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.
