6.5x55 Velocity
- Thread starter nrar15
- Start date
You neglect to mention barrel length, which does play a role in velocity. That said I shoot the 139-142's in my 30' tube Remington and easliy hit the 2900 mark,higher if I want) and I run 4831SC or RL-22,RL-22 usually gives higher velocities) but these are slow powders for long barrels.
Eric
Eric
We need details on barrel length and load you are using.
I am shooting a sported model 96 Swede Mauser with the 29' barrel and with 45,000 cup loads of 46 grs AA 4350 and a 120 Nos BT I am getting 3000 fps and with 45 grs AA 4350 and 140 Sierra or Hornady bullets I am getting 2850 fps. These loads are very accurate. In your Savage action you can add a little more powder for more pressure and velocity. Barrel length is your friend.
I am shooting a sported model 96 Swede Mauser with the 29' barrel and with 45,000 cup loads of 46 grs AA 4350 and a 120 Nos BT I am getting 3000 fps and with 45 grs AA 4350 and 140 Sierra or Hornady bullets I am getting 2850 fps. These loads are very accurate. In your Savage action you can add a little more powder for more pressure and velocity. Barrel length is your friend.
I get 2750 fps from 46 grs. of H 4831 and 139 gr. naked Lapuas in a 26' barrel. I have reached 2900 fps with Re 22, but the velocity is erratic. The H 4831 is incredibly consistent, and for long range shooting, I never worry about vertical spread. In my experience, 2900 is a little too much for a shorter barrel.
'You neglect to mention barrel length, which does play a role in velocity. That said I shoot the 139-142's in my 30' tube Remington and easliy hit the 2900 mark,higher if I want) and I run 4831SC or RL-22,RL-22 usually gives higher velocities) but these are slow powders for long barrels.'
Eric,
If you can reach those speeds with a 6.5x55 why the fascination with the 6.5x284 which burns barrels so quickly? I wonder why more people don't use the old sweede for 1000 yard comp.
I am in the process of gathering parts for a 6.5 build and I am currently leaning toward the 6.5x55. I think in a modern action the 6.5x55 should slightly out perform the 260 and the 6.5x47, also Lapua brass should be a real big plus. The barrel life of the 6.5x284 scares me away from that. I don't need a 264 mag as I already have a sweet shooting Rem 700 XCR LRT in 300 mag.,a tad bit big for what I use it for, plus it kills your sholder at extended range sessions)
I am looking to build off of a custom action,borden or surgeon) with a 27-28' barrel to be used primarily to shoot whitetail and wild hogs out of permanent stands,therefore weight and barrel length are not as critical). I am hoping with Lapua brass, a modern action, the right powder, and that length barrel I can achieve 2900+/- MV with the 140 grain sierra gamekings. It should make for a killing machine and something I can begin to dabble in long range shooting with.
Any advice on this project would be Greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Eric,
If you can reach those speeds with a 6.5x55 why the fascination with the 6.5x284 which burns barrels so quickly? I wonder why more people don't use the old sweede for 1000 yard comp.
I am in the process of gathering parts for a 6.5 build and I am currently leaning toward the 6.5x55. I think in a modern action the 6.5x55 should slightly out perform the 260 and the 6.5x47, also Lapua brass should be a real big plus. The barrel life of the 6.5x284 scares me away from that. I don't need a 264 mag as I already have a sweet shooting Rem 700 XCR LRT in 300 mag.,a tad bit big for what I use it for, plus it kills your sholder at extended range sessions)
I am looking to build off of a custom action,borden or surgeon) with a 27-28' barrel to be used primarily to shoot whitetail and wild hogs out of permanent stands,therefore weight and barrel length are not as critical). I am hoping with Lapua brass, a modern action, the right powder, and that length barrel I can achieve 2900+/- MV with the 140 grain sierra gamekings. It should make for a killing machine and something I can begin to dabble in long range shooting with.
Any advice on this project would be Greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Please excuse my ignorance and or laziness for not researching my question but.... 130-140 class bullets in 6.5 cal running under 2900 fps out of a 28' barrel seems kind of under-bore to me. I am getting those speeds and better with 155 Scenars with my .308 using a 26' barrel and Varget, Benchmark, or 3031. My barrel life should be good as well. I'm getting ready to rebarrel using a 28' kreiger 12 twist and hope to find a sweet spot in the 2950 fps range.
It is true that all things being equal, a larger bore with the same case is more efficient, the same is true in air rifles. the difference here is that the 6.5mm 140gr bullets have a higher B.C. than the 155 .30 bullets. I have a .308 pushing 155 Scenars to 2930 fps, I also have a 6.5x55 that pushes 139 gr. Scenars at 2850 fps. At our local range we can shoot to 885 yards, the 6.5 can connect with the steel plates much easier than the .308.
