I'd like to find actual data on the relative popularity of the 6.5x55 SE and the .260 Rem. and also how they rank overall compared to more popular cartridges like the .270 Win and the .30-06.

Where can I find a list of cartridge popularity:
by new U.S. gun sales
by U.S. ammo sales
by reloading die sales (I think RCBS used to do this)

The few I've been able to find only go as far as a top 10 list and these two never make it. So I want to know - are they ranked 11th and 12th place or are they ranked 94th and 95th place?

Brazos Jack

one is a foreign cartridge, the other has been around for a relatively short time.

popularity aside, they are available to anyone - if you are a reloader, you will have no troubles. if you are not a reloader, then this might be a good opportunity to become one!

Jack
As far as avialibility, on the road, goes the 30-06 would be the leader by a wide margin, followed by the 270.

I make it a habit when traveling, to visit a lot of smaller, and larger gun stores and I look at what ammo they have.

In hunting country you can find 30-06, and 270 at many small gas station and small town grocery stores.

yet another reason to have a lee loader...

I've never seen many .260 boxes on the shelf, nor do I see many at the range. With all the old war relics and cheap Huskies, there's a lot of 6.5's kicking around. Just my impression of the 6.5mm caliber rounds.

I think you would find either woefully represented compared to 06 or 270. In a picnh, I'll bet you find 6.5x55 ammo before 260, but I could be wrong. I've never had to replace ammo on a hunt, which is good, because I shoot mostly wildcats or hard to find factory like 280 or 7mmDakota.

i'm thinking just the opposite.....
the .260 might be new, but it is also gaining popularity fast. so many people outside of the "shooting world" hardly know anything about the 6.5x55 that they don't even realise it's a 6.5 caliber round. in the comming years, if not already, all the gun manufacturers will chamber for the .260, so you're bound to see it more often than the sweede round.
it will never see the commonality of stocked ammo that the '06 or .270 sees.

quote:

I'd like to find actual data on the relative popularity of the 6.5x55 SE and the .260 Rem. and also how they rank overall compared to more popular cartridges like the .270 Win and the .30-06.

That data is best attained by sales of reloading dies....RCBS has such data! Email them.

For sure the .30-06 and .270 are in the lead by a long ways.....

The 6.5 X 55 has a lot of users because of the large number of Swedish rifles sold in that chambering in the US....I agree that finding 6.5 X 55 ammo is a lot easier than finding .260 Re,....too bad as the .260 is one great round!

I own several of both calibers...

I also handload...

so availability is not an issue...

for brass, if scarce.. you can make 260 brass out of plentifully available 243, 7/08, 308...

other than that one point.. they are pretty equal...

Somebody posted the RCBS list of mostly sold dies over on 24hourcampfire:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/...89980/page/0/fpart/1

- mike

Thanks MHO,

That's exactly what I was looking for.

Looks like the Swede consistently beats the .260 in popularity, at least among reloaders.

Brazos Jack

I think the dwede is ahead. The local store here has more of 6.5X55.

I´d go with the 6.5x55 as it can be found in Africa, Europe AND the USofA.

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
Thanks MHO,

That's exactly what I was looking for.

Looks like the Swede consistently beats the .260 in popularity, at least among reloaders.

Brazos Jack

I'd LOVE to know where people are finding hunting ammo for the swede.

I HAve a swede and I always look, but other than SARCO or Navy Arms I've never seen anyplace that had a better selection of 6.5x55 ammo than 260rem.

And most of the ammo that is available is the PriviPartizan stuff with steel jackets...

NOT in my rifle...

Even Cabela's has more 260Rem.

as for reloading the swede? OF COURSE!
IF you have a supply of correctly dimensioned Norma brass you are gonna want to reload it.

For a rifle to be used only in the US for a NON-reloader I'd recommend the 260.

atleast the 260rem ammo has the correct case head dimensions when you buy ammo from Fedremchester.

AD

"I'd LOVE to know where people are finding hunting ammo for the swede."

http://www.google.com/products?q=6.5x55+ammunition

I have a great source for 6.5x55 hunting ammo.
It's on my load bench right after I make it.

The difference in the 2 cartridges mentioned is small.

You will need to do some handloading to really see the full potential of either.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
Somebody posted the RCBS list of mostly sold dies over on 24hourcampfire:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/...89980/page/0/fpart/1

- mike

Mike,

Thanks for the link. I copied and save it. Great info there.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
Thanks MHO,

That's exactly what I was looking for.

Looks like the Swede consistently beats the .260 in popularity, at least among reloaders.

Brazos Jack

I'd LOVE to know where people are finding hunting ammo for the swede.

I HAve a swede and I always look, but other than SARCO or Navy Arms I've never seen anyplace that had a better selection of 6.5x55 ammo than 260rem.

And most of the ammo that is available is the PriviPartizan stuff with steel jackets...

NOT in my rifle...

Even Cabela's has more 260Rem.

as for reloading the swede? OF COURSE!
IF you have a supply of correctly dimensioned Norma brass you are gonna want to reload it.

For a rifle to be used only in the US for a NON-reloader I'd recommend the 260.

atleast the 260rem ammo has the correct case head dimensions when you buy ammo from Fedremchester.

AD

The Cabela's up here, as well as the Wholesale Sports, carry far more 6.5x55mm than they do .260 Rem. In fact, I don't think either of them even list a .260 Rem in their online catalogs, but they carry a few 6.5x55mms.

There's been an influx of inexpensive imported Husky rifles in 6.5mm as well as Cabela's (previously S.I.R.) used to sell tons of surplus 6.5 rifles. I've yet to see a .260 at our range locally, but I don't think there's ever been a time where there hasn't been a 6.5x55 of some sort at the range.

Last time I checked, both shops carried Federal, Remington, and Winchester cheapy stuff and Norma for pricey but better performance stuff.

quote:

I'd LOVE to know where people are finding hunting ammo for the swede.

Hornady, Remington, Federal, Winchester, heck even Norma still makes it, if you can afford it. I just wish that Federal still made it with the 140 Partition.

Grafs, Midway, Sportsman's Guide, they all carry it.

I own a Sako Finnlite and Blaser R-93 Professional in 6.5x55, and I love the caliber. Where I live, you are not likely to find factory ammo for either, but that is why I got into reloading.

I've got both. Factory ammo for both is somewhat slim, but the big difference IMO is that all 6.5x55 ammo is loaded down to lower pressure and velocity(for use in 100 year old military guns) than the .260 ammo which is assumed to be for modern action.

But you can handload the 6.5x55 right up to .260 velocities. If you're going to handload, don't forget the 6.5x284 and get the best velocities per case size for a 6.5.

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
I'd LOVE to know where people are finding hunting ammo for the swede.

Oh my!?roger

The Swede is clearly ahead of the .260 in my neighborhood, at least in the on the shelf availability of ammo, unless you consider that the .260 is popular and shooters may be squirreling ammo. I know I can always catch a box of 6.5x55mm at any local gun shop, including Gander and Academy, and I will have to search thru four shops for .260 Rem. Therefore, either stock up on your favorite factory ammo, or become a reloader.

LLS

I've been shooting 6.5x55 for years. Yes I have old Military rifles, But my GoTo hunter is a 1962 Husqvarna 1600. Incredible round. I load from 87gr to 160gr bullets. Ammo is easy to find on line and Igman or Prvi Partizan both make quality ammo for a reasonable price. That little 140gr bullet hits like a 180gr .30-06 without the recoil. Choose whatever cartridge works for you. I have 5 6.5x55 rifles and they are all keepers.

Jack

You are a TEXAN, do not consider a namby-pamby 6.5x55 or a 260.

Get a 308 or a 30-06.

N E 450.. why a .308?? when there is the 7-08

NE450 No2,

Yes, I'm a Texan. And I have 2 30-06's. A pre-'64 M70 and an M1 Garand. But for whitetails, antelope, and mule deer the 6.5x55 looks like the ultimate efficicient no fuss no muss caliber.

I'm seriously thinking about the cornerstone of my retirement battery being a pair of Blaser R-93's with a total of 5 barrels. .22LR for indoor range practice, 6.5x55 for the aforementioned medium game, .30-06 for elk/non-dangerous game/African plains game, .338 WM for North American dangerous game/big bears, and .375 H&H for if I ever get the opportunity to hunt cape buff.

I work in Saudi now and a co-worker has a house in South Africa. So I hope to be able to at least hunt a little plains game even before I retire. Since I can't have a rifle here, that hunt would have to be with whatever borrowed rifle I can come up with there.

Brazos Jack

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
But for whitetails, antelope, and mule deer the 6.5x55 looks like the ultimate efficicient no fuss no muss caliber.Brazos Jack

Truly it is and will do anything a .308 will.

My favorite rifle is a 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer in 6.5x54,(256 Mannlicher for the Anglophiles).
I also have a couple of 6.5x55's and used to shoot the .264 Mag a great deal.

I love the new 6.5 CreedMoor and the 6.5/284 custom I built and hunted with.

Shot competition with '06 and .308.
No complaints.

Really none with the 7/08 either.

But, if I hand to pick one to travel with today ,of the "short"cartridges ,it would be the .308 for the simple reason of ammunition replacement due to the current state of air-travel.

Took my customs in "odd" calibres in the past, and may again in the future.

I shoot a 6.5x55 all the time, I handload but when I go into most sporting good stores I see 6.5x55 ammo.

Like wise 1 of my nephews uses a Sako in a 260 rem. He never has a problem finding ammo. I say they are about alike around south Texas.

Ed