6.5 mm Creedmoor barrel length shortening test | Blaser R8 barrel shortening in 2.5 cm steps | energy loss and bullet velocity

To the overview of all speed tests - 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoore, 8.5x55 and 300 WSM

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6.5 Creedmoor barrel length shortening test: Shortened Blaser R8 barrel lengths or V0 Determination of barrel shortening - simply calculate energy loss!

The Cartridge 6.5 Creedmoor has made a name for itself as a light long-range cartridge - but hardly anyone knows about its good suitability as a "short-barrelled cartridge"

Especially for light Stalking or mountain weapons the weight reduction is particularly interesting. The 6.5 Creedmoor is a very common calibre and so we tested the effect of shortening the barrel on the power curve.

The use of lead-free bullets will become more important in the future, which is why various manufacturers now offer modern projectiles that deliver what they promise.

The Bullet diameter of 6.5 mm has always been known for good penetration on the game body and the 6.5 Creedmoor still brings Very long projectiles into play. This creates a High storey mass which guarantees a high projectile energy.

Kinetic energy online calculator HERE Calculate flight curve yourself HERE

Conclusion: The 6.5 Creedmoor is well suited for short barrels and already has sufficient potential for this with factory ammunition. As it turned out, the Precision Hunter ELD-X from Hornadywith a shortening to 510mm even faster. Overall, this cartridge can be used for short barrels between 460 and 510 mm without any problems. However, reloaders can certainly get a lot more out of it with the appropriate loads.

The following equipment was selected for the 6.5 Creedmoor Test with speed measurements used

Blaser R8 Weapon with 6.5 Creedmoor barrel
5 different factory ammunition
SAKO Deerhead 156 gr. | Batch no.: 247294100
SAX KJG 6 g | Batch No: M0130.3 202207
Hornady Outfitter CX 120 gr. | Batch No.: 3220337
Hornady ELD-X 143 gr. | Batch no.: 3221600
Hornady SST 129 gr. | Batch no.: 3221699
MagnetoSpeed Mounted on the barrel for speed measurement (chronograph)

For the Blaser R8 barrel shortening test from 56 cm to 46 cm, the barrel was always sawed off by 25 mm - measured from the overpressure bore - after each shot series

Blaser R8 Determine barrel length for speed test

Series of pictures from the 6.5 Creedmoor speed test in our Pistol shooting range

Table Overview of the results of the 6.5 Creedmoor barrel cuts - and measured V0 bullet velocities

Barrel length in " \| cm ⇒ V0 at 6.5 Creedmoor	SAX KJG 6 g grs - m/s	Hornady CX 120 grs - m/s	Hornady SST 129 grs - m/s	Hornady ELD-X 143 grs - m/s	SAKO Deerhead 156 grs - m/s
22 \| 56,00	991	881	883	790	805
21 \| 53,50	994	874	874	787	806
20 \| 51,00	988	869	872	865*	802
19 \| 48,50	927	851	852	771*	795
18 \| 46,00	918	841	848	758	774
Averaged, mean V0 loss m/s per 2.5 cm barrel shortening	V0 became faster, then slowed down	V0 became faster, then slowed down	V0 became faster, then slowed down	V0 became faster, then slowed down	V0 became faster, then slowed down

* ... averaged from several tests for safety, as jump at V0.

Graphic: Overview of the 6.5 mm Creemoor barrel shortenings - and measured V0 bullet velocities

6.5 Creedmoor Details incl. graphics calculated according to energy loss and bullet drop at various barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistic Calculator) and distances

SAX KJG 6.5 Creedmoor 6 g Results

SAX KJG 129 grns | energy loss and bullet drop [cm] with different barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistic Calculator) and distances

Velocities were determined - starting from V0 - in each case using the Hornady Ballistic Calculator

SAX KJG 6 g
Batch no.: M0130.3 202207
Bullet weight: 6 g
BC value G1: 0.485
Room temperature: 17°C

Graphic full screen please CLICK on picture

Barrel length Inch	Barrel length cm	V0	Drop	V100	Drop	V200	Drop	V300	Drop	V400	Drop	V500	Drop
22	56	991	-5	911	0,00	837	-7,10	766	-28,60	698	-67,80	635	-128,40
	Energy Joule	2946		2490		2102		1760		1462		1210
21	53,5	994	-5	914	0,00	839	-7,00	768	-28,40	701	-67,30	637	-127,50
	Energy Joule	2964		2506		2112		1769		1474		1217
20	51	988	-5	909	0,00	834	-7,20	763	-28,90	696	-68,30	633	-129,40
	Energy Joule	2928		2479		2087		1747		1453		1202
19	48,5	973	-5	894	0,00	821	-7,50	750	-30,10	684	-70,90	621	-134,30
	Energy Joule	2840		2398		2022		1688		1404		1157
18	46	963	-5	885	0,00	812	-7,80	742	-31,00	676	-72,80	614	-137,70
	Energy Joule	2782		2350		1978		1652		1371		1131

Hornady CX Outfitter 6.5 Creedmoor 120 grs Results

Hornady CX Outfitter 6.5 Creedmoor 120 grs Results | Energy loss and bullet drop [cm] at various barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistics Calculator) and distances

Velocities were determined - starting from V0 - in each case using the Hornady Ballistic Calculator

Hornady CX Outfitter 6.5 Creedmoor 120 grs Results
Batch no.: 3220337
Bullet weight: 7.8 g
BC value G1: 0.428
Room temperature: 17°C

