A caliber Ive never used or owned, but have one offered and curious.

The only con I can think of is availability of factory ammo. Solve that by reloading.

The case head actually specs .480" rather than the .470" of the .30-06, 8x57, .243, etc.

European manufacturers use that spec for their brass, which means it may be a tight or no fit in your regular press shellholder.

American manufacturers use the regular .470" spec, so the case head is a sloppy fit on most chambers.

As a result, it may be a bit of a challenge to get ammunition/brass which fits the chamber properly. Otherwise, think of its ballistics in terms of the .260 Remington or Johnny-come-lately 6.5 Creedmore -- although its slightly longer, more tapered case usually requires a longer action than either of the other two.

There are a lot of pros and very few cons.

Pros

It is generally a very accurate cartridge.

It handles a wide variety of bullets and bullet weights well and handles the heavy 156 gr which the 6.5 CM generally doesn’t do well with.

Mike recoil and report compared to other cartridges using a bigger case and more powder.

Low recoil and a great starter rifle.

It also seems to punch way above its weight class.

I have worked up a few kids but the Hornaday 140 SST shoots as well as anything I worked up so I just bought a 3x lifetime supply.

Reloding. With the new 6.5 cartridges springing up everywhere there more 6.5 bullets than ever before.



Cons.

Brass is not everywhere.

As the poster above related sometimes chamber dimensions are vary. I got
Lucky and mine doesn’t have thy issue.

The biggest con is that it is not a .270 Winchester

I own and shoot them. Very light recoiling cartridge in my opinion - probably load dependent but nonetheless.

Assuming this is a modern action as the capabilities of the loads that are throttled for the old actions does differ somewhat...

Generally accurate. Quality brass readily available. Reloading dies are easy to come by from pretty much all manufacturers. 6.5 bullets are now manufactured by many suppliers, even if in short supply like anything else at times!

The 6.5x55 shoots from 100gr (I think there are 85's too) to 160gr. The 100gr generally gives up little in BC to the 6mm 100gr hunting bullets and it can do what any 243 Win can do for hunting (not ultra lightweight varminting). The 6.5x55 seems able to utilise quite a wide burning rate range of powders effectivley, from 4064/Varget, to 4350's type area and for heavies 4831/RE22/N560 etc.

The biggest negative I suspect is that the 6.5's are frequently used on game larger than is really appropriate for the bore diameter. Hunters are sucked in by BC and have false confidence in the cartridges due to how well they are able to shoot them. It is true that frontal area varies vastly between bullet designs and you can gain a lot with a good choice, but the 6.5 lacks frontal area. I once looked over a very dead zebra and struggled to find the entrance wound of a 6.5x55 (which was on a black stripe right on the "triangle" on the shoulder). That said I had seen the 156gr Norma Oryx put it down instantly; with a heart shot no less. No headlong run, simply spun around and fell dead.

I know that elephant have been hunted with the 6.5 and that it is viewed as a moose cartridge by some. The upper limit that I would place on it is around the Hartebeest, Nylala bull, Black Wildebeest type of bodyweight. Would I use a 6.5x55 to hunt Blue Wildebeest, Kudu etc? Yes, but it wouldn't be the first rifle in the safe that I would reach for to do so.

A fantastic cartridge when used appropriately.

Well may be that I don't need one, just never had one and do have a 7x57, 308, 270, 30-06 and others, what I may need more is another rope horse.

I’ve had a 6.5x55 for years. It’s my hands down favorite deer rifle. Same bullet same velocity as the Creedmore. Brass isn’t hard to find. Norma for one makes it. I avoid American brass since it isn’t the right size exactly.

I use most 140 grain and a few times 156 grain bullets. I’m not a light bullet guy so I don’t have much experience with the lower weight bullets.

Just like any cartridge don’t try to make it what it isn’t. On animals in the medium range, deer or caribou size it’s great. If it was the only rifle I had I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on elk. My wife shot one with the 6.5 years back. It didn’t go anywhere. Good bullet in the right place at a reasonable range makes that happen. It’s seem it’s only the guys who need a cannon to hunt anything bigger then a ground squirrel.

I would use a 6.5x55 on anything I would use a 7x57 on. You would never tell the difference and I’ve owned both.

