I do not handload, so should I get this thought out of my head?

Unless you are prepared to either have to order ammo,
I believe Remington still lists ammo and I know Winchester does, but almost nobody stocks it in the real worlds


OR pay weatherby-like prices for Norma hunting ammo...
You really should reload or handload to shoot a 6.5x55.
The 6.5x55 while somewhat popular is still a touch exotic.
this is probably the reason for it's popularity.

As far as factory ammo goes there's not a huge difference between a 6.5x55 and a 260Rem which many would recommend, but I'm not going to recommend the 260Rem.

The last issue with the 6.5x55 is virtually all rifles I've seen
are throated to allow the use of the longer heavier bullets
the 260Rem OTOH is throated short enough to allow easier accuracy with lighter, and thus faster bullets, like the 100Grain partition that was specificially produced for use in the 260Rem.

My thought is that the difference between the 260rem and the 7mm-08 rem is small to the point of insignificance, but the much wider availability of different bullets for handloading and for your use wider selection of factory loadings tips the scales in favor of a 7mm-08.

I already have a 6.5x55 and if it was lost or stolenand I had to replace it I'd replace it with a 7mm-08, not a 260rem.

Is that what you wanted to know?

AllanD

Yes, Allan. I was just reading an article on the Swede yesterday and found it very interesting, so I started to research because this caliber is available in a barrel for my rifle (Blaser R93). I keep going back and forth with replacing my .243 barrel with something with a little more punch to it without the recoil on my end. The 7mm-08 is available as an option too and I have thought about it, but I'm unsure of its recoil compared to a .243 or .270.

I've had good luck with the accuracy of Federal cartridges ordered from Midway. I like the 6.5x55, even in its lowered-powered U.S. loadings. It's accurate, low of recoil, and effective on deer. Also, as it's a world standard cartridge, unlike the excellent .260 Rem, so you will likely always be able to find cartridges or components for it.

Jaywalker

Dthfrmbv, I'd check on availablility in your area before I'd rule 6.5x55 out. I was try to choose between 6.5x55 and 7mm08 a few years ago for a Mt. rifle and within 50 miles of here I found more availability and factory load options in 6.5x55 than 7mm08. ...and plenty in both. I wanted a stainless gun so ended up with a 7mm08...I could find a distributor with a stainless 6.5x55.

Allan, In a gun of the same wt. and stock design I think you'd find 7mm08 more than .243 but no problem. It's .270 comparable.

Mail order ammo is no problem, get the Swede

I vote for the Swede as well. Mail order is no problem. I don't know how much or how often you like to shoot. If your just going to hunt once or twice a year, order some Norma stuff. It will handle antelope to moose. If you want shoot recreationally, by some domestic stuff. That's not to say you can't hunt with that too.

The 6.5X55 is far more versitile than the short necked, short throated .308 clones. You will not realize the full extent ,however, unless you start to use reloads. Availability of good accurate ammo is no problem, though, especially if you can get to some fair size gun shows or order by mail. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
The 6.5X55 is far more versitile than the short necked, short throated .308 clones. You will not realize the full extent ,however, unless you start to use reloads. Availability of good accurate ammo is no problem, though, especially if you can get to some fair size gun shows or order by mail. roger

Frankly I find this contradictory.
"Long throat" is more versitile?
In what alternate universe?

Long throat rifles are generally less accurate with lighter bullets that cannot be seated out to proper proximity with the rifling.

And Long throat rifles are FAR more likely to suffer from the same issue when you discover that the rounds that DO touch the rfling don't fit in the magazine.

Lastly the idea that the longer/heavier bullets
"intrude on propellant space" (anticipating your next counterpoint) is only an issue if yo choose propellants that actually occupy the available volume

The idea that there as many 6.5x55 loads available is rediculous.
I must assume that you are counting the siz or seven different boxes for the eastern european ball loadings.

Show me the Remington, winchester and federal loadings, in the US THOSE are the "real world".


I find the arguement of "world standard" to be the most rediculous, it's like saying I should by a Fiat because IF I move to Italy it'll be easier to get parts for....
It's not his ONLY barrel, it's probably not his only rifle.

What is available for the 6.5x55 Vs the 7mm-08 overseas is utterly irrelevant if the rifle is going to be used for Deer in the US....

the real point is in the numbers,
the 6.5Swede will propel a 140gr Partition to ~2800fps, the 7mm-08 a 140gr partition to ~2900fps
The Swede will shoot a 125gr partition to 2950fps, there is no light partition for the swede, but then again there is no 150gr, 160gr or 175gr partition available for the 6.5swede
as there are for the 7mm-08.

