6.5 Swedish in a 20 in. barrel?

[Col. Harrumph]

Tikka offers the T3 chambered for 6.5x55 in both a 20" and 24" barrel. Obviously the longer barrel would be preferred for long range work (600 yd. & up). But what if the 24" tube is not available, and you're stuck with the short barrel? How much MV would I expect to give up? Would a heavier bullet, say 140 gr., stabilize? (8 in. twist). Or maybe I should just spring for a Criterion barrel (that reminds me... gotta water the money tree out back).

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, the Swedes thought 17.7" was enough.
But I would hold out for the 24" for any use I would make of it. I once had a 20" 6mm Remington and it was a blasty little thing.

 

[Slamfire]

I am going to say, go for the 24" barrel, or better yet, the 29" barrel! I have some data with Swedish ball . The military rifles even though the barrels are two inches longer, they have to be looser than the 22" M700 barrel. The round really picks up speed in the 29" barrel.

Just because the Cavalry had a 17" barrel does not mean that it was a great choice in 1894, and, they got rid of it. The later Cavalry models had 24" barrels. Go with the 24"

M700 22" Barrel

140 gr Hornday Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350 R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"

2 Feb 2008 T = 52 °F

Ave Vel = 2512
Std Dev = 27
ES = 72
High = 2547
Low = 2475
N = 5

143 gr Swedish Ball 1986 headstamp
2 Feb 2008 T = 54 °F

Ave Vel = 2470
Std Dev = 18
ES = 48
High = 2491
Low = 2443
N = 5

M38 Calvary Carbine 24" barrel

143.5 gr FMJBT Swedish 1986 ball. OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average
20-Mar-94 T ≈ 78 °F

Ave Vel = 2477
Std Dev = 23
ES = 57
Low = 2449
High = 2506
N = 4


M38 Infantry Carbine 24" barrel

143 gr 1986 Swedish Ball
28-Oct-94 T ≈ 60 °F

Ave Vel = 2427
Std Dev = 22
ES = 62
Low = 2395
High = 2457
N = 10

M1896 Infantry Rifle 29' barrel


143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball
17-Aug-06 T = 85 °F

Ave Vel = 2610
Std Dev = 14.38
ES = 45.59
High = 2633
Low = 2587
N = 8

 

[eastbank]

my CZ 550 in 6.5x55 and my remington 700 sps in .260 have 24" barrels, not to short and not to long- just right. eastbank.

 

[Hoser]

Hold out for a 24.

 

[RPRNY]

Get the 24". I have the 17+" and 24" barrel Swedes. The loss varies quite a bit depending on loads, but generally is about 125 fps and can be as much as 200 fps. Given the lower pressures that the Swede requires, the longer barrel and slower powders make a big difference.

 

[jmr40]

There is no guarantee that an individual 24" barrel will shoot faster than another 20" barrel. When you compare different barrels of the same length it is perfectly normal to see 25-50 fps difference; and over 100 fps isn't unheard of. If you and I both had identical rifles with 24" barrels. And if we were to take our 24" barrels and start cutting them down we would see 10-25 fps less speed every time we cut off 1". When we get to 20" we will both be 40-100 fps slower than when we started.

But what if my 24" barrel were 100 fps faster than your 24" barrel to begin with. My rifle at 20" might still be faster than your rifle when it was at 24". Or if your barrel happened to be 100 fps faster than mine at 24", you could be as much as 200 fps faster than mine after cutting it to 20".

Long story short looking at speeds others got from their rifles is pretty meaningless, especially when they are using different loads in those rifles. The examples I gave are extremes, realistically you'll probably see 50-100 fps less speed from a 20" barrel.

Assume you do lose 100 fps. Looking at the numbers from my 6.5 CM shooting 143 gr ELD-X bullets. If I'm 100 fps slower I'd have 3" more bullet drop at 400 yards. That is less than 1 click on my scope to correct for more bullet drop. It just ain't a huge deal either was as to velocity.

I'd buy the barrel length that fit my needs better. If you feel a 24" barrel looks and balances better hold out for one. Personally something at 22" is ideal for me, but I'd go 20" any day over 24". For my uses 24" is just too long.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Thanks JMR. I could live with a loss of 100-200 fps and a couple inches elevation, this rig will be strictly for paper punching out to 600. And the 20" is available, and the 24" isn't, so there's that.

 

[Varminterror]

I sporterized a Swede when I was in college, which I cut down to 20". It did give up some speed, but it helped cut weight and improve handling nicely. None of the coyotes and deer I killed with it could tell the difference.