OlongJohnson,
You should look up Vihtavuori data for the 6.5x55, as they list one load giving well over 2800 fps with 140's in a 26-inch barrel. Unlike American companies, Europeans aren't afraid to be provide modern data. That's somewhat irrelevant, however, because short actions have become the standard for smaller 6.5 cartridges in the U.S.A.
Many shoopters think a strain-gauge will reveal the "real" pressure of their handloads. In reality, a strain-gauge doesn't provide actual pressures, and direct strain-gauge readings typically run lower than piezo-electronic readings. This is all presented clearly in the A-Square manual by Dr. Gary Minton, who was in charge of the ballistics and ammo department at A-Square, but a number of other professional ballistic lab people told me the same things over the years. Strain gauges are used widely in the ammo and bullet business, but are reasonably accurate only when their readings can be adjusted with reference ammunition worked up with piezo equipment.
