6.5x55 vs 6.5x284

[cfsindorf]

How would you compare the 2:

At 1k yards:
Barrel life:
Ease to make or purchase high quality brass:
Ease to work up loads:

Thanks

Craig

 

[Exercion]

Well, I haven't owned the 6.5/284 but do shoot a 6.5x55 at 1,000. With a 30" tube I'm comfortably pushing the 142 SMK's into the 2900fps range.

Barrel life: expected to be significantly greater as I'm already past the point I have heard is an average for round count in the 6.5/284s

Quality brass: it's a wash I believe as Lapua makes both, though the Swede brass is less expensive

Ease of load development: I couldn't begin to compare that as I have no experience with the bigger cartridge

Eric

 

[Ogre6br]

dont know about shooting at 1K
but with the 6.5x55 loaded up like it can be in a modern action- it will do almost all that the /284 will but with less powder and less fuss
the brass is a no brainer- Lapua all the way.

I have had many 6.5x55's over the last 15 years and my current one is a Tikka range rifle- remember modern action not Ex-mil action.

later
P

 

[cfsindorf]

Ok lets throw another one into the group 6.5x47

Tks

Craig

 

[Raptor]

I think the 6.5x47 is a great 600yd cartridge but lacks the poop for 1000yds. I have the same problem with my 6XC. Give me a 6.5x55 or a 6.5x284 anyday. The smaller cases look good on paper but just don't perform like the heaveir bullets do in the real world of wind and hitting power at 1000yds.

 

[2506]

Lets put another one in the running. How about the 6.5-06. You are going to have to use a long action if you want a magazine fed rifle for the 6.5X55 Swede so just get a little more horse power with the 6.5-06. I like the 6.5 Swede though. I shoot it in military rifle bench rest. Stock rifle with open sights at 100 yards. They are tack drivers for military rifles. M-96 Swede.

 

[rhino]

6.5x55 will get you to 2950-3000 fps with the 140 class bullets in a modern action and a 28 inch barrel or longer. Use a tigher chamber and your gtg. I turn necks. Its no big deal since I am unifying the brass and once you do it...your gtg, plus I have a good inside and outside turner for the donuts.

6.5x.284 will of course be able to horse a bullet faster. Of course your burning more powder or a faster powder because of the larger case volume. Not good for bore life.

Accucracy...I can't see any difference. I perfer the swede seems to be less sensative to variations. 6.5x.284 seems to be very finicky.

I loaded and played with a 6.5x.284 for a year. I went back to the familar swede and I am now happy once again.

RHINOUT!

 

[flatlander]

I've got a 30" Krieger std. Palma 8-twist chambered in 6.5x55 for the Nesika K my Palma rifle is built around. It's been a very good shooter for NRA prone HP, from 600yds. out to 1000. There are several powders that'll safely give 2900+fps with 139-142gr. match bullets, and in this 14.5lb. rifle, the Swede's recoil is easy to deal with over the course of a long day of shooting.

For my purposes, it's the ideal balance between the larger 6.5s and the 6.5x47 and other smaller 6.5s.

 

[rhino]

Yes, indeed.

It fits that gap between the 6.5x.284 6.5 SAUM 6.5-06 and the 6.5x47 and .260 remington without going ai and clowning around with brass.

 

[mrugly]

What about the .260? 1) Ballistics are in the same ballpark, 2) It can be had in a short action, and 3) factory ammo is already powered up for a modern action.

 

[Raptor]

The 260 will NOT compete with a 6.5x55 when both are loaded to there full potential. In loading manuals they are very similar but you have to remember the sweede is being shot in old rilfes with weaker actions.

The 260 has to be loaded to the nuts to even come close to a sweede and then if you load the sweede to its max it walks off and leaves a 260 in the dust.

I have a 6.5x55 and a 260 and had 6.5x284s and the 6.5x55 will shoot right with my 6.5x284 if loaded up. No way will a 260 do that.

These short action 6.5s and 6mms look good on paper an computer printouts but when you get to shooting at 1000yds in the real world with wind you can't beat the larger cases with the heavier bullets plain and simple.

I got tired of replacing barrels on my 6.5x284s and went with a 6XC because it was close to 6.5x284 in performance on paper. WRONG.... It does not have the poop for steel at 1000yds and gets pushed around in the wind.

 

[rhino]

If you're going to shoot 1k and your going to be shooting in the wind its either a heavy 6.5 or 7mm magnum.

