6.5x55 question
- Thread starter JamesnTN
- Start date
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
James,
Like CJ says...great hunting round, but for me, it couldn't keep up in the target realm. After spending a year trying, I finally had mine re-chamber/re-barreled to a 6.5mm and now that baby shoots nice tight groups not that far off of my 6mmbr or 30br.
Alex
Like CJ says...great hunting round, but for me, it couldn't keep up in the target realm. After spending a year trying, I finally had mine re-chamber/re-barreled to a 6.5mm and now that baby shoots nice tight groups not that far off of my 6mmbr or 30br.
Alex
???? what flavor 6.5mm? The Swede is 6.5mm.
Beware the Lapua and Norma cases have unusually narrow extraction grooves and may not function (extraction-wise) with 100% reliability in certain actions.
Io9
George
The Swede was also the premiere European target round for many many years. Most shot the old 156 gr round nose bullet.
George
problem right there in between a 260AI and a 6.5x284 as far as velocty goes. Brass is relatively cheap and you can get lapua brass.
If I did one, it would be in a 6.5x55 AI. 140gr hybrids and going 2950 fps would be very easy. You will need to make sure the 6.5x55 brass will fit with your bolt as it requires a bolt that is a little bit bigger than the standard 308 bolt face.
If I did one, it would be in a 6.5x55 AI. 140gr hybrids and going 2950 fps would be very easy. You will need to make sure the 6.5x55 brass will fit with your bolt as it requires a bolt that is a little bit bigger than the standard 308 bolt face.
Actuaĺy, I believe the base of the brass is slightly smaller. But, have never heard anyone having a problem with it before. Winchester chambered for it in their Featherweight models, never changed the bolt face. Rem and Ruger also chambered and used the standard bolt face. A great round all around. I still shoot my old Swedish Mauser carbine wit it,s 17.5 in barrel. A good hunting caliber.
George
The 6.5x55 swede rim is 0.480" give or take. The standard .308 is .473" . Like in anything, there are tolerances and some 308 bolt faces will work with some swede cases. You just have to try to see what you get.
The cartridge would be much more popular in the U.S. if it worked in a short action. It needs an intermediate or long action to accommodate OAL of the 140gr. and heavier bullet loadings if fed from the magazine. 2800fps+ is available for 140gr. loads with a 26"barrel without too much strain. At those velocities outstanding barrel life can be expected.
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
Nobody shot the 156gr round nose bullet at least not from 1972 when I started shooting high power back in Sweden. Then as now the bullets have been in the 139-142gr range of a modern design. Norma also loads a 130gr bullet today. As for the ability as a target round, I shot a 99p string at a 1000yards at Camp Atterbury with the 130gr Norma bullet and a Sauer STR last year. The cartridge can keep up, it's up the shooter. I wish I was as good as the cartridge!
It's one of my favorites. I have 3. No problems getting great accuracy out of any of them. My tikka and Sako shoot the best thou. Still playing with loads in the Sako as its brand new, but it was no problem at all getting under moa. Most of the loads were 3/4 or under. All my loads are hunting bullets, I cannot comment on the long range target match stuff.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
Well I have shot and still do a 6.5X55 for a 1000 Prone rifle...... It is outstanding..........
Barnard Action 32" SS Krieger 1-8.5 twist. Win. Brass Wolf LR H4831SC 142 gr. Match Kings.
2980 fps + 0r-
Fun to shoot in 2008 State Champion with that Old Cartridge
Barnard Action 32" SS Krieger 1-8.5 twist. Win. Brass Wolf LR H4831SC 142 gr. Match Kings.
2980 fps + 0r-
Fun to shoot in 2008 State Champion with that Old Cartridge
The rifle was a Winchester model 70, the tube was short maybe 22-24" the guy in the shop only said it was rebar relied by a gunsmith and that's all he knew. Only marking on the barrel was 6.5x55 so beyond that I'm clueless of twist without checking with a cleaning rod and brush. I would assume it's not a tight neck since barrel isn't marked either.
I was thinking maybe get it and shoot for some local PRS shoots here.
Just to let you know, I have been shooting my 6.5x55 since 1997 and it is simply perfect.
I use it for Match Prone 300 meter, and have got a few gold medals in National Championships.
My formula is Norma brass, 130 grain Diamond Line, CCI BR2 primer and 47,2 grain to achieve 2,874 fps at 32ºC.
Now I'm on my third barrel from Pac-Nor, 1 in 8", five grooves, and I can say it shoots great.
Everything is built in an Unique free rifle, which keeps very little from the original shape.
rcol317
Silver $$ Contributor
Love these kind of threads! OPINIONS always intrigue me. As a kid I shot my first deer in 1966 with the little 6.5X55 Swede and it's had a special place in my heart every since. As has been mentioned there are faster 6.5's but having 3-Swede's and 9 other 6.5's it's still pretty tough to better the little Swede for an all around rifle. Shoot mine to 1,000 yard regularly and when the cross hairs are on that animal I can count on the trophy dropping. As mentioned as easy as any 6.5 to find ammo for at reasonable prices. Truth is if I was down to one 6.5 the Swede would be the last one standing.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
I got interested in the cartridge because I like to shoot some old guns, once in a while. I stop by a gun store that has a rack full and I pick thru them. Saw a nice Swede 96 in good shape and bought it. Found some PPU ammo and shot it. I liked the groups I got, read a lot of history and searched out an M38 Husquevarna. I put a scope on it, did some load work up and got this at 100. This is from a 75 year old military gun with an unknown round count.
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6.5x55 is all I shoot,well, just about (well 95%). I got rid of many other caliber rifles due to the fact it could NOT outshoot my swedes... .473 bolt face has been just fine for any and all modern brass. Chances you will even find that Norma 160gr 30yrs or older loaded ammo or brass which was calling for .480 bolt face is slim to none, or at least now a days. I opened up two earlier builds (re-rebarrels from either 270win or 30-06) to .480 and it was a waste of money. I can say 100% that Remington 700 Classic '94, Ruger M77 MKii, Browning X-Bolt, CZ550 which are factory 6.5x55 chambered are all .473 bolt face and work just fine. I did not take time to measure Finns, but for the purpose of this discussion, .473 will work just fine with any current commercial brass or loaded ammo. Furthermore, just because military swedes and later commercial Husqvarna rifles (based on the military small ring with military bolts) had a .480 bolt face, did not mean that ammunition from that time was calling for the larger bolt face - all my military brass from 100yrs ago just about (pulled wooden bullets, Norma berdan brass) which I shoot in my .473 bolts functions beautifully. I suspect bolt face was slightly larger to account for 'field use' and possible build up before cleaning can be performed...
I hunt and target shoot, I can't find a better and more versatile caliber. I can't speak of AI performance as I have NOT had first hand experience with it - simply because standard 6.5x55 could do what I want it to do. If the price is right - get it and you will LOVE it.
this is how I explain my experience with 6.5x55: I had a ~$5-6k Sako TRG-22 setup and sold it (as well as .308 components) in favor of 6.5x55, does it explain it?
I hunt and target shoot, I can't find a better and more versatile caliber. I can't speak of AI performance as I have NOT had first hand experience with it - simply because standard 6.5x55 could do what I want it to do. If the price is right - get it and you will LOVE it.
this is how I explain my experience with 6.5x55: I had a ~$5-6k Sako TRG-22 setup and sold it (as well as .308 components) in favor of 6.5x55, does it explain it?
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