Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
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Looks like I've just come into a new 6.5x55 project. I say "project" because of those wonderful little undisclosed surprises that so often come with buying a used gun online lol.
Its a Remington 700 Classic, with a very nice bore. The stock has been cut down though, and an aftermarket pad installed leaving the LOP about 13". And of course the obligatory scope base screw stripped to hell and back that I'll drill out.
The bolt's days of being jeweled are far in the past as well, and it has a grey patina. But still a very classy looking rifle. Think I'll see about swapping out that scope base and putting a 1" or 1 1/4" brown pad on it.
Its a Remington 700 Classic, with a very nice bore. The stock has been cut down though, and an aftermarket pad installed leaving the LOP about 13". And of course the obligatory scope base screw stripped to hell and back that I'll drill out.
The bolt's days of being jeweled are far in the past as well, and it has a grey patina. But still a very classy looking rifle. Think I'll see about swapping out that scope base and putting a 1" or 1 1/4" brown pad on it.
Nice rifle. I have an 700 ADL like that. The bolt face is too small for Lapua brass. W-W brass works well in mine however. Seems like Remington made the 6.5x55 rifles on a .470” bolt face whereas the true 6.5x55 is closer to .480”
Thanks, happy if its still a keeper.
That's interesting. I wonder if Winchester ever changed their specs? Most in the bag of brass that I bought didn't work with with the .473" (30-06, etc family) shellholder and I had to get the specific one for 6.5x55 from Hornady or use Lee's 30-30.
That was common with all North American manufacturers. - dan
I have a box of NORMA 156 grain Alaska bullets. I would like to try one on a moose or elk with my 6.5x55 Swede.
Quite sure penetration will be adequate. They shoot well in all 3 of my 6.5mm Rifles.
Regarding the bolt face issue....I had a Remington 721 rebarrelled from 30-06 to 6.5x55AI I use only Lapua brass
in this rifle, and it works just fine in the 30-06 bolt. It is true that domestic brass is slightly smaller than European
made brass, but it is bigger than the standard 30-06, 308, 270 brass. Dave.
Quite sure penetration will be adequate. They shoot well in all 3 of my 6.5mm Rifles.
Regarding the bolt face issue....I had a Remington 721 rebarrelled from 30-06 to 6.5x55AI I use only Lapua brass
in this rifle, and it works just fine in the 30-06 bolt. It is true that domestic brass is slightly smaller than European
made brass, but it is bigger than the standard 30-06, 308, 270 brass. Dave.
This got me curious, so I took a brand-new Lapua 6.5x55 case and tried it in a bunch of 700 Remington Bolts I have here
[30-06 (x2); 270; 7x57; 6mm Rem; 280 Rem; 257 Roberts and 300 Savage] None of these bolt faces have been altered.
The only one that would not accept the Lapua 6.5x55 case was my 7x57 Classic.
The rest all would accommodate the larger case without issues. So there are some
small variances in the 700 boltfaces, obviously. Dave.
Some other forums I just checked out say that it (and PPU) mic from .476-.478. Wouldn't surprise me if there was enough manufacturing slop in the 700 bolts that some play well with it and some don't.
Remington and Winchester mic at about .475 it seems (some Win fit in the 30-06 shell holder, some did not) so its clearly a bit bigger than a common .473" case...nominally. So they must have been pretty sure their ammo would work in their gun, but the bolts that were counterbored on the tighter end of the spec....eh I see how you can def. run into some that will and some that won't?
Remington and Winchester mic at about .475 it seems (some Win fit in the 30-06 shell holder, some did not) so its clearly a bit bigger than a common .473" case...nominally. So they must have been pretty sure their ammo would work in their gun, but the bolts that were counterbored on the tighter end of the spec....eh I see how you can def. run into some that will and some that won't?
Mine must be a thou or two smaller lol. But, all the 6.5x55 cases I had (Win, Hornady, PPU) would have fed and functioned in a Win 70 BACO 30-06 for what that's worth.Some pictures of what the 100gr TTSX and 41.5gr N150 did. Was not expecting quite so much bloodclot but I guess a bullet going 3100 fps and hitting shoulder will do that.
My high shoulder shot was admittedly a little higher shoulder than I wanted, but still instant incapacitation. I am sure if this was the inside of Bullwinkle's chest/vitals, he wouldn't last too long.
220-ish pound doe
Entry
Exit
Bullet hit a rib on the way out, so the exit hole is pretty large. The hole in the hide was only about thumb diameter though, so if it were a through the ribs shot there would not be as much blood on the ground as a larger caliber leaves, IMO. But I don't know how far she would have made it anyway. That thing did some damage.
My high shoulder shot was admittedly a little higher shoulder than I wanted, but still instant incapacitation. I am sure if this was the inside of Bullwinkle's chest/vitals, he wouldn't last too long.
220-ish pound doe
Entry
Exit
Bullet hit a rib on the way out, so the exit hole is pretty large. The hole in the hide was only about thumb diameter though, so if it were a through the ribs shot there would not be as much blood on the ground as a larger caliber leaves, IMO. But I don't know how far she would have made it anyway. That thing did some damage.
I think that is the case. North american rifles just stuck with their standard, but you add in stacked tolerances and some wont fit. I played around with a few 308 bolts for a ppc build once, and when i wound one that was tight enough to work I just used that. - dan
Some pictures of what the 100gr TTSX and 41.5gr N150 did. Was not expecting quite so much bloodclot but I guess a bullet going 3100 fps and hitting shoulder will do that.
My high shoulder shot was admittedly a little higher shoulder than I wanted, but still instant incapacitation. I am sure if this was the inside of Bullwinkle's chest/vitals, he wouldn't last too long.
220-ish pound doe
Entry
Exit
Bullet hit a rib on the way out, so the exit hole is pretty large. The hole in the hide was only about thumb diameter though, so if it were a through the ribs shot there would not be as much blood on the ground as a larger caliber leaves, IMO. But I don't know how far she would have made it anyway. That thing did some damage.
That’s impressive energy right there.
Off bone that would be a soup boiler room.
That’s usually why I tend to load heavy for caliber if I’m hunting.
Years ago I shot a bear with a 30-06 150g. Just exploded meat in a 8-10” radius.
Lost a good chunk of the one front quarter.
They're all classics for a reason!
Might take a page from your book and try a 140gr Hornady ECX. Not really that heavy for caliber, but it is considering its a mono. Weight retention is stupid high, and it is loooong. And with the flat nose and wide hollow point, made to expand at modest 6.5x55 speed, I bet it works. Throw some IMR 4831 behind that and might be a winner.
Might take a page from your book and try a 140gr Hornady ECX. Not really that heavy for caliber, but it is considering its a mono. Weight retention is stupid high, and it is loooong. And with the flat nose and wide hollow point, made to expand at modest 6.5x55 speed, I bet it works. Throw some IMR 4831 behind that and might be a winner.
