Barrel recommendation

[Kingair001]

Once you have all the parts in-hand . . . .

This will be the hardest part . . . the wait to get all together . . .

For me at least !

[Mr. Patis]

Exactly. So, Mr. Patis, which bullet are you planning to use?

I don't reload so whatever factory stuff out there...I'm thinking hornady 140

[Mr. Patis]

My recommendation is a Bartlein Heavy Palma, 1:8 or 1:8.25" twist.
I have a thread called "building a custom rifle in less thana month" with a list of suppliers that have all the rifle components available for immediate purchase here:

http://www.caprc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1114

Once you have all the parts in-hand, schedule a day to come over for the build and you can be shooting it the next day.

My plan is going to you

[paramedictim]

check out ballistic advantage. carbon fiber wrapped barrels in lots of different contours.

[waveslayer]

Go with the Bartlien barrels, love them.

Get a 1/8 twist for the Creedmoor.

Length I would go 24" if you want to get more velocity you can go 26 to 28" most are built in a 24"

PM and I will set you up with a great Gun Smith to turn your barrel and complete the build. He makes several rifles for guys on the PRS series. He's in Vegas. Let me know.

Or go big and get a Proof Research barrel if you want Carbon. Not the lightest out there, but tough as nails

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[Mr. Patis]

Go with the Bartlien barrels, love them.

Get a 1/8 twist for the Creedmoor.

Length I would go 24" if you want to get more velocity you can go 26 to 28" most are built in a 24"

PM and I will set you up with a great Gun Smith to turn your barrel and complete the build. He makes several rifles for guys on the PRS series. He's in Vegas. Let me know.

Or go big and get a Proof Research barrel if you want Carbon. Not the lightest out there, but tough as nails

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

This is my first build...I'm not looking to get crazy with spending...my goal is to just get me out to 1000yards hitting some steel plate at my local range....i don't even have much experience in long range shooting. For a long time I was debating between the 6.5cr and 308 for barrel life

[Kingair001]

check out ballistic advantage. carbon fiber wrapped barrels in lots of different contours.

Don't see any advantage for using a carbon wrapped barrel

[waveslayer]

This is my first build...I'm not looking to get crazy with spending...my goal is to just get me out to 1000yards hitting some steel plate at my local range....i don't even have much experience in long range shooting. For a long time I was debating between the 6.5cr and 308 for barrel life

400. Bucks to spin the barrel and mount her up to everything. Good pick on the Creedmoor. It will get to a 1,000 no problem. You will find barrel blanks for sale on the Hide quite a bit, for a good price.

You will get a few thousand rounds out of your build.

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[MongooseV8]

This is my first build...my goal is to just get me out to 1000yards hitting some steel plate at my local range...

Get a 26" for a little extra velocity. It will help you out in your situation and goals.

[Gofasterdammit]

Bartlein was the shizzzz years ago. They wouldn't be my first choice at this point. The most popular 130 to 140 gn. 6.5 bullets will run in a 1/8 twist with no issues. Try to find a Hawk Hill barrel. They are sold out everywhere for a reason. I'm on my first one and can throw any load at it and it shoots great. Another would be a Proof Research stainless steel barrel (not carbon fiber). A Proof barrel will be just about as straight as you could possibly get. IMHO, all barrel manufacturers wish they could have a facility and machines like Proof.

[milotrain]

They are sold out everywhere for a reason.

So are most quality barrel maker's barrels.

Just because the PRS guys like them doesn't mean they are necessarily better than anything else out there. Likewise just because the LR guys like something or the Benchrest guys like something doesn't mean it is necessarily better.

The fact that it shoots any load well is good data, but there would need to be actual hard science (testing including blind tests) in order to convince me that there is much difference between top tier barrel manufacturers. We all know that looking down them with a borescope doesn't tell you anything about how well they shoot, and everyone has gotten a hummer of a barrel once in their life but it doesn't mean the exact same barrel from the same manufacturer will be a hummer again.

[JMP]

Personally, I'd recommend a Bartlein 1:8" 5r since that is a suitable twist that will most likely be in stock. 26-28" is a good finish length for 6.5CD as it isn't a case where you need to find extra velocity. The 139-142gr bullets are very efficient for their weight and usually shoot well at 2,800-2,850. If you want to run it hard and you are concerned about barrel life, then you can get a 30" and have the option of getting it set back after 1,000 rounds or so. Depending on how you want to shoot the rifle, it is a cartridge (for me) that can be shot with or without a brake, depending on how heavy your set up is.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a nice, balanced cartridge that is easy to shoot/load. For hitting steel targets at intermediate to long range, it is a good pick with ~140gr bullets since it isn't a high velocity cartridge and it provides good target feedback. It seems like it is becoming the new 308 of target shooting.

Bartlein was the shizzzz years ago.

What has changed? They are still a relatively young company. I have had quite a few and not gotten a lemon--not to say other brands aren't also good.

[desert dog]

I run 24" Brux 1:8 barrels on all of my 6.5 CM builds, this includes both hunting and bench rifles. Performance has been fantastic. I also have a 6.5cm hunting rifle that my son uses with a 22" 1:8 Hart barrel (installed by them), and it shoots lights-out.

I shoot 139gr scenars out of the bench gun and 127gr LRX out of the hunting rifle.

[russ69]

I don't reload so whatever factory stuff out there...I'm thinking hornady 140

If you are shooting factory loads, don't over think it, just buy a barrel from one of the known manufacturers.

[diver160651]

I don't reload so whatever factory stuff out there...I'm thinking hornady 140

Think about Prime ammo (130 bergers), it out-runs the 140's until your close to Mach 1.2 and honestly the SD, bullet consistency and Lot to Lot performance seems better that Hornady... Oh ya, and save the brass, it is much better than Hornady.