20 inch vs 24 inch tikka 6.5 creedmoor

[7Miller]

So, looking at the tikka in 6.5 creedmoor.

One is the stainless, fluted bolt, fluted barrel in 20" and the other is the new 24" Ace Game model.

I'm real world shooting (mainly fox and deer), is the 20 inch barrel going to leave me wishing I got the 24 inch? Or is the Ace Game going to be too big? Is the Ace Game likely to be more accurate with its slightly heavier barrel?

Will be moderated. Will be shot from high seat, back of pickup, prone and off sticks occasionally.
Shooting 95gr and 130gr bullets.

 

[Stevie/P]

Never understood the uk’s fascination with 20" barrels less is not always best.

 

[Mungo]

My experience: I have a T3 with a 20” barrel. It is slow - it shoots factory 143gr at 2550 fps and 95gr at 3050fps.

This is absolutely fine for roe deer and other deer at shorter range (out to 150m or so). But it limits things a bit at longer range and on larger deer.

The tradeoff is that it is fantastically light and handy, and great for woodland stalking and using from a truck.

I have other rifles that are 24” long, and they’re great for open ground, but annoyingly awkward in woodland or using from a vehicle.

So I’d say decide on your intended use. Woodland and vehicle use, shots out to 150: short barrel. Open ground, larger deer, longer shots: long barrel.

 

[7Miller]

Decision made then
I'll just get used to carrying a heavier rifle around on the occasions I actually walk with a rifle rather than a high seat truck etc.

 

[Tim1]

Decision made then
I'll just get used to carrying a heavier rifle around on the occasions I actually walk with a rifle rather than a high seat truck etc.

You definitely don’t want to be going heavy for sporting use. However, I wouldn’t be going 20” either. Ultimately, it’s all about personal choice.

T

 

[Utectok]

24” is really king for 6.5 in my opinion! I’ve never noticed the four inches in normal use ohh err vicar

 

[Mungo]

Decision made then
I'll just get used to carrying a heavier rifle around on the occasions I actually walk with a rifle rather than a high seat truck etc.

Think about this carefully.

My first Creedmoor was a heavy gun. It was superbly accurate, but I got really fed up with lugging it about. Any use that requires getting in and out of a vehicle or any sort of manoeuvring gets tedious fast with heavier guns.

I’d say the most important question is the average distance you take your shots. If it’s less that 150m, the 20” is all you need.

 

[Madu]

You won't go wrong with a 20" barrel for hunting

 

[Dave_45]

Never understood the uk’s fascination with 20" barrels less is not always best.

I prefer 24 inch for most centrefires

Ended up having to get actions rebarreled to my spec as it was easier than sourcing factory 24

 

[7Miller]

Think about this carefully.

My first Creedmoor was a heavy gun. It was superbly accurate, but I got really fed up with lugging it about. Any use that requires getting in and out of a vehicle or any sort of manoeuvring gets tedious fast with heavier guns.

I’d say the most important question is the average distance you take your shots. If it’s less that 150m, the 20” is all you need.

Ideally I'd prefer to stretch out to 350 yards on fox, in certain circumstances.

 

[Mungo]

Ideally I'd prefer to stretch out to 350 yards on fox, in certain circumstances.

Absolutely no problem with a 20” barrel.

The limitation is terminal energy on larger deer, which drops off quite fast at longer range so you start getting runners.

But that is not a problem for foxes at all.

Based on what you’re describing, I think you’d be much better off with a 20” barrel.

 

[Stevie/P]

I prefer 24 inch for most centrefires

Absolutely look in any reloading manual and nearly all the data is based on 600mm or more barrel lengths.

 

[UTGrad]

I run a 6” can/mod so I chose a 20” CM. With handloads it’s about 2650 FPS with 143 ELDX. The bullet hits minimum terminal velocity 1800 FPS at 700 yards.

20” is easier to handle and lighter with more than enough power for loooong range.

 

[7Miller]

I run a 6” can/mod so I chose a 20” CM. With handloads it’s about 2650 FPS with 143 ELDX. The bullet hits minimum terminal velocity 1800 FPS at 700 yards.

20” is easier to handle and lighter with more than enough power for loooong range.