And While there is a 100gr partition available
for the 6.5mm bore size the original poster said he doesn't reload, so for all effects and purposes there is Remington, Federal, Winchester, Hornady, and of course Norma.

and the loadings you'll find are almost all 140gr loads, though save one 150gr loading for the 7mm-08 all factory loadings for that cartridge are also 140gr bullets, though there is a much wider selection...

Gunshow ammo? I'd feel just so warm and fuzzy recommending to someone that he load one of the various Hungarian, Russian or former Yugoslavian state produced soft nosed hunting ammo on a trophy animal...
And I'm not even sure that all of that former eastblock swede ammo is even coperjacketed, I've actually seen copperwashed steeljacketed soft points at the gunshows, I won't shoot that (Corrosive primed?) stuff in my $175 surplus swede, I doubt anyone would be comfortable chambering them in, let alone shooting them through, a $2500 ($3000?) Blazer rifle...

Go ahead tell me I'm wrong here, I need something new to laugh about

For the 7mm-08 ALL of the american companies offer several loadings

Remington:
7mm-08 Remington PRA7M08RB 140 AccuTip Boattail
7mm-08 Remington R7M081 140 Core-Lokt, PSP
7mm-08 Remington R7M082 120 HP

Winchester for the 7mm-08:
S708 7mm-08Rem 140gr Supreme FailSafe
SBST708 7mm-08Rem 140gr Supreme Ballistic Silvertip®
X708 7mm-08Rem 140gr Super-X® Power-Point®

Federal lists FIVE for the 7mm-08:
P708A 7mm-08Rem 140gr Nosler Partition
P708A2 7mm-08Rem 140gr Nosler AccuBond
P708B 7mm-08Rem 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tip
P708S1 7mm-08Rem 140gr Nosler Solid Base BT
708CS 7mm-08Rem 150gr Speer Hot-Cor SP

Hornady's listings for the 7mm-08:
85574 7MM-08REM 139GR SST LIGHT MAG
8557 7MM-08REM 139GR Spire Point LIGHT MAG

Federal lists ONE for the 6.5x55:
6555B 6.5x55Swedish 140gr Soft Point

Remington lists ONE 6.5x55 load:
6.5X55 Swedish Mauser R65SWE1 140 CoreLokt PSP

Winchester lists ONE 6.5x55 load:
X6555 6.5x55 Swedish 140gr Super-X® Soft-point

Hornady lists ONE 6.5x55 load:
8147 6.5x55 140GR Spire Point
This load listing data is current as of today because I cut and pasted it directly off of the websites of the four manufacturers in the last 15minutes.

So between Remington, Federal Winchester and Hornady there are only Four Factory sporting loads for the 6.5x55 while there are thirteen
between the "big four" for the 7mm-08.

And while I'm at it Remington lists Three 260REM loads,Federal lists TWO 260Rem loads, Hornady and Winchester lists NONE.
I guess the 260Rem is real popular... NOT!

I remind you once again, the original post specified that he doesn't reload.

Performance wise the two can't be told apart
IF-YOU-HANDLOAD, but if you are only using factory loads there is a performance edge for the 7mm-08, granted no whitetail would be likely to notice, but people here will argue the inch or two difference in bullet flightpath like it was the difference between a chichen or a pig.

And While I hesitate to bring this up WalMart
has both Win and Rem loads for the 7mm-08 so if you are a hunting trip and need more ammo...
I've never seen 6.5x55 at walmart and most actual gunshops will give you a dumb look when you ask for 6.5x55.

So I ask again, which is more versatile?

I'll note that I own TWO 6.5x55's so it isn't a prejudice against this superbe cartridge, but
Dthfrmbv did say that he doesn't reload.

I honestly think he'd be better served with a 7mm-08 barrel for his rifle than with a 6.5x55

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by bartsche:
The 6.5X55 is far more versitile than the short necked, short throated .308 clones. You will not realize the full extent ,however, unless you start to use reloads. Availability of good accurate ammo is no problem, though, especially if you can get to some fair size gun shows or order by mail. roger

Frankly I find this contradictory.
"Long throat" is more versitile?
In what alternate universe?

Long throat rifles are generally less accurate with lighter bullets that cannot be seated out to proper proximity with the rifling.

