6.5x55 or... trying to dial in my next purchase

Dapesche said:
Read at stat that the 140gr 7.5mm has the same mass of a 180gr 30 cal bullet. Something along those lines.
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I think that person who posted the stat will need to revisit their findings, they might be talking about another metric but certainly not mass since 140gr < 180gr...

Dapesche said:
Is that twist related? Or slightly slower speeds allowing rifling to do its job a bit better
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I would assume it is due to case volume primarily, a 6.5CM only has a case volume of 52.5gr H2O vs. 57.9gr H2O for a 6.5x55, allowing more powder given similar lengths of bullet. I'm not familiar with CM twist rates, but my 6.5x55 has a 1:8 twist which is great for stabilizing longer bullets.
 
Dapesche said:
Read at stat that the 140gr 7.5mm has the same mass of a 180gr 30 cal bullet. Something along those lines.
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Were you meaning that the 6.5mm 140gr has the same SD as a 180gr 30 cal?

Its very close, 6.5 140gr SD is .287 and the 30 cal 180gr SD is .271

I'm having to reload 200gr bullets in my 300 Win (SD of .301) to barely exceed what the 6.5 does with a 140gr bullet, minimal recoil and great ballistics. 6.5x55 is one of histories greatest all round cartridges.
 
Desertrat said:
Were you meaning that the 6.5mm 140gr has the same SD as a 180gr 30 cal?

Its very close, 6.5 140gr SD is .287 and the 30 cal 180gr SD is .271

I'm having to reload 200gr bullets in my 300 Win (SD of .301) to barely exceed what the 6.5 does with a 140gr bullet, minimal recoil and great ballistics. 6.5x55 is one of histories greatest all round cartridges.
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That's exactly what I remember reading.

Was typing quickly and not thinking about it. Obviously if something is 140gr and 180gr they have a difference mass :) Can't defy science.

With the 6.5x55 it really is all you need. unfortunately to do it properly you should reload it..
 
The 6.5x55mm is awesome! :cool:

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NAA.
 
I could start a new thread but all that are involved with this thread seem to have a long history with their swedes.

Thread is now moving to move of a reloading focus....

If I am to do this right I need to reload.

I currently have Lee dies. I would need all the other gear now. Should I start looking for Lee gear or should I focus on rcbs? Does it matter.
 
hoytcanon said:
The .308 will bring many more options to the table... for a single rifle, I think it is the best choice.
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Except being able too shoot bullets with comparable sectional density without going into less manageable recoil level !

You will need something like a 190g+ bullet in .308" to match a 140g .264" bullet S.D.
 
pzkw108 said:
Except being able too shoot bullets with comparable sectional density without going into less manageable recoil level !

You will need something like a 190g+ bullet in .308" to match a 140g .264" bullet S.D.
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He is talking about a hunting rifle to shoot 200-300 yards... SD doesn't matter within those parameters... the .308 is a good all-around hunting cartridge, with more factory ammo options than any other hunting round, and also plenty of match ammo and plinking loads to cover the gamut... recoil is light. It is one of the obvious choices for an all around hunting rifle.
 
Dapesche said:
I could start a new thread but all that are involved with this thread seem to have a long history with their swedes.

Thread is now moving to move of a reloading focus....

If I am to do this right I need to reload.

I currently have Lee dies. I would need all the other gear now. Should I start looking for Lee gear or should I focus on rcbs? Does it matter.
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I have Lee and have been fine so far. I'm firing 120gr TTSX at 2900fps which gives me about 1500lbs/ft at 400 yards so that's quite a nice energy curve.
 
I love my old husqvarna 6.5x55. Its just so comfortable to shoot that I'm more accurate shooting it offhand than heavier calibres. Hopefully I get a chance to hunt with it some day.
 
I set up a rifle recently for someone who was very recoil sensitive. This person doesn’t reload so I suggested it should be a caliber that is available everywhere and been around awhile. It was an all around gun so could be used for larger game. We chose the 308 Winchester. This person is very slightly built so it had to be light. I picked up a Tikka compact 308. Put a brake on it and watched her print a 3/4 inch group at 100 yards off the bench first time out. It kicks like a 243. Yup it’s loud, need hearing protect 100% of the time. 7-08 would be my second choice. Of course bears and moose are a real possibility out west.

If you use a brake it does open up the field a bit 30-06, 7 mag etc. But hunting with a brake is a bit tricky for those around you. There is real possibility of hearing damage without ear plugs.
 
Have to agree. The energy of the 308 makes it perfect for a simple, low profile bigger game rifle out to 300yds.

Im sticking with my 6.5x55 for a few more years or at least until it does me wrong.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My friend has a braked 300wm and it is incredibly loud at the range. Maybe one day we'll get silences legalized.
 
There is nothing wrong with your 6.5x55 at all. It will do everything that you ask of it.
But, there is nothing wrong with you wanting another rifle to bang around with either. If you want something different but really effective, keep an eye on the EE here for a good Husqvarna chambered in .30-06. Load it with good 180 grain bullets and dont look back. It does everything and recoil is not that bad. Mine weighs in at 7lbs loaded and scoped. They are quality rifles and are quite eye catching !
 
Dapesche said:
Have to agree. The energy of the 308 makes it perfect for a simple, low profile bigger game rifle out to 300yds.

Im sticking with my 6.5x55 for a few more years or at least until it does me wrong. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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While I do shoot many rifles chambered for a wide array of cartridges, including .308 Win, I do also shoot 6.5X55 and like it a great deal for deer and black bear with 140 NBT bullets... for the hotter 6.5's or heavier game, I use the 140 Accubond bullets. You really can't go wrong with sticking with your 6.5X55 for medium game.
 
hoytcanon said:
While I do shoot many rifles chambered for a wide array of cartridges, including .308 Win, I do also shoot 6.5X55 and like it a great deal for deer and black bear with 140 NBT bullets... for the hotter 6.5's or heavier game, I use the 140 Accubond bullets. You really can't go wrong with sticking with your 6.5X55 for medium game.
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The accubond have been great. I've been trying to grab a couple more boxes to stock up but the shop is out.

Biggest issue with the swede is the factory ammo issue.
Wish a manufacturer would load of a hotter round with a premium bulletwould sell like hot cakes.
 
Dapesche said:
The accubond have been great. I've been trying to grab a couple more boxes to stock up but the shop is out.

Biggest issue with the swede is the factory ammo issue.
Wish a manufacturer would load of a hotter round with a premium bulletwould sell like hot cakes.
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6.5 Creedmoor
 
Just need to remember, the 6.5 and a host of the other cartridges from a 243 to the 308 were built off the 8x57, some were shortened, some were blown out, some were necked down, some were all three. It doesn't matter what version of that cartridge case you pick, it is capable of killing everything in N. America, quite handily. 7x57 and 6.5x55 were developed a year apart. If Bell had a 6.5 to use at the time, he likely would have, along with the 7x57, and the bullets they had back then, were not as good as what we have now. Just that the Swedes didn't have as much presence in Africa as the Germans.
If you just feel you want another gun, go ahead and buy one, but, you really won't improve much over what you have, it will do the job. Critter won't know the difference.
 
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