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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3 |
If I were worried about speed in a long action 6.5 the 6.5x55 wouldn't make my list of possible cartridge choices.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,047
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,047 |
Ain't nothin' I haven't been saying since all the Creedmoor hype hit the market. They're all good cartridges but, as with engines, there's no substitute for cubic inches. If velocity is one's primary concern then there's certainly 6.5 cartridges available that beat all of them. On game, effectiveness is probably about equal across the board, even at distance if you know your rifle/cartridge ballistics. Contrary to what seems current, popular belief, game has not evolved to where it is now armor plated. Long action/short action is the least of my concerns when looking at a cartridge with a long action being my preference the majority of the time. Pick the one that makes you smile and go forth happily!
NRA Benefactor 2008
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." John 14-6
There is no right way to do a wrong thing
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,266
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,266 |
I have always been saying that. In a modern rifle, the Swede will come very close to a 6.5mm-06.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,640
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,640 |
140 ABLR at 2920 22.5 barrel. love the 6.5x55 What rifle and powder are you using???
It's a great life if you don't weaken..
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206 |
I have always been saying that. In a modern rifle, the Swede will come very close to a 6.5mm-06. The 6.5-06 has about 16% more case capacity than the 6.5x55, so it should get about 4% more velocity when loaded to the same pressures, assuming that all other factors are equal.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648 |
I have always been saying that. In a modern rifle, the Swede will come very close to a 6.5mm-06. Nah.... About as close as the Creed is to the Swede.... It's just a math problem is all to look at this stuff which is outlined above...
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,083
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,083 |
6.5x55 surplus rifles were dumped on the Aussie market in the 80's so we used a lot of them on a lot of game and they never didn't work. Field performance was identical to a .270 on feral game. John
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,387 Likes: 1 |
The one short action modern rifle that is a tailor made fit for the Swede is the MRC 1999. Its "short action" actually has a 3.1" magazine box and will hold 160 RN bullets or any other 6.5 bullet seated out as far as they will go.
Speaking of, the legacy of that 160 RN seems to be a handicap to the Swede and lighter 100-120 grain bullets. Now I freely admit I only have first hand knowledge of two rifles so chambered - an original 1896 and the aforementioend 1999 but have compared notes with other folks on the long action Tikka T3 and it seems that factory 6.5x55 chambers have very long throats specifically to allow for those 160 grain bullets. This is perfect for 140 down to perhaps 129 grain tipped bullets but the throat is too long for the lightest 6.5 bullets. You can't reach the lands and have any part of the bullet still inside the case neck no matter how long the magazine is. Mule Deer has mentioned that he had a custom reamer made for his 6.5x55 with a much shorter throat than standard.
Again, the above is only based on three different models so I'm curious to know what others have experienced with modern commercially made rifles in 6.5x55. I currently have 11 rifles chambered in 6.5x55, 5 of them are modern, factory built, commercial sporters; a Howa 1500, a Husqvarna 640 (FN 98 action), Remington 700 Classic, a Ruger 77 Hawkeye, and a Winchester/USRA 70 XTR Featherweight (1986 European run). The 700 Classic has a noticeably shorter throat that the other factory specs rifles. Shortly after the 700 Classics in 6.5x55 hit the market in 1994, it was reported that some factory ammo with 156/160 grain bullets, maybe PMC, wouldn't chamber because of the shorter throat. The others have longer throats and probably work better with bullets no shorter than the 129 grain Hornadys. Thanks for that info - always nice to have real data.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,688
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,688 |
6.5x55 surplus rifles were dumped on the Aussie market in the 80's so we used a lot of them on a lot of game and they never didn't work. Field performance was identical to a .270 on feral game. John I've hunted with a 270 for years, and a 6.5X55 Swede for the last 3 years. Results as far as I can see have been identical. This year I'm going to try the 147 eld. Might be a game changer.....results awaiting ☺ Trystan
Last edited by Trystan; 04/15/18.
Good bullets properly placed always work, but not everyone knows what good bullets are, or can reliably place them in the field
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,266
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,266 |
I was getting 2850 with the 140 Hornady Sp and IMR4831 from my 1997 Win 70 push feed featherweight.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,083
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,083 |
I was getting 2850 with the 140 Hornady Sp and IMR4831 from my 1997 Win 70 push feed featherweight. Push feed Model 70's are the undiscovered treasure of the rifle world. Claw extraction is terrific for a stuck bogie, but old folk law when it comes to extracting a cartridge case. Seen a lot less issues with the former than the later. Then there is the opportunity to barrel swap, that opens a big door. John
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416 |
I'm using the 142 gr ABLR and IMR4350. I stopped development when I got to 2800 fps as I put 4 shots into .3" group at 100. Didn't see a reason to go further. I've taken several whitetails and a few axis with it. All one shot kills with complete pass-through.