Thanks for adding actual figures. Always good to hear the MV and the actual distance where it reaches the minimum terminal velocity. Appreciate it

 

[HonestJohn]

I’d split it down the middle and go for 22” personally. 2” doesn’t do anything for handiness, but helps that bit extra when chest shooting large deer in the wind at 250-300 yds and places where even a 100yd dead run is a bother (ex. Near neighbours, on woodland edge, near a river the deer can cross but you will struggle, near a fence in can slip under a watergate, on a ground where your travel home that night and can’t come back next morning or access deer dog).

The obvious answer is don’t shoot, but sometimes/often deer only present themselves in these circumstances, and a touch more terminal velocity wise will be appreciated by the shooter.

I run a 6.5 SE and was reduced over time to 20”. With 140g it’s far better than with 156g, but even 140g (quality hunting bullets as fyi) and chest shots I expect small deer to travel 15-40yds, and large deer 30-80yds, but have seen Adrenalin fuelled red stags cover over 200yds.

I love my 6.5 for the rifle, but i think it’s (6.5’s) one of the worst for putting deer on the floor quickly, irrespective of which bullet is used. - but the 6.5 is famous for this and everyone knows it, but most 6.5 owners refuse to accept it because they get their ego damaged. I reckon I’m well over the 500 deer mark with my 6.5, so have seen a thing or two with it so far, and whether Swede or 260 or Creed, the extra length barrel is a benefit for this calibre IMHO, unless you just hunt fox, chinks, munties and the odd roe.

 

[Mungo]

Just to add that, while my factory loads do 2550, my home loads do 2740fps.

I think the only reason to get a 24” barrel would be if you didn’t home load, and were intending to shoot larger deer at ranges past 200m.

Even then, I’d then get something like a .270 or a 6.5PRC.

 

[swagger700]

I've got the 24in and it's an absolute hammer with yew tree bullets i did wonder should I have got shorter barrel for carrying , as the above says 22in but I'm not arsing about with mine as it shoots so well

 

[HonestJohn]

I've got the 24in and it's an absolute hammer with yew tree bullets i did wonder should I have got shorter barrel for carrying , as the above says 22in but I'm not arsing about with mine as it shoots so well

Also gives you length for re cutting and crowning etc over time if needed, maybe ending its life at 22” instead of 18”

 

[UTGrad]

I’d split it down the middle and go for 22” personally. 2” doesn’t do anything for handiness, but helps that bit extra when chest shooting large deer in the wind at 250-300 yds and places where even a 100yd dead run is a bother (ex. Near neighbours, on woodland edge, near a river the deer can cross but you will struggle, near a fence in can slip under a watergate, on a ground where your travel home that night and can’t come back next morning or access deer dog).

The obvious answer is don’t shoot, but sometimes/often deer only present themselves in these circumstances, and a touch more terminal velocity wise will be appreciated by the shooter.

I run a 6.5 SE and was reduced over time to 20”. With 140g it’s far better than with 156g, but even 140g (quality hunting bullets as fyi) and chest shots I expect small deer to travel 15-40yds, and large deer 30-80yds, but have seen Adrenalin fuelled red stags cover over 200yds.

I love my 6.5 for the rifle, but i think it’s (6.5’s) one of the worst for putting deer on the floor quickly, irrespective of which bullet is used. - but the 6.5 is famous for this and everyone knows it, but most 6.5 owners refuse to accept it because they get their ego damaged. I reckon I’m well over the 500 deer mark with my 6.5, so have seen a thing or two with it so far, and whether Swede or 260 or Creed, the extra length barrel is a benefit for this calibre IMHO, unless you just hunt fox, chinks, munties and the odd roe.

What cartridge for deer size game you prefer to drop them quickly?

I’ve not had any problems with the 6.5 CM, but I also shoot weekly throughout the year so I usually put the bullet in the boiler room so to speak.

 

[Lateral]

I guess the best barrel length option, will also depend on whether the intention is to use factory, or hand loaded ammunition ? I'd have no problem with a 20" barrel if I were hand loading, but factory may be a little limited.

At the very least, I'd have thought a 130gn bullet out of a 20" barrel would be more than adequate for 200m, but it's easy enough to find out what the realistic velocity is from a 20, & 24" barrel, with a 130gn bullet, and then see what energy that produces at different distances ?