6.5x47 barrel length question

[jelrod1]

Putting together another 6.5x47 and trying to decide on barrel length. I have a 31" Krieger blank 8 twist. Will probably be shooting the 130 VLD's like with my tactical style rifle but it's barrel is 25". Thinking of finishing 28" but wondering if I should just do as long as it can. Do you reach a point of no return with this caliber? This one will be used for 1000 yard benchrest.

 

[dkhunt14]

I believe there is a point of not much gained. But if you can make weight I like them long. When you get a really good shooting barrel you have room to cut off and rechamber when it goes away. Usually they come back and shoot as good or better. Matt

 

[jelrod1]

Thanks Matt. I've got just enough weight to play with for max finish length. I've heard with some calibers nothing was to be gained after so many inches and wasn't sure on this one. You give a good reason to keep it long. Thanks again.

 

[dooley]

+1 on what matt said, I shoot this cal with a 30" barrel and the same bullet at about 2975 fps and a 260 with same lenght barrel, 2000 rounds later you can re-chamber and still have a decent lenght barrel. dooley

 

[scott_at_vortex]

I have chambered quite a few from 27" to 30" and all of them have shot best between 2805 and 2825 with 140's. I generally do not chronograph until I have the load shooting the way I want it to. I remember the first 30" blank I chambered. I worked up a load to my liking and thought for sure it would be 2850-2875, but nooooooo........Got the chronograph out and went and shot out to 1k(and everything in between) and sure enough it essentially had the same dope as my 27" gun shooting right next to it. If I remember correctly the 30" averaged 2818 and the 27 was something like 2814. Since I am bull headed I have since chambered a couple more 29"-30" and saw the same results. So I pretty much just do them all at 28" now.

This has been my real world experience. It sure could just be coincidence/luck of the draw on blanks, but I don't think it is. This is all with H-4350. The cartridge may act different with other powders,IDK.

 

[stacy]

SCOTT IS ON IT MY RIFLE IS A REM 700 SQUARED 1X8 SELECT MATCH SHILEN 28'' 6.5X47 THAT THING SHOOTS LIGHTS OUT AT 2800 TO 2825 W/40.5GRS H-4350 130GR H VLD'S 450 PRIMERS 5SHOTS .MID .200'S