I mentioned .308 as an example of most available factory off the shelf caliber. From Norinco and Lake city to match grade, you know.
I mean on the level of the mid grade commercial ammo. Brass, bullets, consistency of load, powder quality. My point was that from what I see there is a lot of S&B in 6.5x55 everywhere, but there is very little competition, it seems to me that Priv is on the same or slightly less anyway. Its not like you have Federal, Hornady, HMS and another 10 brands and an array of bullet weights available. So in case S&B sucks in that single bullet weight I'll be practically out of options to stock up.
Or most likely I have nothing else to worry about, so I imagine stuff.
6.5X55 can be found in other bullet weights as well, but as you correctly observed the 308 is more popular and receives most attention from US manufacturers. As to worrying about a particular load in your rifle: That is not an unfounded concern. Illustrating the point is the comparison of the best factory loads to the best handloads: The latter will always win because the reloader has taken the time to figure a load that works brilliantly in whatever configuration for his rifle; something that the factory simply cannot do. 6.5x55 is a forgiving caliber in that sense so you likely will get similar results as I did from the rounds... but it isn't guaranteed. It's almost like throwing weighted dice.
blasted_saber said:
308Win is the exact opposite of a hyped up fad. ROFL
I did say "I view it as..." But glad I could make someone laugh.
But seriously, it was designed a few decades after several other rounds had "already been there and done that".
In long distance shooting, as distance increases the 308win "virtues" become a handicap when compared to other rounds it is an "improvement" of: Notably the 30-06. The limited case capacity prevents loading VLD bullets in front of a suitable powder charge to even be in the 30-06 class for long distance. To compare say a proven round like 140gr in 6.5cal, a 308cal needs what? 208gr bullet to achieve the same BC? The velocity that combination produces is less than what an '06 does with a 220gr bullet.
I already mentioned the action lengths vs. mass and subsequent compactness of rifles: And where is the center line drawn? I expect most would suggest (arbitrarily) at 308win. But the fact still remains, if a compact rifle is sought, then 300sav is a superior round. If ballistics are the priority, then the '06 is superior. Winter tire, summer tire and the do it all with compromise, all season tire.
For those reasons how could I view it as anything but a "hyped up fad" at the present stage in propellant development? Yes, there will probably be improvements that will bestow upon the 308win, identical velocities as the 30-06. However, if the same efforts were applied in developing propellants for the '06, why would it not achieve the same progress? (using velocity as the ruler) When measuring with the compactness ruler, I don't need to explain the physical impossibility of the 308win taking first prize. All this aside, each has uses. I have these all these around/used and neither are bad calibers. It would be safe to conclude that my exception is provoked by the fact that the fad of one is driving into obsolescence another, and reason or logic are not the driving force behind the extinction: That's what makes it a "hyped up fad".
Unfortunately it is expensive so I don't have that many boxes on hand. 
