The 6.5 X 55 never fails to impress...

M

Meroh

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Post Covid has proven to be a challenge regarding availability of reloading components.

Fortunately, I bought 5 lbs of Dominion D4350 and D4895 when they were available (should have bought 25 lbs of each). I had about 800 large rifle primers (have since found a bunch more), but could not find any bullets.

I have always been a Sierra guy, but bought what I could get at the time which was 100 Hornady V-Max 95 gr and 200 120 gr PPU HPBT. Neither shot well out of my Zastava M70, but good enough for ground hogs at 100 yards or so.

I was finally able to get some Sierra 120 gr. HPBT Match Kings, and had great results; sub MOA at 100 yards.

I also got a 1900 M96 is almost new condition which shot them well, but about 10" high. I picked up some 158 gr. PPU JSP for it and it shot those very well; three inch groups at 100 yards with original iron sights and 64 year old eyes.

Here is where it gets interesting...

The loads with the Sierra 120 gr HPBT are sighted in to shoot 1" high at 100 yards in the Zastava. When I fire the 158 gr. loads from the Zastava, it shoots to exactly the same point of aim at 100 yards; an inch high (the group is larger though).

I just got some 85 gr. Sierra JHP varmint bullets and loaded them at the max (about 3500 fps according to Sierra's data), and it also shoots to the same point of aim. Groups are <2"

I can shoot gopher ammo or moose ammo without having to sight in.

I don't know of any other caliber that behaves this way.
 
Meroh,
I have 9 different loads which shoot together a 2 inch group at a 100 yards in a 6.5x55 Tikka T3xlite....Same for a Sako A7 in 270 Win.
I also have 7 loads with bullet weights from 150 to 180 shooting to the same POI in a Browning BAR 30-06. The velocity for these loads is about 2700-2800 FPS
From the other side, my 9.3x62 while being very accurate for all handloads has a lot of variation in POI, up to 10 inches.
Jack O'connor once wrote that a rifle which shoots different bullet weights to the same POI is a precious one and should be used sparingly.
 
mimile said:
Meroh,
I have 9 different loads which shoot together a 2 inch group at a 100 yards in a 6.5x55 Tikka T3xlite....Same for a Sako A7 in 270 Win.
I also have 7 loads with bullet weights from 150 to 180 shooting to the same POI in a Browning BAR 30-06. The velocity for these loads is about 2700-2800 FPS
From the other side, my 9.3x62 while being very accurate for all handloads has a lot of variation in POI, up to 10 inches.
Jack O'connor once wrote that a rifle which shoots different bullet weights to the same POI is a precious one and should be used sparingly.
Click to expand...

I have never owned a .270 or .30-06, and I have never played with a variety of bullet weights in the other rifles I owned; found a load I liked, and stuck with it because components were always available.
 
dugasgunner said:
Wow. I'm coming back into the 6.5X55 arena. Great to ear this.
Click to expand...

I owned my first 6.5 x 55 back in the 70's; got rid of them for "greener pastures", regretted ever since; regret it more now that I am truly learning the traits of these rifles! Big thing for me is this is a legal caliber here in southern Ontario.
 
I've noticed the same thing with my 6.5. Mind you, it has a "new" barrel from Tradex which was installed by Gunco so it has the an excellent pedigree. Doesn't seem to matter, bullet weight and / or powder charge, the yall seem to be within an inch at 100 yards.
I'd like to find a left handed Zastava but unfortunately, they seem to be a rare commodity in today's world.
 
The Swede is an awesome round and will do anything the much ballyhooed 6.5 Creedmor will do and then some. On the topic of rifles sending different bullet weights into the same group, my buddy has a 375 h&h that does the same thing.
 
Grabbed a couple boxes of Hornady 120 gr. From Italian . Time to start load development for a Sabatti 12g/6.5 Sw. It Really likes the 120 PPU store bought I happened across . Not trying to derail OP thread but does anyone know a starting point for PPU ? I’m getting quality bolt rifle accuracy with them
 
broadhead67 said:
Grabbed a couple boxes of Hornady 120 gr. From Italian . Time to start load development for a Sabatti 12g/6.5 Sw. It Really likes the 120 PPU store bought I happened across . Not trying to derail OP thread but does anyone know a starting point for PPU ? I’m getting quality bolt rifle accuracy with them
Click to expand...