You wanted a laugh? OK! The ***X51s handle Light bullets just fine and Most long throated 6.5 x 55s handle a wider range of bullets just fine. ***X51s struggle to meet the balistics of the 6.5X55 with heavier bullets. The Swede cartridge has a 109 year great record. The .260 is a resent marketeers ploy that only comes close to this antique but looks to fad out long before its centenial.

Allan if light short bullets is your game have at old sport. roger

Mmmmm, Friday I was looking at ammo in my fav local gun store. They had 6.5x55mm from Remington and Hornaday, .260 Remington from Remington, and 7mm-08 from Remington, Winchester, and Hornaday. This may not be your "real world" USA, since I am in Texas, and all we hunt down here are deer.

LLS

Sounds like a good reason to start reloading to me.

quote:

Originally posted by sierra2:
Mmmmm, Friday I was looking at ammo in my fav local gun store. They had 6.5x55mm from Remington and Hornaday, .260 Remington from Remington, and 7mm-08 from Remington, Winchester, and Hornaday. This may not be your "real world" USA, since I am in Texas, and all we hunt down here are deer.

LLS

THAT one store is such a wonderfully encoumpassing stastitical sampling....

I too know of a few shops that'll have 6.5x55 swede ammo too, but I know that most don't.
More importantly I ADMIT that most, many more, do not.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
The 6.5X55 is far more versitile than the short necked, short throated .308 clones. You will not realize the full extent ,however, unless you start to use reloads. Availability of good accurate ammo is no problem, though, especially if you can get to some fair size gun shows or order by mail. roger

I get to some good sized gunshows and all I see is cheap former east-bloc ammo that is loaded with softnose bullets of questionable quality.

I Don't see a selection of loads with Partitions, A-frames, Barnes X-bullets etc...

Those bullets ARE available factory loaded for the 7mm-08.

Yes as a HANDLOADED cartridge the 6.5x55 is more capable with the heavier bullets, but not so much if you also handload the 7mm-08.

The ONLY Ammo that I'd trust for the Swede other than that by the four US MFG's mentioned
is Either Norma and Lapua.
The Norma ammo is $47 for a box of 20.
The Lapua? I don't even want to know.....

I am a fan of the 6.5x55, it's a good effective cartridge.
I cannot in good concience recommend it as a choice to someone who DOES NOT RELOAD.
NOR can I stand by and let anyone else talk them into it.

Save your proselytizing skills for theological
arguements, the guy doesn't need a 6.5x55.

(Though I'll admit that to someone who owns a Blaser rifle "need" is a slippery thing)

He doesn't live in scandanavia, He doesn't reload and he doesn't have a swede mauser in his closet to justify getting a "more sporting rifle" in a caliber he already has.

Do you want to proselytize about something?
Talk him into Reloading FIRST, then I'll join you in talking good things about the swede.

BTW, my swede shoots Barnes 120's just fine
I have had mixed results with most 120's
and frankly you don't need a 140gr 6.5mm bullet to kill a white tailed deer.... though I'm one to talk, I usually use a 30-06 with 165's...

AllanD

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
Save your proselytizing Hell,Allan I,m not going to argue with a guy who can coorect ly use this word. I'm out of my class for sure!!skills for theological
arguements, the guy doesn't need a 6.5x55.

(Though I'll admit that to someone who owns a Blaser rifle "need" is a slippery thing)OH my!



BTW, my swede shoots Barnes 120's just fine
I have had mixed results with most 120's
and frankly you don't need a 140gr 6.5mm bullet to kill a white tailed deer....Good point,Allan, It would seem than he should be using something like a .257 roberts??? : though I'm one to talk, I usually use a 30-06 with 165's...

roger

"Need"& "Blaser rifle" in the same sentence
approaches being an oxymoron of the class that only Yogi Berra could do justice to, unless
the sentance read something like:

"Due to losing my job I need to sell my $3500
Blaser rifle"

Any other sentance containing those two words but not in that vein of discussion would sound like:
"My Grandmother needs a pair of Rolls-Royce aircraft engines to power her new tractor pulling wheelchair"

Or:
"I need a bigger turbocharger for the 400hp engine on my hedge trimmer" (LOL)

Like I said, within context "need" is a slippery thing.

the 257Roberts? Excellent cartridge.

But again, it's one that is severely handicapped by the general lack of available factory loadings and handicapped further by the factory loadings that are actually available.

Like the 6.5Swede, the 30-06 and many other cartridges there are older and weaker actions that the ammunition manufacturers keep pressures down for.

Thus the 257Roberts while an excellent cartridge it is one on a list of cartridges I would recommend against unless the person asking is a handloader, and if they ARE a handloader they wouldn't bother asking... Not True?

