No Modern 6.5x55 Love?

[CobraRed]

Update on post #53 on page 4.

Anyone else enjoy theirs?

I've been looking through threads via searching 6.5x55 and noticed most of them are ancient.
This is my Rem 700 in 6.5 Swede, Remington made the 700 in 6.5x55 one year, in 1994 - and this is it. Almost done, I have a 28" McGowen bull barrel on order.
I've been using Vhit N150/N160, but in preparation for the new barrel bought a bunch of RL-22 and have been playing around with it, seeing great results.
Loading pretty hot, even at modern action standards (book maxes loads are for old Swedish Mausers), with 140 Amax's and Berger VLD's has been shooting great at 700 yards up to near 1000.

I hit a 6" swinging pistol target 5 for 5 with the two different bullets at 700 yards.

Mono pod I machined and mounted from the tapped swivel stud hole.

168 Amax 30 cal next to 140 VLD and Amax in Swede

 

[Exercion]

Nice stick!

I'm on barrel #2 chambered in 6.5x55 for F-Open shooting. Remington 700/PacNor barrel. RL-22 is my go to powder in this rifle under either Lapua or Berger bullets.

Eric

 

[Raptor]

I have one with a Kreiger sendero and its a hammer!! Unfortunatly mine only likes H4350 so it will be hard on barrels.

 

[wboggs]

I have one that thrives on MRP with lighter bullets and MRP2 for 160s. Mine is used only for hunting and you can tell no difference compared to a .270.

 

[Hopkins]

I have one built on a PF Model 70 bp'd with a 28" Kreiger light palma 1-8tw. 140 Amax, IMR 4350 @2850+ =.25 MOA

 

[CobraRed]

Nice, glad to hear it guys.

I'm doing some 1000ish yard shooting tomorrow, i'll let you know how it goes.

I'm noticing the 140 VLD's dont like to be jammed onto lands, having to play around with COAL now.

 

[jonbearman]

I have swedes in military form and a ruger markII in this caliber.The sporter is quite accurate with the 140's and re-22.It is the most underated caliber on this side of the ocean.Your build looks great so far and I think you will be really happy with the end result.

 

[wwbrown]

I have a 6.5 mm barrel in the lathe indicated and ready to start making chips, the reamer in the holder is a 6.5 xx 55 AI. I like that caliber for 1000 yard F-class because it works.

 

[CobraRed]

Did pretty well today. Best round was the first I shot of the morning, got a string of 4 out of 5 at the 1000 yard.

The rest of the day it got increasingly windy, gusting 20+mph. Made things a bit hairy

 

[stinkitup]

An old swede for hunting an M96, loves 100s and 140s put 4 140's into just over 5inches at 500m using a 9x which is pretty good for 100yr old girl.

Plus a 6.5x55AI on a savage target action with shilen 30 barrel, only just fireforming for it now.

It is a great all round cartridge.

 

[DRNewcomb]

I have three 6.5X55 rifles; they're all original military: a carbine, an M38 & an AG1B. The round is still very popular in Norway and Sweden, both for target and game, like the .30-'06 is in the US.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I have an original 1896 Swede made in 1900...Shooting military matches competitive with 4064, 140 Nos comp, CCI lR..Working on 120 Speer and looking better....Short range only 100 yds. max for club inside city limits..1 target offhand at 25-1 rest 50-1rest 75-1rest 100..have won infrequently..Personal best was 197 and x's came in third...LT

 

[KAIFS]

Besides collecting military swedes, I have several modern rigs in 6.5x55. Best caliber ever! Both 1994 Remington 700 Classic and a Kimber conversion can easily hold its own with the big guys out there. For military rigs - CG63 with a correctly adjusted diopter sight, shooting groups to 300m with little effort.
I still would like to go with a modern Tikka t3 Sporter 24" and can't for the life of me find a Tikka Super Varmint in 6.5x55 here in US...

So that caliber is NOT dead by any means, just under appreciated.

 

[DRNewcomb]

So that caliber is NOT dead by any means, just under appreciated.

This pretty well sums it up. Most American shooters think of 6.5x55 as "one of those" foreign Mauser rounds. Probably its biggest problem is having .480" head diameter vs .473".

 

[gaup]

At the range with my RPA Higland stalker in 6.5 swede
March 3-24 on top ... makes the day..... every day

 

[jonbearman]

It would be so easy to just cut a few thou out of any .473 bolt face and convert to this cartridge.I am surprised that more dont do it.

 

[stinkitup]

Most bolts don't need it, also american made cases are based on a 3006 case head so are 473. Lapua/RWS/Norma are all at the .480 mark. My savage didn't need any changes to the bolt.

Ryan

 

[CobraRed]

^ I can confirm that

 

[nashlaw]

I have a 6.5x55 on a Howa action, Krieger MTU, McMillan A2. Does fine work with 140 grainers. One of my favorites.

 

[Laurie]

It would be so easy to just cut a few thou out of any .473 bolt face and convert to this cartridge.I am surprised that more dont do it.

Jon,

many standard bolt-faces accept the 6.5X55 without any machining. The Savage Model 12 single-shot bolt-head (so I presume M10 and 110 models too) don't need any work. My originally 12 F-Class bought as a 6.5-284 never peformed as well as some examples around with the OEM barrel, but a new Bartlein Heavy Palma chambered in 6.5X55mm was a huge improvement.