I dipped my toe in this pool nearly 40 years ago, when the Swede was as exotic as Mata Hari. Great cartridge and the Mausers were wonderfully accurate with good barrels. Darned cheap, too.

In a modern rifle, probably the best 6.5 caliber right now.

Forget all the new ones with exotic claims.

I used to use the old 156gr Norma round nose loads for Whitetail. It speaks with authority.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
In a modern rifle, probably the best 6.5 caliber right now.

Forget all the new ones with exotic claims.

Wise words!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
In a modern rifle, probably the best 6.5 caliber right now.

Forget all the new ones with exotic claims.

Spot on Saeed.

My friend Sam chose a 6.5x55 as his sole hunting rifle from the 1930's until his passing in 2003.

He tried to teach young me about the advantages, of which there were many. Low pressure, moderate velocity, high SD & BC, adequate penetration for any animal in earth, low recoil, low noise, etc. He killed everything from prairie dogs to cape buffalo with it, as well as completing in 600M matches with it.

It's an unsung hero in my opinion. In my older years I better understand what his points were as to advantage of learning one rifle and cartridge inside and out.

The thing to remember, Swedish Mausers were made out of plain carbon steels for a round that had a maximum specified pressure of 3000 atmospheres. About 43,300 pounds per square inch. The steels used are much weaker than modern alloy steels, and carbon steels have a history of breaking without warning. Carbon steels take less energy to break a low temperatures, and their fatigue life is less. They were however, cheap, and a known quantity in the 1890's. The Swedes being conservative and loathe to change, never used more advanced steels, even through WW2. Early receivers are to be considered of lower metallurgical quality than later, just due to the in process control technologies. Higher pressure loads have set receiver seats back and caused receiver rings to fragment. I am going to claim 308 Win conversions on Swedish Mausers are dangerous, and a bomb waiting to go kaboom. The round primarily got excellent velocity because the infantry rifle had a 29 inch barrel.


However, given modern metallurgy and modern actions, the 6.5 Swede can be safely pushed to 50 K CUP pressures. Though, you have to run the numbers to see if the increased velocity really means something at distance, and whether it makes a difference on bullet expansion at distance. Cup and core bullets have a reputation for not expanding under 1800 fps. I am going to state, 300 yards is a long distance, especially for the once a year shooter. In my opinion, maximum game distances are limited by the distance the shooter can keep all shots in a paper plate. Which is a lot closer than the cartridge inherent accuracy.


In a 1950's American Rifleman magazine, a 140 grain bullet with 43.0 grains IMR 4350 was declared to be a service rifle equivalent load. That load has been my "standard" till I found IMR 4831/H4831. My velocity standard has been taken from actual service rifle rounds. This is not exact as old gunpowder actually increases in pressure as it ages, but if mine is still"good", then the velocities are valid.

M1896 Infantry Rifle 29' barrel Carl Gustafs mfgr 1903
17-Aug-06 T = 85 °F

143 gr FMJ 1986 Swedish Ball

Ave Vel = 2610
Std Dev = 14.38
ES = 45.59
High = 2633
Low = 2587
Number rounds= 8



M38 Infantry Carbine 24" barrel
28-Oct-94 T ≠ 60 °F

143 gr 1986 Swedish Ball OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average

Ave Vel = 2427
STD=22
ES = 62
Low = 2395
High = 2457
Number rounds= 10

M700 22" Barrel

143 gr Swedish Ball 1986 headstamp

2 Feb 2008 T = 54 °F

Ave Vel =2470
Std Dev =18
ES =48
High =2491
Low =2443
N =5


140 gr Hornady Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350 R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"
2 Feb 2008 T = 52 °F

Ave Vel = 2512
Std Dev = 27
ES = 72
High = 2547
Low = 2475
N = 5


140 gr Hornady Spire Point (0.264") 43.0 grs AA4350 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 2.990" loaded 2-5-2000
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel =2531
Std Dev =14
ES =33
High =2540
Low =2507
N=5


140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 2-22-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2548
Std Dev =11
ES =28

High =2566
Low =2538
N =5


140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs H4831 wtd lot 01-06-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2419
Std Dev = 31
ES = 88
High = 2477
Low = 2389
N = 8








Same ammunition, different barrel, velocities will be different.

