My only retort would be brass availability and the effort involved in either necking or sizing said available brass. I guess go online and look to see what is actually available once and you will get your answer on availability. On a personal level I always liked the 6.5x55 and the nastalgia of how old the cartridge is. I have never shot it but believe it would fit the midrange level quite well. When shooting longer ranges something along the lines of the wsm or rsaum or 284 might be a little better suited to get you those last 400 yrds. I'm not saying it couldn't be done with the swede but inconsistency on judgement might help with the edge given from the bigger cartridges. Just shoot whatever you want and enjoy because that is what it really is all about, shooting and enjoying the sport we all enjoy.
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6.5 x 55 AI Modern Balistics.
- Thread starter Changeling
- Start date
Winchester brass measures 0.473 casehead.
Lapua measures 0.478.
1987 vintage, Swede milsurp measures 0.474.
SAAMI indicates 0.4803". http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/6_5x55%20Swedish.pdf
308 Winchester case measures 0.473. http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/308%20Winchester.pdf
I run Lapua and Winchester brass in both of my 6.5x55 AI's, with NO issues in either standard Savage bolthead. Velocity with Danzac/WS2 coated bullets is 3100.
Very easy caliber to shoot well. Very easy caliber to go long with. 1/2 MOA groups are the norm when going long.
Look at the BC of a variety of calibers....6.5 and 338 are top of the heap.
H4831 seems to be the go to powder for me.
Sometimes, we get wrapped up in "my caliber is the best out there". Take a step back and look at ANY caliber from a ballistic standpoint. Answer the questions....what do you want this caliber to do? Is it a paper puncher? Go long boomstick? Varminter? Medium/Large game caliber?
Look at available bullet design and build your rifle from there. Pick a case that has the capacity to accomplish the job. Lastly, like others have stated, find brass that is available, plentiful, and reasonably priced to accomplish this goal. Personally, I think it is ridiculous to spend $1 per bullet and a $1 or more per brass....when there are so many available standard and wildcat cartridges that will more than accomplish the goal.
Lapua measures 0.478.
1987 vintage, Swede milsurp measures 0.474.
SAAMI indicates 0.4803". http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/6_5x55%20Swedish.pdf
308 Winchester case measures 0.473. http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/308%20Winchester.pdf
I run Lapua and Winchester brass in both of my 6.5x55 AI's, with NO issues in either standard Savage bolthead. Velocity with Danzac/WS2 coated bullets is 3100.
Very easy caliber to shoot well. Very easy caliber to go long with. 1/2 MOA groups are the norm when going long.
Look at the BC of a variety of calibers....6.5 and 338 are top of the heap.
H4831 seems to be the go to powder for me.
Sometimes, we get wrapped up in "my caliber is the best out there". Take a step back and look at ANY caliber from a ballistic standpoint. Answer the questions....what do you want this caliber to do? Is it a paper puncher? Go long boomstick? Varminter? Medium/Large game caliber?
Look at available bullet design and build your rifle from there. Pick a case that has the capacity to accomplish the job. Lastly, like others have stated, find brass that is available, plentiful, and reasonably priced to accomplish this goal. Personally, I think it is ridiculous to spend $1 per bullet and a $1 or more per brass....when there are so many available standard and wildcat cartridges that will more than accomplish the goal.
Taking a look at the Berger, 1st edition manual provides the following specs for the 6.5X55 Swedish: rim diameter .479, diameter of body in-front of extractor groove .477.
For the .308 Winchester, same manual, .473 (.4728) and .471 (.4709).
Firing brass having .308 sized base dimensions in a 6.5X55 sized chamber at 60 thousand psi (we are talking about 6.5X55 AI pressures) might cause case failures and certainly excessive brass working in sizing and that is my point about cartridge reforming.
Cartridge availability is sort of like the tide, it comes and goes. My policy is to be able to make workable brass for any of my rifles using common brass dimensions and the 6.5X55 while being a fine cartridge and even an excellent cartridge is not one of them. Almost all of my rifles use .223, .243, .308, .270, .30-06, or .338 brass and that has served me well during the past few years with reoccurring irrational component shortages.