Scout,
I agree that you can get a .308 to those velocities, but as stated, the difference is the bullet. The whole reason I am leaving the .308 caliber bullets for the .264 caliber bullets is performance. The 6.5 bullet, at a lesser weight, i.e. 140 compared to 155 or 175 will outperform them ballistically as well as peform better terminally b/c of better penetration,higher sectional density), something that comes in handy when I shoot a 300+ lbs wild boar, which happens suprisingly alot along the Savanah River Valley in South Carolina. I have shot hogs with my .300 win mag directly in the sholder that have gotten up an walked off,and I shoot 150-180 grain Sierra Gamekings). My dad shot a 400+ lbs boar last year directly in the sholder that laid on the ground for 10 minutes and then proceeded to get up and walk off never to be seen again.
My theory is that a 6.5mm 140 grain sierra gameking sent down the tube at 2900 ft/sec will outperform a .308 150 grain sierra gameking sent at 3150 ft/sec. We'll see how it works, but it will sure be fun experimenting.
BTW, a wild 'Prussian,not Russian) boar is as close as you can get to a 'big game' animal in North America. Their sholder plate can be thicker than 6' of grissle that you can't stick the sharpest knife through. So, if it can penetrate that, look out, I may be as smart as the Euro's that designed those missle looking bullets. There is a reason they have been used as African guides' back up rifles for over a hundred years, slow MV and all. But enough with the conjecture, I am going to see for myself.
I agree that you can get a .308 to those velocities, but as stated, the difference is the bullet. The whole reason I am leaving the .308 caliber bullets for the .264 caliber bullets is performance. The 6.5 bullet, at a lesser weight, i.e. 140 compared to 155 or 175 will outperform them ballistically as well as peform better terminally b/c of better penetration,higher sectional density), something that comes in handy when I shoot a 300+ lbs wild boar, which happens suprisingly alot along the Savanah River Valley in South Carolina. I have shot hogs with my .300 win mag directly in the sholder that have gotten up an walked off,and I shoot 150-180 grain Sierra Gamekings). My dad shot a 400+ lbs boar last year directly in the sholder that laid on the ground for 10 minutes and then proceeded to get up and walk off never to be seen again.
My theory is that a 6.5mm 140 grain sierra gameking sent down the tube at 2900 ft/sec will outperform a .308 150 grain sierra gameking sent at 3150 ft/sec. We'll see how it works, but it will sure be fun experimenting.
BTW, a wild 'Prussian,not Russian) boar is as close as you can get to a 'big game' animal in North America. Their sholder plate can be thicker than 6' of grissle that you can't stick the sharpest knife through. So, if it can penetrate that, look out, I may be as smart as the Euro's that designed those missle looking bullets. There is a reason they have been used as African guides' back up rifles for over a hundred years, slow MV and all. But enough with the conjecture, I am going to see for myself.
I have found that the very best way to avoid the sholder plate is to catch them with dogs and stick a knife directly in their heart, much more fun too.
I do agree that a neck shot is better, almost as good as an ear shot, but sometimes you don't get that shot, and we never pass on shooting a damn hog. If you don't kill 7 out of every 10 you see, you will quickly become over run.
Case in point, that big boar was in a crowd of about 10 200 lbs. sows and never presented a head or neck shot, just a tiny little window to shoot the shoulder with.
But you are right, they will all kill them with good shot placement. I just want to try something new.
I do agree that a neck shot is better, almost as good as an ear shot, but sometimes you don't get that shot, and we never pass on shooting a damn hog. If you don't kill 7 out of every 10 you see, you will quickly become over run.
Case in point, that big boar was in a crowd of about 10 200 lbs. sows and never presented a head or neck shot, just a tiny little window to shoot the shoulder with.
But you are right, they will all kill them with good shot placement. I just want to try something new.
I recently bought a win 70 in 6.5x55, has the 22" heavy sporter barrel. Have decided on the 129/30gr boattails and 165gr round nose, also have some 100gr partitions but done no shooting yet.
Looking at Sierra #4, they were still cataloging the 155gr Matchking and 160gr Spitzers; .570BC on that 155gr smk bullet #9570; whatever happened to them?
If interested in long barrel life, spitzer bullets are supposed to be the ticket to slower throat erosion Nice that Hornady offers both the SST and Spitzers these days.
Have been thinking about an Ackley Improved, or doing something like a half-Gibbs with Ackley shoulder; just removing the taper and getting another .35 or .45 of body length. Seems to be no reason for the 6.5x284 if you aren't shooting in competitions, maybe none then with an AI'd 6.5x55...
Cut my teeth on a .270 BDL 700 when I was 15, loading Sierra 130gr BTSP on a Lyman 310 tool. Varminting with open buckhorn sights and scoring the hits. Got rid of all my .270 gear last year; now it's 6.5mm time.
Interesting contrast with the long vs. short barrel question. Harmonics vs. Speed is what it really comes down to. For an offhand, all-around field rifle I opt for 22" most of the time, and never load to a maximum; hardly ever...
Anyone seeing good things from Reloader 17 in their x55s?
Looking at Sierra #4, they were still cataloging the 155gr Matchking and 160gr Spitzers; .570BC on that 155gr smk bullet #9570; whatever happened to them?
If interested in long barrel life, spitzer bullets are supposed to be the ticket to slower throat erosion Nice that Hornady offers both the SST and Spitzers these days.