No people can and will do well with 6mm's and .308's. Of course a better shooter will generally win, however when you have an unseen wind change...like those that happen at Bodines in PA.

A 6.5 or 7mm will cause less frustration and save you a critcal point or two.

RHINOUT!@

 

[AlanPF]

In terms of popularity for LR target shooting, the 6.5-284 seems far more popular than 6.5x55. The US F-Class team for the World Championships used 6.5-284 in 2005 and will probably be doing the same in 2009. I would only recommend 6.5 x 55 if you're on a tight budget,longer barrel life) or 2900fps is enough for what you want to do. I've heard that the Swede can be very hard on brass if you try to push it.

Alan

 

[warthog97]

Since I have a 6.5x55 I've been sifting through these threads looking at all of these comments about the Sweed keeping up with the 6.5x284. Most reloading manuals download the pressures because of the 6.5x55 Krags. I'm curious what the loads are that you're using, granted that they need to be worked up to cautiously. Thanks, bnw

 

[acloco]

I have been following this thread as well.

Of interest, I ordered a Savage single shot action and a stock Friday. Will order a 30" barrel on Monday or Wednesday...in...what else.. 6.5x55!

 

[warthog97]

DukeDuke, you posted

You must know something! The Krags! I have an M96 and it holds up way beyond what reloading manuals and other ignorant sources say! Same with the 7.5x55 Swiss, not to mention 7.9x57! After 100+ years, we still can't catch up with these people. Business is business, isn't it?! Now days most custom actions are made out of ALUMINUM! The Swedish ones were made out of SWEDISH STEEL! We though, labeled them WEAK! Sad!

I knew I was going to get flamed on this one when I deleted the history lesson from my original post. I thought EVERY Swede owner knew this, but... OK, with out trying to start a 'who knows more war', the 6.5x55 is often called the 6.5x55 Scandinavian,my Hornaday dies are even labeled as such) because the Swiss developed it in conjunction with Norway. While the Swiss went with the M-94 bolt action, Norway chose to use the Krag-Jorgensen action. I believe Norway stuck with the K-J up through WW-II, but I'm sure someone will chime in and correct me. I'm not 100% positive on the differences b/w the M-94 that Mr. Hawkins mentioned and M-96 that everyone knows and loves, but he did mention that the 94 also was another reason for the anemic US factory loads. Checkout Chuck Hawkins write-up at http://www.chuckhawks.com/6-5x55.htm. While I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, Mr. Hawkins' comments confirm with,conform to?) what I've read many times in the past from other sources. I hope this removes any offense you felt from my original post.

-bnw
PS... If I may be so bold, perhaps you should check your tone. One poorly researched response can shut down a lot of good information flow. This forum wasn't set up to flame newbees but to exchange knowledge and ideas and even correct some misinformation. Take care and I hope you enjoy shooting your antiques, I know I enjoy mine.

 

[mysticplayer]

I started my project rifle career working off sporterised WWII and WWI actions. Built a number of rifles using Mausers, P Enfields, Lee Enfields.

All are very 'strong' for their intended uses. However, do heed the warnings on some actions being 'weak'.

Be design, they are not, by rushed/shaky/bombs dropping on my head production stress, things go wrong.

From the famous Eddystone Enfields to well used actions with cracks, you may find a lemon.

If using a war action, ALWAYS have it magnafluxed. I have found the occasional action with cracks, and others I know have round the occasional bolt lug what was on its last legs.

Being a law suit friendly society, a company is going to be very stupid to not put in all sorts of warnings about a known, albeit, rare problem.

One in a million is all it takes so we get lawyer happy load data.

If you have ever shot factory Norma/Lapua 6.5Swede ammo, you will know that the Scandinavians have few concerns about their rifles strength.

Jerry

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

warthog97,

Perhaps it's the Christmas cheer, but I didn't pick up on DukeDuke's comment to you as a flame!

 

[olympian]

the 6.5x55 is often called the 6.5x55 Scandinavian,my Hornaday dies are even labeled as such) because the Swiss developed it in conjunction with Norway. While the Swiss went with the M-94 bolt action, Norway chose to use the Krag-Jorgensen action.

I am rather certain it was the Swedish,Sweden) rather than the Swiss,Switzerland) that developed the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser round.

 

[acloco]

Umm..The Swiss use the K11 & K31. These SWISS rifles use the 7.5x55 round.

The M94 & M96,and all of the variants) were made by SWEDEN.