New 6.5x55

[rwh38238]

Alright guys,
Im building a 6.5x55 swede on a cz 550 action. It will be a 28in. heavy varmint in a laminated pillar and glass bedded stock. I plan on shooting f-class and benchrest 100-1000 yards. Im looking for load suggestions and die choice. I am also planning on putting a weaver T24 for now until I can buy a Nightforce. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[1000yardstare]

You didn`t mention barrel twist rate. Tikka 6.5s have 8 twist barrels in both the Swede and .260 Rem to handle the heavier bullets available in 6.5. I have a Tikka T3 Lite stainless/synthetic in 6.5x55 and it is very accurate despite its ginormous throat.

A friend of mine had a 6.5x55 made up for F Class and he found out Swede chamber reamers have this long throat as a matter of course unless you specify otherwise. In a conversation with the reamer manufacturer he was told that he had to specify a shorter throat if he had no intention of shooting 160 gr RNs.

 

[rwh38238]

Wow that sounds interesting. The smith that is building the gun assures me that it will be well suited for 130-140 grainers. The twist rate is 1-8 and the barrel is a mcgowen medium target.
Thanks for the help

 

[1000yardstare]

I had several McGowen barrels back in the `80s when you could mail order them into Canada. Can`t do that anymore - 9/11, Patriot Act and all that. They were reasonably priced, accurate barrels. Imagine they still are. My fav was a medium target in 6mm/250. Great 300 metre cartridge.

The 140 AMax is very accurate in my Tikka 6.5x55. CAUTION - THIS IS IN A LONG THROATED RIFLE.

Best load is 48.0 gr IMR 4831, Rem brass, Fed 210 primers, COAL 3.160, chronos at 2800 fps.

Trajectory is 3 1/2 high at 100 metres (110 yds), 2 1/2 high at 200 metres (220 yds), zeroed at 300 metres (330 yds).

 

[rwh38238]

Thanks alot Keep it comin ;D

 

[jmm03]

Bartlien heavy varmint 1 in 8.5 5R,28 inches long, custom chamber for 142 grain projectiles,reamer from Dave Kiff,Lapua brass,no turn neck,46 grains H4831SC,BR2 primer,bullet seated to lands,chronoed at 2750,will put 5 in a one inch shoot and see spot at 200 yards consistantly.

 

[boogershooter]

Jmm what action is it on, Long / short?

 

[MLC]

CZ makes a micro, standard and magnum action.
The 550 is a modern Mauser 98.
My CZ 550 6.5x55 runs out of throat before magazine OAL.

 

[rwh38238]

The action I'm building is a standard length. It was a 22-250. What pressure are these loads running? Ive read that alot of the load data is reduced bc of the old mauser actions that are still being used. Im thinking that I can get decent barrel life running about 2750-2800 fps. The info is scarce for the cartridge relative to target shooting so Im looking for all the info I can get.
Thanks

 

[jmm03]

Booger,on an old Remington LA that I had,trued and lapped.I have been shooting the swede in the original m96 form for a number of years,and am a real fan of the cartridge.

 

[1000yardstare]

Looks like the lawyers have written the 6.5x55 sections in most of the reloading manuals - small ring jitters.

The Nosler manual is the only one that has realistic data for modern actions.

But I see that you are building on a short action?? If you intend to magazine load then this will limit your COAL and may reduce your velocity potential.

Tikka builds the 6.5x55 on a long action with the long magazine to match the freebore in the chamber. This combination allows the 2800 fps with the 140s.

 

[1000yardstare]

Re-reading the action you will be using - does the CZ standard action handle .30-06 as well as .22-250? Is there a spacer at the rear of the magazine and hence a shorter follower to handle the shorter .22-250?

 

[rwh38238]

Nope no follower. The 22-250 looks small in the magazine but feeds good. What kind of dies is everyone using? Im between the lee collet and bushing. Ive been messing with factory guns for years this will be my first custom barrel gun. Great info.
Thanks

 

[1000yardstare]

So the CZ .22-250 is built on a .30-06 length action. This gives plenty of room to seat long 6.5 bullets correctly.

I would suggest that you get together with your gunsmith and the reamer manufacturer and work out the freebore you need for the bullet you prefer to use.

I use Hornady New Dimension dies with the micrometer seating stem. Plenty good enough for a hunting rifle.

Another excellent bullet for the Swede is the Hornady 129 gr SST. A load of 49.0 gr IMR 4831 gives 2850 fps, COAL 3.145. CAUTION. THIS IS IN A LONG THROATED CHAMBER.

Took my Tikka 6.5x55 out to the 300 metre bench range today. Shot the following target at 200 metres (220 yds). The top 3 shots are the 129 SSTs and measures 7/8 inch (0.4 moa). The bottom 3 are 140 AMax. The wide left shot should have been in the red. I jerked the shot, called it left and it was left. Measures 1 1/8, still sub-moa. Anyway, this is an indication of the accuracy you can expect with your Swede. With the rifle zeroed at 220 yds with the 140 AMax, the 129 SST would be zeroed around 250 yds.

 

[chuck boyer]

I will second the 48gr of IMR-4831 load with the 140 A-Max. I also like 45 gr of RL-17. Speed out of a 23" barrel will be a little over 2800fps. 49 gr of RL-17 will push the 129 Hornady or 130 Accubond close to 3000 fps. Work up to the last load. I use Lapua brass. Other brands of brass will have pressure issues.

 

[Nomo4me]

Love my Tikka T-3 lite in the swede. I use RL-17 with 130 accubonds at 2830 fps which group into .6 moa with lots of jump to the lands. I hope to poke a piggy with it this year.

On another note: I just built a 6 x 47 Lapua on a Pierce action with Krieger bbl. Wish I could find time to break it in and load for it but no dice for a while.

 

[rwh38238]

Thanks alot guys
Got a match this weekend gonna be shooting 308 ftr savage. My friend and I were shooting This past sunday. I was averaging 7-10 in groups. He was shooting a 6.5x47 on a savage action with a krieger barrel and was average of 5 in @ 1000 yds. The match is this weekend at Midwest Benchrest in Missouri. Thanks again for the info. ;D