Many people want something "out of the ordinary"
even if it's perceived "exotic-ness" is mostly
fantasy/dilusion.

Look at how many wildcat cartridges there are that exactly duplicate any factory cartridge you could possible name...
What I recommending is to NOT get something "different", "unique", "Special".

Just because something is different doesn't make it better, and conversely just because something is common doesn't make it bad.

I don't know if he should get a 257Rob for his rifle, I'm not very familiar with his model Blaser to know if it's a short action or a long action or if there is a difference, but I wouldn't want a "bob" in a short (308 length) action any more than I'd want a 6mmRemington or a 7x57 in a short action.

But I will say that most things you can do with a .257 cartridge of given propellant capacity
can be done as well, if not better with a .264.
And I can say the same thing going to a .284.

I honestly believe of all the 308-family cartridges the 7mm-08 is far and away the best of the bunch.

"Heavier" bullets? what deer on earth "NEEDS"
(there's that word again more than 140grs of bullet to kill it?

As for the short throat 308 family? I'd rather not have to seat bullets out to the point that they will no longer fit in the magazine box.

Except with round nose bullets having a bullet lighter than 160gr touch the lands in my swede
is difficult without there being a real danger of the bullet falling out of the case neck

Typical factory loadings with 140gr bullets in the 7mm-08 exceed what the 6.5x55 can do unless the swede cautiously handloaded.
Comparing factory loadings to factory loadings it isn't even close.

I don't think let alone suggest that the 7mm-08 should be used to launch 160gr or 175gr bullets
I don't really believe that in modern terms the 7x57 is all that good at doing so, the 280rem OTOH....

What I find almost insane is that some people can argue with a straight face that the swede is better than a 7mm-08
while in a seperate discussion they'll admit that ANY difference between the 7mm-08 and the 7x57 is the product of imagination. and further that if the 7x57's and the 6.5x55's relative merits are argued that in most cases the people arguing for the 7x57 will win.

If he wants somethign a bit diferent from the ordinary how about a 7x57 for his Blaser?

7x57 certainly sounds more exotic than 7mm-08 Rem....

but I haven;t looked to see what premium bullet loads ar available for the 7x57 lately either, though I'm SURE Norma
has something suitable for $50/box-of-20...

And the 7x57 certainly has a more active history than the swede does....

In any event it's his money and his choice.


AllanD

6.5x55 vs 7mm-08 is a close call just like the Swede vs the 260....

I will say this, I started shooting 7/08 LONG ago, got an 'itch' for the 6.5x55 YEARS ago reading aobut it by Many authors in the 70's and 80's 'in the know' and finally tried a 700 classic and 3 '96 mausers, and built a 6.5/308 later just before the 260 came out, then owned 2 260's.

Long story, sold all my 6.5's and went back to the 7/08 JUST BECAUSE.

NOW, I have a hankering to shoot the 6.5's again.

What is not to like? 85-160 gr covers a LOT of ground and it does it well with nice shooting characteristics. Not too loud, not too hard kicking, good barrel life, and great accuracy.

Does a 7mm have some pros over 6.5? Perhaps, and vice-versa. They both are good calibers and have plenty of bullets available.

To a reloader I say the 6.5 can better the 7mm's or at least equal in accuracy, down range energy, drop-wind drift, recoil, etc.

There is really only .5 mm difference. Not a lot, but different.

I can say my 700HB shortened to 21" shot 100gr Hornady HP in half inch for 3 shots at 200 yards! And it is not a fluke, the darned thing shoots! BUT, I do believe a Swede can shoot the gamut from light to heavy equally well and less recoil as bullets are a tad lighter for equal S.D./BC and I know my 7-08 will do better with heavier bullets than 100's, at least at a distance for drop, wind drift, etc., but that 100hp would sure do a number on prairie dogs and coyotes and the like, BUT it IS loud, partially due to the short bbl I am sure.

I never had quite the recoil with 6.5's and that means I can shoot more rounds and have more fun in a day at the range.

Now, if we talk about my 7BR rifle........now that is SWEET and has an edge on the SWEDE for recoil as well as the 7-08, yet it can really pop them out there pretty well...120's @2878. That is efficient but it cannot shoot heavy's as well as the above.

None the less, 6.5's have a good place for lots of shooting and I doubt with equal SD and BC, there is that much difference in field performance of the two.

