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

I saw a headline in passing the other day that suggested that Congress might consider removing the restrictions on cans, as they certainly should. They're an over-the-counter item in the U.K., for crying out loud.

Haven't decided to jump on the Creedmore bandwagon just yet, but if I do, it won't be with a Savage.

I really kinda want to turn a Ruger 77 RSI into a 6.5 Creedmoor.

I wonder when Remington's going to jump on the Creedmoor bandwagon ?

Would love to have a 20" Stainless Model Seven in 6mm Creed or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Can you explain your statement? Why?

Hank

I'd go with a Weatherby Vanguard with a 24 inch barrel mine is super accurate and if later you want to shorten the barrel you can.

Since Remington sells both firearms and ammunition, I'd expect to see ammunition introduced before firearms, as a way for them to test the actual market demand. I also wonder how mature the 6.5 Creedmoor market is at this point in time. Have the majority of the people who are interested in the cartridge already bought or built their 6.5 Creedmoors?

Chasing elk for several years in CO, I understand your desire for a light-weight rifle, but personally, I don't think I would go below a 22" barrel length in this caliber. If I were buying one for hunting, it would probably be a model with a 24" barrel.

I recently ordered a Ruger M77 Mark II in 6.5 CM that will be used as a benchrest rifle for punching paper and steel. It will have a 28" heavy barrel. Since most benchrest rifles have longer barrels, I would assume that barrel length has something to do with maximizing velocity and long range accuracy, but I'm certainly no expert.

Not to mention the dreaded, hated xBolt which is also super accurate, lite and accurate right out of the box.

OK, I won't mention it.

I look at Savage firearms the same way I do Dodge cars and trucks, and I don't intend to own either of them. I understand they shoot good, but so do other brands. They're ugly, and I've never handled one that I thought "felt good". A man once told me about the benefits of having a pretty wife, rather than an ugly wife.....the ugly one can probably do anything the pretty one can, but the pretty one is a helluva lot better to look at. Part of my thinking probably goes back to when Savage turned out cheap stuff. Now, I will admit that I wouldn't mind owning an early model 99. I've always thought they were cool rifles.

Thats fair Thanks for taking the time to respond
I have a few Savages and I really like most inc a lightweight hunter in 6.5 shoots very well I have an old police heavy barrel 223 shoots great ALL my Savages shoot better than I do
I admitt I hate two things about them
First some models especially rimfires Syn stocks are less than par OK I will give you that a member here has a model 25 just a couple weeks ago I really was interested but I remembered that the last 25 I had I traded off for a Browning and missed the SOB was wood and I loved the stock didnt think I would be happy with the plastic in the end

Second THEY WENT PC and CHANGED THIER LOGO
WTF PC people dont buy rifles anyway who the F are they trying to impress Sorry I went off the tracks

Gotta find balance with pretty wives (mine is very) but too pretty can be a real pain in the azz sometimes. Maybe your too young to remember the song HAHA

Hank

I have a Browning Long Range Hunter that has a 28" fluted barrel, shoots bugholes with any factory load I hope to kill a mule deer in Colorado with it this year

I have an AR-10 upper in .308, that has never shot particularly well; thinking a Creedmoor would be an interesting conversion. McGowan will make the barrel, though I am thinking about Krieger as well.

My smith holding my Savage 6.5CM. Not super light, but not bad lookin', and handles very well.

Can't decide if this is sacrilege or genius.

Wow

Cool rifle !

Savage 99 chambered for a 6.5-250AI

Think of it as a Restomod.

Cool rifle!

Very nice rifle! That is very cool!

Chrome,

I flipped through the Remington 2017 catalog and couldn't find anything chambered in the 6.5 creedmoor or any ammunition.

https://remington-catalog.com/catalogs/remington/2017/

Winchester/Olin is cataloging three loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor in 2017; 1 140 grain Match load and 2 hunting loads, a 125 grain Deer Season XP and a 142 grain Expedition Big Game Long Range.

I have the Vanguard also. Its a 3/4" shooter with all kinds of ammo and
wears a Vortex Diamondback scope. Nothing fancy. Very little kick, easy to shoot and easy to load for. Also, the animals tend to fall over and die which is good.

A friend has a Vanguard, it's a very nice rifle.

However, Rem shows 6 rifles and two ammo loads in .260 Rem.

two? BFD.......

BFD?? I had no idea you were so computer-savvy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidirectional_Forwarding_Detection

Nice looking rifle.

Thanks for the compliments. Brad and Vaughn do nice work. Here's the other Creedmoor. A Sako Forester with Hart barrel in the Sako contour. Nothing fancy, but it works for me.

Kimber adirondack... 18.5" 4lbs 13 ounces unscoped, can easily be built into a sub 6# gun with optics, sling, and a stock ammo carrier if you want one.
Carries alll day, mine shoots good when I do my part.