Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Optimum barrel length for 6.5 Creed

That five inches makes a lot of difference!!

Chopped my 6.5-06 from 24.5 to 18". Cost me around 140 fps with 140 vld. Removed barrel section weighed exactly what a UL7 weighs and still getting 2800 fps. Just quieter. I'd cut to whatever length balances and rock on.

Great reference! Check out the lower tables on the page comparing to the 308 and 300 WM ballistics

Likely optimum velocity is a product of bullet, powder, load, and barrel length. A single chop trial is not going to answer every question. If one starts long, he can always keep chopping. Few options if one begins on the short side.

As portability’s out the window, just crown whatever you’ve got 👌😎

Have a 6mmBR has a 16.5 inch barrel with a 10 inch suppressor at the end. Compared to my 24 inch 6mm BR there is a 220 FPS loss with the 16.5 inch barrel and suppressor. However, have yet to see a coyote or p-dog step out of the way of a 87 grain Vmax.

I cut my 6x47 Lapua down from 28” to 22” and lost 80fps... well worth it to me

Just got my 6.5 Creed CTR put back together after having the barrel cut down to 18.

Boy this is nice to handle.

Loud as hell also if you don't have a can on the muzzle. I have a 19.5" 7x57 Fabrique Nationale Mauser carbine, handy, but ungodly loud! No doubt that these short barrels damage your hearing...concussion. I do not shoot my carbine much anymore for this reason.
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You do know that long barrels also damage your hearing??

Well if it helps, I have two Tikka's, one 22" and the other, 24".
The last range session compared R-16 with the 130gr. Acc. and 143gr. ELD-X. Chrony on ten each yields a 40-50 fps gain with the extra 2 inches.

What are your velocities?

I have concluded that the extra inches are worth it to me; decreased muzzle blast and increased velocities. I don't wear hearing protection when I hunt. I don't like barrels under 24" unless they are mild cartridges. A leave all my 6.5-284s at 25". Did the same on my 6x47L. Much easier on the hearing and face when hunting.

I don't have to clear buildings anymore so no need for an SBR.

I tried to purchase the 24' 6.5 Creed but Baretta in its infinite wisdom has not imported them to Australia - Strangely they did bring in a 20inch version - so I'm wondering if anyone has data for the 6.5 Creed with 140/147's and RL16 or RL26 or H4350? Thanks, DG

I have loaded 143s and 147s in 6.5 CMs with RL-26 in 18", 20", and 24" barrels. What would you like to know exactly?

Excellent, thanks. My tikka barrel is 20', I'm sitting on a metric shi*#load of H4350, 140gr & 147gr Eldm 's. I'd love to know what my velocity potential is with the 20' tube. I'd prefer not to have to use a different powder but I like what I'm seeing in RL16/26. I'm in Australia and experience huge temperature variations at my ao. If I can net 2700fps with the 140's ill call it good.

Regardless of ballistics, I have confirmed my optimum length for rifle barrels are 20-22". With quality scopes, MV doesn't mean much these days with the right bullet....

After 18", noise doesn't really change all that much IME...

Providing you know what you're doing at the loading bench, like Aalf, this is true.

Personally, I'd go with a 26" barrel. It about the longest you can go and keep a reasonable balance with an appropriate weight barrel.

check Hatcher's Notebook. Even with old time powders, the .30-06 gained velocity all the way to the 29" max tested. Melvin is building a .260 Rem for me with 26" barrel.