6.5x55 vs all the newer 6.5's

[mjkten]

I'm curious about the loadings (factory and load manuals) that always have the Swede as the weak sister to all the newer cartridges. I know the case capacity is several grains of water higher than either the 260 Rem or 6.5 CM. For those of you that load this caliber, doesn't it make sense that the Swede should be able to outshine the others with careful handloading? I shoot a Winchester 70FW in 6.5 Swede and would like a new page in the loading manuals that doesn't bow to the old Mausers actions...

 

[HisStigness]

260 Remington runs up to 60k psi while 6.5x55 is 51k psi. Extra case capacity doesn't help if you can't fill it with powder.

 

[mjkten]

I suppose that's true, but as a child would ask- why? Is it consideration for older actions, or brass design, or what, exactly? I suppose I can load incrementally until I see pressure signs...

 

[denton]

Many of the published loads for the 6.5x55 are low pressure out of concern for some wartime actions. In a modern action in good condition, the concern is unfounded. A 6.5x55 case will stand as much pressure as a 308. The gas inside can't read the headstamp, and the important dimensions are nominally the same.

The 6.5x55 has a little more case capacity than the 260, and will yield a little more MV, but not much. 3000 FPS with a 120 grain bullet is safely attainable.

 

[mjkten]

That's what I was thinking. I am not planning to hot rod the Swede, but just coax it into better ballistics than the loading manuals give. Thanks!

 

[lonniemike]

I say, just think of the Swede as a smaller cousin to the 264Mag. Stay out of 264 velocity territories as do RWS, Norma, and other ammo makers. Work up carefully in small steps. Watch for any/many pressure signs. Speed can be pressure sign. A chrono is your friend.
Denton, I don't think much of the blame for low pressures concerns are from the Swede's duel locking lugs in its actions, but rather, there may be a concern for the single locking lug of the 6.5x55 Krag actions.Best

 

[jrdolall]

My Swede took a nice buck this morning with Nosler 140 grain bullets. 80 yards quartering away with an entrance and exit wound Bang/Flop.

 

[denton]

there may be a concern for the single locking lug of the 6.5x55 Krag actions.

I wasn't aware of the single lug Krags until now. That explains a lot. Good information. Thanks.

 

[Speedo66]

I think the inherent traits of the Swede, i.e., good sectional density for accuracy, good penetration, and low recoil are what make it such a desirable cartridge. Increase the recoil by adding power and perhaps you lose something.

 

[catgunguy]

The 29" barrels on the old Swedes helped a lot with the velocity. The one I used to load for would give the same speed as a 260 using a safe load for the Swede.

 

[USSR]

lonniemike has it correct as for the reason that U.S. 6.5x55 ammo is so anemic. In a modern boltgun, there is simply no reason why the cartridge cannot be loaded in the 60k+ psi range just like other modern cartridges. I shot a 6.5x55 for several years in 1,000 yard F Class competition using a load that sent 139 - 142gr bullets at 2925fps. Very flat shooting.

Don

 

[Arizona_Mike]

If you want to load it hot, find European brass with a 12.2mm (.480") base diameter. Most American made 6.5x55 uses .473" dia brass.

Mike

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Did you see the .26 Nosler Review in the Dec. 2014 American Rifleman?

- 129 Gr .561 BC (G1) @3400 fps
- 140 Gr Accubonds @3300

That might be an interesting chambering, if Lapua makes brass for it.

It would leave 6.5x284 and .264 Win Mag in the dust.

Also interesting, the Nosler rifles, are using PacNor barrels. Good stuff, PacNor.

 

[Slamfire]

Pressures for the 6.5 Swede are limited because of the hundreds of thousands of old military surplus rifles on the market. Many of the M96 rifles date prior to WW1 and many of those were later converted to carbine length , on the same old receiver. Given that original military loadings from the WW1 era were actually quite mild, by today's standards, and the actions were designed to carry that load, and those old actions and their poor metallurgy have not gotten better in the last 100 years, you will not find any ammunition manufacturer advocating high pressure rounds.

I do have one bud who is still shooting a 6.5 X 55 cartridge in long range matches. His rifle is a M700 long action. Back in the day, if you wanted to shoot 6.5 mm, you shot the Swede or wild catted the 308 round to 6.5-08. The basic problem shooting long range at the time was the lack of good 6.5 caliber target bullets and the rules of the game which favored 308 bullets. If chambered in a modern action, and to me, modern is post WW2, there is no structural reason why the pressures on the 6.5 X 55 Swede cannot be safely bumped up to 6.5-08 (260 Rem) levels. Given the greater case capacity of the Swede, it should be able to push a 140 grain bullet faster than you could push the same bullet in the other 6.5 non magnum rounds.

A limitation with the Swede is that it requires a long action. A 6.5 Swede just overhangs the feed ramp in my M70 short action and therefore I would have to deep seat the bullet to get it to feed from the magazine or use the action as single shot only.

As a game round the 6.5 Swede is excellent even at military loadings. Bud's who have used it say it gives excellent penetration and knocks deer just as dead as any other round.

 

[Ankeny]

I too used to shoot a 6.5 Swede quite a bit. With Lapua brass and 140 Bergers my Swede with a 24 inch tube isn't that far behind my 24 inch 6.5-284 hunting rifle. The 6.5-284 really needs a long barrel. I also have a .260 Remington and a 6.5 Creedmoor. The Swede will smoke them like a cheap cigar, but I really like a short action as opposed to the long action.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

i currently hunt with a swede.i shoot 140 grn bullets. i dont hot rod them.even at 2500 to 2700 fps, them long bullets with good sd and bc just seem to kill deer and perform as well as other caliber bullets going much faster in the same weight range. they shoot fairly flat also.

as other posters have said the krag rifles i think are the main reason for anemic factory loaded rounds.

ive read that european cartridges loaded for this round are more powerfull as they really are not made to take the krag rifles in allowance.

in modern rifles the 6.5 has a bit of edge over the 260 in powder capacity.but either one is fine as frog hair to me.

to me what makes the 6.5 a outstanding killer is the long bullets per diameter.

it just seems to work.

oh and accuracy doesnt hurt either. 6.5 is known for that.

 

[oneounceload]

Folks who like to load to max often overlook the fact that most cartridges make better groups at the mid-point of loads, where the Swede really shines. If the Swedes can use it for killing "elk", (what6 we call moose) with ease and great success, what else do you need for the lower 48?

 

[Fredo0621]

Exactly, everyone knows the accuracy potential of the swede but it has to be run in a long action to see true potential.

 

[lonniemike]

Slamfire, For the most part, I generally find your postings informative and well thought out. But, you and others may not be aware that the factories of CG, Norma and others starting back in 1963 reusing many of those pre WW1 actions and WW2 Swede actions by turning then into CG63s. Apparently the Swedes don't have a problem with screwing a 308 barrel into the 96 action and going shooting.
Gee, Why can Norma's 6.5X55 ammo be so hot? Check/watch for headspacing issues if there is a concern. MoreFoodforThought BestAll