I had one done by Jeffery's in 6.5 Mannlicher years back, nice rifle. - dan
Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
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I had one done by Jeffery's in 6.5 Mannlicher years back, nice rifle. - dan
i posted sweden as well ... funny in 2005 everbody was talking about the 9.3 there where we hunted ...
I missed your post.. Yes, it became a big thing there too. Especially since the explosion of the wild boar population.
Also, the .30 calibers (30-06 being king) rise as the most popular caliber there occurs since at least the end of the '70s
and in finland the 308 is ahead.
Yes, it was nicely done too. Should have hung onto that one. Ah well, too soon old etc. - dan
Since the loads required are not in print, exactly how much extra can be squeezed out of the 6.5x55 compared to 6.5 CM?
SouthPender had shared some pretty cool info on RL26, curious about just how much advantage there is to gain in that bigger case.
SouthPender had shared some pretty cool info on RL26, curious about just how much advantage there is to gain in that bigger case.
- Location
- SE corner Sk
The 6.5 Swede has a greater case capacity at 57.9 gr compared to 52.5 gr for the 6.5 Creed.
https://ammo.com/comparison/6.5x55-vs-65-creedmoor#:~:text=The%20differences%20in%20case%20length,pressures%20than%20the%20Swede%20round.
https://chuckhawks.com/case_capacity_matters.html
- Location
- SE corner Sk
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/printthread/Board/34/main/787461/type/thread
Looking at this thread, doesn't seem to be much in the difference of FPS. The creedmore might have the edge on factory ammo since all the rifles it's made for are modern.
The general consensus seems to be about 75-100 fps if pressures are kept equal. At least that's what I've read. However, I did a little experimenting with QuickLoad for the two cartridges. I set the following to be equal for the two:
bbl length (23.62” for both),
bullet/weight (130 Nosler AB),
pressure (set to 60,000 PSI for both), and
powder used (IMR 4350 and Alliant Re26).
I was surprised to see the difference to be 50 fps or less at that pressure level (which is completely safe in a modern 6,5x55). The difference was right at 50 fps for IMR 4350 and more like 25 fps for Re26—by far the best powder in each for velocity. With Re26, velocities for the 130-gr. Nosler Accubond bullet were about 2997 for the 6.5x55 and 2970 for the CM. That really surprised me because of the 5-gr. difference in case capacities. I don’t know whether QuickLoad factors in case shape (shoulder angle, etc.) in its calculations. At this point, we’ll need some chronographed range results to shed further light on this.
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I put this option through QuickLoad for both cartridges. The Woodleigh bonded 160 PP SN soft nose (not the round nose) semi-spitzer is 1.381" long (courtesy of the JBM ballistics website). So again, holding the bbl. length, bullet, powders, and pressure constant for the two cartridges, I set the program up with the following:
bbl. Length - 23.62” for both,
bullet/weight - 160-gr. Woodleigh PP SN,
pressure - set to exactly 60,000 PSI for both, and
powder used – Re26 and IMR 4350.
Results:
With Re26:
6.5x55: 46.96 gr. powder; 2696 fps
6.5 CM: 44.60 gr. powder; 2680 fps; Difference: 16 fps
With IMR 4350:
6.5x55: 41.90 gr. powder; 2556 fps
6.5 CM: 39.42 gr. powder; 2520 fps; Difference: 36 fps
So again, pretty negligible differences between the two cartridges with this heavier Woodleigh bullet. One thing I should note: QuickLoad gives the overall case capacity (to the top of the neck) of the 6.5 CM as 54.03 gr., and with the bullet seated, about 47 gr. For the 6,5x55, the corresponding QuickLoad measurements are 57 (to the top) and about 50 with the bullet seated. For these calculations, I had the bullet seated about .04” deeper than I did with the 130 Nosler Accubond because of the slightly less-sleek point form of the Woodleigh 160.
One other point worth noting: the considerable difference in MV (at identical pressures) for Re26 vs IMR 4350—this latter powder seen as a favourite by many for both cartridges. At identical pressures (60,000 PSI) Re26 yields about a 150 fps advantage over IMR 4350.
If we focus on the 6.5x55 with this 160-gr. bullet and Re26, our approximately 2700 fps puts this load pretty close to what the .270 Win. Is capable of with the Nosler 160-gr. semi-spitzer and a fairly stout powder charge—maybe a 100 fps difference in favour of the .270. Seems to me that this 160-gr. bonded-core Woodleigh bullet (with its incredible sectional density of .328) at 2700 fps would be perhaps the top choice in the 6.5x55 for moose.
It looks like an awfully tough formula to beat, but can it outperform something like a 127gr LRX though? Or are they close enough to might as well be the same, you think? Or the 140gr ECX although the Woodleigh probably has an advantage before too much distance at all.
Interesting results though! Between that and the other loads you'd mentioned to me, it seems like a longer barreled 6.5x55 with RL26 is pretty much almost a shorter barreled 270.
Interesting results though! Between that and the other loads you'd mentioned to me, it seems like a longer barreled 6.5x55 with RL26 is pretty much almost a shorter barreled 270.
Very close. Make it an improved swede and the difference is even smaller. - dan
