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6.5 Creedmoor Barrel Length

The 6.5 Creedmoor was developed around a 28" barrel and the 28" works fine. I started using a 28" in early 2008 with the 6.5 in my match rifles and stuck with it. When I asked Dave Emery, one of the developers of the 6.5 Creedmoor, in 2007 what barrel length to get when starting to build my rifle he said "28 inch" so I took that and used it. I did try a 26" once with a set back and it worked fine too for accuracy. The longer length is just free velocity. There was an old Rifleshooter "test" that showed the Creedmoor lost velocity after 24". Biggest BS around. Flawed test but spewed all over the internet as fact. Hell even a little .223 is still gaining velocity after 24" so anyone thinking that a round with almost twice as much powder is also is just fooling themselves.

As to what would work for you, well that's up to you. If shot from the bench then no reason not to go longer. I shoot PRS style matches and run a 28" with a 3" brake on it without a problem. You can go 24" if you like too. It's only 600 yards so you won't lose much. A thought though is that you can always cut a longer barrel down if you don;t like it but you can't add on barrel to a shorter barrel. ;)
 
Can't have been a Palma match, that's restricted to .308 and irons only, 2 x 15 at 800, 900 & 1000 yards.
There is a category of rifle called any-any. I think that if you shoot scope and/or a caliber other than 223 or 308 that you are shooting a different category from true Palma. I've see quite a few shooting Palma style with a rifle that was technically not Palma but I'm not sure what the rules are. Perhaps one of the sling shooters could enlighten us.
 
Can't have been a Palma match, that's restricted to .308 and irons only, 2 x 15 at 800, 900 & 1000 yards.
Nope, shoot out of class, we’ll my class was Any sight, match rifle. I shot it with a scope and my 6.5.

It was a Palma match, just not a Palma gun. Last year I did it with a AR10 and 4x scope. Was in the service rifle category, but still the Palma course of fire.
 
Nope, shoot out of class, we’ll my class was Any sight, match rifle. I shot it with a scope and my 6.5.

It was a Palma match, just not a Palma gun. Last year I did it with a AR10 and 4x scope. Was in the service rifle category, but still the Palma course of fire.
OK thanks for clarifying
 
I run a 26" M24 on mine. Shoot out to 1,000 easily. Boring at this point. 1,200 sometimes. I tried a mile once and it was basically artillery at that point lol. Getting 2,790fps with factory Hornady 140 ELD-M on a barrel with about 3,000 rounds.
 
My first 6.5 Creedmoor barrel for F-Class was a 29" Hart. Now I have a 30: Bartline on one rifle and a 32" Brux on the other. If all I shot was Mid Range I would probably do a 28".
 

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I’m having a 28” spun presently. Should be done next week. I took on a lot into consideration when deciding on this profile and length. Ultimate I went 28” for a really practical reason: any longer won’t easily fit in my safe or my gun case.

How’s that for scientific?
 
The 6.5 Creedmoor was developed around a 28" barrel and the 28" works fine. I started using a 28" in early 2008 with the 6.5 in my match rifles and stuck with it. When I asked Dave Emery, one of the developers of the 6.5 Creedmoor, in 2007 what barrel length to get when starting to build my rifle he said "28 inch" so I took that and used it. I did try a 26" once with a set back and it worked fine too for accuracy. The longer length is just free velocity. There was an old Rifleshooter "test" that showed the Creedmoor lost velocity after 24". Biggest BS around. Flawed test but spewed all over the internet as fact. Hell even a little .223 is still gaining velocity after 24" so anyone thinking that a round with almost twice as much powder is also is just fooling themselves.

As to what would work for you, well that's up to you. If shot from the bench then no reason not to go longer. I shoot PRS style matches and run a 28" with a 3" brake on it without a problem. You can go 24" if you like too. It's only 600 yards so you won't lose much. A thought though is that you can always cut a longer barrel down if you don;t like it but you can't add on barrel to a shorter barrel. ;)
I saw that test and rolled my eyes with it. What’s true for one particular powder and charge isn’t necessarily true for every other load in the same cartridge.

And there’s a big difference between “not gaining much velocity” to actually losing any significant speed.
 
I saw that test and rolled my eyes with it. What’s true for one particular powder and charge isn’t necessarily true for every other load in the same cartridge.

And there’s a big difference between “not gaining much velocity” to actually losing any significant speed.

Not sure what he was using but would have a hard time with any powder losing any velocity in the Creedmoor over 24”. His “test” showed loss so why I call BS and always will on it. He was using a new barrel so the thought was it was still speeding up during his test. He shouldn’t have done it with a barrel under 200 rounds through it.
 
I’m having a 28” spun presently. Should be done next week. I took on a lot into consideration when deciding on this profile and length. Ultimate I went 28” for a really practical reason: any longer won’t easily fit in my safe or my gun case.

How’s that for scientific?
Actually hilarious b/c that exact observation was made as I was talking with buddy on 28" or longer. I'm even lazier and don't take my suppressor off so it needs to fit in case *with* suppressor so don't feel too bad.
 
I have a 28in using H4350 and 140gr bergers doing 2,730. I have a 24in using R16 and 140 eldm doing 2,831. So its not only barrel length its also what powder you use.
 
I have a 28in using H4350 and 140gr bergers doing 2,730. I have a 24in using R16 and 140 eldm doing 2,831. So its not only barrel length its also what powder you use.
Wow I currently have a 26" Proof prefit and run the max book load of StaBall at 44.1g and get 2877fps with 140g. Amazing the breadth of results from powders to barrels.
 

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