Stupied question, but does this calibre require a long action? What is the expected velocity of this calibre with a 140 gr bullet, in a 24" barrel, loaded to modern day pressures?

thanks

I'd treat it like a .257 Roberts and put it in a long action and then block the magazine for the length you want.

Properly handloaded in a M-70 or equivalent strength action the 140 grain bullets should run about 2,700 or there abouts.

Not a stupid question at all. The 6.5 Swede is one of those "betwixt and between" cartridges, which, at 55 mm length, is longer than the 51 mm of the .308 class, but shorter than the 62 mm of the 30-06 class.

The problem of the part of the question regarding "loaded to modern day pressure" is that most of the reloading data is limited to 45,000 out of deference to the older, weaker actions available. So, with only one exception that I know about, with anything above 45,000, you're on your own, with guessswork the only thing to tell you when enough pressure (and velocity) is enough.

That exception is the Ramshot Powders Load Guide. In there, for Ramshot powders, you can find modern pressures reported.

OTOH, the cartridge shows excellent accuracy and game-killing capability, even at the reducced pressures offered by other sources.

Jaywalker

6.5 is a long action calibre. The case may not be so long but the bullets are just HUGE so it needs that big action. COL is 3"+ so its not far off 30-06 size in the end.

Thanks guys,

So any real advantage to go to the 6.5x55 versus the 260?

It's a tossup, depending upon what you're looking for. The .260 is new enough that you can get good up-to-date loading data, and it fits in a short action, if that's important to you.

It's a Remington, and if something doesn't sell, they tend to abandon them. If that happens, you can still form the 260 brass out of other .308-class cartridges, so you're not likely to be completely stuck.

The 6.5x55 is very popular in Europe (and getting to be so here), so it's unlikely that cartridge will ever be abandoned - so factory loadings will be avaialble for a long time.

Jaywalker

A 6.5/140gnpp woodleigh is 1.241" long, 6.5 Swede case 2.165 long.Neck .313"
Seating the pill at the base of the neck, gives an overall length of 3.093". A winchester SaM70 has a 3.08" magbox. Winchesters current featherweight 6.5 is in the SaM70.

quote:

Originally posted by Maxx:
Thanks guys,

So any real advantage to go to the 6.5x55 versus the 260?

I have both. When loaded to it's potential in a modern firearm, the 6.5x55 can develop more velocity than a .260 due to larger case capacity. However, as already noted, most loading manuals keep the pressures on the mild side due to weaker actions. As it stands now, the .260 gets the velocity edge per the books.

One uses a long action, one uses a short action. The 6.5x55 has a better selection of brass (Lapua, Norma, Prvi Partisan, Win, Fed, Reminton) vice the .260 (Rem & Fed). In all practicality, both should be roughly equivalent in terms of harvesting game. Toss a coin....

With a 140gr. bullet I get 2800fps in my 6.5x55s. This is true with my Remington Classic as well as my older M96 Swedish mausers (although I don't feel quite as comfortable with the old Swedish rifles). They both also shoot quite accurately. I find this an excellent caliber. They also shoot the lighter bullets very well. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I agree with Chris. The Mauser brothers had it right by seating the bullets out where they didn't steal powder space. It's a classic design that has stood the test of time.
I would look elsewhere if you want a short action. Just my .02

Actually Woodjack, unless it's something new, Winchester's Featherweight 6.5X55 is a long action. Mine is anyway.

My M70 Featherweight is long action also.

Long actions allow the bullet to be seated out further.....

owning both, I can tell you, if you 6.5 x 55 action is strong... 260 load data can be used for the Swede.....velocity results will not be much different in either cartridge....

on a long action tho.. take advantage of the extra length of the magazine to seat your bullets out to magazine length... but accuracy and velocity ( with reduced pressure) will pay dividends...

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
I agree with Chris. The Mauser brothers had it right by seating the bullets out where they didn't steal powder space. It's a classic design that has stood the test of time.
I would look elsewhere if you want a short action. Just my .02

Amen,Brother roger

quote:

Originally posted by Cal Sibley:
With a 140gr. bullet I get 2800fps in my 6.5x55s. This is true with my Remington Classic as well as my older M96 Swedish mausers (although I don't feel quite as comfortable with the old Swedish rifles). They both also shoot quite accurately. I find this an excellent caliber. They also shoot the lighter bullets very well. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

This might be possible. I'd think it's a little warm however.
Regardless it's a spectacular round.