Let the Swedes and such shoot their 6.5X55's at targets and moose but I don't want to be dependent on when the next boat load of 6.5X55's is going to arrive if Hornady and Nosler quit making them.
For the .308 Winchester, same manual, .473 (.4728) and .471 (.4709).
Firing brass having .308 sized base dimensions in a 6.5X55 sized chamber at 60 thousand psi (we are talking about 6.5X55 AI pressures) might cause case failures and certainly excessive brass working in sizing and that is my point about cartridge reforming.
Cartridge availability is sort of like the tide, it comes and goes. My policy is to be able to make workable brass for any of my rifles using common brass dimensions and the 6.5X55 while being a fine cartridge and even an excellent cartridge is not one of them. Almost all of my rifles use .223, .243, .308, .270, .30-06, or .338 brass and that has served me well during the past few years with reoccurring irrational component shortages.
Let the Swedes and such shoot their 6.5X55's at targets and moose but I don't want to be dependent on when the next boat load of 6.5X55's is going to arrive if Hornady and Nosler quit making them.
The 6.5x55, much like the 375H&H, isn't going to disappear. As for the dimensions and bolt face, it is on very rare occasions when you run into a bolt face that won't accept the cartridge. In modern rifles, those cases will withstand great pressures. If you think that Hornady and Nosler are the only manufacturers producing brass, or ammo for the Swede, P72, you obviously know nothing whatsoever about that chambering. Fire forming the brass is a piece of cake, and the brass lasts a long time.
Don't dismiss the fact that not only is the rim diameter larger , but that dimension carries into the base dimension at the web.....it is fatter than .308/ 30/06 brass -not Dakota fat, but it helps with powder capacity.
The Swede is no more of a bastard than the .284 Win. with it's rebated casehead.
Beware of cartridge police.
The Swede is no more of a bastard than the .284 Win. with it's rebated casehead.
Beware of cartridge police.
Well P72, this is about the 4th or 5th time I have read your "input" to various posts. At first I just started laughing, however later, I started laughing harder, go figure!
I really do believe you should put a disclaimer of sorts at the bottom of your posts like guys do when they are giving cartridge load data.
You know, something like, " My opinions are only safe in my world, and should not be considered under any conditions by the general public. Following my writings could easily lead to total confusion by the uninformed ".
This would keep those individuals with a good understanding of things related to shooting from becoming furious/laughing!
Have a nice day.
I really do believe you should put a disclaimer of sorts at the bottom of your posts like guys do when they are giving cartridge load data.
You know, something like, " My opinions are only safe in my world, and should not be considered under any conditions by the general public. Following my writings could easily lead to total confusion by the uninformed ".
This would keep those individuals with a good understanding of things related to shooting from becoming furious/laughing!
Have a nice day.
I really appreciate almost all you guys taking the time to help with my question. The more I research this cartridge the more I like what I hear and see.
I don't feel any problem exists with obtaining brass (Lapua), dies are easy to find along with everything else associated with the caliber.
One of the major bits of information I found a lot of bad information about was case capacity of the 6.5 x 55, the Ackley version and the 6.5 x 284 case. A lot of people think the 284 case and the Swede case are the same capacity, NOT.
6.5 x 55 = 57.9gr water
6.5 x 55 AI = 62gr water
6.5 x 284 Norma case = 68.33 gr water (per Chuck Hawks)
These are not small differences. They could easily be small differences though relative to chambers and brass brands.
I don't feel any problem exists with obtaining brass (Lapua), dies are easy to find along with everything else associated with the caliber.
One of the major bits of information I found a lot of bad information about was case capacity of the 6.5 x 55, the Ackley version and the 6.5 x 284 case. A lot of people think the 284 case and the Swede case are the same capacity, NOT.
6.5 x 55 = 57.9gr water
6.5 x 55 AI = 62gr water
6.5 x 284 Norma case = 68.33 gr water (per Chuck Hawks)
These are not small differences. They could easily be small differences though relative to chambers and brass brands.
Don't discount the standard 6.5x55 chamber in a modern action. 99% of the loading data available, is based on the Swede and similar vintage actions.
I would not turn down a modern action in 6.5x55. Why?
The looooong bullets fly!
The looooong bullets have huge BC and SD.
