6.5x55 vs. 260 Remington

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

I am in the middle of a build, and have my action, stock, and barrel. The action is a trued 700 long action, with a McMillan Prone stock. The barrel is a Bartlein 8.5 twist and will finish out at 30". I am doing the lathe work myself for the first time instead of sending my components out. I was set on 260 Rem, but after looking a little further saw the 6.5x55. Barrel life is a factor, which is why I went with 260 over a 6.5-284 in the first place. I was looking at brass today on the net, and there is little to be said about 260 brass. On the other hand, everyone makes 6.5x55 brass and the availability is there. At this point I do not neck turn brass, so I would really prefer to stay away from necking up/ down to make my brass. Is the barrel life in a 6.5x55 comparable to the 260? It seems like the 55 would be the middle ground between the 6.5-284 and 260. If you have any input on either cartridge, please let me know (I have little experience with either). Thanks!

 

[mauritz45]

thats a tough one. they are very similar balistically, and both have rabid fans.
you dont mention if it a repeater or single shot.
the 260 is a short action round which usually feeds reliably from a LA whereas the X55 is usually chambered in LA. i have a 260 savage in a LA set up with no barrel nut like a remmy. broughton 8 twist 25.25" barrel. it is very accurate.
i have had no problem finding 260 brass and recently picked up some nosler competition brass to try. i believe lapua makes X55 brass which would be an excellent way to go.
let us know how it comes out -cam

 

[15Tango]

Okay, I'll be that guy that suggests another cartridge to totally toss flies in the ointment.

6.5 Creedmoor. In theory, a little better barrel life than .260 and less brass trimming and maintenance. It's meant to toss heavy bullets in a short action without sacrificing case capacity while seating bullets short.

If you're not into prepping brass the Creedmoor's Hornady brass is pretty decent and if you're not beating the hell out of it with loads past max it holds up. The 6.5 Swede with its Lapua brass will be the next best choice given your circumstances, or, dare I say 6.5-284 and load it light to try and preserve barrel life.

Wayne

 

[gambleone]

There's alot more good info on these cal's on this site. Do some searches.
.
.. bullet for the 6.5x47 and also the 260s. I don't really feel either case is ...
... or 140 class bullets.

I went to the 6.5x55 in order to get better barrel life than ...
... my 260 or 6.5x284. I hoped by using slow ...
... + and get better barrel life than my 260 with the same bullet.

I don't push ...
... shooting nearly the identical speed my 260 was with the 140s in my 6.5x55 which ...
... that may make some difference too. (560 vs 540)

The only point I was trying to ...
... is that the 6.5x47 won't run with a 6.5x55 for velocity in a modern action if you ...
... saying how a 6.5x47 is faster than the 260 or 6.5x55s when thats not the case. (If ...

 

[kemen4]

As said, there is a lot in older posts on here .. try to find those by Rhino ...
On brass .. seems Lapua may introduce 260 at the Shot Show? And as you say : most everyone has x55.
When I had the choice I was advised that the x55 was probably better for the heavier bullets. On a l/a you should not get issues with COL in either.
I've found the x55 is not fussy to load for, is happy below max load and takes a range of bullet weights.
Capaciity wise its between the 260 and x284 though I was offered the AI route I I ever feel the need for more..... yet.
Data for the x55 is below that of the 260 to meet a lower MAP (55k v 60k psi CIP) in deference to the older rifles.. perhaps on a modern action you have other options?
Whichever route you choose looks like you'll have the pleasure of building you own companion.

 

[flatlander]

I faced making the same decision you're looking at about 10yrs. ago when I decided to have a 6.5mm bbl. chambered & fitted to my Palma (308) rifle. I went with the 6.5x55, and have never had any regrets. Getting 2900fps+ with S142MKs out of the 30" Krieger is a no-sweat deal, and accuracy at that level is excellent out to 1000yds.

I started doing my own barreling after purchasing a lathe in 2005, and eventually got curious enough about the 6.5x55AI to purchase a reamer. I haven't shot it all that much, but after doing a 30" Bartlein hvy. Palma for the AI, it would appear that velocity gain is only going to be around 60fps. However, aside from pure velocity, there's also the fact that blowing the case out to reduce case body taper is going to reduce or eliminate the need to trim.

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

Thank you all for replying so fast. I have read for a week or so going back and forth on this sight, you are correct about there being a lot of information here. I want to make the decision once, and be done with it. Down the road I would like to barrel more rifles, and maybe keep in my notes these different calibers that we are talking about. Once again, I appreciate the help! Keep it coming. Jonathan

 

[Raptor]

I have a couple of 260s and love them. I have had and shot the barrels out of a couple of 6.5x284s and loved them but just couldn't go through replacing a barrel every winter. I built the 6.5x55 for my long range work and love it!!!! It will shoot nearly as fast as the 6.5x284 or as slow as the 260.

The barrel life so far is on par with the 260 with more velocity. I am doing a straight 284 now to see how I like that. But I will always have a 260 and a 6.5x55 in my gun locker.

 

[flatlander]

Raptor, you're going to love that 284! I've built a couple of LR prone rifles in 284 for myself, and they're flat awesome at 1000yds. with S175MKs & Berger or JLK 180VLDs. The 284 is one of the most consistently accurate cartridges I've ever worked with.