I have heard that the 120 gr manufactured ammo from PPU is excellent from more than 1 person, but I was not able to get an accurate load using their 120 gr. HPBT bullets.
 
brybenn said:
I'd be impressed to get a 85gr bullet to 3500fps in the swede
Click to expand...

I have no means of measuring velocity, but am only quoting what Sierra says in their manual. I had some IMR4064 left over from my .223 and .22-250 days, and since I now have neither, I decided to use it up. 46.3 gr. behind their 85 gr. bullets give a book value of 3,500 FPS. According to their data, this was out of an M96 Mauser; with a modern rifle like the Zastava or an M98 or equivalent, I suspect that you could push another 100-150 fps if you really wanted to, but I will stick with safe for older rifle loads.

With Sierra HPBT 120 gr match kings, with my loads, they are talking around 2900 FPS, again out of an M96.

h ttp://m-b-r.co.uk/PDF/Sierra%206.5x55.pdf
 
I'm not saying it can't be done. It would be a very impressive varmint load. I was getting 3550fps with a 75gr vmax in my 2506 and it was a devastating coyote load for as far out as I could hit them
 
I can shoot gopher ammo or moose ammo without having to sight in.

I don't know of any other caliber that behaves this way.[/QUOTE]

I have been getting the same consistency from my 6.5x55 in my Sauer 100. I have shot bullets from 85 to 160 grain weights and am amazed at the overall level of accuracy and minimal point of impact shift with such a wide range of loads. Never have I owned a rifle in any other calibre that delivered this kind overall performance, impressive indeed. The 6.5 Swede is a golden oldy, not the latest, fastest kid on the block, BUT, it’s inherent accuracy, consistency, low recoil, and performance on game are hard to match by most other rounds. Mine isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
 
brybenn said:
I'm not saying it can't be done. It would be a very impressive varmint load. I was getting 3550fps with a 75gr vmax in my 2506 and it was a devastating coyote load for as far out as I could hit them
Click to expand...

Likely further out than I can see them! I used to hit ground-hogs (not all the time) out to 300 and 400 yards with a custom .22-250 at velocities around 3500; but not with an 85 gr. bullet. I imagine that with new powders, the old .22-250 would be quite a performer today! It was a heavy rifle, so moderate recoil, but f*** it was loud!
 
Hunter7 said:
I can shoot gopher ammo or moose ammo without having to sight in.

I don't know of any other caliber that behaves this way.
Click to expand...

I have been getting the same consistency from my 6.5x55 in my Sauer 100. I have shot bullets from 85 to 160 grain weights and am amazed at the overall level of accuracy and minimal point of impact shift with such a wide range of loads. Never have I owned a rifle in any other calibre that delivered this kind overall performance, impressive indeed. The 6.5 Swede is a golden oldy, not the latest, fastest kid on the block, BUT, it’s inherent accuracy, consistency, low recoil, and performance on game are hard to match by most other rounds. Mine isn’t going anywhere any time soon.[/QUOTE]

I could never have a 6.5 CM; I don't have enough hair for a Man-bun. I too am "stuck" with the 6.5 x 55.
 
My Zastava M70 will put Hornady 160gr RN reloads into a ragged hole consistently at 100yds. Have a Tikka stainless that I'm hoping will do the same.
 
The 6.5 x 55 is an awesome round, no matter how you slice the cake.
With this round, I have shot coastal Blacktail deer, Mule deer, Whitetail
deer, Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Moose and Elk.

Very easy to shoot well due to low recoil. Any bullet of 120 grains and up
will kill practically whatever you want. I do prefer the 140 Partition for the
bigger animals.

I have a M700 "Classic" so chambered, and it has been shot a lot [bought it
brand new] It is on it's 3rd barrel, so you can guess how much I have used
it. :) Interestingly, a couple of the deer I shot were well out there [c. 400M]
but the Swede did the trick just the same.

I have been playing with 2 "newer" bullets to try, both 130 grainers. One is
the Nosler Accubond, the other the Swift Scirocco II. I think the Swede will
work just as I have come to expect with these as well. Dave.
 
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