It is possible. H-4350 44grains(1gr under max per the old Hodgdon's manual) pushing a 140 SGK gives about 2780fps in the old M-96. One grain over max, 46gr of H-4350 about 2880fps. The similar weight bullet in mil surp ammo goes a little over 2600fps maybe 2625fps.
Warm? Most Probably!!
My velocity based SWAG's mil ammo ~44K CUP, 44gr H-4350 ~49K CUP, 46gr H-4350 ~53K CUP
Best-o-Luck

Use 260 Remington or 6.5X57 load data as starting points for load development for your swede if your manual does not list loads for modern rifles.

Gentlemen

Norma and Lapua offer some decent data. It is a quite versatile caliber from 85 grain hollow points around 3200 fps to 160 grains around 2400fps

Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N160 or N560 works very well

Cheers
/JOHAN

JOHAN,

Do Lapua and Norma offer the higher pressure loading data in English units, i.e., "grains" and "feet per second," and "pounds" pressure?

Jaywalker

Oh Boy. Yes, Norma does list some higher pressure loads in their older reloading pamphlets, so be careful. SOme old Norma ammo is hot hot hot!
LLS

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:
JOHAN,

Do Lapua and Norma offer the higher pressure loading data in English units, i.e., "grains" and "feet per second," and "pounds" pressure?

Jaywalker

Norma has online loading data at http://www.norma.cc/sida/eng/index.html

They only list Norma powders though.

However, you may find this useful:



Note that this letter is dated 1988. Also, note that Norma 203 has now been replaced by Norma 203-B. Still, I think this info is useful for working up loads using the RL-15, RL-19 and RL-22 powders in place of the corresponding Norma powders. Notice the last sentence of the last paragraph: "Using the old rule of thumb of reducing the powder charge by 10% and then carefully working back up when changing component lots should be adequate when substituting Reloder powders for either the Norma or Rottweil equivalents." I would not do a direct grain-for-grain substitution of Norma's data with the Reloder powders without carefully working up loads, but it does provide some useful guidelines for working up loads.

This is the letter that is referred to in the Norma Manual - any good ? thread but the graphic is no longer showing in that thread. The file was originally posted by Richard Saloom and I saved it.

Originally posted by Richard Saloom with the letter:
This is a copy of the letter sent out by OWS with my copy of Wiederladen. The scribbling on the bottom is mine.

-Bob F.

Gents,

All postings on the amazing 6.5x55 are to be welcomed (clue of my opinion on this round may be gained by comparing the date of it's design and my user name ) BUT it seems to me there are some rather sweeping generalisations re substituting data being made here.

There are numerous sources of 6.5x55 data. Some have pressures and some have statements such as 'for strong modern actions in good condition only'

The only way to go about this is with great care. I have a 6.5x55 and have looked at data from books by Nosler, Hornady, Speer, Vihtavuori and Hodgdon plus web based data from IMR, Alliant, Norma and programme data from quickLOAD.

After 8 years of loading for it I can tell you that Speer and Nosler max book loads are modern maximums which should be worked up to with the normal care.

BFaucett,

Thanks - I was unaware of this site.

Interesting that they chose to use a magnum primer. I wouldn't have thought it either necessary or desireable. It would seem that choice would create a pressure spike without increasing velocity. Maybe chosen for cold weather?

Jaywalker

Jaywalker,

Yeah, I also noticed Norma's use of magnum primers in most of their data regardless of the cartridge. Kind of strange.... I've read a couple reviews of Norma's reloading manual, in magazines, where they questioned Norma's use of magnum primers in many of the cartridges. Oh well... Your idea of cold weather makes as much sense as anything.

-Bob F.

BFaucett

I use federal 215 as standard primer for most calibers from 6,5X55 and up, never experienced any problem with it.

Some think that one shall reduce loads by 2 grains in standard calibers to compensate for the magnum primer

Cheers
/JOHAN