I guess we all have our 'personal tastes' as I myself think the 7BR sounds cooler than a 7x57, and prefer the 6.5x55 than a 7 mauser, nothing wrong with the 7, but I never got the itch for one, not enough to choose it over the swede or 7/08 (like short actions-all else equal).

If Ruger would make some 6.5x55's in their #1's like the 7x57 I believe they would sell a good bit of them as the 6.5x55 has a solid following and I myself never had a desire for the 7 but do for the 6.5 in a No. 1A or 1 RSI.

How about a Ruger 6.5x55 Number one-Ruger listening? If so, make it an 8 twist if not 7.7 like the original's.

With a lot of verbage dedicated to Minutia , I've used Yugoslavian 140 gr. ammo to kill at least 2 large mule deer. Bullet performace was excellent. At least the Europians use the right case size. Win and Rem are just a little on the small size and swell a little.

Push come to a shove the 6.5 X55 is probably one of the MOST adquate rounds for hunting in the US lower 48. The .260 is an also ran.

Pontification is great as long as you are the pontiff. roger

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
I can say my 700HB shortened to 21" shot 100gr Hornady HP in half inch for 3 shots at 200 yards! And it is not a fluke, the darned thing shoots! BUT, I do believe a Swede can shoot the gamut from light to heavy equally well and less recoil as bullets are a tad lighter for equal S.D./BC and I know my 7-08 will do better with heavier bullets than 100's, at least at a distance for drop, wind drift, etc., but that 100hp would sure do a number on prairie dogs and coyotes and the like, BUT it IS loud, partially due to the short bbl I am sure.

I don't try to use my 6.5Swede as a varmint rifle. I bought a 223 Rem700VSSF for that.
yeah, I'll bet a handloaded swede "barks"
from a 21" barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
With a lot of verbage dedicated to Minutia , I've used Yugoslavian 140 gr. ammo to kill at least 2 large mule deer. Bullet performace was excellent. At least the Europians use the right case size. Win and Rem are just a little on the small size and swell a little.

Push come to a shove the 6.5 X55 is probably one of the MOST adquate rounds for hunting in the US lower 48. The .260 is an also ran.

Pontification is great as long as you are the pontiff. roger

LOL, well In Nosler I trust...
the Yugoslave hunting bullets? I'd hate to find out that they dodn't work through experience.

I'll grant you when you perform an expirement
and things go EXACTLY as you expected you really learned nothing.... I'll point out that there are things I don't want to know....

But I will say that the batch of 100 Virgin Remington cases I have on the shelf waiting to be loaded DO have the proper .479 Rim/casehead diameter and the thicker rim.
I don't know if they are early or late production cases because I got them second hand
still unloaded.

But I also have a couple hundred Norma cases.

But I reload.

AllanD

I have really enjoyed the spirited discussion of the pros and cons of the 6.5x55 Swede vs. the .260 Rem or 7mm-08 Rem. I certainly appreciate Roger's point of view, especially since I feel like I owe him for helping me decide to order the excellent Accurate Data 86 powder from Powder Valley. And yes, it does work very well in my 6.5x55 Swede. And I also have to give points to Allan. My long throated Howa in 6.5x55 shoots 90 gr and 100 gr bullets at 100 yards about as accurately as I could throw them. And the US factory ammo for the Swede is pretty anemic, my only box was Federal Power Shok, and the 140 gr softpoints meandered down range at about 2300 fps 15 feet from my 22" barrel. The now discontinued Federal Premium 140 gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaws barely broke the 2400 fps mark. Nice mild recoil, though, and I have no doubt either would be quite capable of dispatching any deer at reasonable range. And if I had to take a whack at an elk with factory ammo, that Federal Trophy bonded would probably work, but I would want to get as close as possible. And it is true that the american brass is undersized including new Remington brass. I have some Lapua that I paid dearly for, but it is the proper size. The Howa seems to digest either equally well. If a shooter was a handloader and only after deer/medium game, I would recommend the Swede without reservation, but if he wanted the dual role of varmint and deer or was restricted to factory loads, I would have to lean more toward the .260 or 7mm-08. Sorry, Roger. Maybe someday I will have a custom throated barrel made for my Howa and see if I could shoot the lights out with those lightweight bullets. Then it would be no contest....

Allen, my 700HB is a 7/08, anyway, 223's are very 'mild' in report/recoil and nice for varmints owned some, but like a 222 and 221 with light bullets at their potential-as even milder/quieter, but if one needed a prairie dog to deer or possibly larger game, do it all rifle, I think you would sell your 223 and keep the larger gun. But yes, a 21" is loud in a 7/08 and 6.5 is close, as I chopped a M96 down to 21" and it was a good bit noisier than when in its original 29" length.