Graphic full screen please CLICK on picture

Barrel length Inch	Barrel length cm	V0	Drop	V100	Drop	V200	Drop	V300	Drop	V400	Drop	V500	Drop
22	56	881	-5	811	0	744	-10,30	680	-38,90	619	-89,70	563	-168,00
	Energy Joule	3027		2565		2159		1803		1494		1236
21	53,5	874	-5	804	0	737	-10,50	674	-39,70	614	-91,50	557	-171,30
	Energy Joule	2979		2521		2118		1772		1470		1210
20	51	869	-5	799	0	733	-10,70	670	-40,30	610	-92,90	553	-173,70
	Energy Joule	2945		2490		2095		1751		1451		1193
19	48,5	851	-5	782	0	716	-11,40	654	-42,60	595	-97,80	540	-182,80
	Energy Joule	2824		2385		1999		1668		1381		1137
18	46	841	-5	773	0	707	-11,80	645	-43,90	587	-100,70	532	-188,10
	Energy Joule	2758		2330		1949		1622		1344		1104

Hornady SST 6.5 Creedmoor 129 grs Results

Hornady SST 6.5 Creedmoor 129 grs | energy loss and bullet drop [cm] with different barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistics Calculator) and distances

Velocities were determined - starting from V0 - in each case using the Hornady Ballistic Calculator

Hornady SST 6.5 Creedmoor 129 grs
Batch no.: 3221699
Bullet weight: 8.4 g
BC value G1: 0.485
Room temperature: 17°C

Graphic full screen please CLICK on picture

Barrel length Inch	Barrel length cm	V0	Drop	V100	Drop	V200	Drop	V300	Drop	V400	Drop	V500	Drop
22	56	883	-5	821	0	761	-9,90	704	-37,10	649	-85,00	597	-157,60
	Energy Joule	3275		2831		2432		2082		1769		1497
21	53,5	874	-5	812	0	753	-10,20	696	-38,10	642	-87,20	590	-161,50
	Energy Joule	3208		2769		2381		2035		1731		1462
20	51	872	-5	810	0	751	-10,30	694	-38,40	640	-87,80	589	-162,60
	Energy Joule	3194		2756		2369		2023		1720		1457
19	48,5	852	-5	791	0	733	-11,00	677	-40,80	623	-93,00	573	-171,90
	Energy Joule	3049		2628		2257		1925		1630		1379
18	46	848	-5	787	0	729	-11,20	673	-41,30	620	-94,00	570	-173,80
	Energy Joule	3020		2601		2232		1902		1614		1365

Hornady ELD-X 6.5 Creedmoor 143 grs Results

Hornady ELD-X 143 grs | energy loss and bullet drop [cm] with different barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistics Calculator) and distances

Velocities were determined - starting from V0 - in each case using the Hornady Ballistic Calculator

Hornady ELD-X 143 grs
Batch no.: 3221600
Bullet weight: 9.26 g
BC value G1: 0.625
Room temperature: 17°C

Graphic full screen please CLICK on picture

Barrel length Inch	Barrel length cm	V0	Drop	V100	Drop	V200	Drop	V300	Drop	V400	Drop	V500	Drop
22	56	790	-5	744	0	700	-13,00	658	-46,40	617	-103,10	578	-186,80
	Energy Joule	2890		2563		2269		2005		1763		1547
21	53,5	787	-5	742	0	698	-13,10	655	-46,80	614	-104,10	575	-188,50
	Energy Joule	2868		2549		2256		1986		1745		1531
20	51	865	-5	817	0	771	-10,00	726	-36,70	682	-82,70	641	-150,60
	Energy Joule	3464		3090		2752		2440		2154		1902
19	48,5	771	-5	726	0	683	-13,90	641	-49,30	600	-109,40	562	-197,90
	Energy Joule	2752		2440		2160		1902		1667		1462
18	46	758	-5	713	0	670	-14,60	629	-51,50	589	-113,90	551	-206,00
	Energy Joule	2660		2354		2078		1832		1606		1406

SAKO Deerhead 6.5 Creedmoor 156 grs Results

SAKO Deerhead 156 grs | energy loss and bullet drop [cm] with different barrel lengths (Hornady Ballistics Calculator) and distances

Velocities were determined - starting from V0 - in each case using the Hornady Ballistic Calculator

SAKO Deerhead 156 grs
Batch no.: 247294100
Bullet weight: 10.10 g
BC value G1: 0.344
Room temperature: 17°C

Graphic full screen please CLICK on picture

Barrel length Inch	Barrel length cm	V0	Drop	V100	Drop	V200	Drop	V300	Drop	V400	Drop	V500	Drop
22	56	805	-5	722	0	645	-14,40	572	-53,40	506	-124,50	446	-237,80
	Energy Joule	3273		2632		2101		1652		1293		1005
21	53,5	806	-5	723	0	646	-14,40	573	-53,30	506	-124,20	447	-237,10
	Energy Joule	3281		2640		2107		1658		1293		1009
20	51	802	-5	720	0	642	-14,60	570	-54,00	503	-125,80	444	-240,10
	Energy Joule	3248		2618		2081		1641		1278		996
19	48,5	795	-5	713	0	636	-14,90	564	-55,20	498	-128,50	439	-245,20
	Energy Joule	3192		2567		2043		1606		1252		973
18	46	774	-5	693	0	618	-16,10	547	-59,00	483	-137,20	426	-261,60
	Energy Joule	3025		2425		1929		1511		1178		916