I am considering buying a new rifle in 6.5x55 and have been looking at the CZ very seriously. I have a 527 American in 204 Ruger and it is a great rifle so I know the 550 would be a quality rifle. My question is with the 1:9" twist rate. Would it stabilize the heavier bullets like the 150s-160s or will they not stabilize? I was also looking at the Tikka that has the 1:8" twist as well but if I went with the Tikka I would have to wait for awhile to have one ordered.

I highly recommend you to have 1:8 twist if you want to use 150-160 grain bullets or/and the heavier monolithic bullets.

I don't own a Swede but have done a lot of research, everything I've seen backs up Norwegianwoods advice.

According to the CZ catalog, the twist rate they are using will stabilise up to a 140 grain bullet.
Just a thought, a 140 grain A-frame, Partition, 130 Barnes, etc, should handle most anything you,d ask a 6.5 to do.. in a hunting bullet..
If you,re wanting a heavier bullet for long range, Woodleigh goes up in weight with a spitzer, probly would,nt stabilise in the CZ.
Hornady has a roundnose 160 as well.
If you wanted to go longer range, heavier bullets, a 260 A.I. with the twist rate you want might be interesting, nipping at the heels of a 6.5-284, little less pressure sensitive..
Or, since I,ve already gone completely off into left field, might as well throw out the idea of a 7mm ultra mag necked down to 6.5mm. Should haul arse with the heavier bullets, with the added bonus of hard to get brass, an extra barrel, and the added expense of some gunsmithing!!!
Sounds great, eh?!? Think I better stop, before I dig myself in any deeper..

I thought the CZ 550 6.5 Swede had a a 1:8.66" twist rate?

My Swede is built on a 1:9" barrel.....it handles the 140s nicely.....

The twist isn't designed for the weight of the bullet but it's length and the heavier bullets are round nosed and (surprisingly) just might be the same length or shorter than a 140 spire point.....check it out for yourself....

Where one may have difficulties is if you want to shoot the monolithics of heavier weight...(much longer bullets).....

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
My Swede is built on a 1:9" barrel.....it handles the 140s nicely.....

The twist isn't designed for the weight of the bullet but it's length and the heavier bullets are round nosed and (surprisingly) just might be the same length or shorter than a 140 spire point.....check it out for yourself....

Where one may have difficulties is if you want to shoot the monolithics of heavier weight...(much longer bullets).....

Spot on. My 1 in 9 twist barrels handle the 160 RN Hornadys just fine. But 140, Berger VLDs need to be running fast, or they will not settle down.

Do ALL the CZ 550 Swede models have the same twist? I thought certain of them had a 1:8 or 1:7.9... but I am both old and married, so I could WELL be wrong... and am if you ask my 1st wife...

I just looked at the Howa that has a 1:8" twist. I know they are contracted to make the Weatherby Vanguard rifles and know a couple people who have the Vanguard in different calibers and they are pretty accurate. I know they are not in the same league as the Tikka or the CZ but they are in stock and my wife is chomping at the bit to spend my bonus if I don't first.

quote:

Originally posted by Palladin8:
I am considering buying a new rifle in 6.5x55 and have been looking at the CZ very seriously. I have a 527 American in 204 Ruger and it is a great rifle so I know the 550 would be a quality rifle. My question is with the 1:9" twist rate. Would it stabilize the heavier bullets like the 150s-160s or will they not stabilize? I was also looking at the Tikka that has the 1:8" twist as well but if I went with the Tikka I would have to wait for awhile to have one ordered.

I have the CZ 550 FS and it does stabilize the 155 Lapua Mega which has a semi-point. It would not stabilize the 160 Woodleigh protected point which was longer with a higher BC.

I have a CZ 550 FS. It has a 20" 1:8.6 barrel. 140gr Hornady SPs fueled by RE22, which, to date, are the most accurate hunting bullet tried out of that rifle. This rifle/ammo combo is an outstanding deer dispatcher in a wooded environment. If piggies or black bear are on the menu, Hornady 160gr RNs should have no problem due to it's relatively short length to weight ratio IMHO. Other manufacturer's heavy bullets are probably longer which may require a faster twist barrel or more velocity than is safely obtainable to properly stabilize. I have not tried any, therefore I have no empirical proof, just my hypothesis. For my purposes, I am content with using the 140 Hornady SPs. Another consideration, albeit using lighter bullets, are the 129gr Hornady SP and Nosler 125gr Partition. Relatively tough little bullets, pending on game pursued.

I own a 6.5x55 in a Rem Classic. Why would you want to shoot the heavy bullets? This caliber is one of the finest long range rounds around and you want to handicap it? If I wanted to shoot the heavier bullets I would (and do) own a 7x57 which shoots 175 gr. bullets extremely well. The Rem shoots the 140 gr. bullets very well.
Just my 2 cents, Peter.

Peter,

I guess the reason that I wish to shoot the heavier bullets is that I have always liked shooting heavy for caliber bullets in most everything I have owned. Especially in the cup and core bullets. More retained weight and deeper penetration is what I found using heavy for caliber bullets. Since I have been doing research on this caliber I have found that here in the US the 140gr bullet seems to be favored more than the heavier bullets as they allow longer range shots and have a flatter trajectory. This is all well and good and most likely I will stay with the 140gr bullets but I like having that option available to me if I so choose.
Not to mention I may be working up in WA state for a little while and since it is so densely wooded and ranges are going to be shorter the heavy bullets are not such a handicap now.

The 155gr Lapua Mega might be the answer to your question if you want to run heavies in that twist.

Palladin, can't argue with anything you have said! johnfox's suggestion might be the best. I tend to shoot more than I hunt so I am more interested in exploiting the cartridge to it's fullest.
Peter.

This thread may help you decide. Some of the lighter bullets out penetrate the heavier ones. Weight is part of the equation but so is bullet construction.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/...php/topics/1481504/5

Scott,

Thanks for that link. Lots of information there.

I asked a Sierra tech what he thought of 120gr. bullets in a factory barreled Swede and he said it wouldn't group, he was wrong!
My Swede shoots them very well, 50gr.Norma MRP, 120gr.Sierra spitzer in Lapua cases, WLR primers, works in mine, load up to it.
Stepchild

Sierra just released a 130 Gameking HP in .264. It's built like the 30 caliber 165 Gameking HP which had a harder core and thicker jacket for better penetration.

Scott...Thanks for that info..I have been shooting 130gr Accubonds in my CZ550 with good results. But I like Sierra bullets too and may have to try those 130's out, I bet they will shoot great!

Z

I've never met a Sierra bullet that I didn't like .224-.308
Stepchild

The 120 pro hunter shoots great out of my 6.5 grendel. I have a few boxes of em so I will try them out in the Swede as well.