Is the 6,5x55, an waste of space since its an metric answer to an question that was never asked?

I must be an heretic since i think its an complete unusable round, we have the 8x57IS and others up here, why should we disgrace the hunting and shooting world by keeping this ridiculous round alive today?

You are kidding of course?

Geronimo

If he isn't kidding, its his loss.

The 6.5X55 is not A well excepted round in the U.S.A. but those of us that do use it , and work with it, favore it. I myself like it for Deer sized game. Lite recoil, and seems to drive bullets deep, Also it has A wide range of bullet weights. If you don't like the 6.5X55 don't use it. I don't use the 8X57 I think it sucks, give me the 338-06 instead. Have A good damm day.

Must be the cold.

Steve E.........

The 6.5x55 cartridge is highly esteemed as a game hunting round in Europe and enjoys a stable following of devotees in North America. I consider it and the .260 Rem perfectly balanced cartridges for taking deer and other medium sized game. Those who favor the round laud the combination of low recoil coupled with the cartridge's inherent accuracy and superb penetrative qualities.

If you don't like 6.5x55s, don't buy one, but don't disparage the round without empirical basis.

From the pen of David E Petzal in Field and Stream;

quote:

Like the 7X57 Mauser, the 6.5X55 Swede dates from the late 19th century. In some ways it's an even better cartridge. As with the Mauser and the 7/08, recoil and muzzle blast are mild but besause the Swede shoots comparatively heavy (140-grain) bullets of comparatively small diameter, they carry extremely well at long range despite their modest (2550fps) velocity. And if you're hand loading, you can bet a lot more speed than this out of a Swede. Residents of Scandanavia who do not know any better regularly shoot a wide variety of game, up to and including moose, with the 6.5X55 - and because the game doesn't know any better it promptly falls down dead.

The 6.5 Swede gained a following in the U.S. after WWII when importers started bringing in Swedish Mausers rifles. By many, many accounts they were effective, economical and ACCURATE!!!

Rigby,
You say;

quote:

Is the 6,5x55, an waste of space since its an metric answer to an question that was never asked?

The question was most definitely asked in the late 19th century! The answer that was produced still has merits today!

In the late 40s or early 50s there was an article published in the "Rifleman" Titled "Smorgasbord" It was the published results of a semi sporterized 6.5 X 55 rifle by that name in the western US. Does anyone remember that expose? What an eye opener. roger

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5 SWEDE:
The 6.5X55 is not A well excepted round in the U.S.A. but those of us that do use it , and work with it, favore it. I myself like it for Deer sized game. Lite recoil, and seems to drive bullets deep, Also it has A wide range of bullet weights. If you don't like the 6.5X55 don't use it. I don't use the 8X57 I think it sucks, give me the 338-06 instead. Have A good damm day.

a 6.5 x 55, and a 338/06... what more big game rifles would one really need??? at least if you are not going to Africa...

Great combo!

What seafire says, and if you need to do it in a short action, substitute a 6.5x47/260 and a 338 Federal (100 yd less range/energy/velocity)

Yes, there is a saying about things that 'stand the test of time' something which has happened to to 19th century rounds, the 7x57 and the 6.5x55.

Must be awful to survive 113 years or so, when others die in a fraction of that.....I am sure being from Norway that question was a test, he knows the attributes.

unless you can fit a round into a short action it is. otherwise your probably relegated to long action. so why not just go with a 6.5-06?

quote:

unless you can fit a round into a short action it is. otherwise your probably relegated to long action. so why not just go with a 6.5-06?

The 6.5x55 fits perfectly in my M96, no wasted space and no cramped bullets either just perfect. It fits as if it were made for each other!
Mine feeds and functions slick and absolutely flawless.

Yes, in modern actions it doesn't make sense to put a 6.5X55 in a long action when a 6.5X06 will better it, and in a short action you can pretty much match the 6.5X55 in a .260 rem, or go with a 6.5-284.

The 6.5X55 only makes sense in existing rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
Yes, in modern actions it doesn't make sense to put a 6.5X55 in a long action when a 6.5X06 will better it, and in a short action you can pretty much match the 6.5X55 in a .260 rem, or go with a 6.5-284.

The 6.5X55 only makes sense in existing rifles.

Or rifles such as the Win M70 or Montana M1999 short actions, which handle cartridges of 3.15" OAL instead of 2.8", just perfect for a new Swede......

The 6.5x55 is a nice cartridge, but I like the 256 Newton if I'm going with a long action and the 6.5-284 or 260 if I'm going with a short action.

Actually, since the 6.5x55 and 6.5-284 share the same case length, I guess that a short action 6.5x55 would be fine if the builder didn't want to use longer bullets.

Jeff

I've used a .25-06 for many years for deer and pronghorns. It's a proven cartridge. The 6.5 X 55 is the same but it handles a heavier bullet if I choose to do so.

It drives a 120 the same as a 25-06 and will drive a 140 or even a 160 if needed and the .25-06 cannot do this. There is space in my cabinet for this one!!!

True, a 6.5x55 can go into many short actions, depending on throat set up and bullet preferences you may or may not want that, but you get Lapua brass choice w/o forming like a 260.

I can only imagine had Winchester never came out with the 270, and Rem the 25-06 what the 6.5/06 might be today! Hmmmmm, the 264 Winchester, (NO Magnum name, recoil, or bad rap for burning throats/barrels so fast!)

Yes, the 6.5x64 Brenneke would be a dandy yet no factory brass/rifles here in the US and I rather NOT form cases for anything when there are so many choices which I don't have to do so.

Less time loading = more time shooting and hunting for me.

A top loaded 6.5x55 in a modern bolt gets very close to 270 winchester ballistics, enough that if you place your bullet similarly, an animal will not say, "gee, I am glad that was just a 6.5x55 and not a 270 or 6.5/06, cause I can live to see another day!' It is a paper ballistic gain, but not likely to alter the outcome in the field should the guy/gal behind the trigger do their part.

The 6.5x55 in a factory Tikka varmint rifle shot 4.4" for 10 shots at 1000 yds in 1999 winning a British long range shoot IIRC. Never heard that about a 270! Mild recoil, great accuracy, very capable ballistics are why many use a 6.5x55 or equivalent, yes the '06 case is faster, a 264 mag faster yet, and a 6.5 STW likely faster still, 6.5/300 weatherby, where does it stop? All long actions.....I get to a point and enough is enough, and less (than the max), is more for me.

Just my feelings on matters.....if it matters!

your question could probably be better answered by the Russian soldiers who invaded the Nordic countries in WWII...if more of them had survived that little incursion. One of my spring projects is testing out some 180gr 6,5mm bullets a friend makes. I got this 1908 Brazilian Mauser and an engraved floor plate and some double-set triggers, and I think it's going to be a swede. I can't imagine not having one in the rack.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Seafire, I took a Ruger 6.5 Swede to Africa in 04 as my plains game rifle. I shot Hornady 160 gn RN's at 2450 fps. My 54 inch Kudu was taken with one shot at 215 yrds up on the side of a hill. In addition it took zebra one shot, gemsbok one shot and a wildabeast with one shot.

I wasn't aware it wouldn't work in africa ......................................JJ

quote:

JJ_Miller

quote:

I shot Hornady 160 gn RN's at 2450 fps.

I am interested in your choice of bullets. (I like slower heavier bullets). Why did you choose them and did you recover any and what was the wound channel/meat damage like?

303guy, the 6.5 swede made its bones so to speak with a 160 gn RN FMJ. My first swede was a mil-surp 96 Mauser and the throat is cut long for that bullet. So to get the best accuracy I tried to replicate the original factory load, so I bought the Hornady 160's, but thay are not FMJ's, they have an exposed lead tip.

I liked the round so much I found a new Ruger in 6.5 swede and picked it up and retired my " sporterized " 96 Mauser.

A call to the Hornady factory informed me the 160 RN was designed to be run at 2400 to 2500 fps so it would work thru the mil-surp rifles. So I stuck with that bullet speed in the Ruger.

I recovered 2 bullets fron that safari......

The Kudu was a standing broadside shot. The bullet broke the near side shoulder, wrecked the heart, broke the off side shoulder and stopped under the skin on the off side shoulder.The nose expanded well and the heel looked fine, nothing really strange or odd, just good preformance from the bullet.

The wildabeast was shot at about 60 yards. He was quartering away from me. The bullet broke a rib going in, wercked a lung and heart, broke the off side shoulder and stopped under the hide. Now this bullet was really tore up. It tracked straight but the core and jacket broke into pieces. It still worked but it wasn't as pretty as the kudu bullet.

I kept the swede with its original bullet weight at its original speed and it worked 100%. It was almost boring. The meat damage was minimal, no great rending or tearing, just reliable preformance.

Now fast forward to 07. I took a Blaser 93 in 6.5 swede to Scotland loaded with Barnes TSX 130 gns running at 2800 fps. I took 2 hill stag and a Red Deer with it. I didn't get any of those bullets back but they really tore up everything they went through. The gamestalker wasn't really sure about a 6.5 swede on the Red Deer but it did the job with one shot.

