So I'm in the process of finishing up my 6.5 creedmoor build. It is ar platform.

Suggestions please. I am trying to determine barrel length and am a bit stuck. Main use will be within 300-400 yards and hunting. I will be shooting suppressed.

I see a lot with 20+ inch barrels but also see 16-18" for sale.

Thoughts?

Edit: missed the part about shooting suppressed when I first read it.

If your shooting subs I'm not sure that the longer barrel gets you anything.

It's definitely going to be a stand/short distance gun. When I say that I mean highly unlikely over 500 yards if ever.

Adding the suppressor extends the length so I'm mindful for that. I am leaning 16-18 but not sure how capable the 16" is vs even an 18" at that range.

Everything I've read says 18 should suffice for that range. Don't know if others have seen differently.

I did a similar build and .308. Chose 18. Not sure if 16 would be easier or if I would have lost much with just 2 inches. With a 9 inch suppressor is pretty long. I know newer suppressors are shorter.

Edit: if this table is accurate, I'd choose 16" all day.

18" seems like a nice compromise. I have 18" on a bolt gun with a 7" suppressor. Still very handy in the truck/stand.

Nothing wrong with 16", just be aware of what barrel lengths your suppressor is rated for with the 6.5 cal.

I would not go anything less than 20 personally. Anything less and you should just go with a 308 since you won't be taking full advantage of the round in velocity or distance.

A 6.5 CM out of a suppressed 18" barrel is plenty. We get caught up in numbers and ignore the real world. Even with a 16" barrel velocity is comparable to 6.5 Swede which has been taking large game globally for almost a century.

Maybe this is a dumb question but are you going to be using subsonic rounds with a velocity in the 1000 FPS range? Is it possible for a round to be accurate at 500 yards with that kind of muzzle velocity?

Or are you using supersonic rounds and a suppressor to just quiet it down a bit.

I've always been a fan of short barrels because of walking in the woods, riding in the truck, etc. More recently as I've moved to blind hunting, I've actually moved back to longer barrels to help further reduce noise with a suppressor. In a blind that's only four feet across they are cumbersome. In blinds with more space or where a gun is set in one direction and left there, you don't notice at all. Short barrels make a lot of the 6.5c guys squirm because it reduces the long range abilities that make them moist. But ignore that and you're still better than 308 so its still the preferred choice. Just some things to ponder.

If it were me, I'd probably go 18".

16. Save the length and save the weight if a few FPS isn't important (it's not). Even shooting 140+ grain bullets, you'll be at 2500 fps, plenty to ethically, humanely, quickly kill a whitetail at 400 yards.

You can get 1000yds out of an 11.5" barrel. Do what makes you feel good. I'm running a recessed suppressor on an 11.5" Grendel with no issues out to 600yds. It essentially makes this a 20" and I couldn't imagine wanting more length than that for a hunting AR.

What does SD stand for on the above chart and why the swing at 19"?

Standard Deviation. It's just showing changes in MV for different barrel lengths comparatively.

I bought Palmetto's Gen3 6.5 in the 20" barrel and its awesome!

I built my 6.5 with a Proof Research 20" 1:8 barrel. It has a switchable gas block which required a custom made gas tube. It sports an AAC .30 can. It is 2660 fps with 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. Crazy accurate. I'll post a pic to my website later so you can see it.

TX_COWDOC said:

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I built my 6.5 with a Proof Research 20" 1:8 barrel. It has a switchable gas block which required a custom made gas tube. It sports an AAC .30 can. It is 2660 fps with 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. Crazy accurate. I'll post a pic to my website later so you can see it.

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I'm bud the same but with a 20" Odin Works. interested to see results/improvement with the Proof. Is your Proof carbon fiber?

VegasAg98 said:

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TX_COWDOC said:

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I built my 6.5 with a Proof Research 20" 1:8 barrel. It has a switchable gas block which required a custom made gas tube. It sports an AAC .30 can. It is 2660 fps with 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. Crazy accurate. I'll post a pic to my website later so you can see it.

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I'm bud the same but with a 20" Odin Works. interested to see results/improvement with the Proof. Is your Proof carbon fiber?

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Carbon. I've added pics on my shop's site. I don't post pics here anymore.

Example of my 18" barrel with suppressor. Pretty long. 16 would be better.

Sweeeeeeeet

Really leaning towards 16" since I will be suppressing. You cant find crap for barrels or anything for that matter.

Anyone have suggestions on finding a 16" fluted ar10 6.5 creedmoor barrel?

What's your price range? I have the BSF. It had been great. This is my 100 yard group with the rifle above. (Thermal mounted is the reason for the foil)

https://www.bsfbarrels.com/product-page/6-5-creedmoor

I have a DPMS STAINLESS FLUTED barrel that was 6.5 creedmore for an AR-10. I had it rechambered in .260 Remington and cut to 25" length. It is a bad ass barrel and performed wonderfully. I switched to a ballistic advantage 6.5 creedmore because I was tired of reloading. Have it setting on a shelf if anyone is interested. I was running 123gr Lapua scenars in lapua brass out of it @ 3050 fps. Using IMR 4350. It will cold bore 900 yards dead nuts.