which I have a few boxes of just collecting dust. They only go about ~2500 fps out of this barrel, I was hoping for around 2650 fps but was apparently too optimistic.

Decided to reload for this barrel, and using 123 grain ELD's and 123 Scenars, I get a respectable 2800 fps. This is using Prime/Norma brass, 40.0 grains of VV N150, and CCI 250 magnum primers.

 

[evergreenethos]

I’m a 284 guy. My primary rifle is an 18” 7 SAUM. I also have a 24” 7 rem mag. I won’t cut the 7 rem mag any shorter, but mainly because I have the shorter rifle already. Waiting on a Gunwerks 6IX I can use for both.

Do the folding chassis like XLR or MDT change the equation? ie would you consider swapping to a folding chassis to cut some length (or at least have the option to) and keeping a longer barrel?

 

[Bluegrassvw]

I run a 6.5 creed at 20” with a 7” can. Great setup. I’m running 140 gr bergers And keep my effective kill distance to under 600 yards to be safe and lethal.

This year my bro took his 10” blackout with 9” can pronghorn hunting. Smacked his animal at 269 yards, just about a bang flop.
Shooting 110gr Barnes

Bullet placement, energy and velocity are all your friends.

If I’m being realistic, I rarely every need to shoot past 100 yards in most scenarios. With 600 yards being my personal limit, I’ll just get closer if need be.

 

[Keener22]

Has anyone looked into comparisons on the new 7 PRC in a short barrel as opposed to the 7RM, 7 SAUM, or 280 AI? I’m wanting a short rifle suppressed that can kill elk sized game out to 700 yards or so.

Strongly considered the 28 Nosler, 300 PRC, 300 WM, and 300 WSM as well, but I’m a bit recoil shy at 5’6” 155lbs so most of the big guys won’t do well for me.

 

[tak]

Has anyone looked into comparisons on the new 7 PRC in a short barrel as opposed to the 7RM, 7 SAUM, or 280 AI? I’m wanting a short rifle suppressed that can kill elk sized game out to 700 yards or so.

Strongly considered the 28 Nosler, 300 PRC, 300 WM, and 300 WSM as well, but I’m a bit recoil shy at 5’6” 155lbs so most of the big guys won’t do well for me.

I'm been planning on exactly that. I think I'm going to ditch my 280 Ackley for 7 prc.

I'm expecting 175gr at 2850fps out of a 20" barrel. Seems to me this should be very reasonable.

 

[Lawnboi]

Going forward I’m going to try to keep whatever I build in the 2800+fps range. Could I go back I’d make my 20” 6.5 creed into a 6. If I need to burn more powder to use an 18 or 20” barrel that’s going to be the way it goes

 

[B23]

I'm been planning on exactly that. I think I'm going to ditch my 280 Ackley for 7 prc.

I'm expecting 175gr at 2850fps out of a 20" barrel. Seems to me this should be very reasonable.

I'd bet 2850 with 175's out of a 20in pipe, especially with powders like RL26, would be a very good possibility, but, with the same powder I'm not sure you couldn't get real close to that same speed from your 280AI also.

 

[brockel]

Made 17” 6.5 prc this summer. 140 grain Berger vld at 2820fps is a ton of fun to shoot and carry

 

[chutinlead]

I went with a 7SS to keep all my guns in R700 Short Actions and have no problem getting 175gr ABLR to 2800+ out of a 20" barrel. It ended up exactly as I wanted it and I didn't skimp on anything. Had to clean out the safe a bit to do it, but it's awesome. Add my can on it and I'm still just under 10lbs.

 

[Keener22]

I'm been planning on exactly that. I think I'm going to ditch my 280 Ackley for 7 prc.

I'm expecting 175gr at 2850fps out of a 20" barrel. Seems to me this should be very reasonable.

Before the 7 PRC was leaked, I was pretty set on a 280 AI but I think the extra possible performance is worth it.

 

[luke moffat]

I've had great luck with the 16" barrel 6.5 CM with 135 grainers at 2800 fps. Seems to do well on critters and still minimal recoil. The fact that its till 2000 fps beyond 600 yards just means the bullet still should expand. That more than plenty for the distances I shoot with this particular rifle for hunting purposes.

 

[ElPollo]

I've had great luck with the 16" barrel 6.5 CM with 135 grainers at 2800 fps. Seems to do well on critters and still minimal recoil. The fact that its till 2000 fps beyond 600 yards just means the bullet still should expand. That more than plenty for the distances I shoot with this particular rifle for hunting purposes.

What powder are you using to get that velocity?