6.5x55 tikka reloading questions

[Homerange]

No doubt, but the question is unless you have specific love for them, is there a reason to choose it over a much more popular caliber like a .260 Rem? Seems like info and cases would be cheaper and easier to find.

There's nothing the 260 can do that a 6.5 x 55 can't surpass. Old cartridge it maybe is but in modern rifles still a very strong performer for those reloaders that know how to safely develop hotter than the old " '96 safe" factory loads.
I looked hard at getting a 260 but decided a 6.5 would be better for long range despite that it uses a standard length action.

 

[joshb]

I suggest NOT making any posts regarding loads or use of 94 or 96 actions on this thread. Modern actions and vintage/ antique actions are two different kettles of fish in this cartridge, and should not be mixed up. Folks chiming in about their old actions, no matter how accurate they may be, has been a significant source of confusion in the internet world.

I agree about the confusion. I believe that is why guys are explaining the differences between them to the original poster. Keeping silent about the issue creates a more dangerous situation. I have a few old Swedes. I have thought about getting a modern one. I went with the 6.5-47 instead. One of the reasons(small, but a thought) was my fading memory and the possibility of getting my "modern loads" mixed up with my "antique loads". One mistake could prove injurious.

 

[Pigdog]

Thanks heaps guys you nailed it, especially laurie!!what a wealth of knowledge!!! A couple of reason I'm choosing the 6.5 over the 260 is that in the tikka only a long action is avail so you don't get all the benefits of a true short action so the 6.5 gets a tick there for the tikka over the 260, I believe they just put some sort of block in their for the short actions, the second as someone above mentioned the 6.5 can be loaded to slightly more capacity than the 260 if wanted.

My next question for anyone maybe laurie is has anyone tried the hornady eld match ammo 147g this is what I had my eye on for this rifle bc around 0.697??? would love to see some load data for this bullet in this rifle?

 

[rimfiremac]

The 6.5 SE just doesn't have the internal volume to propel the 147 to its potential. The 147 was essentially built for the 6.5x284.

The 6.5 SE and the 140 range for long distance and 123/130 range for mid distances is where the cartridge is optimized.

 

[Brians356]

To be honest, I feel it would be an affront to buy a Tikka chambered in either 260 Rem or 7mm Rem Mag. Get it in 6.5x55mm Swede - it's only fitting! (My being 1/2 Swedish and 1/4 Norwegian has only a little to do with it.) The 6.5 Swede is a great but, lately, overlooked cartridge, and I have been nurturing an impulse to buy a T3 in that chambering myself.
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[jlow]

To be honest, I feel it would be an affront to buy a Tikka chambered in either 260 Rem or 7mm Rem Mag. Get it in 6.5x55mm Swede - it's only fitting! (My being 1/2 Swedish and 1/4 Norwegian has only a little to do with it.) The 6.5 Swede is a great but, lately, overlooked cartridge, and I have been nurturing an impulse to buy a T3 in that chambering myself.
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Uff da!

 

[Pigdog]

The 6.5 SE just doesn't have the internal volume to propel the 147 to its potential. The 147 was essentially built for the 6.5x284.

The 6.5 SE and the 140 range for long distance and 123/130 range for mid distances is where the cartridge is optimized.

The hornady factory 6.5 creed 147eld is getting 2695fps I believe from their site the 6.5x55 should be able to get at least that maybe a bit more? Your thoughts?

 

[rimfiremac]

Yes, absolutely, I don't have any doubts that the 6.5x55 case could get the 147 above 2700, however, the 147eld is designed to compete with the 7mm heavies, which are in a different class than the 6.5mm 140's. That is- how many times have you read "I shoot my 6mm/ 6.5mm until the wind picks up and then I switch to my 7...". To succeed in this intent, a cartridge would need to get the 147eld going at least 2800fps, which the 6.5x55 will be hard pressed to do. Not to say it's impossible with a 28"+ barrel and something like RL26, but it will be challenging. Might as well just use a cartridge design with an internal volume that achieve the desired velocity with ease.

 

[rardoin]

I think the standard 6.5 x55 SM case, loaded with H4381 at near, but below max pressures should get the 147gr projectiles over 2800fps in a barrel 28-30" long. I got velocities of 2760's while fireforming 6.5 x55 BJAI cases using 49gr H4831sc in a 21" FF barrel. I don't think my 6.5 x55 Improved will have any trouble hitting 2900+ with the 147's in my 30" barrel so the standard case should not have a problem with 2800.

