Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 6.5x55 velocity

My 6.5x55 really likes 139 gr. Scenars. Think I'll stick with them in that gun.

DF

That's been my experience with my Tikkas as well. On the flip side, the long throat let's you load up a little more before you see pressure, so if you handload you can usually still hit decent velocities.

I have three Swedes and the newest is 110 years old. That's probably why your velocity is where it is. The loader is probably afraid his ammo will end up in one of the Gustav Swedes.

The 6.5x55mm cartridge is from 1891 and registered at 55,110 psi in Europe and 51,000 psi in the US.

The case head is good for ~ 67 kpsi and long brass life.
If one works up to extractor groove growth threshold [indicator for primer pocket growth] and backs off 6% powder charge aka Vernon Speer 1956 on how to write a load book, the pressure will be ~ 65kpsi, like the registration of a 22-250, 6mmRem, or 270Win that use the same Mauser case head.