Advice from 6.5x55 shooters and hand loaders

I bookmarked this page as I await the arrival of an M96 bought from another CGN'r. Although very new to gun ownership and the sport of Rifle shooting, I realize that to be able to use some of the examples of great historical rifles (and calibers) I'm going to have to gear up to loading my own ammo.
Very excited to fire the first few rounds next week (please Canada Post!).
 
Aren't most factory rifles made with throats that are rather long so as to accommodate long 160gr round nose bullets? If that's the case I can't see VLD bullets with their sharp ogives being the greatest choice of bullets due to that long jump. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
The barrels that come on the T3 are quite good. Are you sure you stand to gain enough to be worth the cost of rebarrelling?
 
I've got a Tikka laminated stainless in 6.5 swede and it is my favourite LR rig for river hills mules. I don't hand load anymore but for a factory load I use Nosler 140 grains and it is a consistent 6/10 to 3/4 MOA rifle with my stock bbl. The only thing I have done to it is install a pressure point and it seemed to do slightly better.

I love the caliber - low noise and recoil but with good energy down range. It is for me the ultimate mulie/target rifle.

It's amazing that this cartridge never really caught on in North America despite it having been around since the late 1800's. Now you have the .260 which is the ballistic equivalent and gets the good reviews but essentially it's a just a modern duplicate of the venerable swede.
 
762shooter said:
The barrels that come on the T3 are quite good. Are you sure you stand to gain enough to be worth the cost of rebarrelling?
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I agree - They come with excellent barrels (If I'm not mistaken they are made in the same factory as the Sako barrels and have the same quality assurance) - I would work with the stock barrel first and see what you get for accuracy before considering a rebarrel.
 
Like others have said I wouldn't re-barrel it. Sako/Tikka make a hellava barrel.

129gr Hornady Interbond
48gr N560
Norma brass
Remington Primer
COAL 3.14

140gr #1730 SBT
47gr of H4831sc
Norma brass
WLR primer
COL 3.15
 
DaveMachine said:
Aren't most factory rifles made with throats that are rather long so as to accommodate long 160gr round nose bullets? If that's the case I can't see VLD bullets with their sharp ogives being the greatest choice of bullets due to that long jump. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
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I got the Shultz and Larsen and seated one of the Berger VLD's I bought at 3.275" overall length. Thats as long as I can fit in the mag, and the bullet is a bit wobbly in the case. It still doesn't touch the lands. Hopefully I can get some modern bullets that will reach the lands. I guess that doesn't matter when I can't find powder either.
Kristian
 
My 6.5x55, Mauser 98 Schultz and Larsen, with the 28 inch barrel, shoots all bullet weights very well. 85gr or 100gr Sierra HP with near maximum load of Varget will shoot one ragged hole at 100 yards. 156gr Norma Vulkan with Reloader 22 will group them under an inch. I've had luck with IMR4350, H4831 and H380 with the 140 grain bullets.
 
turbo_bird said:
I got the Shultz and Larsen and seated one of the Berger VLD's I bought at 3.275" overall length. Thats as long as I can fit in the mag, and the bullet is a bit wobbly in the case. It still doesn't touch the lands. Hopefully I can get some modern bullets that will reach the lands. I guess that doesn't matter when I can't find powder either.
Kristian
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Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Initially I tried seating to the lands like most people recommend but that resulted in bullets being seated WAY too far out - I ran into problems with soot marks on my case necks due to a lack of start pressure. I now seat the bullets with 1 calibre (0.264") of shank into the neck and I get very good accuracy even with the long jump to the rifling.
 
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Right on, thanks guys. The one bullet diameter seating depth sounds like a good idea. And I think I spotted a couple cans of H4831 at my local gun shop the other day. I can already see that this rifle is goin to be a lot of fun, I got to try a few rounds yesterday after work.
Kristian
 
140 Berger, lapua brass, powder of choice and 2800fps is very doable. I did that in the 22 3/8" barrel the stock rolls comes with. Lays/vihtavuori has 6.5x55 skan data which is what I use.
 
I shoot a 6.5x55AI. 26" barrel. H4350 48.2 grains behind a 129 Hdy Interbond. Lapua formed brass, CCI BR primer. 2970 FPS and the holes touch at 100m. In a neat little cloverleaf looking design.
 
Just built a custom 6.5 x55
24 inch Kreiger barrel 1:8 twist
Macmillan ultra light sporter
fixed 20x scope tactical turrets 30 mm tube
rem 700 action
muzzle break

rifle intended use 600 yard elk
deer
light weight about 8 lb full load
magazine
I'm using hand loads
140 sst OAL 3.129
powder RL 22 49 grains
dropped 1 elk and 2 white tails about 2 weeks ago
pin hole in one side baseball hole out the back side of all 3 animals
all 3 bang flop dead
oh yea and I own 7mm , 300, 3006 , +++++
this is my new go to gun
 
Shush you................ :wave:

Fenix.NZ said:
well this thread is certainly reinforcing my choice in cal.. considering that after 2 pages there hasnt been anything negative said.

New CGN record?
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Here's some photos for you to have a gander at.....
Old factory Dominion with the big round pointy bullets.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Tikka%20M65%206point5x55/DSC06142_zpsb84980fe.jpg.html][/URL]

My pretty gal.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Tikka%20M65%206point5x55/DSC06109_zpscf640311.jpg.html][/URL]

The b.s. group..........

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Tikka%20M65%206point5x55/DSC06079_zps5e5877a1.jpg.html][/URL]

The honest group........

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Tikka%20M65%206point5x55/DSC06080_zps49e2530f.jpg.html][/URL]

The whole target on a sight in day.
Seems my old Marlin 336 was doing pretty good too.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Tikka%20M65%206point5x55/DSC06067_zps1df08cc9.jpg.html][/URL]
 
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