Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles CZ 550 FS 6.5x55 - Input requested

For those of you with the 6.5x55 CZ 550-FS mentioned - a couple of questions...

What is the usual throat length for your weapons?
How does it handle the 160gr RN bullets?
How does it handle 1.3"+ VLD/TSX/SST style bullets?
Do you have any reload recipes you've used, with COAL and average group/FPS?

I ran tests with the JRF ballistics Stabilization calculator, which I am to understand uses the Miller system - it was showing that due to the 1.2" length, 160gr RN bullets CAN be stabilized by the 1:9 rifling, but the 1.27"+ bullets (aforementioned) would have a problem.

Use for rifle would be sub-200yd woodland hunting, eventually a close-range Elk/Moose/big-game. Replacing the M96 due to size concerns.

Have reload equip for 6.5x55, running Hornady 140gr SST Tipped BT. Current loading for my M96 is 3.15"+ COAL, due to the obscenely deep throat of the Sweet Swede. Would like to keep above 3.0" COAL like this as to maximize powder in case/keep pressures lower.

...better, simpler question - has anyone run 160gr RN bullets in their CZ550, or the VLD/long 140's? Any results?

Yes, I've run the (discontinued) Sierra 160g SMP in my 6.5x55 (CZ 550 American, not FS). It was the first bullet in my rifle to go under MOA for 5 shots across multiple groups (3 5-shot groups under 1.0" at 100 yards).

I was disappointed when I found out they were discontinued. A gentlement here on the fire sold me 3 more boxes, so I'm good there now.

I've actually only tested them in the colder months and I need to see how they do in warmer temps (both accuracy and velocity). But I believe they averaged around 2,415 from my 23.6" barrel.

the ol 94s and 96 swedes have a twist rate of 7.87:1 and the have phenominal accuracy with the 156 and 160 gr. bullets,I just picked a load from the manual ya know eny meny miny mo and drew 44 grains of RL19 w/
156 or 160 gr RN bullets and it shot so damn well from my rifle I never bothered to try another load and I dont recall the COL but I can get it if you like.

Forget the RN Bullets. Woodleigh makes a 160g weldcore (bonded, protected point) with a BC of .509 and SD of .328. Long or far those things would work wonderfully on the big stuff from a 6.5x55. Can the 1:8.66 twist of the CZ 550 stabilize these little gems?

Alectoris: That's pretty much the jist of the question. I LOVE the looks of the 550FS, and by goodness it's a popular gun apparently...but the twist and short barrel make me question it's usefulness with any of the LONG bullets...

There has not been any problem shooting the heavy round nose bullets from my 550fs. If I was going to use it for heavy game I would use the 156 norma oryx bullet as it shot better than any other of the heavies I've tried in it. For deer I would just find what shot the best wether it be a 120 gr BT, 140 Sierra gameking or whatever really. I don't think the deer would know the difference.

Don't mistake heavy for long. The heavy bullets in 6.5mm are typically some type of RN or semi-RN. While they often have a longer bearing surface, with a RN profile they are not typcially very long.

For example, the Sierra 160g SMP is ~1.257". The 140g Hornady SP ~1.253". The Hornady 129g SST and Nosler 130g Accubond both run around ~1.320".

If you want to shoot a heavy RN in your 550FS, go for it. You shouldn't have any trouble stabilizing the bullet.