Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Short barrel 6.5x55 ballistics.

Howdy. First post. So let me thank everyone here for the forum and the opportunity to post.

Now. It's rifle buying time and I need some help with a decision. The choice of caliber is an easy one- 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. It just offers so much and asks so little. But my question revolves around barrel lengths.

I'm torn between the two CZ550 offerings- the 550 American with its 23.6 inch barrel or the 550 Fullstock(Mannlicher-style) with its 20.3 inch barrel. An astute friend of mine said it comes down to a choice between practicality and charm. I will use this rifle at the range, as a gopher gun and as a hunting rifle on game right up to elk.

I am wondering if 6.5x55 velocities fall off rapidly in short barrel lengths? How many fps per inch on average? And perhaps most importantly, does the difference matter in the game field?

Thanks in advance.

Buzz,

First let me welcome you to the campfire. Pull up a log and sit a spell.

The 6.5x55 is one of a few cartridges that in the field works all out of proportion to it's paper ballistics. If velocity it what you gotta have, then you are looking in the wrong place. OTOH, if you are looking for a cartridge that works well in the field, Well... Welcome to the club!

We all know you can't have your cake and eat it too, but the Swede performs fine out of a 20" bbl... or a 24" bbl... Or anything in between!

If you place the bullet where it needs to be, then the Swede will take care of the rest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ...the9.3Guy

I think as a rule of thumb, most calibers lose 30-50 fps for every inch of BBL you lop off.

That would mean a significant difference (100-150fps) you'd lose, IMHO, for no good reason.

Personally, I'd go with the 23.6"

"I am wondering if 6.5x55 velocities fall off rapidly in short barrel lengths? " YES

I've got a 96 mauser with a 20" tube. also have a Winchester Model 70 featherweight with 22". I hope to be shooting them both a lot pretty soon and can run some loads over the chronograph and tell you what happens.

I have never hesitated to take the 20" hunting and did on my first trip to Colorado 2 years ago. Friends wife is taking it this year while I take the winchester. She will be shooting 140gr. Hornady Interlocks, I hope to be shooting 156gr. Norma Oryxs.

last year I bought a coule of boxes of Norma alaska 156gr. which made short work of the mule deer. Elk stayed away, but I had no hesitation about the effecitveness of my combination.

I have an 18.5" sporterized Swede. Norma factory ammo chronoed about 200fps less -from the velocities listed on the box-....

Obviously, I have no idea what Norma uses to determine "factory" velocity. The real question, did it make any difference? No, I've taken several deer, using the standard Hornady 140gr bullet, at "standard" loadings. I. E., I did not try to make up any velocity because of the short bbl. Hammered 'em just as dead, all one shot kills. I'm a happy camper.

a PS: the rifle is stock mannilicher style...

Pedestal,

Out of curiosity, what did the ammo chrono??

Around 2400fps??



Also, some people have found the 140 grain Hornady to be a bit too "tough"for deer out of the swede.





What did you think of the bullet performance - expand enough??

Welcome to the Campfire!

I built a 6.5x55 on a Mauser action a number of years ago that shot great. Got about 2700 with 140's and 2900 with 120's, using handloading data listed in manuals. Factory loads lost 50-100 fps over 22-24's barrels. You will never notice this in the field, believe me.

After a while I sold it to a friend, who now uses it as a loaner rifle for other friends' children here in Montana. It has taken lots of deer and 2 elk, all with one shot. I believe one elk was taken with a 140 Winchester factory load, the other with a 125 Nosler Partition handload. Both went down in a matter oif feet.

MD

Buzz another welcome to this forum, you'll find lot of good things here, plus plenty of campfire BS... grins

I do feel that the Swede is one fine round, I've done a bit of work with mine but not tons.

I do not put thought anymore to what length (within reason) a tube should be on a gun. I make my decisions based off of feel/balance. Or, if I am having a tube put on a rifle I make my decision as to where to have it cut once again based on feel.

But not for the few fps difference there may or might not be.

I've done a bit of testing (not tons) but certainly more testing than most when it comes to how speed is affected by shortening a barrel. Mind you I did not say how the loads will run thru two different guns with different tube lengths on them. That to me is pretty much useless info, as I've found that guns of the same make and same tube and same cal can vary as much as 150 fps.