The looooong bullets are very accurate and provide plenty of whack at the other end.
I would not turn down a modern action in 6.5x55. Why?
The looooong bullets fly!
The looooong bullets have huge BC and SD.
The looooong bullets are very accurate and provide plenty of whack at the other end.
That's a very good point acloco ! It also (AI version) reaches the velocity/accuracy node that most shooters are using in competition as far as I can tell. I don't have any experience with the 6.5 x 284.
Take care and so looooong, sorry I just couldn't help it 8).
Take care and so looooong, sorry I just couldn't help it 8).
Taking a look at the Berger, 1st edition manual provides the following specs for the 6.5X55 Swedish: rim diameter .479, diameter of body in-front of extractor groove .477.
For the .308 Winchester, same manual, .473 (.4728) and .471 (.4709).
Firing brass having .308 sized base dimensions in a 6.5X55 sized chamber at 60 thousand psi (we are talking about 6.5X55 AI pressures) might cause case failures and certainly excessive brass working in sizing and that is my point about cartridge reforming.
Cartridge availability is sort of like the tide, it comes and goes. My policy is to be able to make workable brass for any of my rifles using common brass dimensions and the 6.5X55 while being a fine cartridge and even an excellent cartridge is not one of them. Almost all of my rifles use .223, .243, .308, .270, .30-06, or .338 brass and that has served me well during the past few years with reoccurring irrational component shortages.
Let the Swedes and such shoot their 6.5X55's at targets and moose but I don't want to be dependent on when the next boat load of 6.5X55's is going to arrive if Hornady and Nosler quit making them.
Hi there out there! I apologize for my long wait in defending my opinions about the worthy Nordic 6.5X55 cartridge.
My thoughts are centered around brass availability and costs. If it is common component/ammo companies like Hornady might be inclined to quit making it and being a volume shooter Lapua and Nosler brass is pricy.
This gets into common practices of reforming brass from cartridge to another.
To provide more amusement to readers of this also worthy forum let me forward some of my observations taken from a relatively new Berger manual (last edition) and this is: 6.5X55 body diameter in front of extractor groove -- .477 inches and for the .308 (a wonderful military cartridge producing terrific results in weapons from the M60 to M40) the .308 body diameter in front of the extractor groove is .471.
.477 minus .471 is .006.
Making 6.5X55 brass from reformed .257 R or 7X57 would produce .471 body diameter brass.
The area just in front of the extractor groove is work hardened by manufacturing process and the former .257 R, .30-06 or 7X57 brass intended to be fired in a chamber intended for .477 brass is undersized by .006.
What would happen should this .006 void be subjected to over 60 thousand psi - would this cause the case to expand??? would subsequent expansion and full length sizing subject the brass, fired at 60 thousand psi cause a case failure? Would case stretching to accommodate a .006 diameter or .003 radius void result in case failure after one firing at 65 thousand psi?? Would extraction and accuracy be affected by the .006 void? Does any one out there know? Has any body out there reformed standard .471 body size brass to make ammo intended for .477 body size?
The 6.5X55 is sort of an odd ball cartridge that for some obscure reason was designed for a larger size rim and body size than the standard 7.92X57 or .30-06. Let the Nordic shooters kill moose with 6.5X55's to augment their need for red meat instead of being subjected to exploitive beef costs in small family run grocery stores and butcher shops. Possibly a situation might occur like "you fix my Volvo for a moose quarter" this avoids punitive and regressive taxation found in various socialistic counties.
Expect more amusement when I respond or react to some of the illogical and baseless stuff in this forum. One of our leading presidential candidates frequently uses the "S****D" word in reference to existing government policies but I refuse to do that on this great forum read by multitudes of terrific shooters.
My thoughts are centered around brass availability and costs. If it is common component/ammo companies like Hornady might be inclined to quit making it and being a volume shooter Lapua and Nosler brass is pricy.
This gets into common practices of reforming brass from cartridge to another.
To provide more amusement to readers of this also worthy forum let me forward some of my observations taken from a relatively new Berger manual (last edition) and this is: 6.5X55 body diameter in front of extractor groove -- .477 inches and for the .308 (a wonderful military cartridge producing terrific results in weapons from the M60 to M40) the .308 body diameter in front of the extractor groove is .471.
.477 minus .471 is .006.
Making 6.5X55 brass from reformed .257 R or 7X57 would produce .471 body diameter brass.
The area just in front of the extractor groove is work hardened by manufacturing process and the former .257 R, .30-06 or 7X57 brass intended to be fired in a chamber intended for .477 brass is undersized by .006.
What would happen should this .006 void be subjected to over 60 thousand psi - would this cause the case to expand??? would subsequent expansion and full length sizing subject the brass, fired at 60 thousand psi cause a case failure? Would case stretching to accommodate a .006 diameter or .003 radius void result in case failure after one firing at 65 thousand psi?? Would extraction and accuracy be affected by the .006 void? Does any one out there know? Has any body out there reformed standard .471 body size brass to make ammo intended for .477 body size?
The 6.5X55 is sort of an odd ball cartridge that for some obscure reason was designed for a larger size rim and body size than the standard 7.92X57 or .30-06. Let the Nordic shooters kill moose with 6.5X55's to augment their need for red meat instead of being subjected to exploitive beef costs in small family run grocery stores and butcher shops. Possibly a situation might occur like "you fix my Volvo for a moose quarter" this avoids punitive and regressive taxation found in various socialistic counties.
Expect more amusement when I respond or react to some of the illogical and baseless stuff in this forum. One of our leading presidential candidates frequently uses the "S****D" word in reference to existing government policies but I refuse to do that on this great forum read by multitudes of terrific shooters.
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Well I do declare if I knew you were coming back I'd a baked you a cake! However, I see you brought more information, great!
First off dies are no problem whatsoever to conform to any cartridge shape in reloading (contact Mr. Widden) he is one of the best among many who can supply. Used by a lot of folks here.
Second, when getting a reamer (competition) for your cartridge you should design the reamer to be compatible with brand of brass you are using if you want to be exact in your dimensions. Not totally necessary but good for accuracy/competition/hunting.
Third, I'll use the cartridge dimensions you supplied and keep crying about, but we are not forming anything. The brass we are using is Lapua 6.5x55, NOT 7mm x 57, 257 Roberts or 06 or 338, understand? This is because the whole post is about 6.5x55 and no need to form brass from any other cartridge.
YOUR measurements: 6.5 x 55, front of extractor grove .477
308 , " " .471
Difference .006 thousandths
That would mean the 6.5 x 55 has a case head that is .006 thicker then the .308 making it STRONGER then the 308
case head. Is that a bad thing LOL ?
First off dies are no problem whatsoever to conform to any cartridge shape in reloading (contact Mr. Widden) he is one of the best among many who can supply. Used by a lot of folks here.
Second, when getting a reamer (competition) for your cartridge you should design the reamer to be compatible with brand of brass you are using if you want to be exact in your dimensions. Not totally necessary but good for accuracy/competition/hunting.
Third, I'll use the cartridge dimensions you supplied and keep crying about, but we are not forming anything. The brass we are using is Lapua 6.5x55, NOT 7mm x 57, 257 Roberts or 06 or 338, understand? This is because the whole post is about 6.5x55 and no need to form brass from any other cartridge.
YOUR measurements: 6.5 x 55, front of extractor grove .477
308 , " " .471
Difference .006 thousandths
That would mean the 6.5 x 55 has a case head that is .006 thicker then the .308 making it STRONGER then the 308
case head. Is that a bad thing LOL ?
As long as Lapua and Norma are in business, there will be genuine properly dimensioned very consistent and very strong 6.5X55mm brass on sale. Both companies' business was founded on this cartridge amongst a few others (such as 7.62X54r for Lapua). I don't see either likely to pack up or go out of business in the near future - their output continually grows whilst Winchester for instance is in decline. You'd be surprised at how much 'US headstamp' brass is made under contract by Norma.
