6.5 x55 Swede Vs 6.5x 284 Norma

For me it's the x55 in a modern action. I've zero experience with the x284 though. I found it easy to get to 2900 with the 140 gr bullets in the 6.5x55 with 6.5 staball. The 3.370 mag length of the tikka helped with that a bit of course. That is well over 6.5x284 published speeds but like I said I've never played with one.
 
As many other have mentioned, the tapered shoulder makes the 6.5 x 55 about the easiest feeding CF cartridge ever.

I have also found the if I load 85 gr. varmint bullets, 120 gr HPBT Match bullets, or 156 gr RNSP bullets out of my Zastava and my Obendorf M60, the point of impact at 100 yards is within an inch of each other. My M38 shoots tight groups but more spread between them.
 
For me it's the x55 in a modern action. I've zero experience with the x284 though. I found it easy to get to 2900 with the 140 gr bullets in the 6.5x55 with 6.5 staball. The 3.370 mag length of the tikka helped with that a bit of course. That is well over 6.5x284 published speeds but like I said I've never played with one.

The 6.5x284 has 10 grain of extra capacity over the Swede. The 6.5x284 will always be faster. I would have someone run your 6.5x55 load on Quickload.
 
Yes they are - same as my 7 STW and my 7x300 WBee are ! RJ

Well we are derailed now for SURE Laugh2. But it’s ALL stuff ! :dancingbanana:

I reckon yer right on the derail thing, but that be normal in these "This vs that" threads. I've not "needed" anything more than the Swede for huntin' or plinkin' but ended up using many different chamberings over the yrs due to the fun factor in reloading & testing 'em out.
 
Yes they are - same as my 7 STW and my 7x300 WBee are ! RJ

Well we are derailed now for SURE Laugh2. But it’s ALL stuff ! :dancingbanana:

Had both of those too. Still have the stw, built it when it was still a widlcat. Built the 7mm-300 Wby because of Bob Hagel's writings. Even tried the same loads in both rifles. Ah, good times. - dan
 
Had both of those too. Still have the stw, built it when it was still a widlcat. Built the 7mm-300 Wby because of Bob Hagel's writings. Even tried the same loads in both rifles. Ah, good times. - dan

I have recently picked up a 7STW. Need a set of dies first. Should be interesting. Certainly no PRC but I have a nice supply of 8 rem mag brass I have tucked away from that previous recoil intense experiment.
 
I have recently picked up a 7STW. Need a set of dies first. Should be interesting. Certainly no PRC but I have a nice supply of 8 rem mag brass I have tucked away from that previous recoil intense experiment.

Wrong HEAD stamp :p Besides that 8 rem mag brass is RARER TO FIND then 7 STW - just sayin ! Lol. RJ

Hey ! Where’s Chuck. ? :rolleyes::d
 
I have owned a Sako Bavarian Carbine and a Tikka Varmint in 6,5x55. A friend has a Tikka Supervarmint in 6.5x55, as his only big game rifle. Another friend has a Tikka Sporter in 6.5x55. All four rifles shoot the same loads very well, the Sako averages around 5/8" for three shots, and the Tikkas all average under 1/2" for five shots. For a range rifle, the heavy barrelled Tikkas in 6.5x55 are hard to beat, Lapua brass is easy to find, and I bought my Tikka Varmint for $800, when Stoeger was blowing them out 7-8 years ago. I briefly considered the 6.5x284 a couple of years ago, but went with a 6.5PRC instead,in a Christensen Traverse, and it is my most accurate big game rifle. For me, it comes down to usage, for a hunting rifle, I would go 6.5x284, or even better 6.5PRC, but if you want to use it for range shooting, the 6.5x55 would be my choice, as barrel life is longer, and every one of the Tikkas in 6.5x55 was so easy to find a load for.
 
Was asking if anyone had some field time with this particular Caliber and their thoughts or results on game.

Try 6.5 STW. Ballistically they are the same thing, just the wby based round may (emphasis there) have more free bore. I ran the 6.5 stw for a while. Very fast, if you get the twist right it works with heavy bullets. Roughly 150-200 fps fasterbthan the 264 Win Mag, depending on bulletnweight. When I built mine it was hard to find slow enough powders, eventually 7828 showed up, along with the slower RL powders, and that worked better. I got some powder from a company called Thunderbird in the US, basically surplus 20mm cannon powder repackaged. That worked well, but when it was gone, I found out the company was too, and that was that for that. Some of the 50 BMG powders out now would likely work well. Not a round you'll get a lot of barrel life out of though. But for a LR hunting round, hard to beat. Except by the 7mm version, of course. - dan
 
Was asking if anyone had some field time with this particular Caliber and their thoughts or results on game.


I'm on stand right now cradling my 6.5X55, I've shot many, many deer, bear and moose with various 6.5X55 rifles... and hopefully I will have more experience in the next couple hours.
 
Try 6.5 STW. Ballistically they are the same thing, just the wby based round may (emphasis there) have more free bore. I ran the 6.5 stw for a while. Very fast, if you get the twist right it works with heavy bullets. Roughly 150-200 fps fasterbthan the 264 Win Mag, depending on bulletnweight. When I built mine it was hard to find slow enough powders, eventually 7828 showed up, along with the slower RL powders, and that worked better. I got some powder from a company called Thunderbird in the US, basically surplus 20mm cannon powder repackaged. That worked well, but when it was gone, I found out the company was too, and that was that for that. Some of the 50 BMG powders out now would likely work well. Not a round you'll get a lot of barrel life out of though. But for a LR hunting round, hard to beat. Except by the 7mm version, of course. - dan

Appreciate the feedback

I’m guessing most Swede owners/users are running 22” or 24” barrels?
 
How’s it going out there Bud ? RJ

Shot a small meat buck Tuesday morning with my 7.62X57 HC, but got skunked when carrying the 6.5X55... but I will be carrying the Swede all day today... so we will see who comes out on top... if you are a betting man, put your money on the deer.
 
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