FYI, I don't know if you seen these articles but for good reading, Handloaders Digest 5th edition, Robert Sherwood, 10th edition-Robert Masters, and 11th edition-Clay Harvey

There are some more, but those older articles are interesting showing the 6.5 interest decades ago, and only more recently catching on in the U.S.

It may have been John Wooters article on converting a surplus mauser '96 that really got my interest long ago. Finn Aagard liked the round also. Of course his article on a ULA 7BR prompted me to build my M7 and it one of my most fun rifles to shoot.

Thanks there BR.. I will try to locate them and check them out....

My Dad and I bought our first 6.5x55 in a Montgomery Wards, off a rack that must have held 500 cosmolined M-94 carbines. They were $29.95, take your pick. We went through maybe 30 of them wiping bores, looking for perfection before we found it. The Herter stock we put on it was likely a mistake, but that was 40-some years ago. My nephew still hunts with it in Texas.

Jaywalker

I bumped into a guy in a rural area who did lots of gunsmithing years ago, and he had a restocked sporterized-drill tap bolt handle M94 that was equivalent of today's famed Model 7 carbine, and in some ways perhaps better. I can imagine lots of game has dropped to those old rifles.

Seafire, when I get some extra time and access to a copier, I will try to run some copies and mail them to you if you want. No new information but it's interesting after decades since the writing of those, no real monumental gain in cartridge efficiency has been found.

The only thing since my reading of those articles that caught my interest was of Finn Aagard on the 338-06, 7BR, and an article in Handloader magazine years ago on the 338-08 which has been written about more recently by I believe John Barsness, and his colleagues.

Reading info on the 358 has caused me to rethink that old round, and its true potential with good loads. All the WSM's never turned my crank, I hate blast, excess recoil, and it seems from a loading standpoint, it might take a lot of force sizing those WSM cases. Maybe there is no difference, just a thought.

If you have not tried a BR case in 6-7mm you might think about it, of course you do reduced loads alot if I am not mistaken. The 6.5x47 MIGHT be just what I want/need for much of what I do, taking a good cross section of what I like about the BR's and the 260/Swede. It's performance is high being so efficient, running a short action w/o bullet encroaching on as much potential powder space. If brass and dies were more reasonable, it would be a no brainer. Lapua brass is said to be great-small primer pocket-good for high pressure loads, and the fact you should get more barrel life, might somewhat make the overall costs of ownership not so bad. If Tikka made this in a factory rifle, that would be my next purchase. I will settle happily with a 6.5x55 and 338 Federal in the T3 being that I can have them both for the price of 1 Sako!

Once my job situation improves I will report on those 2 as I strongly believe I will be giving them both a try.

BR:

I was going to order some of those 6.5 x 47 Lapua cases to check them out.. Graf's will let you order a small quantities if one wants to...

As I was told, don't let the 47 mm nomenclature get one to think it is just the necked up 22 Rem Mag case...

I have a Model 70 that is now getting the new barrel in 223 I had on order, that was originally going to be threaded for a Ruger....I want to check out if a 6.5 x 47 Lapua is compatible with a 223 or 308 Bolt face...this model 70 is going to be a switch barrel set up.... It is a 243 now.. and I can borrow a bolt from a Featherweight 223 for those case heads....

Although I love about ANYTHING from Finland... and like the older Tikkas, I just can't warm up to the t 3...my local gunshop is pushing the hell out of them....I just don't like the magazine or the tight access to the chamber...

My opinion of it, is that it is a well made version of the Remington 710... but I still think it is put together from the manufacturing/engineering perspective on ease of manufacture......not the shooters..

I am sure it will shot well, but I just don't like the estetics of it...

I have a Ruger 77 Mk2 in 6.5 x 55, a Swedish Sniper Model Mauser, and I had a Featherweight Model 70 with a factory laminate stock, rebarreled in 6.5 x 55.. the previous barrel was a 30/06....the 6.5 x 55 barrel on it, is 26 inches long though, as I put it together for hunting antelope or deer in Montana on the prairies...It is my Walking rifle....