 

[Brians356]

Getting to 2800 fps, even from a 24-in barrel, while staying within 260 Rem pressures, should be fairly easy. Review this thread for many anecdotes:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/6-5x55-load-67859/

In short, anything the 260 Rem can do, the Swede should match or exceed, in a modern action, assuming you can seat bullets long enough. For example 260 Rem will push (according to Hodgdon) a 142-gr to 2747fps from a 24-in barrel, using compressed H4831.

PS But you're looking at a T3 w/ 23.6" barrel. So you'll be relying on Swede being able to surpass 260 Rem. From what I glean the Swede holds about 3.5 to 5 more grains than the 260 Rem, so it's not unreasonable. But the T3 action may require seating heavy bullets deep enough to negate the advantage in capacity, I don't know.

PPS Here's a useful article on 6.5 Swede vs 260 Rem, FWIW (in 2 parts):

http://www.realguns.com/articles/526.htm

Ok, one more article: "Modern Loads for the 6.5x55 Swedish":

http://www.realguns.com/articles/493.htm

Note the 140-gr load @ 2772 fps from a 20.5" barrel (IMR 7828 SSC).
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[Pigdog]

thanks for the link brian was some interesting reading data is starting to come through when you look far and wide. Was checking the hornady website and they have load data for both the 260 rem and 6.5 creed avail online. Interestingly their factory creed 147eld ammo is listed as 2695fps but in the load data for the 6.5 creed and the 260rem they give max loads with max velocity of 2650fps. I'm guessing they are being ultra conservative with their load data? or their factory 6.5creed ammo us hotted right up?? thoughts. Was thinking the 260rem load data for 147eld would be ok to follow for 6.5x55 start a bit lower and work towards the max for the 260

 

[Brians356]

Is the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor ammo "Superformance" by chance?
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[Brians356]

Apparently the Swede typically has plenty of freebore, and handles long bullets well. According to Nosler, the 140-gr Accubond, seated appropriately in both cartridges, leaves about 3 grains more net capacity in the Swede than in the 260 Rem.
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[rimfiremac]

My experience is based on a Tikka Swede Sporter (varmint) barrel- 23.5" long. For whatever reason, the chamber used has so much free bore that a 123 Scenar has less than .100" of bearing surface remaining in the neck when touching the lands. You could load about as long as you like with a factory chamber.

 

[Brians356]

My experience is based on a Tikka Swede Sporter (varmint) barrel- 23.5" long. For whatever reason, the chamber used has so much free bore that a 123 Scenar has less than .100" of bearing surface remaining in the neck when touching the lands. You could load about as long as you like with a factory chamber.

That makes sense. The original military round was an almost comical-looking 156-grain RN. They have to assume somebody has a box of old military ammo, and actually expects it will chamber safely.


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[rardoin]

Norma and Lapua still retail hunting loads in the 150+gr class.

 

[Barlow]

I killed a Michigan buck last November with my 94, 6.5x55 and 160 gr Hornady RN bullets at 2250 mv. A 100 yard shot where I sit would be max, and it worked as always. Barlow

 

[Brians356]

I killed a Michigan buck last November with my 94, 6.5x55 and 160 gr Hornady RN bullets at 2250 mv. A 100 yard shot where I sit would be max, and it worked as always. Barlow

Well, with a sectional density of .328 it should have.
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[Barlow]

Well, with a sectional density of .328 it should have.
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The older I get (near 70) the more I like my old Swede's. I just get a kick out of using 100 plus year old rifles to kill deer. My 96 has a new Brux barrel, but the action is iirc a 1914. I use a pop up blind in the UP and the 94 is short and handy, and I find myself carrying it more and more. Those actions are beautifully made and have stood the ultimate test, "the test of time". I have talked a few other locals into using this round and none are disappointed. I don't know what Paul Mauser knew when he came up with the 6.5x55 and the 7x57, but one thing is for sure, they worked. Barlow

 

[Bbear]

So, to the earlier question about why a Swede vs the 260? For me it came down to barrel life and a classic cartridge. I'm not a real high volume shooter but I will put several hundred rounds through my hunting rifles throughout the year. For me, that meant that the 260 would be looking at a new barrel in as little as 4-5 years. The Swede, on the other hand, won't need one until my grandson shoots it out some 30 years from now.
Once I got mine (a mod 70 long action I rescued from a pawn shop and had Pac-nor put on a new barrel) I took it out with factory Lapua 123 gr scenars and shot a .44" 5-shot group. I reload some 142 LRAB's with IMR4350 and shot this 4 shot group at 100 meters: