I have been talking with a gent about his cartridge and we both are interested in finding as much as possible about our favorite cartridge.
If anyone can help please do!

I have both a Blaser R-93 and Sako 75 Finnlite chambered in 6.5x55, and both shoot very well for accuracy. Every head of game that I have shot with the cartridge has literally bounced of the ground. DRT.

James
you can do a search in reloading and in small bore rifles the 6.5x55 has been talked about a bunch for good reason it is a great little round with a long history. I have a few myself and really like them.
Very pleasant to shoot and the ballistic twin of the .260 Rem, there is a great choice of bullets as well.
Get one you won't be sorry.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
James
you can do a search in reloading and in small bore rifles the 6.5x55 has been talked about a bunch for good reason it is a great little round with a long history. I have a few myself and really like them.
Very pleasant to shoot and the ballistic twin of the .260 Rem, there is a great choice of bullets as well.
Get one you won't be sorry.

I have a 1941 mod 96 Swedish Mauser made in Huskavana. The barrel was worn and pitted, they guy who owned it before me butchered the stalk. So now I have it at a gunsmith here in Maine getting it completely worked over. I love the chamber so that's what it will stay in the new barrel!

Now as for bullets I don't know why I just have not seen more then 3 to 5 different heavy type bullets.

James
Are you looking for target bullets or hunting bullets? How heavy is heavy for you?
I think Sierra offers up to 142 grain match bullets. Lapua has a 139 grain match offering. Hoenady lists up to a 160 grain round nose. Berger has a 140 grain match bullet as well. You may want ot check out more European bullet makers. I think some euro hunters use the 6.5x55 for every thing up to and including moose.

muck

I do know they use them on moose. No such thing as too heavy. But then again I m waiting on the rifle to come back from the smith. So then I can tell you what is too heavy. He dose know I like the heavy bullets. This rifle will be my everything rifle. From plinking target and hunting. I hunt mostly coyotes and will do dear once a year maybe. I have 50 160GR RN loaded up I think with Varget powder. I d have to take another look. I had ok results with it in the past. But sense I m having so much done to it I will wait until I get it back to make huge choices. Do you know where I can start looking at bullets for the 6.5? One worry I have is trying to get bullets though customs. Has anyone tried that yet? I m looking for as much info into reloading shooting and the swedish mauser as I can get!
Best Of Luck!

While in Scandinavia some use the 6.5x55 for moose understand that Sweden requires the 160 gr and only the best loads with that bullet.So it's minimum cartridge for moose.
On the other hand I have to agree with Finn Aagaard who said it's the perfect deer cartridge.I've used it for 25 years for deer and it never disappointed me .That with a 140 @ 2750.The new reduced factory loads are not worth using.

quote:

I have to agree with Finn Aagaard who said it's the perfect deer cartridge.

I shoot 120 Northforks over 3,000 FPS in my custom VZ-24 and can attest to the above statement. The 6.5 X 55 is truly a fine deer round.

I have 7 Swede's. 5 in 6.5, 1 in 9.3x57, 1 in 8x57.
6.5x55 is a true sleeper. My M1600 Husqvarna hunter likes 129gr handloads. Both my M38's will eat anything, M96 likes 140's. My last one only shoots Military ball ammo. I have used 140's, it shoots great , but I use it for a specific purpose. An M41b. A good 129/130 gr. bullet will take any Deer size game. I use both IMR4064 and 4831 to reload.

Has anyone tried Varget?

James
In one of my 6.5's I tried Varget with mediocre results. Mine favors IMR-4064 with 140 grain bullets and H380 with 120 grain bullets. My rifle shoots the 140 grain Rem Core Locked bullets and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and the 120 grain Barnes triple shock to the same point of impact at 100 yards, lucky me!
I just finished loading some of each for an upcoming Hog hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
James
In one of my 6.5's I tried Varget with mediocre results. Mine favors IMR-4064 with 140 grain bullets and H380 with 120 grain bullets. My rifle shoots the 140 grain Rem Core Locked bullets and 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and the 120 grain Barnes triple shock to the same point of impact at 100 yards, lucky me!
I just finished loading some of each for an upcoming Hog hunt.

GOOD LUCK!