I think Seafire and I might agree that if I were FORCED to own one gun to do varmints and up, I would choose a 6.5 for a do it all rifle.

It would be difficult for me to enjoy trying to do any 'varminting' with anything larger than a 7/08 with light bullets. Many people like a 25-06 for a dual rifle, and some 6.5 shooters feel their choice equals a 25/06.

Well, if it comes to a discussion of the relative merits of a 6.5Swede and a 25-06 I'll just say that I bought my Swede and Rem700ADL in 25-06 within a month or two of each other.

My swede still works fine.... the 25-06? The original barrel was removed and scrapped about 15 years ago...
the barrel that replaced it (a 30-06) is about to be replaced itself... (Though not because it's worn out I want to replace a 22"CM tube with a 24"S/S tube)

But past experience with bullets lighter than 100gr in the swede makes it hard to talk myself into wasting $28 on a box of Nosler .264 100gr partitions just to try them out...

IMO anything bigger in bore diameter than a .25-06
is a bit much for Varmints unless you are killing Coyote
at longer ranges than can reliably be done with a 6mm.

AllanD

Allan,

YOU don't need a "$28.00 a box", box of partitions to make a 6.5mm a good deer cartridge...A darn good bullet in the 6.5 mm line up is the affordable 100 grain Hornady SP.....

A 6.5 mm with a 100 grain bullet will do anything a 25 caliber 100 grain bullet will do any day of the week.... no one can tell anyone with any common sense that a bore diameter of 7/1000ths is going to make a difference....

The most commonly used 6.5 bores, can push a 100 grain bullet as fast as a 257 Roberts, or Roberts AI... and a good handload can match a 25/06 in all practical purposes.... I get 25/06 velocity out of a 260 Remington case.....

Some one who doesn't think a 6.5 mm 100 grain bullet won't do what a 100 grain 25 caliber bullet will do, never worked with the 6.5.. and if they have and base their opinion on a failure... I'd tend to suspect operator error well over equipment malfunction or inadequecies

While it would be nice to see the bullet availability in 100 grain or so, 6.5 mm bullets.... matching the availability of heavier match grade bullets... or bullets in other calibers like 6mm or so.... there are no flies on what any 6.5 mm can offer....

I don't look at the 6.5 mm bore as superior to the 25 bore or the 270 bore.... I look at it as a 25 bore that has the availability of bullet weights from 85 grains to 160 grains.... versus just 75 to 120 grains in the 25 caliber.....

My favorite 6.5 bore is the 6.5 x 57... strictly because it is older than the 7 x 57, the 8 x 57, and even the 30/30 and 303 British, 30/06, 7.62 x 54.... and a host of other military cartridges....It is efficient, has a strong history... not every guy in the woods is toting one, and I can just neck up very very plentiful 257 Roberts brass, or 6mm Remington.....and I can seat the bullets waaaay out there in a long action Winchester Model 70 I had chambered for it!

We are not trying to talk you into a 6.5 mm... but if you were toting one in the woods.. alot of us would consider you a very astute kinda guy.....as I think most of us 6.5 bore fans, think of ourselves of having discovered something a lot of our fellow shooters haven't....

your rifle doesn't have to beat the crap out of you every time you pull the trigger to be able to take some pretty large sized game at some fairly long range distances... with accuracy that is about the best accuracy bore out there....

cartridge developers in the 1890s sure had their heads on a lot straighter than the guys that developed all of these Short Mags 100 years later!

just the way I see it...

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Allan,

YOU don't need a "$28.00 a box", box of partitions to make a 6.5mm a good deer cartridge...A darn good bullet in the 6.5 mm line up is the affordable 100 grain Hornady SP.....

A 6.5 mm with a 100 grain bullet will do anything a 25 caliber 100 grain bullet will do any day of the week.... no one can tell anyone with any common sense that a bore diameter of 7/1000ths is going to make a difference....

The most commonly used 6.5 bores, can push a 100 grain bullet as fast as a 257 Roberts, or Roberts AI... and a good handload can match a 25/06 in all practical purposes.... I get 25/06 velocity out of a 260 Remington case.....

Some one who doesn't think a 6.5 mm 100 grain bullet won't do what a 100 grain 25 caliber bullet will do, never worked with the 6.5.. and if they have and base their opinion on a failure... I'd tend to suspect operator error well over equipment malfunction or inadequecies

While it would be nice to see the bullet availability in 100 grain or so, 6.5 mm bullets.... matching the availability of heavier match grade bullets... or bullets in other calibers like 6mm or so.... there are no flies on what any 6.5 mm can offer....