Factory ammo is painfully underloaded thanks to the Norwegian Krag. 20 rounds of Hornady 140gn PSP I used in an F-Class rifle produced 120 fps ES, sooted cases and I back-calculated PMax to around 35,000 psi using QuickLOAD afterwards. Even Lapua's 140gn Scenar Match loading is restricted to 45,000 psi or so, in other words a sensible ceiling for the M1896 Swedish Mauser service rifle. The modern 6.5X55mm is the 6.5X55 SKAN as defined by the European equivalent to SAAMI, the CIP. Its allowed MAP is 55,000 psi and is for use in modern rifles. That's a modest pressure compared to the 60,000-63,000 psi seen in other modern cartridges like 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5X47 Lapua, but isn't actually that far short of the 58,000 psi they're actually loaded to by the factories. In handloading terms, Lapua brass will certainly take as much pressure and last as long (or as short a time) as more modern cartridges such as the Creedmoor, and like them it's slackening primer pockets that kills a case.
In load development with a Savage Model 12 F-Class rebarrelled to 6.5X55mm from 6.5-284 with a Bartlein 30-inch 5R otherwise factory standard and using a standard no fancy spec PT&G reamer, I did a bit of load development with the 139gn Lapua Scenar a few years back before the Savage PTA action was cannibilised for a 308 FTR build that I needed more urgently. With Viht N160 I got the 139 to 2,999 fps without hard extraction or a ruined case, but silly hot and not one to carry on with. Group size had been optimised 1.5gn and 100 fps or more lower. I settled on Viht N165 and a charge which as it turns out was right on what Lapua lists for this powder and the 139 as its maximum SKAN load. It gave 2,815 or thereabouts MV, a small ES and grouped into 0.2" for five shots at 100 yards. I only had the chance to shoot it in a couple of F-Class matches, one short range, one at 800 before stealing the action, but it did very well. As others have posted, there are plenty of slower burning powders than work well in the cartridge with 140gn class bullets. (We use less and less H4831 in the UK as its availability has become so unreliable and the 284 / Shehane / 7WSM guys snap it up as soon as our importer gets a few hundred tubs in.)
6.5X55AI was reasonably popular in the UK in the very early days of F-Class, but nobody makes off the shelf dies and as soon as 6.5-284 got going few people stuck with it. Now of course hardly anybody shoots 6.5-284 in long-range F either as the sevens rule all. There is an argument that the AI is the best of the 6.5s, the '55 being a little short of case capacity, the '284 having a bit too much and the AI in between is Goldilocks' porridge. Personally, I'd say with today's powders, both the '55 and '284 are superb cartridges and it comes down to how you want to play the perfomance v barrel life equation. I've just had a rifle rebarrelled to 6.5-284 for L-R BR and the occasional mid-range F match and I don't intend to load it 'hot'. The 6.5X55 Bartlein is in store waiting for the Savage 12 action (now in a Dolphin Gun Co. F-Class chassis stock) to become available for it. I also shoot 6.5 Creedmoor and 260 Rem and like both, but have given up on 6.5X47L for all sorts of reasons ... pray that Erik Kortina doesn't read this!
Factory ammo is painfully underloaded thanks to the Norwegian Krag. 20 rounds of Hornady 140gn PSP I used in an F-Class rifle produced 120 fps ES, sooted cases and I back-calculated PMax to around 35,000 psi using QuickLOAD afterwards. Even Lapua's 140gn Scenar Match loading is restricted to 45,000 psi or so, in other words a sensible ceiling for the M1896 Swedish Mauser service rifle. The modern 6.5X55mm is the 6.5X55 SKAN as defined by the European equivalent to SAAMI, the CIP. Its allowed MAP is 55,000 psi and is for use in modern rifles. That's a modest pressure compared to the 60,000-63,000 psi seen in other modern cartridges like 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5X47 Lapua, but isn't actually that far short of the 58,000 psi they're actually loaded to by the factories. In handloading terms, Lapua brass will certainly take as much pressure and last as long (or as short a time) as more modern cartridges such as the Creedmoor, and like them it's slackening primer pockets that kills a case.
