6.5x55 reload vs 260 reload

tylerjwitty

tylerjwitty

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which one won in your eyes? which have you tried..powder,velocitys, barrel lengths.
my 26 in 260 beat my 6.5x55 20in in veloctiy BUT 6.5x55 beat my 260 in ease of carrying,handling..ect

lets hear it...
 
I read John Barsness' article a couple years ago. He found that he could get a bit more velocity from the .260 with light bullets (100 to 120 gr) and that the Swede was about 100 fps faster with the 156 and 160-grain bullets. The 140's were a draw: the difference was 1 (yes, one) fps.
That's all hearsay, I have never owned a .260.
 
I own both in a modern action rifle. They are pretty much ballistic twins, I'd say the swede does have a little more case capacity, but it requires a LA. Now that Lapua produces .260 brass, they are both equal in my books.
 
I highly doubt the game can tell the difference.... ;)

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
I've had three total, 2x260 and 1x6.5.

The two most accurate rifles I've ever owned were both in this group, a remington 700 mountain rifle LSS in 260 and a Tikka T3 hunter in 6.5x55. I'm a pretty good shot and both of these are way better than me, both genuine 1/2 inch rifles way past 100 yards that weigh 7.5 with scopes and full magazines. Both kill deer like there is no tomorrow.

I shoot the same bullet weight in both, either the 125 gr partition or 129 gr hornady spirepoint using re22 in the swede and H4350 in the 260 I obtain virtually identical velocities and with the swede being a modern rifle I work up using 260 max loads.

Both are cool, the 260 is cool because it is a great but mostly failed cartridge(commercially that is) that works great and is destined to be a cult hero, like the 284 win...Isabella Rossalini. The 6.5 swede is ubercool just because...1896...160 gr roundnose moose loads...Hemingway used it...if Norway ever invades Sweden they will be able to load each others brass...Helen Mirren.

I could go on.
 
loaded to the same pressure , with the same length barrel , the 6.5x55 has a larger case and will always be faster .

that said , factory rounds have the 260 loaded to a higher pressure than swede which makes them virtual twins .
 
I have not chronographed a long barrel 260. With 140's in the 6.5x55 I get 2830 with 4831sc and 2960 (!) with VV165. The 4831 shoots better though, so that's what I use.
With either powder, there is still case capacity remaining. The rifle is a 27 inch barrel on a Winchester Model 70. My 260 is a hunting rifle and the barrel is only 23 inches so I can't make a direct comparison but I suspect the 260 will be very close to the same in a similar rifle. Regards, Bill.
 
+1. The actual difference in the field will be the square root of zero.

X2: and using the formula SFA times 260 or 6.5 is still SFA

Even checking reloading manuals and manufacturer's specifications, everyone uses a different testing standard.
 
The difference is mainly due to the rifles they are chambered for. In a short action .260 there are limitations on the length which effect its use with heavier bullets. Further more, most 6.5x55 rifles have a faster twist rate than a .260 which allows them to shoot longer bullets.
For me if it strictly an antelope/deer rifle, either are fine. If it is going to be a moose/elk/bear rifle, I would give the nod to the 6.5x55.
 
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