Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .260 and the 6.5x55

I know this has prolly been hashed over before but I've never owned, shot, or loaded for a 6.5x55. The .260 is at this point in life my favorite cartridge.

Would like to hear from those who know just how the two stack up against each other. Not many factory offerings in the .260. Anyway thanks for any input.

Fairly similar. 6.5x55 is a long action round and offers slightly more velocity especially when handloaded. If you don't then 6.5x55 is better option due to ammo selection. Pretty much the only reason to go with a .260 is if you prefer a short action.

I own and shoot both.... and handload for each...

both are pretty interchangeable in the real world...

regardless of bullet weight...

Load info I've looked up pretty much isn't anywhere near max. Can a guy push 140's 2900 fps with the 6.5x55?

I am not sure about 2900 but in my application, 22" barrel, 3.1" COAL, and slow powders like RL22 and N560 in Lapua brass I was easily in to the 2800s. I never saw a scary primer or had a notable bolt lift.

I ended up settling on a H4831SC load running at a modest 2700 with a 140BT. IMR 4831 was faster in initial test and I am sure RL22 would be as well but I like the temp stability and consistency of the H4831. H1000 is on my to-do list as well.

I have seen statements that claim the 260 has a nearly identical case capacity. Just a quick side by side visual of the cases tells a different story. I have not tired to get 50 grains of 4831 in a 260 case with a 140 gr projectile but I can guess It will be very difficult, and a 2.8ish COAL is out of the question. That same load is an easy fit with a 6.5 at 3.1"

I own guns chambered for both and like them both. I am actually partial to short actions in general so I am certainly not knocking the 260. From an application standpoint the 6.5 probably has VERY little advantage in the field. Maybe it looks a little better on paper with the 140+ bullets and 24" barrels.

A 260 launching a 120 BT at 2900-3000 sounds deadly to me. I am going to find out this season.

Shag, Midway lists 23 loads for the .260 and 30 for the 6.5. Not a huge advantage and I bet most of those factory 6.5 loads are dogs. When you factor in the boutique ammo makers you can get pretty much anything for either one so it's pretty much a wash.

And the .260 is just so much cooler.

The factory 6.5 loads are accurately described as "dogs".

There are several that are accurate but they are so low pressure it is laughable. The most potent I found is the Hornady Superformance 139 SST. It chroned at 2600 flat. It shoots very well in my gun and the deer I have popped with it fell in their tracks.

I guess that is why I was satisfied when I found an accurate load that went 2700. I topped the fastest factory ammo by 100 fps! Hollow victory...

260 "cooler"? Norma factory loads a bullet called Vulkan in the 6.5. I can't think of anything cooler than smashing meat with something called a Vulkan.

Talk about using a slow powder in the 260 Rem with a 22" barrel.

Here's loading 50.0 grains of RL25 in a once fired Lapua 243 case necked to 26. It can be done.

Shag-I spose one could, I sure wouldn't. 2900 is the zone I want with a 140 in a 6.5/06. But in no way would I go there with a .260 or a Swede.

Dober

When 2900 fps is about the end with a 7x57 or 7-08, pressure would have to be up there with the smaller bore. 2800 is probably realistic.

I've got my Zebra gun (.260) set up with a M1 and with 140 Bergs and 46/H4831. It moves about 2650 fps, shoots wonderfully and there isn't an elk/deer/lope say within 500 yds if the set up is proper....grin

Dober

Oof! The .260 is loaded to higher pressure than the old swede. The swede has, what, 7-8% greater powder capacity (57.0g vs 53.0g)? That translates into about a 2% performance increase for the 6.5x55 when loaded to the same pressure. Looking at top-end performance for the higher pressure .260 we see about 2,750 as top-end data for a 140g bullet. That gives you ~2,800 fps as top-end when running the 6.5x55 at the same pressure as the .260.

To get 2,900 you'd have to really step on it (and perhaps go with a 29+ inch barrel).

If I wanted a hassle free 2900 fps with a 140grn load, I'd forget the 6.5 x55mm and get a .270win..

In the real world, I'd consider a 6.5x55 or .260 Rem to be about the perfect all round deer caliber..

I was able to pass the 2900 threshold with 140 Berger VLD's and RE17 powder in a factory Tikka T3 in 6.5 x 55 but accuracy was terrible. . . throttled back to about 2650 ~ 2700 and excellent accuracy returned.

I run H4831SC in my 6.5x55 and get 140 grain bullets 2790 fps from a 23" barrel. I don't have any pressure signs, but I don't think I would go any higher.

In 6.5X55 I can get to 2900 with 130 Accubonds and H4350 in a 23 inch barrel. Yes the primers are a bit flat. Don't think I'd try to get there with a 140.

Don't have a .260 but from what I've seen the .260 is just a touch under the 6.5X55 for top velocities and agree that it boils down to a short vs. long action preference.

2900 with 130s is doable from a .260 with a 22" tube