Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5 Creedmore Question

This is for those of you who have experience with this cartridge. Which rifle would you pick.....Howa with a 20 inch #1 barrel contour, or a Howa with a 22 inch #2 contour. Or, perhaps none of the above. Just curious.

D)

I would prefer the 22".

22". For me, the reason to shoot high BC 6.5 bullets is longer ranges. I wouldn't choose a shorter barrel for that.

I would. And then slap a can on it.

I'd slap the can on a 22". The 6.5 CM isn't a barn burner to begin with, I'll take the little extra velocity and the stability of the 22" #2 vs. 20" #1. At the end of the day it won't matter that much either way though.

No issue with a 20in Creed..... or just about anything for that matter. The difference between a 20in and 22in Creed is around 25 yards at 1,800fps impact velocity.... All the way from 700 yards to 725 yards...

I'll take the size, weight, and balance of a 20in.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I really do not need another rifle....in any caliber, for that matter. Just thought I'd like to experience what everyone else is raving about. I've found a couple of Howa's that I was taking a look at, which is why I asked. I have had mixed results with Howa rifles. I've had 4, and one Weatherby Vanguard. Two of the Howa's were 6.5X55, neither of which shot particularly good. Another Howa was a 223, along with the Vanguard, which was the Predator version. The Howa shot okay, the Vanguard was very accurate, it just didn't like max loads. I currently have a Howa Lightning in 204, 20 inch #1 contour barrel, and it's a very nice shooter. Little on the chunky side, but it's my truck gun, so that doesn't matter as long as it shoots like it does.

Heresy!!!

Depends on where the accuracy node is, unless you don't reload.

Velocity and accuracy don't always align......

#C

Savage 10 Hunter -Predator 24 inch

Going down from 22" to 20" will cost you about 40 fps of velocity, but it will gain you about 10 decibels. You will notice the latter more than you will notice the former.

More bang for the buck? Then go for the 20".

I'd go for the 22" barrel; a little better performance and a better look.

21" can be a Swede spot In a compromise of handiness in a SA 6.5, I would not be afraid to go down to 19, and some have used 16-17 with much success, in the field on deer sized game, afar. Blast, one must decide. 20 I like in BR-308 sized cases...and is what I have my 6.5 L cut down to, as it was 22.5 originally.....I like it better now. Blast - modest.

Shorter barrels tend to be quieter in deer stands.

20"

In fact I need to build a lightweight, short barreled Creedmoor.

I've never once missed a shot and thunk 'Gee, I would have made that shot with 2 more inches of barrel'

Exactly. Maybe with a shotgun, but never with a rifle.

The Howa 1500 isn't exactly a light weight action, so a longer, heavier, barrel contour might be worth considering as a means by which to balance the entire package.

If you're looking for a light 6.5 Creedmoor, you might get to a better outcome both quicker and for less cost if you start with a Montana then to start with a Howa 1500 that you'll need to modify extensively.

This if you want light, short, and accurate: http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/16LWH