The Accurate Reloading Forums
6.5x55 barrel with 9" twist and heavy bullets ?
27 December 2015, 17:45
K W Johnston6.5x55 barrel with 9" twist and heavy bullets ?
My wonderful wife surprised me Christmas morning with a new short chambered 6.5x55 barrel. I have been wanting to build a custom Mauser in this caliber for a while now. The barrel however has a 9" twist rate. Having never owned a rifle chambered for this round, I'm not sure what to expect from it. Will the 9" twist work well enough for the 140gr Remington and 160gr Hornady RN bullets ? I realize the heavy bullets are not needed, but I have my mind set on working up a load for them. Will it work fine ? or not work at all ? Thanks in advance.
27 December 2015, 19:14
SnellstromI'm shooting a 6.5x55 with a McGowen barrel in an 8.5" twist. I know it's not a 9" twist but pretty close.
Mine shoots 120's and the long Sierra Matchking 140's into .5" five shot groups with very little load development. It also shoots 100 grain bullets into sub 1" I think if I worked on those I could get it shooting tighter.
My opinion is if it handles those extra long Sierra Matchkings it will handle 160's that aren't any longer.
Yours should be the same I would go for it.
Your wife a very thoughtful woman (=keeper)
27 December 2015, 21:38
scottfromdallasI believe my CZ is 1-9". It handles all 140 grain bullets. It liked the the 155 Lapua Mega which is an excellent bullet. The 160 Woodleigh Protected point was too long to stabilize. A 160 round nose should work fine.
28 December 2015, 07:24
K W JohnstonWell I am a bit disappointed to hear that the 160gr Woodleigh bullets will not work. I have always liked the Woodleigh products...
29 December 2015, 00:09
larrysI have one in 1:9 and it works great with 140 Partitions and Sierra Gamekings as well as the 142 Matchkings. I don't shoot anything heavier than that, so I can't say on those.
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
29 December 2015, 08:19
SnellstromI have a hard time connecting the dots when someone wants to run 160 grain bullets in a 6.5 Swede or 175's in a 7x57. It just seems as if you are crippling an otherwise useful cartridge with a bullet weight of days gone by....
Todays bullets are so well constructed (even cup and core vanilla pudding bullets) that you can drop down several weight classes, up the velocity and have a drop dead killing machine on your hands.
However I do understand that what someone wants, they want and sometime for no tangible reason...
I know my opinion means nothing but if I were in your shoes I would barrel that action with the gift barrel and shoot the shit out of that thing.
02 January 2016, 10:32
K W JohnstonThank you for the responses. Snellstrom, your thoughts on heavy bullets in the 6.5 are indeed true. The quality bullets of today make the 140gr bullets the best overall balance for a hunting load. However call me nostalgic or just over enthusiastic, because I would like the OPTION to shoot the 160's as well. Sounds as if that may or may not work out.
Either way, I assure you the much appreciated gift from my wife will defiantly be used no matter what twist it has. Hopefully I'll have it up and running in time for next Deer season.
Happy New Year
02 January 2016, 12:14
meteI also think the 140 is the best for that cartridge .Powders should have the burning rate like that of 4350.In my custom M'98 it gives about 2750 and puts them inside a 1" circle ! With iron sights .
According to Swedish members of AR Premium 140s will perform like standard 160s !
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
14 January 2016, 03:13
Barstool(er)I just replaced the 1:9 Shelen barrel in my 6.5-06 Ackley with a 1:8 twist.
The original barrel would shoot 140gr "hunting" bullets ok, but not stabilize 140gr VLD type bullets at all -- groups were big and holes were "ragged" at the edges and not "crisp."
It 1st barrel also had a very long throat that you could not seat 140gr bullets anywhere near the lands and still have any neck tension because the bullet stuck out so far and would not fit in the magazine. Good neck tension, for example, on a 140gr Nosler partition would still fit the magazine and left a jump through the throat/lead of nearly 1/2 inch. I shortened the throat on the second barrel and groups have improved overall.
Barstool(er)
Weapon of Choice: 30mm Gatling Gun
Over 1500 posts as "Barstooler"