6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor and reloading

Status
Not open for further replies.

viking499

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
3,824
I am a Swede fan at heart. I know there are probably better options out for a specified purpose, but I guess I like older, not-as-popular underdog.

With that said, here is my dilemma.........

I have always wanted a heavy, threaded barreled Swede. I know that the cartridge is under-loaded at factory and you have to reload to get it up to Creedmoor equivalent specs. I also know that the Swede has more case capacity. And that the Creedmoor can be reloaded to get more out of it.

So, am I wasting my time wanting to build a heavy barreled Swede for 800+ yard when I should just go with a factory heavy barreled Creedmoor than will do basically the same thing and not tie up 6 months doing a Swede build? Time is not an issue, just pondering if I am creating more issues and over thinking everything just to stick with a Swede.
 
I think you're over thinking it.

If you're going with a swede you'd need a long action and you'd end up with the same ballistics as a short action 6.5CM.

If I'm going with a long action, I'm going to use a cartridge that'll see some benefit. Something like a 6.5-06 or one of the various magnums.

A turn key heavy barrel 6.5CM or 6.5PRC sounds alot more reasonable than a custom 6.5 swede, that'll essentially be the equivalent of a 6.5CM.

... but, if the swede is what gets you excited...
 
I just did similar by re-barreling a Rem M7 in .260Rem.....to .260Rem.

Bottom line is, as long as you're not sweating any resale value, IMHO no one building custom 'anything' should be, then build what you want the way you want it.

There's lost of ways to rationalize a personal choice...already have dies, have a boatload of brass, have a "6.5Swede" vanity plate on my F150, etc.
 
If you already have lots of brass and are going to reload for it anyway and your willing to wait for a custom barrel then knock yourself out. If you just want to shoot then you could buy a 6.5C and off the shelf match ammo and be shooting tomorrow.
 
Nothing wrong with building a custom rifle that you want even if it might make more sense to go with something else.

You've always wanted a heavy barreled Swede for long range.... get it. The 6.5 CM will be easier to get up and going but is it really what you want? A year from now when you are at the range are you going to be happy that you went the 6.5 CM instead of going the custom gun route?
 
Go with what YOU feel is right. It will be the correct choice in the end. As said above; do you already have things associated with Swede? Dies, brass & such? That would make it a no brainer to me. And yes, loaded for loaded, the 6.5 Swede will surpass the CM. Just as 260 will. If you live on the factory shelf stuff, Creedmoor is the way to go. My bench gun eats ONLY my reloads. So ammo availability may be moot as well.

Use what you know, & go with your gut. One thing I can tell you… never, never, NEVER go with a cartridge BECAUSE everyone is doing it.
 
Here’s what you should do.

get a defiance xm action. It’s longer than a rem700 short but not quite a long. It will let you seat the bullet out a bit farther which is what you really need.

then, chamber the barrel is 6.5swedemoor. Take good lapua 6.5swede brass, and fireform it to blow the shoulder out to 35* like the creedmoor.

then shoot hornady a tip 153g
 
I am a Swede fan at heart. I know there are probably better options out for a specified purpose, but I guess I like older, not-as-popular underdog.

With that said, here is my dilemma.........

I have always wanted a heavy, threaded barreled Swede. I know that the cartridge is under-loaded at factory and you have to reload to get it up to Creedmoor equivalent specs. I also know that the Swede has more case capacity. And that the Creedmoor can be reloaded to get more out of it.

So, am I wasting my time wanting to build a heavy barreled Swede for 800+ yard when I should just go with a factory heavy barreled Creedmoor than will do basically the same thing and not tie up 6 months doing a Swede build? Time is not an issue, just pondering if I am creating more issues and over thinking everything just to stick with a Swede.

The Swede is no slouch, Sweden used that round on 1k matches long before yhere was a creed. A modern barrel on a modern action will net better results yhan the creed would.

