6.5x55 Twist Question
- Thread starter viking499
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The faster twist will raise pressures. The faster twist will also stabilize a slightly heavier bullet at a certain velocity. If you like shooting 120 grain soft points out of your rifle, there's no benefit. If you are trying to find an accurate 160 grain spitzer load for it, then go with the tighter twist.
colonelhogan44
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yes.
Vern Humphrey
Member
If you have the choice, go with the 1:8. While it is true, as MichaelK said, a faster twist may raise pressures, the effect is slight. For all practical purposes, you cannot over-stabilize a bullet under normal conditions, so there is no penalty for shooting lighter, shorter bullets in a fast twist. But there is a penalty for shooting longer bullets in a slow twist -- loss of stability and accuracy.
627PCFan
Member
FWIW, I have a 1-8.5 twist and i have run 160 grain RN's through 120 grain BT's and had no problems throughout the range-
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USSR
Member
Handle, yes, but the 1-9" twist would be better suited for them and may be more accurate with them. You really need to define the primary purpose of your rifle. If it's mainly to use 90 - 120 grain bullets, then go with the 1-9" twist. If it's mainly to use 120 - 160 grain bullets, then go with the 1-8" twist. I've got a 1-8.5" twist and shoot the 139 - 142 grain bullets exclusively.
Don
The reason for asking is that I was looking at one of the new Howa Barreled actions. They claim to have the accuracy issues worked out from a couple years ago. They have a 1:8 twist. I thought about picking one up and using as my truck/beater gun. I love the 6.5x55 cartridge. I also have that caliber in a CZ and a Tikka. They are just to nice and pretty to take the chance of knocks or bangs. Tikka is 1:8 and the CZ is 1:9.
Palehorseman
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Twist in my Husky M-38 Swede is 7.8, I shoot mostly cast boolits and my favorite is the 170 grain Lee Cruise Missile.
With a short throat in the M-38 and groove diameter of .2685" took a bit of creative resizing of fat nose and three front bands (it cast WW at .271") but following the advice of some knowledgeable people on a cast boolit site for the procedure, it all came together beautifully.
Still 18 bucks for double cavity mold: http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...6.5swed+000066.5SWED&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
With a short throat in the M-38 and groove diameter of .2685" took a bit of creative resizing of fat nose and three front bands (it cast WW at .271") but following the advice of some knowledgeable people on a cast boolit site for the procedure, it all came together beautifully.
Still 18 bucks for double cavity mold: http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...6.5swed+000066.5SWED&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Float Pilot
Member
I own and shoot more than a few 6.5x55mm rifles. The stock military twist rate on the original Swede Mausers was 1 in 200mm. About one in 7.8 inches.
They were made to shoot a 156grain round nose bullet. Later (1941) they changed their ammo to a 139 grain boat tail and it still worked fine.
The CG-63 target rifles had a 1 in 220mm twist and they were set up for a 140 grain boat-tail loaded at 2,600 fps. There were also some CG-63s with Shultz and Larson barrels with a 1 in 9 inch twist. I have one. It does not like the longer 140 grain boat-tails, but really seems to love the 120 to 130 grain range bullets. If they are boat-tails. But it shoots the 150 gr round nose bullets just fine.
My Old Winchester M-70 Fetherweight in 6.5x55mm has a 1 in 8 twist.
It is not so much the bullet weight, but rather the bullet length that matters when talking about twist rate. the 160 grain round nose bullets are actually shorter than some of the lighter boat-tails.
They were made to shoot a 156grain round nose bullet. Later (1941) they changed their ammo to a 139 grain boat tail and it still worked fine.
The CG-63 target rifles had a 1 in 220mm twist and they were set up for a 140 grain boat-tail loaded at 2,600 fps. There were also some CG-63s with Shultz and Larson barrels with a 1 in 9 inch twist. I have one. It does not like the longer 140 grain boat-tails, but really seems to love the 120 to 130 grain range bullets. If they are boat-tails. But it shoots the 150 gr round nose bullets just fine.