That said for the last couple of magnum tubes I've had cut from 26" to 23" I've been running right at a bit over 90 fps total loss (these were a 300 a 340 and a 257 wby) oh yeah tossin a 270 or two a 25/06 and a 223. None of them went over 100 fps loss so I feel quite comfy that you'll lose with the mags at most a bit over 30 fps per inch cut. Now to me this is a non issue as that 100 fps doesn't mean a thing in my real world out hunting.

While I've never done a similar test with the Swede I gotta believe that at most you'd be looking at 30 fps per inch difference loss if you cut one down.

Bottom line is take the one that turns your crank and don't worry a bit about what one or the other will do in terms of speed. There won't be much difference I guarantee you.

Just my thoughts, good luck and let us kow how it works out.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz

Mauser96:

I never chronoed my handloads, the Chrony broke before I had the chance, and I haven't replaced it, but I would "guesstimate" around 2400/2500. As for the 140's being too tough for deer, well, all the shots were pass thru's, no bullets recovered. ( also less than 100yds). But, dead is dead, and 1 shot is 1 shot...

The last one I shot with this rifle -did- give me a start. Range was only about 40yds, at the shot the deer fell down and kicked a bit. While I was admiring my handiwork, (GOT to get outta that habit!) Mr. Deer jumps up and lunges for a nearby fence line-but piled up at the fence (about 10ft away from the original shot.) I -did- manage to get a second shot off, which was a deada$$ miss-fortunately, in this case, didn't mess up any more meat. Hummm... I've gotten too used to 1 shot-dead deer....

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Welcome to the Campfire and congratulations on getting a new rifle and an excellent choice of cartridges.

I don't think the barrel length will affect the effectiveness of the rifle for your purpose. The fit and feel will be more important. Is there much weight difference?

Good luck and good shooting!

Gene

First, thanks to everyone for the welcome and the advice. As some of you may know, buying a new rifle can become a tough process, especially when confronted with two good choices. So it is that I am confronted with the CZ550 in its Mannlicher form and its long barrel form. Seems like the diff. in velocity is not enough to worry about. Now I just need to decide which platform sings to me more.

To be honest, though, this project may go on the back burner. My faith in the 6.5x55 is weakening. I am looking for a general purpose sporter and for me and for where I hunt (northcentral Montana) that means elk out to 300 yards. I don't know if my choice of caliber is such a good one. Thoughts? Can the '06 or any other sub-.33 caliber do that much more than the "little" Swede?

That little Swede is a fine chambering, and will perform it's tasks without a hitch, if the shooter gives it half a chance. However, it is a wee bit light for Elk at 300 yards [I have NO doubt it will kill an Elk at that distance] and I suspect that 20" tube will deliver about 2600 fps or so with the 140's. I have never used one with a 20" barrel, but have one with a 22" [77MkII] and one with a 24" [700 Classic] The Classic is exactly 100 FPS faster with any given load than the 77 is. I have shot several moose with this chambering, and have had no problems whatsoever. If you feel that you want something with a bit more authority for Elk, then I suggest you look at the 30-06 or perhaps even a 280 Remington. They arrive at 300 with a good bit more "whump" than the Swede does. If the 6.5 bore intrigues you, take a serious look at the 264 Win Mag...this is a real performer out at 300 and beyond. You gotta love the 6.5x55 though, it's a real "can-do" number. Regards, Eagleye.

Well, the old Swede 94 carbines were 17.7" (approx) and had to have muzzle extentions added before they could be shipped Stateside to be surplused.

I think the old surplus ammo for them was around 2300 fps

Hey Buzz

I just stepped out of the cover to help you along. I havent posted in while and thought I will shed a little light. I have 4 swedes 29inch on down and I would not worry about a thing. I use it for all game even my varmit rifle. the best shot was 510yds dead nuts on a michigan chuck. I can also ring the 600yd bell 8 out of 10 times. Just want to say hi to 9.3 guy

Bearbeater

oh ya the 510 shot was handload with 140 gr slug from my 69.00 us dollar gun

Just curious, but is your 700 Classic original or did you rebarrel it? All of the 6.5x55 Classics that I have owned have had 22" barrels, but I believe that the preproduction guns that the writers got to test had 24" barrels.

Jeff