Curious if anyone is using this cartridge for long range shooting with good success? I am interested in a 6.5mm cartridge. I originally was thinking 7mm but brass quality is a concern. I see lapua makes brass for this caliber and that has me interested. I have done some reading and it has a long history, just not sure how it stacks up against the newer 6.5 cartridges. The rifle would be a tikka t3 hb varmint. Not interested in hunting, just paper and steel.
6.5x55?
- Thread starter laker415
- Start date
I have one and it is a great cartridge. I only push mine to 2,700 fps but I have heard of guys getting close to (or over) 3,000 fps. Lapua brass is fairly affordable for it and is good stuff. I would think that you could find a 6.5X55 load that matched anything a .260 or 6.5MM Creed would do. It won't keep up with the hot rod cartridges though.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Yup, the old gal is a solid performer for sure. I had the same rifle, Tikka T3 Varmint in 6.5X55 swede last year but sold her off for other projects. My shooting partner still shoots his T3 Sporter in 6.5 swede and I don't see him changing anytime soon. I found 2750(ish) to be a real accurate node for that rifle with the 139 Scenars, and the partners rifle is very similar.
If you are still considering the 7mm, look at the 284 winchester. You can get Lapua 6.5X284 brass and just neck it up and you are good to go with great brass. Mine shoots the 180 Scenars at 2780fps and this past weekend it made to 1000 meters with just 9.4 mils of elevation, first round hits are very doable with this cartridge and you don't need to go to the magnum cases to do it.
If you are still considering the 7mm, look at the 284 winchester. You can get Lapua 6.5X284 brass and just neck it up and you are good to go with great brass. Mine shoots the 180 Scenars at 2780fps and this past weekend it made to 1000 meters with just 9.4 mils of elevation, first round hits are very doable with this cartridge and you don't need to go to the magnum cases to do it.
Thanks for the input. Do you prefer your 284 over the 6.5x55? I was leaning towards the 7mm because my brother has one as well But brass quality has been a concern as well as recoil over a few hours of shooting.
Anything you didn't like about the tikka you had? I want to try a Tikka and this will be my first
Recoil should never be an issue with a target rifle, just get a brake and be done with it. Yes if I had to choose I would take the 284 over the 6.5 swede, however the older swede is still on HELL of a good cartridge. The only reason I would go to the 284 over the swede is the heavier bullets that give a little higher BC. Like I said the 284 makes 1000 meters at 9.4 mils whereas the swede took over 10 mils, this in and of itself is no great concern, but the 7mm bullets are better in the wind, and help a little when you are using your reticle to judge distance because they shed their velocity at a slower rate and "hang" in the air a bit better.
I love Tikka rifles, very smooth accurate rifles. Nothing wrong with them at all.
I love Tikka rifles, very smooth accurate rifles. Nothing wrong with them at all.
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
I have a T3 SS Varmint in 6.5X55 intended for target shooting under 1000yards. Thus far I have only shot up to 500yards for my 750yard range is difficult to use until the pond freezes. I made the stock it wears in this picture... the stock beneath is for another T3 SS Varmint but in 222Rem.
You won't be disappointed in the rifle. I have a wall pinned with targets shot with various rifles with a 100yard five shot group of 0.404" from the 6.5X55. This five shot group was taken about 300yards with the same rifle: Wind that day was variable switching around quarter from the right. I've had this rifle for about three years, and the 222Rem almost two years. The only complaint I have is the cartridge pickup on the third and fourth rounds from the magazine in the 222Rem, (T3s are all long action...) and non to report with the 6.5X55: Both bought used and previous owner braked the 6.5X55. Neither rifles are difficult to find accurate loads for.
You won't be disappointed in the rifle. I have a wall pinned with targets shot with various rifles with a 100yard five shot group of 0.404" from the 6.5X55. This five shot group was taken about 300yards with the same rifle: Wind that day was variable switching around quarter from the right. I've had this rifle for about three years, and the 222Rem almost two years. The only complaint I have is the cartridge pickup on the third and fourth rounds from the magazine in the 222Rem, (T3s are all long action...) and non to report with the 6.5X55: Both bought used and previous owner braked the 6.5X55. Neither rifles are difficult to find accurate loads for.
Another 6.5x55 tikka sporter here.
Used out to 1200 regularly, easily outshoots 6.5 creedmoor/.260 at that range in the wind, and better barrel life than a 6.5x284.
You can load a 6.5x55 quite a bit hotter than most published info that caters to the old Mauser actions.
The swede has a very long throat with most factory chamberings, you can't get a 140 on to the lands usually, although that doesn't seem to impact accuracy. But it does let you run the 160 grain matrix vld's on the lands without losing any case capacity, something that is unique to the 6.5x55, and very beneficial.
Used out to 1200 regularly, easily outshoots 6.5 creedmoor/.260 at that range in the wind, and better barrel life than a 6.5x284.
You can load a 6.5x55 quite a bit hotter than most published info that caters to the old Mauser actions.
The swede has a very long throat with most factory chamberings, you can't get a 140 on to the lands usually, although that doesn't seem to impact accuracy. But it does let you run the 160 grain matrix vld's on the lands without losing any case capacity, something that is unique to the 6.5x55, and very beneficial.
Another 6.5x55 tikka sporter here.
Used out to 1200 regularly, easily outshoots 6.5 creedmoor/.260 at that range in the wind, and better barrel life than a 6.5x284.
You can load a 6.5x55 quite a bit hotter than most published info that caters to the old Mauser actions.
The swede has a very long throat with most factory chamberings, you can't get a 140 on to the lands usually, although that doesn't seem to impact accuracy. But it does let you run the 160 grain matrix vld's on the lands without losing any case capacity, something that is unique to the 6.5x55, and very beneficial.
That's a good looking setup. I have sourced one of these and now I just need to pull the trigger. Looking forward to getting into the 6.5mm game.
They're great shooters, this one puts five rounds in an inch consistently at 300 yards, and holds that kind of accuracy all the way out to 1200 when the wind is down.
The set trigger is superb if you can find one with it.
I've got an shv on another rifle.
The sightron has better glass and a better reticle.
