Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5x55

Hello All,

A friend and hunting partner is building his first rifle. He inherited his father inlaw's guns one a Husquvarna 30-06. He made all the excuses (already has an 06 -----) anyway it is going to be a Swede. A true classic in a Husquvarna. Half way between his place and mine is Benchmark barrels and I have two rifles put together by Ron so that is where it is now. will have a 24 inch barrel.

He is not a reloader so will be feeding it factory fodder. I have been looking at what is out there and claims (realizing that paper will not refuse ink) this is what I have found in 140 grain

Fusion Ammo F6555FS1 6.5x55 Swedish 2530 fps


Hornady 140 GR SST� Superformance� 2735 fps


RWS Twin-core bullet (DK) 2854 fps


Norma 140 partion 2690 fps



The other 140s I have looked at are in the 2500 to 2600 fps range.

Norma is not known for mild loads and Hornady Superformace is not as well and either load would do well but the RWS load is less money (however not in stock at this time) and a good bullet the data shows a 650 mm (25.5") barrel and in another place a 740 mm (29") barrel. Has anyone used this load and if so shot it over a chronograph? Just curious if it is as advertised?


8mmwapiti

just curious... why not a 6.5-06 instead of monkeying with the bolt face?

i'm thinking factory ammo?

If it is a Mauser 98 or HVA action, no bolt face work would be necessary.

JEff

If you can find PMC 6.5x55 softpoint it might be worth trying. I used it in two rifles and a friend is using it now but I don't know where he's getting the ammunition. It seems to be consistently very accurate and it worked quite well for me on a couple of deer I took with it. But I doubt it's a hot load. Probably running right about 2650. I saw numbers some years ago that it was loaded to 2850 but I think they were in error. I have't shot the Norma but like you have read its loaded to hotter European spec. The RWS looks pretty zippy but I'm not familiar with it.

The 139 gr. Privi Partizan shoots pretty well from my Howa 6.5x55.

I have a 6.5-06 and that would be my choice. But he wants to be able to buy ammunition.


8mmwapiti

I have shot the rws twin core in my swede. it shot well, but only could muster 2400+ out of a 22" barrel.

tell him to save time and money and just use the norma 140 partition. it shoots well and gets very close to published velocities.

Thanks Rockchucker

2400+ wow I thought that there may have been a little blue sky or some kind of BS in the advertised velocity but wow. I'm thinking that the Norma and or the Hornady loads may be the way to go.

8mmwapiti

What's he planning on shooting with it? I'm more then a little lover of the swede, and a huge Husqvarna fan. In fact I have a custom swede on a HVA action. If he's just shooting deer I would find whatever factory ammo was readily available/affordable. I've also had excellent results from the 156gr. Norma Alaska factory ammo. I've got a whole bunch of factory ammo I'd be happy to sell him if he is so inclined.

I haven't tried the RWS. Some other 6.5x55 factory ammo options not on your list: Double Tap Ammo 125gr Partition (2805 fps) and 140gr partition (2675 fps) and HSM Ammo 140gr Berger hunting VLD (2630 fps). Both sell direct from their websites. My 2 swedes shoot the DT 125gr NPT's, Norma 140gr NPT's and HSM 140gr VLD's consistently sub- MOA....CT

I was not aware of Double Tap. Might be worth a look. As for HSM with Bergers, he used them on a mule deer (not in a Swede however) and while they did kill the animal the amount of mutilation was more than he expected and in the two categories of Berger hunting bullet users lovem or hatem he is firmly planted in the hatem crowd.

thanks
8mmwapiti

As far as what game, Deer and Antelope possibly Caribou.

I love the 6.5x55mm. My best friend is a gunsmith, and built my son a custom 6.5x55 on a mauser action. I put a Loopy 3-9x40 on it and he took his first white-tail deer, a 4-point buck, with it at around 70 yards.

I've been impressed with the quality of Double Tap ammo. Great customer service. The 125gr NPT round they produce in 6.5x55 has been very accurate in my rifles and impressive on deer and hogs.....CT