6.5x55, How Hot In A Modern Action?

mmattockx

mmattockx

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I have 3 rifles in 6.5x55 and love this caliber. My deer rifle is a BSA CF-2, which is a Mauser 98 derivative and should be signifcantly stronger than the M96 action that defines the max loads in most handloading manuals.

I know a fair number of precision shooters hot rod the 6.5x55 well above book loads with modern actions and I would like to know what is realistic to expect from a strong action with a 24" barrel shooting 140gr. bullets, in terms of muzzle velocity.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Mark; My personal experience with a Remington 700 and a 24" tube [On it's third barrel now] is that the practical limit, velocity wise, with a 139/140/142 grain bullet is right around 2800, perhaps a few FS more, using powders generally accepted as slow burners. This tapered case causes brass issues at high pressures, so you have to be careful to trim and FL size on a regular basis if you persist in loading to maximum working pressures. Regards, Eagleye.
 
You could use 260 Rem loads. The two cartridges have very close to the same capacities, but the 260 Rem is loaded to higher pressures.
 
You could load 6.5X55 up to 2900fps, in a Rem700 that not a problem, one of the powder I have success with RL22 and RL19, the other are H4831, work you load up starting at Mid range according to Hodgdon power website, and work you way up in increment of 1/2 grain, don't load near the lance, at lease 20thausand of the lance.
140grain Amax, 139grain Lapua.
 
Thanks for the advice, gentlemen. I will take a look at the 260Rem loads and work carefully up with a watchful eye on pressure signs and brass wear and tear.

EDIT - I forgot to ask if there was any serious gains to be made by going to a 26" barrel?


Mark
 
Last edited:
HeadDamage said:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385208&highlight=6.5x55
Click to expand...

Thank you for that, I haven't been hanging out in the reloading forum for a while now and missed it first time around. If I can get 2850fps with a 140gr. GameKing I will be more than satisfied with my work. I popped two deer this fall with 140gr. Federal Blue Box ammo and they dropped quickly, even at 2400fps.

It is nice to see the 2400fps confirmed from the Federal ammo, I estimated that I was getting 2400-2450 from my rifle based on trajectory from 100 to 200yds. Pretty close in the end...

Mark
 
I had Much success with 260rem also, 140grain amax or 139 lapua going at 2650 t0 2720, very solid load, at around 45-46grain of H4831.
My 6.5X55SM is 26" heavy barrel, help every bit if you wanted max Velocity.
 
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