20 inch 6.5 CM?

Joel

Joel

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Any of you folks hunting a 20" 6.5 Creedmoor?

Thinking of one, specifically a Tikka, but would love to hear how a T3x Lite (Not CTR) handles and what the velocity loss is going to be like before taking the plunge. If its noisy and gives up too much maybe it isn't worth it?
 
I know you said "not CTR", but I have some experience loading for my 20" CTR in 6.5cm and a friend's 24" Tac A1 in 6.5cm in the same conditions, same powder, etc. Aside from the wildly different stocks they're basically the same rifle. On average I would see about 80-100 fps difference between them. Pretty much the 25 fps / inch of barrel you see quoted often. 20" in 6.5cm gives up very little and handles much easier, especially if you're in and out of tree stands or blinds often.

I thought the T3X lite only came in 22.5" 6.5cm but if 20" is an option that's what I'd pick every time.
 
Thanks Dan and Jon87! Good to hear that!

I was only saying "not a CTR" in case anyone suggested there are better alternatives as a hunting ifle.
 
I bought the CTR in 2020 when there wasn't much else to do and got into long range and reloading with it. I only recently put it into the hunting rotation. I like it, but I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone just for hunting, at least on the east coast. It's too heavy IMO. Especially in 6.5cm, it's just not really necessary. T3x lite is the way to go.
 
Reloder 26 is your huckleberry for speed in the 6.5 Creed, I have come to this conclusion after loading for several 6.5 rifles with multitudes of powder and bullet combos.
I hate calling one powder "pixie dust" but in this case I will and it is most definitely Re26.
My tikka pictured below with a Carbon fiber 20" IBI barrel will shoot 120gr ballistic tips @ 3000fps with Sub-MOA accuracy. I had to vibrate the full cases with hair clippers to seat a bullet and was running as long a COAL as the MDT magazine would allow, your factory M+ mag on your lite might allow longer.

Bear in mind that most Tikka factory barrels I have done load development for were significantly slower than most other factory offerings or customs due to the longer throat. Some cartridges you can use this to your advantage, some not so much.

4FSeeWUh.jpg
 
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20" Tikka 6.5cm
130gr Sierra TGK
42.0grs RL17

Code: 
  [TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Stats - [B]Average[/B]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 64, align: right"][B]2748.66[/B]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"][B]fps[/B]
[/TD]
[TD="width: 128, colspan: 2"][/TD]
[TD="width: 64"][/TD]
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stats - Highest[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2752.37[/TD]
[TD]fps[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"][/TD]
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stats - Lowest[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2743.54[/TD]
[TD]fps[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stats - Ext. Spread[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8.83[/TD]
[TD]fps[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"][/TD]
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[/TR]
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[TD]Stats - Std. Dev[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4.03[/TD]
[TD]fps[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"][/TD]
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[TD]V50[/TD]
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[TD]Ke0[/TD]
[TD]Ke50[/TD]
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[TD]Ke150[/TD]
[TD]Ke200[/TD]
[TD]Ke250[/TD]
[TD]PF50[/TD]
[TD]Proj. Weight[/TD]
[TD]Date[/TD]
[TD]Time[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2750[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2673[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
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[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2182[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2061[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]347.49[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: center"]########[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]17:02:32[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2752[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2675[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2186[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2064[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]347.75[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: center"]########[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]17:02:52[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2744[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2665[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2172[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2049[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]346.45[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: center"]########[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]17:03:13[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2752[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2674[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2185[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2063[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]347.62[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: center"]########[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]17:03:32[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2745[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2662[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2175[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2045[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]346.06[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: center"]########[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]17:03:51[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
20" Tikka 6.5cm
143gr Hornady ELDx
41.2grs RL16

Code: 
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  [TR]
   [TD="width: 64"]Stats - [B]Average[/B]
[/TD]
   [TD="width: 64, align: right"][B]2616[/B].83
[/TD]
   [TD="width: 64"][B]fps[/B]
[/TD]
   [TD="width: 64"]                                [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [TR]
   [TD]Stats - Highest[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2625.96[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
   [TD]                                [/TD]
  [/TR]
  [TR]
   [TD]Stats - Lowest[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2606.73[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
   [TD]                                 [/TD]
  [/TR]
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   [TD]Stats - Ext. Spread[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]19.23[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
   [TD]                              [/TD]
  [/TR]
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   [TD]Stats - Std. Dev[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]6.58[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]2616[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]2556[/TD]
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  [/TR]
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   [TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2626[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2561[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2487[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2610[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2547[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2479[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]2617[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2552[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2617[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2551[/TD]
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RL26 really wakes up a 6.5cm especially in a Tikka with their 2.95" OAL mag box, you can get more powder under those heavy long bullets without hitting too high of pressure

20" Tikka 6.5cm
147gr Hornady ELDm
46.8grs RL26

Code: 
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  [TR]
   [TD="width: 64"]Stats - [B]Average[/B]
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   [TD="width: 64, align: right"][B]2715[/B].34
[/TD]
   [TD="width: 64"][B]fps[/B]
[/TD]
   [TD="width: 64"]                                [/TD]
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   [TD]Stats - Highest[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2727.92[/TD]
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   [TD]Stats - Lowest[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2699.71[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
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   [TD]Stats - Ext. Spread[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]28.21[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
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   [TD]Stats - Std. Dev[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]8.37[/TD]
   [TD]fps[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]2582[/TD]
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   [TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2716[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2647[/TD]
   [TD="align: right"]2584[/TD]
  [/TR]
 [/TABLE]
 
I'm shooting a 19" barrel 6.5x55 and velocity loss was 45 fps less than the 24" barrel before I cut it down. Didn't affect accuracy at all and is one of the handiest hunting rifles I own. I have always been a carbine kinda guy and have several rifles with 18 1/2" barrels. For a hunting rifle the velocity loss isn't a significant factor in my opinion but there are those people who have to squeeze every ounce of velocity from their cartridges as if it were a challenge. I prefer a short, light, quick handling rifle for hunting and one reticle, one point of aim 0 - 300 yds. This combination has been getting the job done for 50 years.
 
I think the 6.5 cm would be great for a 20" barrelled carbine. I have a browning micro series 20" barrel chambered in 284win, the rifle is a little snappy but not unbearable. The 284 is a much bigger case than the cm.
 
dan belisle said:
Works great in the 6.5 Swede. I use it a lot in Magnum cases. One of my favorite powders, hard to find better for the 7 RM and similar. Very close to Norma MRP. - dan
Click to expand...

I should have specified in a ~20" 6.5 CM. Bought tons of it for 6.5 Swede when Wholesale closed down and I figured it might be too slow for a 20" gun. Seeing some decent numbers with RL26 has me rethinking.
 
pete dobinson said:
I think the 6.5 cm would be great for a 20" barrelled carbine. I have a browning micro series 20" barrel chambered in 284win, the rifle is a little snappy but not unbearable. The 284 is a much bigger case than the cm.
Click to expand...

My 284 Win Light weight rifle is a lot more cartridge than the 6.5 CM is for Recoil . The 7-08 is in between the two but closer to the 284W . RJ
 

Nice bullet choice! And not surprised you've got a custom 20" barreled 6.5 of some sort, Jim!

Its pretty dang handy in a Tikka, the 20" sporter barrel. But I think I'm sticking with 24.3 cause I'm just too miserly about velocity. Plenty of room in a safe for both though, and lots of others!
 
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