I've heard from many on various threads about what a 6.5x55 can "safely" be loaded to, and I cannot help but dismiss their statements as 45000 psi crap. Loaded to modern pressures, this cartridge should be able to at least equal 260 Rem loads, and it seems logical that it could outperform the 260 slightly. Check out some specs.

260 Rem - 120 grn @ 2890
260 Rem - 140 grn @ 2750

Can anyone please fill me in on realistic loads for the 6.5x55 loaded to modern pressures from a 22" barrel? I'd like to have some ideas of performance before I go on the Win 70 FW waiting list.

49 gr of RL22 with a Nosler 140 gr partition gets me 2609 fps from a 20" barrel. COL is 3.34". you should get a little more from a 22" barrel. This is from a 96 Swede. I also have one in 6.5-06, and it seems to do just fine, so I think they're actually reasonably strong actions. - Dan

49gr. RL 22 under a 140 Seirra at 2730 fps. 49gr. of RL 19 under a 120 bt at 3000 fps. This was from a 22 inch barrelled Ruger.

Re-22 is definitely going to get you the top velocities in this cartridge -- and it will likely give the best accuracy as well. I had a factory 24" Encore barrel that would produce 2740 fps with the 140 grain Hornady SP and 46 grains Re-22. I now have a 26" Encore barrel by Van Horn that does an even 2800 fps with 47 grains of Re-22 in Lapau brass and seated out to 3.075, the OAL I use on most of my 140 grain loads.

In a Model 96 with 29.1 inch barrel, 46 grains of Re-22 gived 2685 with a 140 grain Hornady SP and is quite mild.

There is no reason you can't match .260 performance with the 6.5x55.

You can realistically expect 2950 fps with 120 grain bullets and a barrel of 22". Reaching 2750 fps with a 140 grain bullet should be no problem as well. The loads I listed above are mild and give wonderful case life.

The long standing Norma loads were 139,2788 at 47,100 that's with norma204 . That was then boosted to 2850 with a different powder. The American loads were then whimped out since its an old cartridge .With a new gun there ought to be a powder that can match the 2850 safely.

A tad off-topic, but here is a load for my 260 Remington.

260 Rem Load:

46 grs. H4831, 140 gr. Nosler, 2640 fps avg.

This is from my Rem M700 Mtn Rifle, 22" barrel.

I know R-West has gotten some 2750 fps loads/140 gr. in his 260's, and 3000 fps/120 gr. loads too. 22" barrels on his M700's.

Two different 6,5x55 I worked with, and hunted with, gave slightly more than 2700 fps with Nosler 140 gr PT/49gr Norma MRP (RL22), and 2600 with Norma 156 gr Oryx/50 gr MRP2 (RL25?). These are max loads. These loads have been very accurate in my rifles and kill fast with little meat destruction (yes, even the PT).

You should see 2950-3000 fps with 120 gr bullets, 2700-2750 with 140 gr and 2550-2600 with 156 gr. Old rifles like the swedish mausers usually have slightly large bores wich means you don�t get that kind of velocity even with a very long barrel, so do not load above published (scandinavian) data! MRP, MRP2 and also Vihtavouri N165 are good choices with 120-156 gr bullets for velocity and accuracy.

The published numbers for Norma factory ammo that Mete refer to are old data, and as far as I know nobody ever got that kind of velocity over a reputable crono in hunting rifles. I got 2650 fps from Norma factory (hot!)loaded 140gr Nosler PT ammo, when my first barrel was fresh and fast.

Tron

48gr VVN560 140gr speer hot core = 2,700fps.

Tron , here's the chrono velocities with my custom M98 ,24" barrel. 139 gr factory -2695 ,139, 46 gr 4350, 2733. the rifle is throated for the 160gr. No signs of pressure of any kind.

I have not destrutively tested a Swede myself, but Walsh's book on Mausers:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=16482
Says that Swedes have small rings and one can't find pre threaded barrels in .308, but they are good for it.
The .308 is 62 kpsi.
The difference in case chamber cross secional area is 5.5%, which would reduce the same bolt thrust to 58.6 kpsi in the 6.5mm in the Swedish Mauser, and that should get 2800 fps, 140 gr, 22" barrel, while at 62 kpsi I woud expect 2850 in the Win 70.

Mete, that sounds reasonable if you have a custom barrel. Don�t know what factory ammo you have chronografed, I got about that with Norma 139 gr Vulkan, when my barrel was new...Most scandinavian rifles/barrels don�t give that much.
Tron