6.5 x 55 vs. 6.5 x .284 for Long Range Competition

[Swedejohn]

I did a search and couldn't come with anything on this point. I am planning to build a long range prone rifle for 1000 yard competition. I think that 6.5 x.284 would be the best caliber for me when the factor of it's moderate recoil is taken into account. The downside with this caliber is barrel life. What about the 6.5 x 55 or one of its improved versions? Please weigh in with your experience and opinions.

John Giles

 

[Exercion]

I shoot the Swede in a remington-actioned F-Class gun. 30" Pac-Nor tube w 8 twist. Recoil downright mild, accuracy is excellent, I'm pushing 142 MK's at 2860 and could heat it up more but don't want to. Can't answer to barrel life yet, though with about 1,000 rounds down range there is no visible damage when viewed through a borescope.

Eric

 

[norpacmiami]

John,

I agree with what Eric said, although the 6.5-284 will have a bit more umph at the end, if pushed so. The Sierra 142 MK does wonderfuly eitherway.

FN Lawyer

 

[mysticplayer]

I push a 139gr Lapua out of my 6.5 Mystic,my version of the 260AI, easier to find case, and lower cost here in Canada) at 2900fps from a 30" barrel. I shoot F class and am very concern about barrel heat and wear. Working great for me so far.

Just under 1000rds fired with little change in throat wear.

Jerry

 

[rhino]

6.5x55 can easily push the 140 class into the 3000 fps range. Mild loads under 55 k psi in a 30 inch tube.

VIN N560, Reloader 22, Norma MRP are the powders ya need. I moly..so I reduce pressure and increase borelife a little.

I am expecting 2k rounds.

RHINOUT!

 

[sierra22]

Within 6.5x55 pressure standards we're be shooting the 140's at 2700-2900fps over here in 27-28" barrels.,We have some 150.000 shooters using the cartridge)

One of the stiffest LR match loads you'll find shoots a 130gr bullet at 2950 fps.,Norma Diamond line)

Barrel life in the Sauers is 3-5000 rds with maybe 1500-2000+ additional rounds for those that shot moly exclusively. Check out www.norma.cc for details.

I shoot the 140 Amax myself at 2720 fps out to 1000m,1100 yds)and have about 2200 in the pipe now.

Norma MRP, MRP2, N15, N19 and Vitahouri N150-160 amangst most popular powders.

 

[Swedejohn]

Sierra22,
why do you prefer the Amax 140 to the Lapua 139 or the SMK 142?

Swedejohn

 

[sierra22]

Only reason is price.

The difference to the Lapua 139gr Scenar over here is only maybe 5 cent, but at 4000 bullets bought so far this year it adds up to a barrel every now and then. Have tried all named bullets, none seems to hold any distinct advantage over the other at long range. It's the wind dope that'll make or break me.

As an added bonus, at 6,5x55 velocities it behaves just like the Nosler ballistic tip,good mushroom) on the small deer and other game I shoot, so I have only "cartridges" as opposed to different "loads". Makes life easier.

Same with powder choice. Norma N15,equivalent to Norma MRP, but with larger lot-lot variations) because it's significantly cheaper to shoot. The Norma N- series or Vit N140-150-160 sells at reduced prices to our shooting organisations, so that's what people use.

An active shooter in Norway will go through 5.000-20.000 rds a year, and unless you're rich or stupid you shoot the Sauer STR200 rifle,only legal option for nat'l matches),use the prefit standard hammer-forged barrels from Heym or Sauer, reload with the select discount products or shoot with the discount match rounds.

 

[AlanPF]

...Have tried all named bullets, none seems to hold any distinct advantage over the other at long range. It's the wind dope that'll make or break me...

You must be shooting an easy target and/or always in windy conditions. One of the advantages of 6.5mm is the range of available bullets, and in my experience with a 6.5x284, they vary in accuracy depending on the barrel. e.g. some brands are a different OD and suit barrels of a certain bore diameter. Some have more consistent dimensions,e.g. base to ogive) than others. In Australian F-Class Open we have been using a target with 116mm 10 ring at anything up to 1000yds in recent years, and when conditions are calm, you soon get to know the value of good bullet selection. As an example I prefer 142gn SMKs,over Lapua and Hornady) at the longs in Krieger barrels.

Alan

 

[sierra22]

No. Not shooting F class.
"DFS feltskyting",translates fieldshooting) off the sling where targets are various sizes and unknown ranges. The longrangeshooting at 800m, 1000m, 1200m all against the standard 300m target with 15cm,5,9") 10-ring. We're shooting against electronic targets which give hard values back for group, typically average 30-40cm @ 1000m with the occasional good ones less than 15cm.

We care about accuracy,the barrel is tossed once it doesn't shoot <1"ish@200m) but do little or nothing to strive for benchrest accuracy. The "good enough" mark is where all experiments stop. Some shooters doesn't even change loads between barrels. A lot of shooters just shoot factory ammunition. Of course bullets vary between barrels, but over the different barrels I've not seen a significant advantage in any of the three bullets specified in my shooting. Present barrel likes Amax very well and that suits me perfect.