For stationary for the same application, I have a 28 inch heavy barreled Model 70 long action in 6.5 x 57.. both with one in 7.5 twists...

cheers
seafire

I don't mean to butt in, but I too love this caliber. My interest was sparked by an old article from the 1970's in Gun Digest, and by my father who loved both it and the 7x57. He had a supply of Sierra 140 grain spitzer boattails, and those long bullets looked really cool to me when I was younger. Anyways, I have to say that a 6.5x55 walking rifle with a 26" barrel, and a 'stationary' 6.5x57 with a 28" heavy barrel is one of the coolest rifle combinations that I have ever heard of for plains deer and antelope.

quote:

Anyways, I have to say that a 6.5x55 walking rifle with a 26" barrel, and a 'stationary' 6.5x57 with a 28" heavy barrel is one of the coolest rifle combinations that I have ever heard of for plains deer and antelope.

AWWW Shucks....

cheers
seafire

Seafire,

http://www.6mmhot.com/

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

http://www.65grendel.com/

The last two you have likely been to, the first site has good info on the 6.5x47, think it uses same head size as BR/308 case, you can see reamer specs on the first site.

Hope that helps. Oh, the T3 6.5x55 if I got one would be just as a platform for enjoying a 6.5 out of the box that shoots well no mods-I agree about access and the mag issue, don't like detach mags over floorplates.

As you know a T3 could be had for a little more than a barrel job-something I will likely have to do to get just what I want,

If I can get my hands on a new or as new L579 for a good price, I think THAT would be my choice for a 6.5x47 or even longer throated 260. I know they can go to 2.85 perhaps longer. My old loads in 6.5x55 were only OAL'd at slightly over 3.00 IIRC, I have data to look up.

To me in s 20-23 inch bbl, a x47 would do about 95% performance with say 70% of powder as Swede adding bbl life also. Lapua brass and ctg design assures accuracy potential.

Seafire, one thing I prefer btw on the T3 is its countour is heavier which helps groups, and seems to hold better than lighter barrels, how do you like the profile on the Ruger's? I guess the 6.5x55 is identical to the 260?

BR...

Yeah the Ruger 6.5 x 55 is just like the 260 except it is a long action! so bullets can be seated out...

If you are looking for a range rifle.. instead of going with the Tikka, why not look at one of the inexpensive Stevens?

With the ability to change barrels fairly easily and ER Shaw offering barrels for $150.00 in chrome moly and for $30.00 more you can have them blued....

And then with a good stock from Boyd's in say a thumbhole....

Yeah a little extra work, but then I think you would have something a lot closer to what you were looking for as far as accuracy..

Roger Bartsche could set you up with what his experiences are...

Walmart can order you a Stevens for $268.00 here in Oregon...and then $10.00 background fee for the lefty libs "keep america safe" dilusions...

And yeah, I think it was you who brough the 6 BR page to my attention a long time ago...
that is where I saw that article on the 6.5 x 47 Lapua...

I must admit, I use the 6.5 x55 Ruger for heavier bullets and the 260 for the lighter bullets...all seated to magazine length...
kinda the same relationship the 308 vs the 30/06 have...

Seafire, application will be a 'one size fits all-do it all' as best can.

I want to have as heavy/stiff a taper for groups AND holdability, but keeping the gun portable enough for carry in the field, not just limited to mostly stand hunting.

I think a x47 would allow the heavies i.e. 140 amax to be seated out there, and still feed in mag. I believe you said long ago you had your 260's throated for longer bullets-but I guess you just shoot lighter ones most times?

As a field gun for longer shots, do you ever wish for more barrel heft in your Ruger to steady shot? Do you stick to 3 shot groups for barrel heat reasons, or do you shoot 5?

Thanks.