I have several 6.5 x 55’s and one 6.5 x 57. I also have a 93 action, sitting in a decent stock that I need to do something with.

I am preparing for some Prairie Dog Shooting next year, so I thought I would put a heavy 6.5 barrel on this action, for one of my medium/longish range PD rifles.

I would like to have everyone’s opinion on the 6.5 x 55 as a PD cartridge and which bullets/weight are best. My goal will be a rifle that I can shoot all day with out taking an incredible beating. Of course I will also have some .22 centerfires, but I do love those 6.5’s.

I guess it depends on what your idea of "medium/longish range" is?

Are we talking 300 yards, 500 yards, 1000 yards, or 1500 yards?

If 1K or beyond, I would go with the fast twist of either a 1-8" or a 1-7" and start with the Berger 140 VLD's and see where that takes you.

I'm starting with twist and bullet because you're going to want that MV to be around 3000-3100 on those VLD's. I don't know if the 'swede 6.5 can get you there or not, as I've never loaded for it. Possible in an "AI" configuration it can?

I would also go with a heavy benchrest stock and a heavy bull barrel of 28-30". I prefer 30" ers on my heavy LR gun, but some folks don't.

My "long range" 6.5 is a 6.5x284 on a Savage target action and a 30" McGowen bbl with an 8" twist.

I don't know if the 93 action would take a cartridge that hot or not. It may(?) not be an issue?

I'm also working on a heavy long range gun in 6br with a fast twist bbl and heavy stock.

The heavier you make the gun, the less of a "beating" you will take. Mine weighs in around 16 pounds, and I can shoot it from the front rest and rear bag just fine in a T shirt.

Also, don't overlook the glass. You'll want a pretty decent scope, which (unfortunately) means $.

I also have a "mid range" 22-250, and a couple of short medium .22's .17's, and a 6mm.

I will be watching this thread as I want to build a 6.5x55 on a 98 Mauser action and have thought I might build a heavy bull barreled rifle. It will be for informal target shooting at our club 300 yards and for deer/groundhogs out to about 500 yards.

By med/longish I mean 300 to 500 yards

Thanks for the info

I've got a 260 VLS the I can launch 100 grain bullets at 3450 fps out of a 26 inch barrel

85 and 90 grains hit 3500...

I gather with a little extra capacity a 6.5 x 55 or a 6.5 x 57 could beat that a little..

the 85 grain HP Sierra, the 90 grain Speer TNT and the 100 gr HP Sierra, the 100 grain SP Hornady and the 100 grain Ballistic tip.. will all be quite explosive and are pretty flat shooting..

While I enjoy a 6.5 mm, for long range work, I'd recommend a 6mm Rem on a long action with a fast twist..

I have one in 24 inch barrel that will launch 75 grain HPs at 3650 to 3750 fps...

I haven't finished the one with a 31 inch barrel... Lord knows what that would add to the velocity.. it has a diameter of 1.25 inch...

both have like a one in 8 or one in 7 twist..
it will shoot 115 grain Bergers at 3250 fps...

300-500 yards you might think about a 6mm, or even a .22 centerfire, instead if the 6.5. Unless you just have your heart set on the 6.5 bore, then disregard that idea.

If you're sure you're looking at a 500 yard end game, you could do a slower twist barrel and a lighter bullet, which would ease some of the recoil for long sessions. You could try a 95 gr Vmax or a 120 gr Amax in the Hornady, or a 100 gr Sierra varminter, or a 100 gr Berger match bullet.

If you went with a 6mm, the Nosler 55 gr and 70 gr varmint BT's are available in 250 count boxes, which helps keep costs down on a rifle you will presumably shoot more than a long range gun.

Too bad Hornady doesn't do the 250 ct boxes in 6mm, like they do in .224, I like the 250 ct boxes of 50 gr vmax's for my 22-250. I would put that rife out there to 500 yards, as long as the wind wasn't up.

Are you just looking for more "wind bucking", as to why the 6.5? 500 yards should be a "chip shot" for the 6.5 bore.

I built and use a 260 AI for my LR p/dog targets..very close to the Swede's ability...mine is on a SA s/shot Savage w/8 twist P-N tube...its not my 'go to' rifle for 500 yd dogs though...the 20 Practical...223 AI or 6BR are much better suited for these ranges...recoil/component cost/heat are lots less than any 6.5 bore...even with a 1.118" straight cylinder bbl as mine is that tips the scales at 18#..the 6.5 set up as a LR target/dog rifle is going to shine at the longer ranges..the Swede is an awesome 100+ yr old cartridge still going strong..

I loaded up some 87gr and 100 gr HP's for my 1600. The 87gr were not that great, but the 100gr were real accurate. IMR 4064 at about 3000 fps. I did it for fun. The rifle wears a 4x so woodchucks past 250 yards are tough. Real good for calling coyotes since the rifle is very light. The rifle is set up for whitetail at 300 yards maximum.

like seafire i use a 260 w/100 gr bullets