Not much fun to shoot 175s or 180s off the bench unless you've got a brake or suppressor, but just fine from prone with a heavy shooting coat. After years of shooting 14lb. AR15s in XC HP matches, the 6.5x55 at first seemed to have quite a bit of recoil. However, after shooting 75-80rds. of 284s in a 3x1000yd. match, it allows me to appreciate how mild the 6.5's recoil is.

 

[Raptor]

Dennis,
Thanks for the reply!! I am looking to shoot the 162 to 168s in my rifle.

I am hoping I won't loose much to the heavier bullets but I guess I will just have to play with it and see.

My rifle will be more on the tactial side so I ordered a 28" barrel for mine. I was affraid I would not be able to push the 175 and 180s fast enough out of a 28" to get the advantage over the 162s. Any thoughts on that??

I ordered a Broughton 5R for mine in a 1-9 what are you using on yours?? Thanks!!

 

[CZ93X62]

My remarks are from the perspective of a game rifle user, and not a targeteer. I've owned a Ruger 77R in 6.5 x 55 since 1995. It has been an utter delight as a field/hunting rifle, and can propel 140 grain bullets to 2700 FPS safely in its 22" barrel. I can't find a 140 grain bullet it DOESN'T like--Speer, Sierra, Hornady, and Nosler all run at or under 1 MOA consistently. It uses a 1-9" twist rate. At 700-round history, it shows no indication of accuracy fall-off. It also shows early promise as a cast bullet shooter, too.

My hunting partner in Pleasant Valley NV had a stainless Rem 700 built in 260 Rem with light-taper barrel contour 22" long, same 1-9" twist. He uses Hornady #2630 (140 SP), and it shoots consistent 5-shot groups at 100 yards in the .5s-.6s. Cast bullets aren't quite that tight-shooting, but will serve for shorter-range counter-coyote work.

Point to make--either caliber is capable of decent work in a sporter grade rifle, and there is no reason to think a target-built rifle wouldn't easily best these results in either chambering.

 

[brian427cobra]

Winchester does make 260rem brass, except it has 7-08 on it, with a pass through a 260 FL die it becomes 260rem brass, I have 14 firings on some and the primer pockets are still tight, need speed, how about 2925 with a 140Amax, just use RL17 instead of h4350, ain't nothing wrong with a 260.

 

[mytwo60]

Winchester does make 260rem brass, except it has 7-08 on it, with a pass through a 260 FL die it becomes 260rem brass, I have 14 firings on some and the primer pockets are still tight, need speed, how about 2925 with a 140Amax, just use RL17 instead of h4350, ain't nothing wrong with a 260.

Yup. Nothing wrong with a 260. Last week I put 10 shots right at 1.6" at 300yds. I hope to put 10 shots inside of 1.5" at 300yds this weekend.

Would love to hear about 6.5x55 with similar results or better. Oh and I am using a "cheap" Savage action as well.

 

[gemsbok]

Shot the 2005 F Class World Championships in terrible wind with 6.5 x 55 over 700, 800 & 900 meters with Sierra 140 Match. Love the caliber.

 

[boogershooter]

Gemsbok, What action and configuration?

 

[Flouncer]

Getting 2900fps+ with S142MKs out of the 30" Krieger

Holy Smokes Batman !! Thats FF AAA SSS TTTT More than the 142's in my 6.5-06 with 27-inch barrel ..

Newb question....

What's with the extra security that requires the letter typing match to post ? Is there a history of spam/abuse here ??? Listen to the letters request another image

 

[Tikkatoy]

6,5x55 has so much more class than 260. : Lapua brass and unbeatable performance over 100 years. Designed with gun shy recruits in mind. Easy accuracy and amazing killer to be so mild on recoil and agrievation. I'm liking the Hornady 129 lately for deer after running out of Sierrra 140 Game Kings. Learned the hard way A max is a
target bullet! You can't beat it so join the cult.

 

[flatlander]

raptor - sorry to take so long to reply - have been too busy to spend much time on the 'net lately. I used a 28" PacNor 3-groove 1:9 on my first 284; it was built around a trued long M700 action w/PTG custom bolt in a McMillan A5 - sort of a crossover or dual purpose rifle for LR prone & tactical matches. I've shot several 1000yd. any/any LR prone matches with it; for some reason, this bbl. shoots the S175MKs better than either of the other two 284 bbls. I've chambered - 30" Bartlein & Krieger, both 1:9tw. However, it also does quite well with either Berger or JLK 180VLDs using H4831, RL17, or N165.

I get around 2785fps with 175s or 180s using H4831 in the 28" bbl. - have to go to RL17 to reach 2800+ out of the shorter tube w/the heavies. Run the numbers on one of the good ballistics programs that recognizes & uses G7 BCs, and you'll see that the 175s & 180s don't have to be started out at 2900+fps to be very effective at long range.

 

[Raptor]

Thanks Dennis, appreciate the info!!

 

[HTSmith]

In a long action, it looks like a coin flip to me. Reamer availability could have a bearing. A standard 6.5 x 55 has too long a throat in my opinion. A match dimensions 6.5 x 55 makes a big difference.