What's up with brass dimensions and the 6.5x55. I have read that the US brass is not the same as the European brass and the rifles could be diff also. I just Purchased a Win Model 70 Featherlight in 6.5x55 Swede. I ordered a bunch of Lapua brass for this rifle. Is this brass going to be OK?? I am also planning on getting a CZ 550FS in 6.5x55. Will the Lapua brass work in this rifle also. Or will any 6.5x55 brass be fine?

Yeah, the brass will be fine. Some of the U.S. manufacturers use the 30-06 base cases 0.473" and the european manufacturers use the true size which is 0.480". I don't think your chamber nor your extractor will be able to tell the difference. At least none of mine could. BTW that Lapua brass is some of the best there is.

Geronimo

Ok, the short version: US Manufacturers use the standard 30-06 case head size, while a true Swede case is slightly larger. I'm not certain off the top of my head if the Winchester uses the standard boltface, or if they relieved it a tad. It's not much, so if you found a prob, I'll bet a gunsmith could fix you up in a jiffy. I'd be willing to bet that the CZ will use the correct size boltface for true Swede Brass.
My Lapua cases measure 0.478 in diameter, I have no Rem cases left to measure the difference handy, but some R-P '06 cases measure 0.468

Hope this helps,
Eric

If you have a Control Feed, it doesn't matter....

If you have a push feed... I have had trouble with Winchester Brass.. as its base dimensions are evidently a hair different.. enough to cause a problem...

Althought I usually prefer Winchester brass.. in this cartridge, I use Remington brass as it seems to have a head closer to 06 dimensions... 0.473 bolt face...

cheers
seafire

Lapua brass is dimensioned correctly and is top drawer! I have a CZ550 FS in 6.5x55 and it is now my favorite "woods" carbine. Get one and feed with Lapua brass and Re-22!

Is Norma 6.5x55 brass anything special?

quote:

Originally posted by belaw:
Is Norma 6.5x55 brass anything special?

Only the way it's priced.....

One difference you may encounter with your Lapua (as opposed to Win or Remmy) brass, is that you may have to use a different shell holder for your press.
- mike

My M70 Classic Featherweight loads (from the magazine) and shoots both fine. It just shoots Lapua better. FWIW, Lapua brass shows better-centered primer strikes than Winchester.

Jaywalker

I neck size for my old 6.5x55 cases so they quickly end up all the same size. Dimensionally there are differences expecially at the case head. You can solve many of your case problems by using a Forster shell holder, MU-4 which fits the European case head perfectly. The US shell holders don't quite fit. Probably the best brass for this caliber is that made by Lapua. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I find that Norma brass is comparable to Lapua, no big difference.

This may be a bit off topic, but about a year ago I received a 96 Swede as a gift, well,long story short this thing is outstandingly accurate. With 120gr Sierra spitzers it shoots less than dime size groups. Looking at the bore, I never would have expected such small groups. The bore looks more like the inside of the tail pipe on your car more than a rifle barrel. It is rough and metal fouls badly, yet it still shoots nice small groups. Norma MRP(orRL22) is the powder
of choice, Lapua cases, CCI 200. YMMV.
Stepchild