Winchester M70 Featherweight 22" Barrel

143.5 gr FMJBT Swedish 1986 ball. OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average

13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2460
Std Dev = 21
ES = 30
High = 2474
Low = 2444
N = 5
Very good group

140 gr Hornady Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350 R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"
18 Nov 2007 T = 75 °F

Ave Vel = 2428
Std Dev = 29
ES = 95
High = 2480
Low = 2385
N = 24
easy bolt life, nice rounded primers

140 gr Hornady Spire Point (0.264") 43.0 grs AA4350 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 2.990"
loaded 2-2000
13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2387
Std Dev = 23
ES = 67
High = 2424
Low = 2357
N = 15

Best group of all reloads

140 gr Hornady Spire Point Flat Base (0.264") 43.0 grs AA4350 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 2.990" loaded 2-5-2000

2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F


Ave Vel = 2413
Std Dev = 17
ES = 50
High = 2441
Low = 2391
N = 6

140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 2-22-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2419
Std Dev = 19
ES = 43
High = 2439
Low = 2396
N = 5

140 gr Sierra Matchking greased 45.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 2-22-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2438
Std Dev = 12
ES = 30
High = 2448
Low = 2418
N = 5

140 gr Hornady SP (0.264") greased 47.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 282 NNY cases Fed 210S OAL 3.050"
13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2633
Std Dev = 24
ES = 81
High = 2680
Low = 2599
N = 10

140 gr Hornady SP (0.264") greased 48.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 282 NNY cases Fed 210S OAL 3.050"
13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2688
Std Dev = 16
ES = 44
High = 2705
Low = 2661
N = 10

Overmax load, primer cupping around firing pin, shiny rub marks on case heads

140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs H4831 wtd lot 01-06-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"
2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2289
Std Dev = 9
ES = 16
High = 2296
Low = 2280
N = 5

A dip and a twist in grease reduces jacket fouling, and on first firing, the case comes out perfectly fireformed and stress free.














This cartridge is at its best with slow burning powders, therefore I did not test faster burning. As a general rule, stay within reloading manual recommendations. For military actions stay within Swedish velocities, under the assumption, the pressures will be safe. I don't see any reason to go heavier than a 140 grain bullet in this cartridge.

The Swedish round is an excellent one, it has a lot of taper and therefore is less fussy with feed tolerances than the blown out, straight Ackley improved types, and since it relaxes off a taper, instead of a straight line, it should not drag during extraction in semi automatic mechanisms. I personally think it was a better small arms service round than the 30-06 due to its ballistics and lower recoil. For that matter, if the Army wanted a 30 cal, it should have adopted the 7.5 Swiss, a shorter round, with lots of taper and a thick rim. I also consider the 7.65 Argentine a better military cartridge choice than the 30-06. Earl Naramore mentioned in a 1950’s American Rifleman article the military 30-06 always had an air space! Because of the 6.5 Swede’s increased case capacity over the 6.5 Creedmore, it will push a bullet faster, at the same pressures. I knew one Highpower shooter who had a single shot M700 chambered in 6.5 Swede that he used in long range competition. The 308 Win sized action was only usable as a single shot. The primary reasons the cartridge did not take over the firing line in the US were 1) the round was too long for a 308 Win magazine, and 2) good target 6.5 caliber bullets did not start appearing till the mid 1990's. During the post WW2 period to 1968, when the Army wrote the NRA Highpower rules, there might have been 30 cal only requirements. However, I say from mid 1990's onward, when good 6.5 grain target bullets were easy to find, cartridges such as the 6.5-08 and 6.5 wildcats started appearing on the firing line, and they were shooting knots, requiring very little windage and elevation adjustments. The things were flat. At 600 yards, my 308 rounds crested at the top of the target before hitting center. The 6.5 rounds were cresting somewhere in the black. And at 1000 yards, 6.5 caliber bullets were incredibly flat compared to the 308 bullets I was using. My 308 bullets, you could pick up the trace multiple target diameters as they dropped in. The 6.5's a little above the target

Slam fire--why didn't you take the time to respond?

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Slam fire--why didn't you take the time to respond?