Have been thinking about an Ackley Improved, or doing something like a half-Gibbs with Ackley shoulder; just removing the taper and getting another .35 or .45 of body length. Seems to be no reason for the 6.5x284 if you aren't shooting in competitions, maybe none then with an AI'd 6.5x55...
Cut my teeth on a .270 BDL 700 when I was 15, loading Sierra 130gr BTSP on a Lyman 310 tool. Varminting with open buckhorn sights and scoring the hits. Got rid of all my .270 gear last year; now it's 6.5mm time.
Interesting contrast with the long vs. short barrel question. Harmonics vs. Speed is what it really comes down to. For an offhand, all-around field rifle I opt for 22" most of the time, and never load to a maximum; hardly ever...
Anyone seeing good things from Reloader 17 in their x55s?
Santee if you want to do a number on those hogs with your 6.5 Swede give the 130 or 140 Nosler Accubond bullets a try. I used the 130 AB in my 264 Win Mag this deer season at 3350 fps and it held together even on a 98 yards shot. I shot a big buck at 111 yards that was facing me slightly quartering. The bullet struck the front edge of it's left shoulder and destroyed it made soup out of the vitals and when cutting up the meat I found the bullet in it's right ham. It was a perfect text book mushroom and recovered weight was 71 grs. Now that is a bullet. It had to still be going at least 3200 fps when it struck the deer. I bet it would drill a big hog through the plate. I also shoot the 6.5 Swede. The Sierra 120 and 140 gr bullets are on the soft side and make a great deer bullet but I would want a tougher bullet like the Nosler AB or Partition to really drill a hog. I have never had the opportunity to shoot a wild hog, only domestic hogs. A 22LR solid between the eyes or behind the ear and hoist them up by the back legs and cut their throat.
I had a 30" 6.5mm 1:8 Krieger med. Palma chambered for 6.5x55 several years ago for my Nesika K LR prone rifle. Wound up settling on N160 or Data 86(no longer available) with 139 or 142s. Either powder easily gave a little over 2900fps with fine accuracy out to 1000yds.
Initially, I'd considered 6.5-08(260 Rem), 6.5 Swede or AI version, and 6.5x284. All the tales of 1200-1400rd. bbl. life with the 6.5x284 put me off that option, and since the AI version of the Swede was so close to the 284's case capacity, I went with the std. 6.5x55. The only regret was how often I needed to trim - evidently the Swede's body taper contributes to stretch, even when care is taken not to bump shoulders any more than absolutely necessary for easy chambering, and when fired in a very stout custom action such as the Nesika.
Curiousity finally got the better of me; after buying a lathe and learning to do my own barrel fitting, I bought a 6.5x55 AI reamer and used it in a 30" 6.5mm Bartlein 1:8.5 hvy. Palma bbl. for a BAT 3LL prone rifle. Have yet to do a lot of intensive load development with it, but it appears that the velocity gain is only going to be around 50-60fps over the std. Swede. That puts it pretty close to the loads most 6.5x284 shooters are using, so bbl. life is bound to be diminished from what one could expect from the Swede. Not sure it's worth the trouble, but at least I won't have to worry about trimming cases as often.....
Honestly, this is the first AI or wildcat cartridge that has made me seriously consider using Bullseye & cream of wheat filler to FF cases - otherwise, I'm going to wind up using a very considerable percentage of barrel life to get 300+ cases formed. I made up a hydraulic forming die & punch to use with water-filled cases, and it does take the body taper out of cases, but doesn't come close to fully forming a 40* shoulder.
Initially, I'd considered 6.5-08(260 Rem), 6.5 Swede or AI version, and 6.5x284. All the tales of 1200-1400rd. bbl. life with the 6.5x284 put me off that option, and since the AI version of the Swede was so close to the 284's case capacity, I went with the std. 6.5x55. The only regret was how often I needed to trim - evidently the Swede's body taper contributes to stretch, even when care is taken not to bump shoulders any more than absolutely necessary for easy chambering, and when fired in a very stout custom action such as the Nesika.
Curiousity finally got the better of me; after buying a lathe and learning to do my own barrel fitting, I bought a 6.5x55 AI reamer and used it in a 30" 6.5mm Bartlein 1:8.5 hvy. Palma bbl. for a BAT 3LL prone rifle. Have yet to do a lot of intensive load development with it, but it appears that the velocity gain is only going to be around 50-60fps over the std. Swede. That puts it pretty close to the loads most 6.5x284 shooters are using, so bbl. life is bound to be diminished from what one could expect from the Swede. Not sure it's worth the trouble, but at least I won't have to worry about trimming cases as often.....
Honestly, this is the first AI or wildcat cartridge that has made me seriously consider using Bullseye & cream of wheat filler to FF cases - otherwise, I'm going to wind up using a very considerable percentage of barrel life to get 300+ cases formed. I made up a hydraulic forming die & punch to use with water-filled cases, and it does take the body taper out of cases, but doesn't come close to fully forming a 40* shoulder.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.