Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Opinions on the 6.5x55BJAI

I am really considering re-barreling my Savage 110 LA in this cartridge but first I would like your opinion/recommendation.

I've thought a lot about going to the BJAI and even talked with Bob Jordan about it. He sent me his load info.

All said, going 6.5-284 seems a whole lot easier.

Please do tell and is it OK with Bob if you share the information he gave you?

If you have a long action rifle, why not keep it simple and go 6.5-06?

Jeff

Tempting but less efficient. I just love the 6.5 family and would not turn down any of them. I guess I've just taken a fancy to the 6.5x55 case. I too have considered the 6.5-284 as su35. It seems to be a toss up to an extent. The 260 is also a good round but can't get the speeds of the 6.5x55, 6.5-284, or 6.5-06. Decisions...decisions...decisions...

It's a tough choice as I like them all.

I replied to your PM.

I have a 256 Newton, the best U.S. 6.5mm design, so I understand 6.5mm addiction.

The 260 and 6.5x55 have 2 grains difference in case capacity, so don't slight the 260 or give the 6.5x55 more credit then it has earned.

Jeff

Not to mention that the 260 Rem fits in a short action, has a standard sized rim diameter, and is not limited to the SAAMI max pressure of 51,000psi.

Allow me to see if I understand correctly about the 6.5x55. I can use my Savage 270 bolt with the 6.5x55 rim. I realize there is a very small difference but that difference will not cause me any problems...right?

Right!

It is only .007" bigger and will work fine in your Savage boltface.

The other things I said about the 260, although true, don't apply in the application you're planning.

You have a long action rifle and you can load the 6.5 hotter than SAAMI because of the strong action.

Really no need to go hotter with the 6.5x55 but many folks have.

nsaqam,

Do you have any estimate what the top velocity a 6.5x55 can push a 140gr projectile from a strong action? I wish to find that velocity and back off to a good accuracy but higher that factory load speed. I realized the factory loads are loaded for the Swedish Mauser, a less strong action.

Jeff

i was getting around 2850 with my 6.5x55 arch. it was bult on a 700 action with a 22inch barrle.

By far the highest 140 grain velocity I can find in my many reloading manuals is 2790 fps in Nosler #6.
Nosler 6 states that all their loads for the 6.5x55 are for strong, modern actions. It also says that they used a 23" barrel.
They list 6 different powders with 140 grain velocity over 2700 fps.

I'm a 6.5 fan so I've been following this thread. I had contemplated doing a 6.5BJAI. Couldn't find enough certain benefit to justify it to myself. (That is not to imply you shouldn't do it.) I'm getting better than 2700 with 140s out of my CZ 550 6.5x55 without pushing it. It has been predictably wickedly effective on deer and accuracy is excellent. I've found that my rifle does not like to have the velocities pushed too hard. Accuracy suffers. Given the ranges at which we get the great majority of our shots here on hardwood slopes in the mountains the 6.5SE is more than adequate. If you do the BJAI I'd love to hear about it. I understand it ranks well in performance improvement among the AI catrtidges but don't personally know anyone who is shooting one.

OldRooster,

I too am aware of the velocity vs accuracy but I did find out that because of the case capacity buffer of the 6.5x55BJAI the velocity can be pushed a little higher without affecting the accuracy. At least that is what I've read. The reason I asked nsaqam about velocities was it sounds like he is very knowledgeable concerning this issue. It will be a little while before I attempt this project but I will PM you with the results. Thanks.

Jeff

Several of the members on here have a wealth of experience with 6.5s. I enjoy keeping up with their posts.

I just found this post and I too love the 6.5x55 B.J.A.I. after reading thread after thread and compairing velocity, case capicity and of course efficency I chose this chambering. With the blown out case there is a 13.7% gain in velocity over the standard 6.5x55 velocity, I was able to chrony 2800fps from a 24", 1-9 twist barrel while loading a 123grn Match king and 100yard groups printed nicely at 0.149" on centers. These loads are by no means pushing the pressure limits and faster speeds could be obtained, however accuracy was the result I loaded for.I have shot this round quite a bit and even when loaded with the lighter 85grn varminters for fire forming the groups were sub-half moa! Check the compairson between a 6.5x284 and the 6.5x55 B.J.A.I. you'll be surprised! every time I shoot this round I am impresed, I have kept quite a large file on load development too.

Please don't take this as a challenge to what you've posted, but according to Mule Deer's case capacity to velocity increase rule of thumb, the ROT that says a 4% increase in capacity yields a 1% increase in velocity, a 13.7% increase in velocity would require a 54.8% increase in case capacity.

Is that possible with a 6.5x55 parent case?

According to my case capacity table, the 6.5x55 has a capacity of 56 grains, while the 6.5-284 has a capacity of 66 grains. That 10 grain increase is equal to 17.86% of the 6.5x55's capacity, which, under MD's ROT, should yield a velocity increase of 4.47%. For example, if the 6.5x55 could drive a bullet at 2800 fps, a 284 should push the same bullet out the muzzle at 2925 fps.

Jeff

It may be that large of an increase if you're going from <51,000 psi loads to say >61,000 psi loads.

Of course if that's the case then it really isn't an apples to apples type of deal.

Interesting.... I love calculations.

I think that I read in Bob Jourdan's writings somewhere that there was a 13.7% increase in propellant capacity when comparing the 6.5x55 and the 6.5x55BJAI but I'm not sure. I may have read it wrong. I do know that it ranked 4th or 5th in cases that had the most propellant capacity gain. I also read somewhere that the 6.5x55BJAI was nipping at the door of the 6.5-284 speeds. IDK. The internet is full of information; some is fact and some is fiction. I know that I'm still interested in the 6.5x55BJAI. I may not be able to afford it now and I may have to simply order a Pac-Nor, Shilen,or McGowan barrel in the standard Swede 6.5x55, which is a pretty bad boy itself. Thanks gentlemen.


Hey Bob,

What would it take to get a copy of your load development records?

Jeff