New Rifle Build Dilemma

[Wally243264]

Hello All,
I'm looking for some thoughts, opinions, and ideas from other shooters. I am in the process of building a new 6.5 Creedmoor. It will be used for everything from long range prairie dogs and hunting, to target shooting steel and extended ranges. I have collected all of the parts, and the new action should be here by the end of the month. Over the years I have managed to pick up 4 different barrels that would work for the build. (What can I say, I'm a barrel freak.) They are as follows:

1) A Proof research 24" with the light sendero contour. With my scope and rings it would weigh in the neighborhood of 9 lbs.
2) A Proof Research 22" sendero contour. The gun would also weigh about 9 lbs.
3) A Brux #5 contour blank. This would bump the rifle weight to about 10 lbs.
4) A Krieger Remington Varmint contour blank. This would bump rifle weight to about 11 lbs, but due to the heavier weight could potentially be the most accurate and very comfortable to shoot.

I've even considered chambering a couple of the barrels, so I could swap them to find the one I prefer. Anyone have thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Darkside]

Hello All,
I'm looking for some thoughts, opinions, and ideas from other shooters. I am in the process of building a new 6.5 Creedmoor. It will be used for everything from long range prairie dogs and hunting, to target shooting steel and extended ranges. I have collected all of the parts, and the new action should be here by the end of the month. Over the years I have managed to pick up 4 different barrels that would work for the build. (What can I say, I'm a barrel freak.) They are as follows:

1) A Proof research 24" with the light sendero contour. With my scope and rings it would weigh in the neighborhood of 9 lbs.
2) A Proof Research 22" sendero contour. The gun would also weigh about 9 lbs.
3) A Brux #5 contour blank. This would bump the rifle weight to about 10 lbs.
4) A Krieger Remington Varmint contour blank. This would bump rifle weight to about 11 lbs, but due to the heavier weight could potentially be the most accurate and very comfortable to shoot.

I've even considered chambering a couple of the barrels, so I could swap them to find the one I prefer. Anyone have thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

I don’t see twist rate for the barrels.
And what Bullets will you be using.
Thanks

 

[Wally243264]

I don’t see twist rate for the barrels.
And what Bullets will you be using.
Thanks

Sorry, I should have mentioned that little detail. Proofs are 7.5 twist. Brux and Krieger are 8 twist. I live at 7000’ and will be doing most of my target shooting above 6000’. Occasionally I will drop down to 3500’ for a hunt.

I plan on using Bergers, Eld-m’s, and Sierra’s up to about 140 hrs.

Thanks for your interest,
Steve

 

[Petey308]

How much hiking around with it do you think you’ll do? That would help you decide on the length and weight. If it’s not going to be much, the longer and heavier has benefits they might make it more worth it. How long are the Brux and Krieger barrels?

A 22” might be the sweet spot, but it really just depends. I carry a 24” most times and it would be hard to get me to go shorter, but I’d entertain it for sure, especially if I were running a suppressor and doing a lot of hiking with it.

 

[Wally243264]

How much hiking around with it do you think you’ll do? That would help you decide on the length and weight. If it’s not going to be much, the longer and heavier has benefits they might make it more worth it. How long are the Brux and Krieger barrels?

A 22” might be the sweet spot, but it really just depends. I carry a 24” most times and it would be hard to get me to go shorter, but I’d entertain it for sure, especially if I were running a suppressor and doing a lot of hiking with it.

Very good points. I can have both of the steel barrels cut and crowned anywhere from 26” and less. I was leaning towards 24” mainly because I would like to hit 2800 fps safely with 140 grain bullets.

Most of the time I won’t really be walking that much. Most of my hunting these days is on the plains in eastern Colorado. If I decide to go back to the mountains, I could always have one of the Proof barrels spun up.

Thanks for the advice,
Steve

 

[Petey308]

Very good points. I can have both of the steel barrels cut and crowned anywhere from 26” and less. I was leaning towards 24” mainly because I would like to hit 2800 fps safely with 140 grain bullets.

Most of the time I won’t really be walking that much. Most of my hunting these days is on the plains in eastern Colorado. If I decide to go back to the mountains, I could always have one of the Proof barrels spun up.

Thanks for the advice,
Steve

Sounds like more sound logic. That’s probably what I’d do too and try to be in that same velocity minimum capability of 2800fps with 140gr class bullets. The barrel profile now would depend more so on how repetitive you think you’ll shoot it. You said you’d do target shooting with it, so heavier can be a better option to help with heat in the barrel and the negative effects from it. Again, you just need to decide what you want as a happy medium there for what you’ll be doing with the rifle the list, as far as making the trade offs ultimately sway the right direction for you.