I'm in yhe process of building a Swede on a dwm 98 mauser action. The barrel I have is a 20" medium weight sporter, don't know yhe manufacturer, but being installed in a bishop walnut stock. Do what will please you yhe most
 
Now that is a fine idea! I would consider that myself years ago. I’ve grown too attached to 260 though. And next barrel will be 260AI.

Funny you just mentioned them… I’m actually looking at those 153gr A-Tips right now. But holy moly, the cost! Almost a Buck a bullet! Yikes!
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. If I go with the Swede, it will probably be in an extra Tikka T3x action I could spare with a 26" barrel.
 
Now that is a fine idea! I would consider that myself years ago. I’ve grown too attached to 260 though. And next barrel will be 260AI.

Funny you just mentioned them… I’m actually looking at those 153gr A-Tips right now. But holy moly, the cost! Almost a Buck a bullet! Yikes!

They are expensive but they fly really well at long range. A buddy was just shooting out at a mile this last weekend with his custom 300 Winmags. The 230 Atips were shooting almost a mil less drop than the 225 ELDMs.
 
So, am I wasting my time wanting to build a heavy barreled Swede for 800+ yard when I should just go with a factory heavy barreled Creedmoor than will do basically the same thing and not tie up 6 months doing a Swede build?

Yeah, pretty much.

6.5 Swede can be made to outrun a 6.5 Creed (larger case capacity with equal opportunity for max pressure), but the advantage for long range shooting is largely imaginary. Just burning more powder with less barrel life to do the same things.
 
Here’s what you should do.

get a defiance xm action. It’s longer than a rem700 short but not quite a long. It will let you seat the bullet out a bit farther which is what you really need.

then, chamber the barrel is 6.5swedemoor. Take good lapua 6.5swede brass, and fireform it to blow the shoulder out to 35* like the creedmoor.

then shoot hornady a tip 153g

Are there reamers and dies available for a Swede moor ? I was thinking Ackley but again who has a reamer specked out ?
 
You are using us to do what you have already done and don't know it, talk yourself into a custom Swede!! So I am going to do what you want done. Here is your answer. You already know exactly what a Creedmoor will do from thousands of others doing it. LIFE IS SHORT! If it doesn't take food out of the mouth of kids....build the rifle and have years of fun talking about it on here. There, problem solved!
 
Are there reamers and dies available for a Swede moor ? I was thinking Ackley but again who has a reamer specked out ?

There was a gunsmith a few years back who went by the name accuracy addiction. He made one and called it the 6.5 addiction. Lot of PRS guys ran it years ago because lapua Swede brass was less than half the price of most other cartridges and this was before Peterson etc. His Facebook page still has a phone number but his website doesn’t seem to be working.

if he’s still in business I imagine he’d want to chamber a barrel for you. But he might sell you a Reamer. Otherwise, call Kiff or one of the other Reamer makers. I’m sure they have a swedemoor
 
Better yet… build it yourself! Almost every top shelf barrel maker now has Pre-Fit Barrels. Chambered, contoured, hand lapped & ready to rock! And offered in many of the popular Tenon thread sizes for factory & custom Actions.
 
I am a big fan of the 6.5s and have built and shot the Swede -Creedmoor -260 Rem and a 26 Nosler- They all preform wonderful- Build what scratches your itch! ....and see for yourself what you can do with it.....

They put threads on those barrels you know..... You know why? So you can change them if you don't like them or if you like them so much you shoot them out!!!!

Good luck with the Swede....
 
That To me is all part of the fun!

I whole heartedly agree! Reloading is actually more enjoyable in some areas than shooting for me. It’s not that you are bringing the Swede UP to Creedmoor performance. Reloading allows the Swede to be brought to IT’S FULL performance of today. Which is above the Creedmoor. Also, don’t be fooled. Almost all factory loaded ammunition in Creedmoor, using 140gr+ pills, is rated in the 2650FPS range. Nothing special. It must be reloaded as well to see full potential. And when it is, it falls short of 6.5x55 & 260 Rem.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top