6.5x55 and 7x57

mosinmaster

mosinmaster

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Are these when handloaded pretty much equivalent to one another at 140 gr, with the 7x57 being flatter shooting and a little faster further out? Also the capability to take 174 grain bullets for a little bigger game?
 
The 7x57 will shoot the 140 about 100 - 150 FPS faster than will the 6.5x55, given all other factors are equal.
The 6.5mm bullet will eventually overtake the 7mm bullet [140 grain] due to superior BC.
However, this will not occur at practical hunting ranges.
The 7x57 has a distinct advantage if heavy bullets are your bag of beans. [160-175 grain]
They are both fine performers, and are nice to shoot, and effective in the field.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Back in 1968 I had a beautiful 6.5 x 57 in a Brno 21 rifle. I wish I still had it. It's a very nice light cartridge.
 
I've loaded up some 6.5x55 topped with some Hornady 140 gr SST. I heard all the rave about these bullets in this caliber. I suppose I can hunt most deer with this bullet out to 200-250 yards?
 
Depending on the velocity you're getting you should be good out to 300 or better. Zero at 200 yds, bullet drop at 300 will be 8-9"... if you're sure the range is 300, hold the horizontal crosshair on the line of the back and the bullet will drop right into the vitals.
 
The max loadings in my manual are 45-45.5 grains of RL-22, which only pushes a 140 grain bullet at <2700 FPS. What do you guys load at to get to 2800?
 
mosinmaster said:
The max loadings in my manual are 45-45.5 grains of RL-22, which only pushes a 140 grain bullet at <2700 FPS. What do you guys load at to get to 2800?
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The real max in a modern firearm is around 48/49 grains of RL 22 or 48/49 of IMR 7828
This will get the 2800 we alluded to.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
mosinmaster said:
The max loadings in my manual are 45-45.5 grains of RL-22, which only pushes a 140 grain bullet at <2700 FPS. What do you guys load at to get to 2800?
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You must understand that the data in the loading manuals was published with an eye on the strength of surplus rifles. A 6.5X55 or a 7X57 in a Remingtonm 700 or a Winchester M-70 (or a Brno or a commercial Husqvarna) is a different kettle of fish.
 
I'm shooting a BSA CF2, made in the 80s, but even in my Speer Reloading Manual, under the 6.5x55 MODERN ACTION section, it only max's at RL-22 45 gr. Where do you find the higher velocity data in the manuals? Or is this on the reloading websites?
 
mosinmaster said:
I'm shooting a BSA CF2, made in the 80s, but even in my Speer Reloading Manual, under the 6.5x55 MODERN ACTION section, it only max's at RL-22 45 gr. Where do you find the higher velocity data in the manuals? Or is this on the reloading websites?
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This data is still lawyered to the max, in the evnt someone accidentally fires the load in an older M94, 96 or 38.
Check out Steve's pages. ht tp://stevespages.com/264_9_140.html
Eagleye.
 
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mosinmaster said:
7x64 is also a pretty popular one, similar to .270 Win
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A better comparison would be the .280 Remington. Reality would tell us that those three are triplets in performance and hold the same category.
You could squish any cartridge that pushes a 140gr bullet between 2800-3000fps into that slot, so include the 7x57 and 6.5x55 as well.
 
Speer No. 13 shows 44 gr min / 48 grains max of RL22 for a OAL of 3.035" with the Speer bullet # 1441. The No. 14 have "regulated loads".
 
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