6.5x54R Vostok

[H Wally]

Anyone out there have experience with this cartridge? I believe Nessy or Cat in the Hat did, but no idea why I think that

Anyways, I'm considering a build and am deciding whether I use 7.62 or 6.5 and could use some input on the pros and cons of the cartridge, as there's very little online about it.

 

[bearhunter]

Which rifle are you planning on using????

The 6.5x53R Dutch will be a good place to start.

That's why I asked which rifle you plan on using. The 6.5 on the Russian case has a lot more snort. Good cartridge. Do you already have a barreled action or are you planning on buying a barrel/reamer and starting from scratch??

I saw one built on a No4 MkI action that worked pretty well. It fed through the mag, without issues or mods. The fellow that had it, used 6.5x55 loads and 160 grain bullets in a 1-8 twist barrel.

Nice combo. Little or no recoil and with the sporting stock, looked very good as well. Very accurate as well.

 

[Andy]

Several years ago a Russian target rifle in 6.5x54R was on the EE - I sat on the fence for a couple of days and then it was gone. Big regrets, as I haven't seen one since. They are in Canada, just not in great numbers.

This would be a cool build.

 

[Tinman204]

Several years ago a Russian target rifle in 6.5x54R was on the EE - I sat on the fence for a couple of days and then it was gone. Big regrets, as I haven't seen one since. They are in Canada, just not in great numbers.

This would be a cool build.

There was another russian target rifle for sale on the EE around christmas! I'm sure of it because what intrigued me was the fact that it was chambered in 6.5x54r. It came with brass dies and a couple thousand berdan primers.

I guess if I see another I'll have to be a good CGN'er and give you a pm

 

[smellie]

There were several of those sold around here. They were expensive.

MN action, truck-axle barrel, really decent diopter sights.

RCBS will make dies, but that takes a long time and costs half a mint.

We got fresh 7.62x54R brass, chopped the rear half off a 6.5x55 FL die, used that to neck them down. Worked fine.

Things are ACCURATE.

You can use 6.5x54MS data as a start load, work up from there.

Hope this helps.

 

[Andy]

There was another russian target rifle for sale on the EE around christmas! I'm sure of it because what intrigued me was the fact that it was chambered in 6.5x54r. It came with brass dies and a couple thousand berdan primers.

I guess if I see another I'll have to be a good CGN'er and give you a pm

I would have been on that like a newbie over headspace concerns!

 

[H Wally]

Which rifle are you planning on using????

The 6.5x53R Dutch will be a good place to start.

That's why I asked which rifle you plan on using. The 6.5 on the Russian case has a lot more snort. Good cartridge. Do you already have a barreled action or are you planning on buying a barrel/reamer and starting from scratch??

I saw one built on a No4 MkI action that worked pretty well. It fed through the mag, without issues or mods. The fellow that had it, used 6.5x55 loads and 160 grain bullets in a 1-8 twist barrel.

Nice combo. Little or no recoil and with the sporting stock, looked very good as well. Very accurate as well.

There'll be some kerfuffle over this, but it'll be an SVT action

I've got one that's basically a scrap job - barrel's done due to chamber being peened all to hell by some numpty with a punch who apparently was trying to solve feeding problems from the mag by denting the bottom of the chamber out to stop FMJ tips from catching

Since it needs a new barrel, I may as well make it the barrel I want. 6.5 will add some wall thickness and rigidity, and if the time comes a heavier profile barrel could be done. I've also found a good candidate .311 barrel though, so we'll see.

There were several of those sold around here. They were expensive.

MN action, truck-axle barrel, really decent diopter sights.

RCBS will make dies, but that takes a long time and costs half a mint.

We got fresh 7.62x54R brass, chopped the rear half off a 6.5x55 FL die, used that to neck them down. Worked fine.

Things are ACCURATE.

You can use 6.5x54MS data as a start load, work up from there.

Hope this helps.

As always it helps a ton! I'll probably load quite conservatively while I figure out appropriate charges considering the action strength differences between the mosin and svt. I'd been thinking about using a 6.5x55 die so good knowing it worked. Did you have to think the necks on the 7.62x54r brass? I've read both ways - some people say they resize whatever they want while others say their chambers are cut tight and will only take original 6.5x54R brass or thinned 7.62x54r brass.

Several years ago a Russian target rifle in 6.5x54R was on the EE - I sat on the fence for a couple of days and then it was gone. Big regrets, as I haven't seen one since. They are in Canada, just not in great numbers.

This would be a cool build.

Yep - I'm hoping to do something fun with it. The SVT will never be an absolute tack driver, but I think it could be significantly improved by floating the barrel, having a heavier barrel, and the flatter shooting cartridge, though flat shooting isn't all that useful if the barrel isn't pointing the bullet where you want

 

[bearhunter]

That should be an interesting build. Just one thing to remember, the smaller 6.5 bore builds up pressure pretty fast. Be sure to post your results.

 

[oldbadger]

I had one a few years ago; CH4D dies were the best deal going. worked loads up to levels comparative to the few factory I found (same weight of bullet, worked up in QuickLoad, then chronoed for comparison). Mine was no 6.5X55, a few steps closer to 256 Newton if anything! It went to live in Medicine Hat and is still being shot sorta regularly by a buddy who picks up the weird and wonderful stuff once I get tired of it (he has my Shul&Larsen single shot target job in 6.5X55 as well ).

I don't know about absolute accuracy, but it hit where pointed out to 1000 m or so.