What is the best length for 6.5 creedmoor. Want to try this caliber for my Aero Precision lower. I have .308 now. Just want to try something different.

Depends what u want it for, hunting or bench shooting, i put together a Wilson Combat 18” fluted for my M5, main objective was to hunt with it, on my property i have the opportunity to take 400 yard plus shots, so i didnt want a longer length I believe the optimal length for 6.5CM is 22-24”

Just target (bench shooting).My range has a max of 400 yards. Would 20” do or 18”.

6.5 creedmore,
6.5 creedmor,
or 6.5 creedmoor?

I've taken my 18" 6.5 creedmoor to 700yds, and my calculator indicates it has ALOT more left in the tank; still going 1700FPS/900FPE.  The calculator says it's still going over 1300FPS/550FPE out to 1000 yards and stays supersonic to ~1200yds.  400 yards is a chip shot for 6.5CM... you should be 10/10 on a full size silhouette all day long.  If you're going to be playing at 1000-1200 yards a lot, you might want to consider 22-26" to avoid the trans-sonic region.  And 24" is convenient because manufacturer published velocity is almost always for a 24" test barrel.  But an 18" 6.5CM is still going to outclass a .308 or .30-06 of any barrel length and 18” is nice if you don't want an unwieldy rifle or plan to add a suppressor.

Like I said though, all that's for a 6.5 creedmoor... not sure about those other 6.5s you mentioned.

18” Bergara (pictured with a 4.5-22x Razor LHT, but I downsized to a 2-12x VX6HD):



22” Craddock-Barreled Aero M5E1 with #AllTheZooms:

Best all around? 20-22".

Best for performance? 26-28".

Best for CQB? Geissele has a 14.5" that looks pretty awesome.

If I could get it in an X-frame I would.

Fantastic cartridge, as is its predecessor/older brother the 260 Rem.

OP whatever you do on a gas gun with 6.5CM…

It’s higher pressure than .308 and it has a smaller bore… meaning way higher port pressure curves.  A longer gas tube AND adjustable gas port (or key) is incredibly helpful.  Don’t just throw an extra-heavy ass buffer in there and call it good - that’s putting a bandaid on the symptom.

For an 18” 6.5CM barrel, a rifle+1” (unsuppressed) or rifle+2” (suppressed) would work and for >20” barrel go with a rifle+2” gas tube.  They even make rifle+3” tubes for extra long or long and suppressed setups.  I literally would not consider any standard rifle gas length 6.5CM barrel at any price, especially suppressed, or you’re going to be dicking with gas adjustments and heavy buffers to fight early extraction and ejector smearing all day long. You should be able to get good function without premature extraction using plane jane h1/h2/h3 weighted buffers and a AGB if your gas system is long enough.

Another good thing for 6.5CM (but not a necessity unless you experience problems) is a small diameter firing pin bolt, sometimes called “high pressure” or HP+ bolts.  Some shooters will “bush’ or bushing” their firing pin hole (but that’s usually on bolt guns). The smaller firing pin hole with better firing pin fit helps prevent primer cratering and blowout because 6.5CM runs higher pressures with target primers.

400yd max, you could run a 12.5” barrel and be fine.

I pretty regularly shoot my 16” 6.5C out to 1000y which is right about where it’s running out of steam.  Handloading should eek another 100ish or so yds out of the gun before going transsonic.

Attached File

Not trying to hijack the thread, but do you have any pet loads for the 6.5 Creedmore you or anyone else want to share?  I finally got one myself recently. 24” Sako S20 bolt action, haven’t really shot it yet

20" for the Creedmoor was my compromise between long range performance and handiness. Doesn't get hung up in dense bush, and the round is still supersonic past 1300m at the altitudes I shoot at.

No, I do not plan on putting a suppressor on it. Just bench shooting because I don’t think there is any clubs around me that does any kind of competition shooting so there will only be 3 people shooting it, ( me, myself and I ) 😋. Just want a good length So I don’t have to mess with much on buffering. But I do like hand loading my own rounds on any caliber.

I say the best length for the 6.5 Creedmoor is 24”, but that’s because it shoot it from a bench only and want to minimize recoil and suppressor wear.  

I’ve been shooting the Creedmoor for a dozen years and love the cartridge.  However, if you’re shooting to only 400, the Creedmoor offers only slight improvement in drop and windage, say 2-6” range depending on bullet selection.  Of course, as you open up that distance, Creedmoor performance improvement grows.  

The Creedmoor does suffer from shorter barrel life than the .308 if that’s a concern.  

I guess the TLDR version of this post is sure, buy a Creedmoor, but be realistic about what to expect at 400 and closer.

I have 2 .308 barrels. One is a Aero Precision 16” upper and the other is a 18” Proof Research barrel on a Aero upper. I just like trying different things and I know at 400 yards their is not much of a advantage with the 6.5, like I said just like to try different things and I really like reloading to find that really good load for each caliber. I don’t shoot my rifles or hand guns a lot so barrel wear would not be an issue. I do like to get out as much as I can because gun range is only a 1/4 mile from my house. Yea my 308’s are heavy pigs to. 11 1/2 to 12 lbs.

I have been  shooting a 6.5 creedmoor for a while now in a bolt gun and just picked up an armalite 6.5 creedmoor not to long ago . The barrel life will be a reflection of how hard you push the bullet . I am pretty boring and all I have ever run through my bolt gun is hornady 140 grain bthp match . I am sending them at about 2800 fps out of a 26 inch barrel . definatly nothing amazing but I have no issue's and only shoot out to 850 yds in our local prs matches . I could squeeze a bit more out of it but I don't see the need . My 22 inch creedmoor armalite is shooting factory 140 grain sellior and bellot at 2690 fps . If you like to reload get you a jug of 6.5 stabal and some of the hornady 140 grain bthp they are reasonably priced and should fly good for what you said your intention was .

Thanks for the info.

Thought about this.
Aero Precision M5E1 20in 6.5 Creedmoor Complete Upper Receiver with Flash Hider
Was just looking and the 22" is cheaper on OP. Wonder why that is.

This solves all your problems. Lightweight, handy, very accurate early on in the shot string but I'm seeing groups open up a bit as it heats up. On the whole its my favorite gas gun right now.

POF Prescott