Support your local Friends of NRA - supporting Youth Shooting Sports for more than 20 years.
Neither guns nor Liberals have a brain.
Whatever you do, Pay it Forward. - Kids are the future of the hunting and shooting world.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 2 |
Gosh n' begora, I must be behind the curve, I've never seen the point in trying to get magnum velocities out of the Swede.............. +/- 3,000 fps mv out of a 6.5 Leopard (6.5-300 WSM), 140 gr. Sierra Spitzers. +/- 3,000 fps mv. out of a 6.5 -284, 130 gr. Accubonds +/- 2700 and change out of a 260 Rem, 130 gr, Accubonds and a measley +/-2,560 fps with the factory 156 gr. Norma Oryx, https://www.norma.cc/us/Products/Hunting/65x55-Swedish-Mauser/Oryx/caught "Da Claw" in the neck, just a couple inches in front of the right shoulder, bullet exited just in front of the left hind. DRT, Nice thing about heavy slow bullets, you can eat almost up against the bullet hole. ya! GWB
Last edited by geedubya; 04/15/18.
A Kill Artist. When I draw, I draw blood.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,784 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,784 Likes: 1 |
Molon Labe
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,188
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,188 |
I've got a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 X 55 and love it. I topped it off with a Swarovski Z3 3-10X42. I loaded up some 130 gr. Swift Scirocco's up to a max recommended load of 42.5 grains of IMR 4350 and a CCI 200 primer in Hornady brass. I also loaded the same bullet up to a max of 45.5 gr. of RL 19. The first loads were just for accuracy and my max load of IMR 4350 gave me a .185 group. The max load of RL 19 showed promise as well at about a .75 group.
I went back to the bench and loaded some additional rounds at the max loads for velocity testing. My max load of 42.5 grains of IMR 4350 averaged 2660 fps and the max load of 45.5 grains of RL 19 gave me an average of 2740 fps.
These are max published loads I got from the folks at Swift I'll be headed to the deer lease this coming weekend. I'm gonna put the hurt on some pigs and sheep. .
The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 2 |
I'll be headed to the deer lease this coming weekend. I'm gonna put the hurt on some pigs and sheep. . good on ya! Heading back out tomorrow thru Saturday to do the same. .............. Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. Shot mama first the shoats kept coming back. Good practice shooting moving footballs at +/- 100 yds. would have shot more, but only brought 5 rounds with me. my bad! ya! GWB
A Kill Artist. When I draw, I draw blood.
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 98
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 98 |
The 6.5 CR just happens to be the flavour of the day. It doesn't do anything the 6.5x55 wont do except it's in a short action. I load for 3 modern action 6.5x55 and a Krag Jorgensen 6.5x55. I don't hotrod the modern actions as I find the best accuracy is at lower velocities and I'm not about to trade speed for accuracy. The deer, moose, and bear that I've shot didn't seem to know the difference in 200 fps.
I thought growing old would take longer.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 971
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 971 |
I have a 6.5x55 Swede on a long action MRC 1999. Custom order before MRC would build a Swede on short action. I did a test with 8 different bullets. Could get every bullet but two to kiss the lands at COAL less than the MRC 1999 Short Action magazine length of 3.125"
The two exceptions were a very pointy Berger VLD bullet (no surprise). And the Hornady 160gr RN. Seems that the Hornady 6.5mm 160gr RN bullet actually has a certain amount of taper, apparently to reduce bearing surface. It does not become "full bore diameter" until at least half way back to the base. OTOH, the Norma 154gr RN fills out to full bore diameter very quickly and would not have any trouble touching lands in the MRC SA 3.125" magazine box. Long story short, not all RN's are created equal...
Years ago I bought a bunch of heavy Hornady RN's to fill the throats in my 7X57 and 6.5X55 .. No luck as both cal. RN's are dual dia. I just measured the Hornady 160 gr RN and it is tapered. Now for the surprise, I measure the exact same taper on steel jacket RN bullets pulled from old Swedish surplus ammo! That makes the Hornady bullet an exact substitute for the bullet the old 1896 rifles were designed for.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 128
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 128 |
In my T3 sporter with 50 grains of RL 26 and 143 eld-x I consistently get .5 moa five shot groups at an average 2812 fps. It's a wonderful combination.
Last edited by wwy; 04/16/18.
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 714
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 714 |
140 ABLR at 2920 22.5 barrel. love the 6.5x55 What rifle and powder are you using??? Tikka T3x 21.5 inch barrel and Norma MRP with Lapua brass
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