My Old Winchester M-70 Fetherweight in 6.5x55mm has a 1 in 8 twist.
It is not so much the bullet weight, but rather the bullet length that matters when talking about twist rate. the 160 grain round nose bullets are actually shorter than some of the lighter boat-tails.
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Jim Watson
Member
You will not likely get a choice on a factory rifle. It will be one or the other within any one brand. You must decide which set of features suits you best.
blackwalnut
Member
6.5 twist
I too have a few 6.5s and I agree with Float Pilot. It was designed with a 1 in 7.8 twist and a 1 in 8 is the way to go. The original Teutonic designers had more on the ball than some give them credit for so follow the lead and go 1 in 8. In fact that was a time when great strides were made in short order and you can go wrong by going back to basics. The Europeans were and are still innovative and dont sit on their laurels.
I too have a few 6.5s and I agree with Float Pilot. It was designed with a 1 in 7.8 twist and a 1 in 8 is the way to go. The original Teutonic designers had more on the ball than some give them credit for so follow the lead and go 1 in 8. In fact that was a time when great strides were made in short order and you can go wrong by going back to basics. The Europeans were and are still innovative and dont sit on their laurels.
corydonron
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I have some Swedish Carl Gustav bolt action rifles that I don't need. Neck surgery made me affraid to shoot bolt action rifles.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Send them to me. I'll give them a good home.
Finprof
Member
6.5x55 twist
I got to this thread late. My siilhouette rifle is a custom 6.5x55 which is on its second barrel. It has a Hart # 5 1/2 barrel with a 1:8 twist. The problem with silhouette is that you are shooting light loads for chickens, pigs and turkeys and a heavy load for rams, so the barrel has to handle light and heavy loads. Mine shoots 108 grain Scenars on top of a light load of Varget for C,P,T and a 142 grain MatchKing on top of a heavy load of Reloder 22 for rams.
Some of my friends have gone to 1:8.5 twist Broughton barrels for 260s or 6.5x47s (same bullets basically) because there is a lot more light shooting than heavy. I might do the same for the next barrel. However, if this was for a hunting gun shooting 140 grain bullets, the 1:8 is the way to go.
By the way, I also have a Howa thumbhole sporter in 6.5x55 because I reload for that cartridge, so it seemed like a good idea to get it. Never got around to shooting it yet, but have some big heavy Lapua Mega 155 grain bullets loaded up for it for hunting. That would be a good bullet for deer or hogs and should be OK in a 1:8 twist barrel. The Swedes use them for moose.
I got to this thread late. My siilhouette rifle is a custom 6.5x55 which is on its second barrel. It has a Hart # 5 1/2 barrel with a 1:8 twist. The problem with silhouette is that you are shooting light loads for chickens, pigs and turkeys and a heavy load for rams, so the barrel has to handle light and heavy loads. Mine shoots 108 grain Scenars on top of a light load of Varget for C,P,T and a 142 grain MatchKing on top of a heavy load of Reloder 22 for rams.
Some of my friends have gone to 1:8.5 twist Broughton barrels for 260s or 6.5x47s (same bullets basically) because there is a lot more light shooting than heavy. I might do the same for the next barrel. However, if this was for a hunting gun shooting 140 grain bullets, the 1:8 is the way to go.
By the way, I also have a Howa thumbhole sporter in 6.5x55 because I reload for that cartridge, so it seemed like a good idea to get it. Never got around to shooting it yet, but have some big heavy Lapua Mega 155 grain bullets loaded up for it for hunting. That would be a good bullet for deer or hogs and should be OK in a 1:8 twist barrel. The Swedes use them for moose.
Am I too late to join the Battle Royale for the Swede's? 
I need a Gustaf for the wife, so we can match...
I don't have any advice on barrel twist rates, but I am very glad to see this thread. I have 1 Swede and love learning new things about them and their cartridge. Thanks to the OP for asking!
I need a Gustaf for the wife, so we can match...I don't have any advice on barrel twist rates, but I am very glad to see this thread. I have 1 Swede and love learning new things about them and their cartridge. Thanks to the OP for asking!
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