But I think I like the 160 gn load better, it just seems to fit the swede's nature better somehow...............................JJ

Didnt you guys se that the threadinitater is from Norway, Trysil.

He is just trolling.

BTW on the norweigian forum www.sluttstykke.com

http://www.sluttstykket.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22975

They hail the 6,5x55 as the best longrange round ever born.

On a second hand, did you all know that Sweden and Norway developed the 6,5x55 round as a joint ops for the military?

However when push came to show, the Norweigians actually made there standard just a few .1 mm longer than the Swedish version, end result, in a bind one could fire Swedish ammo in Norweigian rifles but not the other way around.

Even today there are at least three versions of the round, X55 Scandinavian, the modern one, Swedish, our version and Krag, the Norwigian version.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by JJ_Miller:
Seafire, I took a Ruger 6.5 Swede to Africa in 04 as my plains game rifle. I shot Hornady 160 gn RN's at 2450 fps. My 54 inch Kudu was taken with one shot at 215 yrds up on the side of a hill. In addition it took zebra one shot, gemsbok one shot and a wildabeast with one shot.

I wasn't aware it wouldn't work in africa ......................................JJ

Hushhhhhhh, else them animals will get a revelation that they are not supposed to die by small bore non MAGuNUMSSSSS. Using shot placement with a mild cartridge and a penetrating bullet = destroying vitals which = death in short order. Simple arithmetic.

now that all you 6.5x55 lovers and experts are all together. can someone tell me why my 1899 sporterized swede kicks like a mule. 15 shots and my shoulders dead. every post that talks about its recoil says it's mild. my 45-70 kicks like a pussy cat compared to the swede.

If you are serious, maybe it's because you left the steel butt plate on? I owned a few '96s' once, and they did kick like a pussy cat, even ones that were sporterized and shortened, but I put recoil pads on them just because. Nice.

quote:

Originally posted by crout:
......can someone tell me why my 1899 sporterized swede kicks like a mule. 15 shots and my shoulders dead...... my 45-70 kicks like a pussy cat compared to the swede.

Well, actually, no. I am no 'swede' expert but everyone tells me it has mild recoil and is sweet to shoot. So, just to be sure, is your rifle by any chance generating excess pressures? I have been told that unexpectedly high recoil is a sure sign of something wrong - which makes sense. Mind you, a 165gr bullet at 2450 fps is not exactly 'weak'. In fact, it is pretty well powerful! Read JJ_Miller's post about the kudu and the wildebeest. Those are not small animals.

Gents
The 6,5x55 swede is generally well known for its mild recoil and good penetration.
Here in Sweden it is the most common large game cartridge and 100 000s of mooses have fallen for it, and continue dropping dead by it.
I have also heard some things about bad recoil in some m96 rifles, due to 2 things, One is the stock which if done inergonomically would kick like a mule. Second, Many m96 rifles are inherently accurate, but might also have a problem with the measurements in the barrel, which creates high pressures and more recoil.
Some Husqvarna m96 rifles have a too big distance between the bolt and the chamber, as well as a chamber that is slightly too big for the round. This makes the case expand a lot and can give rise to dangerous pressures.

I would make a cast of the chamber and check headspace and the lock space between bolt and chamber to be sure that it is nothing wrong there. These rifles with chamber issues are almost impossible to reload to. You never get the velocities needed for larger game, nor can you have good pressures when the chamber is too big.

Sincerely
Daniel

so if my chamber is too big i should be able to see cracks or deformities in the brass....maybe? I've only shot factory 140 grain ammo so there shouldn't be any "high pressures" as far as my ammo is concerned. i was hopimg the kick was due to the sporterized stock. it weighs far less than the original.

What length bbl? And what do you est. gun weight at?

A short carbine in a light set up give a little recoil, but should not hurt, what is on the end? Any rubber pad or ?

Note arrows at headstamp and base of case. 3 rounds fired in the 6,5x55 with a too large chamber, while the 4:th round is a comparison round not fired in that weapon, but resized and primed. All cartridges only fired once and not reloaded.

Sincerely
Daniel[IMG:top] [/IMG]

Mr Rigby , shame , shame !! I hunted deer for 25 years with the 6.5x55 and it never disappointed me . I agree with Finn Aagaard that it is the perfect deer cartridge !

Mete, Finn reinforced in his writings my prior research on 6.5x55 and the 338/06. He also said in an article he did on a ULA 7BR rifle that most hunters use far more gun than needed on deer. I can only imagine how many 'surplus foot pounds' are used each year, exiting deer, many times making hamburger out of shoulders, etc. The 3 deer I shot with 6.5x55 all DRT, a few other with 260's, yes it is a good round.