In load development with a Savage Model 12 F-Class rebarrelled to 6.5X55mm from 6.5-284 with a Bartlein 30-inch 5R otherwise factory standard and using a standard no fancy spec PT&G reamer, I did a bit of load development with the 139gn Lapua Scenar a few years back before the Savage PTA action was cannibilised for a 308 FTR build that I needed more urgently. With Viht N160 I got the 139 to 2,999 fps without hard extraction or a ruined case, but silly hot and not one to carry on with. Group size had been optimised 1.5gn and 100 fps or more lower. I settled on Viht N165 and a charge which as it turns out was right on what Lapua lists for this powder and the 139 as its maximum SKAN load. It gave 2,815 or thereabouts MV, a small ES and grouped into 0.2" for five shots at 100 yards. I only had the chance to shoot it in a couple of F-Class matches, one short range, one at 800 before stealing the action, but it did very well. As others have posted, there are plenty of slower burning powders than work well in the cartridge with 140gn class bullets. (We use less and less H4831 in the UK as its availability has become so unreliable and the 284 / Shehane / 7WSM guys snap it up as soon as our importer gets a few hundred tubs in.)
6.5X55AI was reasonably popular in the UK in the very early days of F-Class, but nobody makes off the shelf dies and as soon as 6.5-284 got going few people stuck with it. Now of course hardly anybody shoots 6.5-284 in long-range F either as the sevens rule all. There is an argument that the AI is the best of the 6.5s, the '55 being a little short of case capacity, the '284 having a bit too much and the AI in between is Goldilocks' porridge. Personally, I'd say with today's powders, both the '55 and '284 are superb cartridges and it comes down to how you want to play the perfomance v barrel life equation. I've just had a rifle rebarrelled to 6.5-284 for L-R BR and the occasional mid-range F match and I don't intend to load it 'hot'. The 6.5X55 Bartlein is in store waiting for the Savage 12 action (now in a Dolphin Gun Co. F-Class chassis stock) to become available for it. I also shoot 6.5 Creedmoor and 260 Rem and like both, but have given up on 6.5X47L for all sorts of reasons ... pray that Erik Kortina doesn't read this!
this is great post for someone like me with no exposure to the round. I have recently built a 7-08 AI and find the 140s out of a 24 inch tube reach 3025 at the sweet spot staying under .400 at 100 when I do my job -- by the way it is a 700 trued hart bbl, 7 1/4 lb scope and all hunting rig.
Bob
Bob
Hi Laurie, I really liked your input on the 6.5 x 55. I really believe as well as it is known it is still underrated. It is a strong case as I stated, with the primer area being more robust then similar cartridge cases because of the larger web area. This is something that I believe a lot of people have overlooked about the case.
You said something that surprised me, Winchester is in a decline ? They do seem to have management problems but I had NO idea they were declining.
Maybe if they started supplying brass that people are begging for, things would start picking up for them. I know brass is not their major concern but it would at least be a start in the right direction. Heaven knows enough people are searching for various Win cases to no avail, seems rather odd to me that they don't supply!
You said something that surprised me, Winchester is in a decline ? They do seem to have management problems but I had NO idea they were declining.
Maybe if they started supplying brass that people are begging for, things would start picking up for them. I know brass is not their major concern but it would at least be a start in the right direction. Heaven knows enough people are searching for various Win cases to no avail, seems rather odd to me that they don't supply!
this is great post for someone like me with no exposure to the round. I have recently built a 7-08 AI and find the 140s out of a 24 inch tube reach 3025 at the sweet spot staying under .400 at 100 when I do my job -- by the way it is a 700 trued hart bbl, 7 1/4 lb scope and all hunting rig.
Bob
Hi Bob, what brand/# barrel did you use, and what stock? 7 1/4 lb is great weight on a hunting rig.
Hi Laurie, I really liked your input on the 6.5 x 55. I really believe as well as it is known it is still underrated. It is a strong case as I stated, with the primer area being more robust then similar cartridge cases because of the larger web area. This is something that I believe a lot of people have overlooked about the case.
You said something that surprised me, Winchester is in a decline ? They do seem to have management problems but I had NO idea they were declining.
I may have got this wrong, but there have been a few posts on here and elsewhere recently suggesting that Winchester is increasingly contracting out case manufacture, especially for new introductions. This was said with particular reference to 6.5mm Hornady Creedmoor. There is something 'odd' here. When Winchester announced in SHOT 14 that it was introducing the cartridge in match form, I thought great - another manufacturer making this stuff and we'll soon see more brass for sale. But no brass listed anywhere still and it's being said that Winchester is using somebody else's for its loaded ammunition production. If true, this suggests a policy change as the Creedmoor is the hottest new commercial prospect around and it shouldn't be too hard for the manufacturer of 308, 243 7-08 etc to make the relatively small changes to include this one.
