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6.5-284 Win Barrel Life!

Pushing a relatively small bullet fast! Pressure and heat down a smaller hole compared to a 30 caliber.

Its better than some of the hot rod 22 calibers.

RHINOUT!
 
The high-BC 6.5mm bullets also have a long bearing surface,relative to their mass) compared to other calibers. That's good for accuracy, but it means more metal-on-metal contact in the bore.
 
Moderator said:
The high-BC 6.5mm bullets also have a long bearing surface,relative to their mass) compared to other calibers. That's good for accuracy, but it means more metal-on-metal contact in the bore.

If you shot the bullets at 2000 fps with a lower powder charge, the barrel would last a great deal longer than at a 3000 fps loading with the same powder, so in the overall scheme of things, I don't know that the longer bearing surface is a major factor when compared to temperature and pressure. Most 6.5 x 284 shooters I know are running max or near max loads with high energy powders that have a high flame temperature,H4350 is one of the most popular) which is what really burns the barrel,i.e. get the performance but burn that throat up with high heat combined with high pressure for a duration that scorches the throat metal but good). The barrels that I shoot out are not really worn as much as they are blistered and cracked up the throat from the heat and pressure,on, off, on, off, etc.) to the point that they become unservicable because they pick up copper in the blistered and rough throat area, have bits of the rifling dissappear, etc.

Robert Whitley
 
Northman,
I talked to a shooter over in Finland and he said they get around 5000+ rounds out of their 6.5x55s shooting factory match ammo. I believe their match ammo is around 2600fps though so its on the slow side but then they are shooting the 139s with a BC of around .640.

I'am looking at building a 6.5x55 and shooting the real slow burning powders in it and try to keep my loads close to my 260s,Around 2750fps) with the hope of getting another 1000+ rounds out of one.

My thougths are that by using the bigger case of the 6.5x55 I can use the slower burning and cooler burning powder and not burn out a barrel in 2500 rds. like my 260s or 1500 as with the 6.5x284s.

The only thing holding me back is the new 6.5x47 that Lapua has come out with. I may hold off to see what it will do. I am worried it won't have the umph to make it to 1000yds but if it will push a 123 to 2900+ then it should be good to go and I may go that route too.
 
I have never shot one out completely. Probally this year..well this gun on my Tikka action will be shot out to gone.

.640 BC...yeah right..139's are close enough in bc to 142's I barely move my dope any.

I would expect to get 2k with the swede.

I run the 139's at 2950 with ease in a 28 and my latest barrel will be 30 inches.

Powders are RL 22 and VIN N560. Low pressure 56k psi according to QL.

I got a match reamer set for 140 berger vld's I can rent out if your interested. My Mac Tilton gun is on hold as I need a gun to shoot my opening F-class match since my other gun is SATS.

RHINOUT!
 
It seems like every powder talks about how it can help extend barrel life; but I bit again and bought some of the newer,I think) N560 -- has anyone worked up anything on this yet

The concept is higher energy, less powder, thus easier on the barrel etc... I have put in 53.5g with a 139g Scenar and it's going pretty steady at 3030fps

Will back it off to around 2950 and it seems this shouldn't wear a barrel as much as the H4350 from what I have been told and read.

Any thoughts?

Of course the question is will it shoot, but other than that I would like to see my barrel go 2000+

Sooner04
 
Problem with powders was nothing matched the combination of accuracy AND low ES that H4350 gave me. RL-22 would have been good but the accuracy nodes weren't in the same place as the low ES's. Maybe in the new barrel...
 
In the 6,5x55 we typically see 5000+ rounds barrel life with the normal 140gr loads at 2700fps.

The tougher loads used for unknown distance field shooting can shorten these 5000 quite a bit. Typical field load is 130gr Norma VLD at 2900-2950 fps.

The slower 2600fps load can give closer to 8-10.000 rds.

Highpower shooters over here number about 150.000 and just about exclusively shoot the 6,5x55 with small variations in bullets and loads. Sauer match rifle only one allowed.

Popular powders are Vit N140,150,160 or Norma equivilants. Norma MRP and MRP2 are popular for heavy bullet hunting rounds.
 
NOTE what Sierra 22 just posted...

150,000 shooters.

One match rifle. One Caliber.


Hence my suggestion for a one-design bench-target rifle.

My guess is that there are less than 8,000 serious registered benchresters in the USA. Conversely, the potential market for people wanting an affordable, one-design rifle giving serious accuracy is huge.

We should not get caught in the trap of trying to build a rifle to fit narrow existing HV/LV/Hunter BR classifications.
 
I might add that this is Norway.
Population 4.5 mill, legal weapons about 1,5-2 mill,we have gun control!), shooters organized in DFS roughly 150.000,used to be 200k+), total shooters in all sports roughly 5% of population. Largest national match attracts about 5-7.000 shooters each year.

The Sauer match rifle is a switch-barrel, basically a Sauer SSG3000 with some modifications and sells at a standardized price at about US$1700.

If I got some numbers wrong, I'm sure someone will correct them.

,Been reading your site for some time now, and must say I enjoy it. Decided to post here on the 6,5x55; we have some experience with it :) as do the Finns, Swedes and Danes.
 

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