You've carried a suppressed rifle far and wide

[Trackselk]

I've hunted the Rockies for over 30 years, but zero experience with hauling a suppressor around on the end of the rifle.

For those that have hunted the west extensively with a suppressed rifle, what is your recommendation for barrel length on 6.5CM and 22 creed rifles for 500 yard max range? Tbac ultra7 gen 2 6.5mm...
I don't have my suppressor in hand yet, but I can already tell that it's going to make my 5 lb rifles extremely muzzle heavy, which I'm ok with, but worth mentioning. Lastly, I've never shot anything beyond 400 yards.
Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Shooter264]

I’d run between 16.5-18” for bbl lengths for what you mentioned your effective distance was.

 

[sram9102]

You should be able to cut either of those to 16" and still maintain enough velocity for good performance at <500 yards. The 22 creed should still be good based off of my numbers to way past 500.

 

[WeiserBucks]

18-20 is my preference for everything suppressed

 

[ID_Matt]

18-20" on non magnums and 20-22" on short mags is my preference.

 

[Oldffemt]

Kifaru gun bearer helps with hauling a suppressed rifle all day. Your rifle is starting out far lighter than anything I’ve hunted with though so ymmv. Shorter is still better for barrel length from a balance standpoint though. Not sure if Tbac has minimum barrel length restrictions or not. If not, I’d be in the 16.5-18” range personally. I carry a 21” 300wsm with heavy 7” suppressor.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Been using a ultra 7 on hunting rifles for about 7 years now, carried it a shit ton. I’ve run as long as 24-26” but it’s a light saber.

18-20” is about perfect IMO for. It sacrificing too much velocity while being very portable. I’d do 18” on the 6.5 and 20” on the 22.

My current hunting rifle is a 16” 6.5 and I wish it was an 18”. It’s just a hair slow with the bullets I like to keep impact velocity what it needs to be to 600 yards which is my ideal max hunting range and the can gets very hot very fast because of all the unburnt powder.

 

[Presswood_936]

18-20”

 

[TXHunt]

18-20”

Agree

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Odd numbers are cooler cut it to 21". Jokes aside my rule of thumb for carrying in mountains and in general hunting use (varmint/target is a different story) is to have the total length barrel + Suppressor not exceed 27". I have found that to be acceptable. If I had to squeeze the last last bit of velocity I'd cut it at 22" and use my tb ultra 5. For calibers like the 6.5 I'd opt for 20" and the 7"

 

[Trackselk]

Wow, this forum is great, what a response! I've got the 6.5 decided at 18" since I already had it cut, but looks like I'm getting an another barrel on a trade, so I have options.
As far as the conditions out west, I'm mostly in open country, but bushwack once in a blue moon.
The flat trajectory of the 22cm is what got my attention. I read that people are breaking 3000 fps with 16" barrels, but I'd like to flatten the curve more than that. I'll be reloading, so I wonder how short I can get and still get near to that 30" of drop at 500. Shooting barnes LRX (77gr) or ttsx (62gr) if I can sling them at least 2300fps out to near 500 yards.
I need to go run some more numbers in the calculator...
Do any of you find a 17ish" significantly handier than a 19ish"?
- I was thinking 16.75 minimum, so if I fall someday I could get potentially damaged threads chopped off and re-direct-thread it (narrow kimber profile).
-I also wonder how much quieter 2 inches makes it. Tbac told me very little difference between 16.75 22creed and 18 6.5CM

 

[justin davis]

We run a thunderbeast suppressor on a 26” 300 win mag and 24” barrel 6 mm. Hunting in the west. It’s not a big deal to carry. Carry guns in the kifaru gun bearer. Here is a picture of my wife with the suppressor on a 26” barrel.

 

[Trackselk]

We run a thunderbeast suppressor on a 26” and 24” barrel. Hunting west. It’s not a big deal Carry guns in the kifaru gun bearer

Thanks for that!
Copper creek ammo claims 3450 with 24" barrel, so I'm guessing I can get over 3300 with an 18" barrel and some hot reloads? New Leija barrel. That puts me right about 36" drop at 500 yards at my average hunting elevation of 6500ft. Sounds pretty good to me I think

 

[WeiserBucks]

I wouldn't obsess over a little velocity/planning on hot loads. Just be realistic about what to expect for velocity vs barrel length and then load for best accuracy at acceptable velocity. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Trackselk]

I wouldn't obsess over a little velocity/planning on hot loads. Just be realistic about what to expect for velocity vs barrel length and then load for best accuracy at acceptable velocity. Hope that makes sense.

Makes sense, accuracy is definitely paramount I figure.

 

[justin davis]

Thanks for that!
Copper creek ammo claims 3450 with 24" barrel, so I'm guessing I can get over 3300 with an 18" barrel and some hot reloads? New Leija barrel. That puts me right about 36" drop at 500 yards at my average hunting elevation of 6500ft. Sounds pretty good to me I think

Yea I got the suppressor after I already had the guns. So not gonna rebarrel them to get them shorter. So I just deal with it

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Not a fan of running guns with "hot" reload personally so id mess with you ballistics solver with the 22 and go one inch longer than you think is the shortest you can achieve correct drop.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Wow, this forum is great, what a response! I've got the 6.5 decided at 18" since I already had it cut, but looks like I'm getting an another barrel on a trade, so I have options.
As far as the conditions out west, I'm mostly in open country, but bushwack once in a blue moon.
The flat trajectory of the 22cm is what got my attention. I read that people are breaking 3000 fps with 16" barrels, but I'd like to flatten the curve more than that. I'll be reloading, so I wonder how short I can get and still get near to that 30" of drop at 500. Shooting barnes LRX (77gr) or ttsx (62gr) if I can sling them at least 2300fps out to near 500 yards.
I need to go run some more numbers in the calculator...
Do any of you find a 17ish" significantly handier than a 19ish"?
- I was thinking 16.75 minimum, so if I fall someday I could get potentially damaged threads chopped off and re-direct-thread it (narrow kimber profile).
-I also wonder how much quieter 2 inches makes it. Tbac told me very little difference between 16.75 22creed and 18 6.5CM

I would stick to 20” on the 22 creed. At that length it won’t be neutered too much. 18 at an absolute minimum. 16” 22 creed and you might as well just have a 223 or 22-250.

 

[Thinkingman]

Odd numbers are cooler cut it to 21". Jokes aside my rule of thumb for carrying in mountains and in general hunting use (varmint/target is a different story) is to have the total length barrel + Suppressor not exceed 27". I have found that to be acceptable. If I had to squeeze the last last bit of velocity I'd cut it at 22" and use my tb ultra 5. For calibers like the 6.5 I'd opt for 20" and the 7"

Metric is even cooler....53.34cm.

Interesting thread for me...I'm shopping suppressors and will want to trim the barrels.

 

[Trackselk]

I would stick to 20” on the 22 creed. At that length it won’t be neutered too much. 18 at an absolute minimum. 16” 22 creed and you might as well just have a 223 or 22-250.

Thanks for the advice! I got the order in to cut and thread it at 18". It will be a lot handier than my 22" with the can off when it's in the pack. I'll rarely take a 500 yards shot, so should work well.
Many thanks to everyone!