(In the event, Norma is now producing 6.5 Creedmoor brass and I bought 200 a few weeks back at some not inconsiderable expense. Weighing and measuring necks on a sample, this is the best brass I've seen out of the packet bar none. Its consistency is higher than that of say Lapua 6.5X47L. If it's strong enough at the back end, it should make the Creedmoor into one great performer.)
Hi Bob, what brand/# barrel did you use, and what stock? 7 1/4 lb is great weight on a hunting rig.
it is fluted #2 in a HiTech hunting stock, 4.5x14 Luep - the stock is very light of early mfg, not sure they make it current production. I had Bobby Hart build it after I had heart surgery to get the weight down, vs my 280ai that was 9 lb
Bob
I have been trying differant loads in a 30"/1.25"Bartlien barreled Mauser 98 action, in a laminated varmit stock. The 6.5x55AI chamber was cut with a PT&G standard reamer. 6.5x55 Lapua brass was used along with Lapua 120 Scenars for fireforming. 4831SC loads varing from 49.1 to 51.1 gr have been tried along
with Berger Hybrids and 142 SMK's. Velocities taken with a Magnetospeed ranged from 2968 to 3080. RL15 gave velocities over 3150 but had bad SD/ES numbers. My home range only goes out to 200m. Last OCT I was able to shoot at Mexia, TX at 500m. JR Ruble and myself placed 4" clay discs in the 500m berm. The wind was left to right at 8 to 12mph. I was able to hit 8 out of 10 sothe accuracy is there.
Rpbump
with Berger Hybrids and 142 SMK's. Velocities taken with a Magnetospeed ranged from 2968 to 3080. RL15 gave velocities over 3150 but had bad SD/ES numbers. My home range only goes out to 200m. Last OCT I was able to shoot at Mexia, TX at 500m. JR Ruble and myself placed 4" clay discs in the 500m berm. The wind was left to right at 8 to 12mph. I was able to hit 8 out of 10 sothe accuracy is there.
Rpbump
I may have got this wrong, but there have been a few posts on here and elsewhere recently suggesting that Winchester is increasingly contracting out case manufacture, especially for new introductions. This was said with particular reference to 6.5mm Hornady Creedmoor. There is something 'odd' here. When Winchester announced in SHOT 14 that it was introducing the cartridge in match form, I thought great - another manufacturer making this stuff and we'll soon see more brass for sale. But no brass listed anywhere still and it's being said that Winchester is using somebody else's for its loaded ammunition production. If true, this suggests a policy change as the Creedmoor is the hottest new commercial prospect around and it shouldn't be too hard for the manufacturer of 308, 243 7-08 etc to make the relatively small changes to include this one.
(In the event, Norma is now producing 6.5 Creedmoor brass and I bought 200 a few weeks back at some not inconsiderable expense. Weighing and measuring necks on a sample, this is the best brass I've seen out of the packet bar none. Its consistency is higher than that of say Lapua 6.5X47L. If it's strong enough at the back end, it should make the Creedmoor into one great performer.)
Thank you Laurie for the information, I'm surprised to say the least. I've always liked Winchester brass. It worked better for me then Rem brass, blows out better and lasted longer. I's not Lapua quality but not so far behind.
However when one can't get it, it's time to start looking around and consider my options.
It's really nice to hear your opinion of Norma brass for the Creedmoor, it sounds amazing! But like you said, hopefully the primer pocket will be something better then what their brass usually is. I've never used Norma brass for the reason of it being so soft.
Getting back to Winchester, if they are actually doing what you hear/think it will be a shame in my opinion! They have long had great products it's just that their upper management seems to make such "BAD" decisions that ends up eating in to profits and customer dislike. I'm starting to wonder if maybe with the OLD management basically gone the New management just doesn't have the principles and expertise he old had. I would really hate to see them go down the tube so to speak.
Have you by any chance thought that something seems to be going on between Lapua and Norma the last couple years and seems to be escalating ever so slightly as time progresses, I have reasons to believe this!
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