I don't look at the 6.5 mm bore as superior to the 25 bore or the 270 bore.... I look at it as a 25 bore that has the availability of bullet weights from 85 grains to 160 grains.... versus just 75 to 120 grains in the 25 caliber.....

My favorite 6.5 bore is the 6.5 x 57... strictly because it is older than the 7 x 57, the 8 x 57, and even the 30/30 and 303 British, 30/06, 7.62 x 54.... and a host of other military cartridges....It is efficient, has a strong history... not every guy in the woods is toting one, and I can just neck up very very plentiful 257 Roberts brass, or 6mm Remington.....and I can seat the bullets waaaay out there in a long action Winchester Model 70 I had chambered for it!

We are not trying to talk you into a 6.5 mm... but if you were toting one in the woods.. alot of us would consider you a very astute kinda guy.....as I think most of us 6.5 bore fans, think of ourselves of having discovered something a lot of our fellow shooters haven't....

your rifle doesn't have to beat the crap out of you every time you pull the trigger to be able to take some pretty large sized game at some fairly long range distances... with accuracy that is about the best accuracy bore out there....

cartridge developers in the 1890s sure had their heads on a lot straighter than the guys that developed all of these Short Mags 100 years later!

just the way I see it...

cheers
seafire

You miss my point... again.

I burned up the 25-06 barrel mostly launching 75 and 87gr hollowpoints at rediculous speeds.
Followed by 100gr bullets at slightly less,
but still rediculous speeds (a .257 100gr Partition @ 3500fps crosses a soybean field really quickly)

I was NOT saying a Swede was inferior to a 25-06, if anything I was saying the opposite.
the 25-06 burned itself up in the way 25-06's tend to burn up.
The entire time I owned that rifle I killed exactly one deer with it, and that one was stupid to walk out onto a friend's firing range and "pose" next to the 400yd target stand.
The 100gr .257 Partition I sent his way promptly
persuaded him to spend the winter in my freezer.

a 6.5swede isn't flat shooting enough with 120's or 140's for varminting even if properly constructed bullets were available to reduce the dangerous tendency for richochet.And I've never found a bullet lighter than 120 that shoots well in my Husqvarna... Hell there aren't that many 120's that shoot as well as the 140's do.

My issue is that 140's are probably overkill for Whitetails (Overkill is good on a "raking"shot), but you can stretch the useful range of the cartridge by using lighter flatter shooting bullets and not have to generate so much brain sweat to figuire trajectory.

The appeal of that 6.5 100gr partition is that the swede should be able to launch it at the 260REM speeds of 3350-3400 or better when PROPERLY handloaded for use in a strong action instead of the "safe for Norwegian Krags" that all the loading manuals follow...
that'd make the swede an honest 400yd cartridge and (not that I even remotely advocate routine shooting of game past 400yds) eliminate the need for any significant hold-over at 300yds which is my real pet peeve.

But a light recoiling, won't blow your ears off, 6.5x55 as an effective antilope gun? Who would need a 264Win?

I don't think the 100gr 257's are superior, to the contrary, I know that given equal pressure the 264dia bullet will go faster with the same pressure (and so on with a 284dia

I strongly prefer controlled expansion bullets in general and Nosler bullets in specific.
Never really found anything from Hornady
(Except their V-max Varmint bullets) particularly appealing, because I've simply had better luck getting nosler bullets to group well.

As for $28 for 50? that's $0.56 for a single Nosler partition. Plus a couple to check sight-in and usually a single "warshot" I only actually use the partitions for "meat"
I think $0.56 is cheap for the extra assurance they give, though granted a $0.22 120gr Ballistic tip would certainly do the job just as well I prefer bullets that make exit holes.

(Now If Nosler would make a 120gr .264 Accubond my supply of ballistic tips would get used for cheaper "practice" bullets)

The thing is I know without even trying that my rifle isn't going to shoot them (the .264 100gr partition) worth a damn... But I'll admit, I could be wrong, I just don't want to pay $28 to find out, there are other things I'd prefer to spend $28 on.

Now, for your necking up 257Rob brass wouldn't
you be better off necking down 7x57 brass and (if necissary) outside neck turning it?
I'd think Necking up "Bob" brass would result
in thiner potentially non-concentric necks?
(No, I'm not obsessive/compulsive

I LOVE my Swede, it's the only deer capable rifle I've ever had that with HUNTING bullets
I could shoot as many as I had a mind to send downrange and have them go through a single hole I could cover with a nickel.

