22" or 24" 6.5x55 barrel

6.5x55 barrel length

  • 22"

    Votes: 38 54.3%

  • 24"

    Votes: 15 21.4%

  • 26"

    Votes: 7 10.0%

  • 20"

    Votes: 10 14.3%
  • Total voters
    70
Anfoman76

Anfoman76

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Ok guys, I'm looking to order a new barrel and I'm stuck on the length. I either want a 22" or 24" for a quick handling hunting rifle. Not that hung up on speed. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
Mine's less than 20" and handles like a dream. Never much worried about velocity but have been told most ballistics tables are based on 24"s and you can subtract between 25 and 50 fps per inch of barrel.
 
8mmpeter said:
Mine's less than 20" and handles like a dream. Never much worried about velocity but have been told most ballistics tables are based on 24"s and you can subtract between 25 and 50 fps per inch of barrel.
Click to expand...

Is your 20" a 6.5? What twist? What bulets do you shoot? Thanks for any info
 
I have to admit I like long barrelled 6.5x55's, partially based on what I'm used to and partially based on not wanting to lose velocity. I'm pretty sure my Sierra manuals says they got about 200+ fps increases when they tested the 29" bbl M96 vs the 20" M38. I know I can push 140's to 2900 fps in my 29" bbl GC63. Absolutely forget anything like that in a 22" bbl. You stated you didn't care that much for velocity, but I'd still go for the 24" at least. I picked 26" on your poll.
 
Accuracy and velocity differences between a 22" and 24" barrel in a hunting rifle are going to be a moot point for a round like the 6.5x55. The 6.5x55 will get it done with either length. I do, however, find a 22" or shorter barrel handy for walking in thicker bush.
 
Anfoman76 said:
Is your 20" a 6.5? What twist? What bulets do you shoot? Thanks for any info
Click to expand...

1942 husqvarna 6.5x55. "Sporterized" by previous owners. Stock and barrel cut down and williams apperature with a hooded front bead installed. Sorry, no pics yet. I have owned this gun for over 20 years and have never shot it on a bench. 2" groups (give or take) with factory ammo at 100 yds. standing, is good enough for me. Mine seems to like 140 winchester super x. A friend was loading 160 gr. round noses for me for a while, shot great but I can't remember the recipe.
 
I had one cut down to 18-19 inches for a truck gun, ( regret selling it now), and it killed stuff just fine. Velocity suffers with shorter tubes, not accuracy.
Ronsguns010.jpg
 
If you use the same barrel contour, the shorter barrel will be more accurate as it will be stiffer.

Also if you went with a 20" barrel instead of a 24" barrel you could go to a slightly larger contour and have same weight which would also increase the accuracy potential of the barrel.

In reality I don't think there will be any noticable difference in accuracy between the 20 - 26" barrels for a hunting rifle.

I chose the 22" length on the poll as I like the porportions of a rifle with a 22" barrel, you don't give up much in the velocity department and they are still quick handling.

Too each their own though.
 
If got a Husky 1640K in 6.5x 55 with a 23.6 inch barrel (600 mm).
Husky's are metric, don't you know! :)

So I voted for 24 inches...love the extra length as the ballistic
tables are usually calculated based on a 24 inch barrel.
 
With my 26 inch barrel I get 250 fps better than the books say I should.

But as others have noted you are looking for a quick point hunting rifle. Maybe a 22 would be enough.
 
AlexF said:
Quick handling (battle rifles) are 18-22" never 24" while sniper rifle are 24-27".
There has to be a reason for this ;)
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my sniper rifle while in duty was 23.6 inches long with a fix 3.8 power ...but dont tell that nowadays people need huge hubble bubble scope and very long barrel .....
 
I prefer a 26" barrel unless I'm hunting thick bush, and then I want 18-20".

Not enough difference between a 22 or 24 inch barrel to worry about. If it feels good, it is.
 
Thank you very much all!! I'm gonna go for 22" quick handling and I just think it looks good too. Plus that's what the poll says I should ;)
 
I picked the 22" in your poll. I'm biased tho ;) Out of the three 6.5x55's I had..I kept my short Husky...22" barrel. The barrel is a fair bit heavier than the other two that I had were. This thing will consistantly cloverleaf the Fed Bluebox 140's @ 100 yds. I've since got a couple of pet loads for it...120 Noslers, 140 gr SSt's even a 160 RN elephant load :D
One of the other ones I sold had a 29.5" barrel on it.never shot all that great.....I recrowned it and played with it for quite a spell trying to get it to shoot as good as my short Husky....not bad...kinda **close **..but no cigar! So, I sent it packing.

I never cronied anything...but my buddy's short 6.5x55 (21")using the same 120 gr ballistic load flattened a nice wide 7pt ~180 lb whitetail at 225 yards...fell so hard he raised a cloud of dust! This has got to be one of my favorite calibers...bar none!!...course if money was no object...I STILL like to have one of each ;) ;)
 
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