6.5mm caliber (6.5x55 cartridge)

kwhunter

kwhunter

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Thanks to all the respondents to my earlier post in respect of the .25 caliber and the 25-06 cartridge.
I have not decided yet where to go, and the Swedish Mauser cartridge looks equally interesting.
It is a popular hunting cartridge in Europe, but I haven't seen much supply in Canada.
Is it popular and available? Many european made guns are chambered for this round, but looking through our gun stores (and those in the US) there are not many choices other than reloading.
Please let me know your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks

kw
 
Most of the dedicated shooting/hunting retailers will have 6.5x55 ammo on the shelf. Winchester, Remington and Federal all make ammo for the Swede, IIRC. I can't say a lot about the factory ammo, because i reload for my 6.5x55. There's a very good selection of bullet weights available to reloaders, not as much for factory ammo.
 
The Remington loads have been available in just about every shop I've looked. In addition to the others mentioned above, there are basic 140 gr hunting Igman (sp?) that I've seen a few places and worked well in my wife's Swede. So you won't have much room to try out different factory loads, especially different bullet weights, but you won't be without ammo either.

RG

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The 6.5x55 is an awesome rifle to add to the collection, Its accurate, low recoil, and fast. The factory ammo aren't bad. They will get the job done, But its more fun to load your own and get it going 2800 - 3100 fps
 
I found a few boxes of Winchester 6.5X55 at Canadian Tire a while back. Most larger hunting shops should carry ammo in this caliber. In my opinion, this little Swedish cartridge is sheer shooting perfection.
 
madluk18 said:
The 6.5x55 is an awesome rifle to add to the collection, Its accurate, low recoil, and fast. The factory ammo aren't bad. They will get the job done, But its more fun to load your own and get it going 2800 - 3100 fps
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I suppose you are talking about lighter bullets going 3100 fps. That's what I experienced too.

I currently have 140 gr. Nosler partitions and 85 gr. Sierra HP's hitting at the same point @ 100 yards. (the 85 gr. load is reduced)

1 rifle and you have your big game and smaller game / predator / varmint needs covered.
 
If you're gonna reload for it, it's a great cartridge. If you're not gonna reload for it......it's a great cartridge(with limited ammo available).
 
6.5X55 ammo

there is also Norma, prvi partizan, Sellier & Ballot. I like norma shoots well but its very pricie. use prvi partizan it get the job done at a good price and the brass reloades well.
 
If I may parrot Pathfinder:

1 rifle and you have your big game and smaller game / predator / varmint needs covered.
Click to expand...

Although there are perhaps 3 or 4 ammo choices available on the retail market, I handload for one reason: the stuff that is available on the shelves in N. America doesn't make the most of this fine cartridge's true potential.

The ammo manufacturers - beacuse of fear of litigation (older military rifles) - only offer up mediocre loads. Don't get me wrong, these offerings will still get the job done, and they will certainly give you an idea about the fine qualities of this cartridge, but handloading really raises the bar. It's like stepping up from a top-of-the-line Nissan Maxima to a G37 Infiniti. For a little more investment, you go from a great performer to something that will go toe to toe with the best in its class.
 
Around Calgary the only ammo I can find for 6.5x55 are Federal blue box, Federal Fusion and Winchester white box. All in 140gr. with no other options. It is also pretty expensive at around $31/box for all choices. That said, it is a great cartridge with excellent game performance and fantastic long range accuracy. To truly realize its potential you need to handload it.

Mark
 
Pathfinder said:
I suppose you are talking about lighter bullets going 3100 fps. That's what I experienced too.

I currently have 140 gr. Nosler partitions and 85 gr. Sierra HP's hitting at the same point @ 100 yards. (the 85 gr. load is reduced)

1 rifle and you have your big game and smaller game / predator / varmint needs covered.
Click to expand...

Yes i am, I'm currently using 140 partitions. I've only read about them going over 3100 fps. I have yet to try it lol.

I want to get some 140 barnes and 160 hornady or 156 Lapua bullets to try out. I'm not sure what to use for under 100 grain
any suggestions?
 
madluk18 said:
Yes i am, I'm currently using 140 partitions. I've only read about them going over 3100 fps. I have yet to try it lol.

I want to get some 140 barnes
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You may have read about them going 3100 fps but you would be hard pressed to get them moving faster than 2800 fps in a normal 22-24" barrel.

A 264 win mag moves them 3100-3150 fps...I know I owned both.

By the way the heaviest barnes will offer these days is 130 gr. (TSX). They used to offer heavier and you see them at a gun show from time to tme.
 
Pathfinder said:
You may have read about them going 3100 fps but you would be hard pressed to get them moving faster than 2800 fps in a normal 22-24" barrel.

A 264 win mag moves them 3100-3150 fps...I know I owned both.

By the way the heaviest barnes will offer these days is 130 gr. (TSX). They used to offer heavier and you see them at a gun show from time to tme.
Click to expand...

Thats what i meant the 130 gr
 
mmattockx said:
Around Calgary the only ammo I can find for 6.5x55 are Federal blue box, Federal Fusion and Winchester white box. All in 140gr. with no other options. It is also pretty expensive at around $31/box for all choices. That said, it is a great cartridge with excellent game performance and fantastic long range accuracy. To truly realize its potential you need to handload it.

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark
You could say that about almost any rifle. FS
 
Calum said:
If you are going to reload for it and are using milsup actions such as the Swede pay attention to the pressure limits.

PMC, Winchester, Federal and Remington brass is not quite sized to spec and your brass life will be short.

Post #43

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?129403-Bullet-yaw-tumbling-**-Best-Handloading-Thread-**

Norma or Lapua being the best.
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7 reloads on some of my winchester brass. Still in good shape and haven't had to cull any yet. Any brass will wear out quicker if you have to FL resize on every loading.
 
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jethunter said:
7 reloads on some of my winchester brass. Still in good shape and haven't had to cull any yet. Any brass, will wear out quicker if you have to FL resize on every loading.
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What action are you reloading for?
A milsurp or a modern?
 
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