It's almost boring having it shoot that well...
Not bad for a 1943 M38 Husqvarna?

But I'd never think to use it as a varmint rifle. even if it did have a short throat chamber in it.

It's almost certain that if I had the Rem700 Classic that was sold out from under me back in
1990(? or there about...) or a Winchester M70Classic featherweight (a Rifle I'll probably never own now...)in 6.5x55 I'd regard the 6.5x55 differently, but...

Back to the original question:
Handloaded the 6.5x55 is a wonderful cartridge
that has a broad capability beyond what most people would think it has, though others are somewhat excessively optimistic about those capabilities.(Like advocating a 243Win for use on Mulies)

If however your shooting is limited to American produced sporting ammunition the cartridge is seriously limited by the ballistics of what limited offerings there are.

Thus my orginal statement that there ARE better choices in the same "class".

Similar cartridges in that class are the 260Rem and the 7mm-08Rem, and if forced to choose between the two (like If my house burned down and I had to replace my hunting rifles and loading equipment) I'd buy a 7mm-08 before I bought either a 6.5x55 or a 260Rem.

The 260Rem is out of a factory ammo box what a swede can only be if handloaded....
a 7mm-08 is just a bit more "capable" if you have deer and/or larger game in mind.

And this is comming from someone who has owned and shot a 6.5x55 for 20 years.

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
Allan,

cheers
seafire

You miss my point... again. AllanD

John, quit missing Allan's point. roger

Alan,

I believe we all understand your point. Please recall, however, that the original question related to whether the 6.5x55 was worthy for a non-reloader. Many of us believe the answer is "yes."

Had the question been, "I don't reload. Should I choose the 6.5x55 or the 7mm-08," many of our responses might have been different. That, however, was not the original question.

I own and like both the 7-08 and the 6.5x55, but the fate of the free world does not ride on this. A sense of proportion is valuable in discussions such as this.

Jaywalker

I agree that 7-08 is better than 6.5*55 for a non reloader's ONLY rifle.

However, continuing Allan's prejudging based on what that one rifle is....if he can afford a blaser, he can afford to order ammo from werever he wants. He can afford lots of other more practical calibers (which I'm sure he does.) And, most importantly, he can afford to start handloading!

Now, if he was talking about getting a 6.5 barrel for his $200 NEF Handirifle (because thats all he can afford), yes go with the practical 7-08.


Jason
Jealous cheap rifle owner

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:
Alan,

I believe we all understand your point. Please recall, however, that the original question related to whether the 6.5x55 was worthy for a non-reloader. Many of us believe the answer is "yes."

Had the question been, "I don't reload. Should I choose the 6.5x55 or the 7mm-08," many of our responses might have been different. That, however, was not the original question.

I own and like both the 7-08 and the 6.5x55, but the fate of the free world does not ride on this. A sense of proportion is valuable in discussions such as this.

Jaywalker

Jaywalker,

a sense of proportion? I consider it a friendly discussion, nobody has started name calling... yet

AllanD

HEY! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT TO GET THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION, I HAD TO TAKE THREE PEE BREAKS. I'M GOING TO LIE DOWN NOW 'CAUSE MY HEAD HURTS. DOUG

quote:

Originally posted by grubbydug:
HEY! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT TO GET THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION, I HAD TO TAKE THREE PEE BREAKS. I'M GOING TO LIE DOWN NOW 'CAUSE MY HEAD HURTS. DOUG

You're not suppose to take your Lasixs (forisamide) so late in the day. roger

Hehe it's quite funny to read about 6.5x55 as an exotic and reloader only cartride . Over here it's in every mans house just because the ammo is cheap and it's a great allround cartridge

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by grubbydug:
HEY! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT TO GET THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION, I HAD TO TAKE THREE PEE BREAKS. I'M GOING TO LIE DOWN NOW 'CAUSE MY HEAD HURTS. DOUG

You're not suppose to take your Lasixs (forisamide) so late in the day. roger

ROGER.. The pissers are very appropriate.. but it's FLOMAX (Tamsulosin) that helps get me through the night without making too many trips to the can. Old enough for parts to start dropping off. OH WELL!
I did find the "6.5x55 Swede confusion" discussion very interesting, even if a little drawn out. All in all, I'm having a great time with this Forum. Doug