If one had given Jack OConnor a modern loaded pre-64 fwt in 6.5x55, do you think any of the animals would have known the difference? Doubtful.

Which is why I left the 270, and 7mag long ago, and avoided the 280, as the 708 did all I needed, the 6.5 just does it, gentler on my shoulder......

Huglu...this is what my brass looks like. Now what? is my gun a P.O.S. or does this mean I should never reload any of the brass and only shoot factory ammo.

Crout
Just take it to a smith to get it set back a bit to take up the headspace maybe set back a bit further and have chamber re cut to clean it up or if the 6.5 is so worthless as the original poster implies just re barrel the thing to .257 Roberts.

As far as I am concerned, the 6.5x55 is one of the most notable cartridge developments to date. Think about it: You have to burn significantly more powder, endure more recoil and subject yourself to additional muzzle blast before you see any real-world advantage in flatness of trajectory or energy over a cartridge that is more than a century old. And in all honesty, you can kill a deer only so dead.

I've used the cartridge in full military configuration, sporterized versions, custom bolt rifles and single shots on the Encore platform. And I don't ever envision myself being without a 6.5x55 in one format or another. After all, anything here short of the big bears is easily within the capabilities of the round.

Another advantage of the 6.5x55 is that in every rifle I've had, all projectiles from the stubby 85 grain Sierra HPs through the long, streamlined 140 grainers would give fantastic accuracy.

The magic formula for me has been Re-22 with 120 grain and heavier bullets and H4350 with the lighter projectiles. And the fantastic quality of Lapua brass doesn't hurt a bit, either.

Sounds like I'll have to price that out. thanks for the help Snellstrom.

I have a 6.5x55 and a 6.5x257 .They kill deer just as dead as my 30-06 or my 8x57. In fact the 8x57 is my least favorite for deer and its overkill for deer sized animals.
My personal favorite of this group: the 6.5x257 rob. Just my opinion...
By the way Deer Season here opens in 2 days.



"If winning isnt important,Why keep score"

Crout
I agree with Snellstrom on this one. The gun is not too bad, but you can take it to the smith to see what needs to be done. Another option is to find another barrel for it, it might be cheaper than rechambering it. Here in sweden you can get a very nice m96 rifle for 50-100 USD or so. Those things are cheaper than dirt because of the m96 design, all wants to have m98 instead. There are some that have a stock of barrels from these guns and it can be very cheap to buy a barrel. How the import/export is done I don´t know.

Anyway, I would see what the smith would charge for removing the barrel, cutting it back 2 threads or so, ream it to specifications and put it back again. Might be a possibility there, Here it is not economical due to the vast number of other rifles in that model and caliber.

I do not shoot anything with that rifle, it just takes up a space in the closet, waiting to be exchanged for something else. But, the accuracy is excellent. All bullets I have tried shoots less than 1" at 110yd. I find it too risky to shoot that rifle since it has not the safety measures a m98 has.

Sincerely
Daniel

quote:

However when push came to show, the Norweigians actually made there standard just a few .1 mm longer than the Swedish version, end result, in a bind one could fire Swedish ammo in Norweigian rifles but not the other way around.

Actually, that`s a myth. There is only one blueprint for the 6,5x55 and that`s the one made in Norway by the Norwegian-Swedish comission.

When the production of the cartrigde began the Norwegians made their 6,5x55 according to the max tolerances and the Swedes according to the minimum tolerances. When the press found out about this a rumor were printed about how the norwegians had done this deliberately to make the norwegian ammo unsuited for swedish soldiers in case of a "civil war" (Norway and Sweden were in a union from 1814-1905, a union of two states under one King, but with separate national assemblies).

Anyway, the rumor was tested and found not to be of serious consequence, one could still use norwegian made ammo in swedish mausers. The only drawback was that the tighter tolerances required a heavier push on the bolt in some rifles, reducing the rate of fire somewhat.

I have used norwegian "Krag" ammo in a rifle with a "swedish" chamber for years. Excellent accuracy with the tighter tolerances but slower rate of fire.

Hi
I actually love them both(6,5x55 and 8x57js) and have one 6,5x55 husqvarna 1640 which is a tack driver and one 648 husqvarna in 8x57js. 6,5x55 is a great round which can put down all european games with a good shot ,but 8x57 loaded with norma oryx 196 grain or sierra or woodleigh 220 grain makes a very nice round for boars and bears. both of these rounds are excellent with a lot of killing power and no recoi.
yazid