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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 4, 2019 12:17:16 GMT -5
anyone have experience with 18-20” 260, 6.5CM, or other SA 6.5 rounds?? ive got an opportunity to obtain an 18” 260, but originally wanted a 22” for hunting. I’ve got a 6.5x55 that had a21” barrel and was happy with the velocity obtained, 2600fps with 140gr, then cut it to 17” for use with a can and only lost 50fps, but I think that’s not normal. i curious what I can expect from a 18” barrel with 125-140gr bullets.
Trapr
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Post by potatojudge on Feb 4, 2019 12:51:49 GMT -5
I think that's a great length for a hunting rifle. My bias is that barrels over a certain length or a round above a certain velocity doesn't add just a whole lot to the effectiveness of a rig, but that too much barrel can be a detriment.
I think if you're running 2400+ FPS with a 120-140 grain bullet you've got nothing to worry about, and that's being conservative.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 4, 2019 19:03:43 GMT -5
I agree that with laser range finders giving us exact distances, velocity is of less importance than it once was, and since this will be a hunting rig and not a LR precision rig, that at normal hunting distances a couple hundred FPS really is t much to worry about. I’m just curious about the velocity loss I can expect. In the end accuracy is more important than velocity, provided you get the desired terminal performance from your chosen bullet.
Trapr
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Feb 5, 2019 2:31:46 GMT -5
My 6.5 Creedmoor started life as a 26" barreled rifle. 3 or 4 years ago I got tired of such a Long pipe to pack around. I clamped it in a barrel vise and sawzalled it off at 18.7" used a good file to clean it up and a champfer tool and an abrasive bit in my Dremil tool to finish the crown. Ended up at 18.6". My velocity went from around 2750 fps with 140-144 gr bullets pushed by H4350. To 2550 fps with the same ammo With the 130 gr bullets I hunt caribou with I ended up with 2775 fps with Rl17 . From about 2975 fps. Hands down one of my most favorite rifles now. Only surpassed by my 458. I have a pretty good run of 1 shot dumps with it in its shortened condition . I haven't noticed any lack of killing ability. And it's super easy and nice to have with me all the time. I would really like a Ruger GunSight Scout rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Before the barrel chop , my best handloads produced 7/8" 3 shot groups @ 300 yards. After I chopped the barrel they were between 7/8" and 1" 3 shot groups. With a fixed 10 power. Most of the bou I've shot with it were from 300 - 373+ yards away. All of those were 1 shot dumps ! Meat on the ground. And those were with a SWFA 1-4×24 SS Classic scope. All my current rifles have less than a 20" barrel. With the exception of a Kimber Montana in 338 Win mag. Which has a 26" . So far I can't bring myself to chop that barrel. Its got to be about the planest kevlar. just a kevlar stock with recoil pad, the smallest action that a 338 could fit into and kindof a buggy whip barrel. A 0° pic rail and a 1-4 scope. Leather strap sling. Doesn't even have a floor plate. But, I really like that rifle. It's my moose rifle. But, I haven't killed anything with it yet.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 5, 2019 10:52:17 GMT -5
Thx, CTF. I was kind of hoping to get 2700ish with 120-130 gr bullets, so it appears my guesstimates on velocity loss are reasonable. I’ve got a couple of 26” barreled hunting rigs, but I don’t hunt super thick areas or run the risk of bumping a bear like you do. One is my 338wm, my favorite big game hunting rifle and first build custom gun from the 80’s
Trapr
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Post by zeus on Feb 5, 2019 17:03:18 GMT -5
I run a 15” XP in 6.5 CM. It’s incredible.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 5, 2019 18:14:16 GMT -5
Zeus, do you hunt with ti??......if so what bullet do you have good terminal performance results with on medium game?? Also velocity??
I just got back from shooting a 120GMX thru a 22” barreled gun and got 2975fps with excellent accuracy 5/8” at 100. So if I give up 150-200 FPS with an 18” barrel I’d be ok with that. The rifle I’m looking at getting is a JP LRP07, originally I’d spoken with them about a lightweight 22” barrel, but they emailed me and said they had a demo 18” lightweight barrel available immediately and would make me a good dealing it. Trapr
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richp
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 61
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Post by richp on Feb 5, 2019 18:50:54 GMT -5
I have shot a few deer with a mdl. seven in .260 and an xp-100r in same. The mdl.7 was the stainless with a 20 in. barrel. Made a great blind gun. I loved it.
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Post by zeus on Feb 6, 2019 8:43:07 GMT -5
Zeus, do you hunt with ti??......if so what bullet do you have good terminal performance results with on medium game?? Also velocity?? I just got back from shooting a 120GMX thru a 22” barreled gun and got 2975fps with excellent accuracy 5/8” at 100. So if I give up 150-200 FPS with an 18” barrel I’d be ok with that. The rifle I’m looking at getting is a JP LRP07, originally I’d spoken with them about a lightweight 22” barrel, but they emailed me and said they had a demo 18” lightweight barrel available immediately and would make me a good dealing it. Trapr My gun shoots extremely well. I just ran my rifle load of a 140 Berger hybrid in it because I had a lot loaded. I think I’m about 2400 or so with a 140 and a 15” barrel. With lighter bullets I would see no issue getting the velocities you want. But I’m the end, I always chase accuracy and one hole groups then adjust for whatever velocity that happens to be at. I can add an extra click or two at 2000 yards in my rifle to make up for a velocity loss if all bullets go in same hole. Easy to compensate for vertical when they shoot like that. Not easy to compensate for erratic dispersion the 6.5 XP Another great round in a short barrel is the 284 Win
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Post by bushog on Feb 6, 2019 8:55:03 GMT -5
I need that 6.5 for antelope.....
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Post by Encore64 on Feb 6, 2019 9:05:06 GMT -5
I ran into this same quagmire. Ended up buying a Ruger #1 Lightweight with a 24" barrel. Get full velocity and gun slightly shorter than 20" bolt gun.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 6, 2019 9:57:21 GMT -5
Single shots are nice like that, I was also shooting my K3 yesterday it has 23.5” barrel and very short, and lightweight, but a 165gr bullet at 3000fps does generate some recoil when the gun only weighs 6.5 pounds. Shooting the 260 was way more pleasant than the 30r Blaser.
Trapr
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Feb 6, 2019 13:18:48 GMT -5
I get frustrated with Ruger dropping some great rifle/cartridge combos . Like the Ruger M77 Mk2 SS Compact in 260 Rem. And them Not bringing out the old 20" barreled Ultra Light and the Compact in 6.5 Creedmoor. The thing that bugged me with the 260 Compact was it had a 9" twist. But , at the time , Remington had the 260 ammo available in the 140 gr Core Lok . Some friends asked me for my reccomendation for a first centerfield rifle for their young son's. I hands down said the above combo . stainless/laminate Ruger M77 Mk2 in 260 Rem. That's what they got and those kids, now men have killed Boat loads of deer, Mt goat , black bear and who knows what else with their little Carbines. I did a little trigger work on my wife's 308 Compact and got it around 3 lbs. My 6.5 I have @ around 30 oz. A good trigger helps a carbine more than any other single thing imho. I know everyone here knows that , just saying. If I didn't have grizzlys and brown bear to deal with . The only rifle I would hunt is my 6.5 Creedmoor 18.6" barrel. If I had lots more bucks, I would put a NightForce M8 in mil on it and that would be that for the rest of my life.
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Feb 6, 2019 13:28:48 GMT -5
P.S. when my wife picked out her 308. I was really looking for a Ruger Frontier in 358 Win. For her. We were living in the N.E. Chichagof Controlled Use area. Out in the brush and brown bear protection was my 1st and for most concern. She liked/likes her rifle and that is pretty much that. Personally I hate all things 30 caliber. Which is why I haven't wore her carbine plum out. If it was a 358 Win , 338 Federal or 260 Rem . it would be on its 3rd or 4th barrel by now 😉 Still , I have hunted it and killed stuff with it. Its just SOOOOO handy to have with that I have in the past looked past its caliber. Since I chopped my Creed I haven't even shot her rifle.
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Post by zeus on Feb 6, 2019 13:51:54 GMT -5
I think I have a short 6.5CM from Ruger. If I remember right it’s possibky a stainless internation stock rifle? I’ll have to look next time I am in that safe. I vaguely remember picking one up though...
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