X2
A good source for cartridge drawings is "Steve's Pages". I just got notice that he recently died, but his site will carry on with someone else at the helm. Look here for the 6.5X55: http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd65x55swedishmauser.jpg Even so, quite a lot of 6.5X55 brass has been produced in the US in the past with a 30-06 sized (0.470") casehead. The casehead would bulge to fill the extra gap in the chamber and while unsightly to some was not unsafe.
I assumed that by "better" the OP meant faster and perhaps more accurate. Here's why I recommended the 6.5-284.
- it cleans up the chamber without having to set back the barrel;
- brass and dies are readily available and are not custom; and
- it has enough greater case capacity that it will offer a noticeable difference in performance.
I also assumed that the OP would be a reloader. People have pointed out that the 6.5-284 operates at a higher pressure than the 6.5X55. True, but if you handload there are things you can do that you can't is you are a slave to factory ammo:
- you can operate at higher MV's at the same pressure as the 6.5X55; or
- you can operate at the same MV's as the 6.5X55 at lower pressures; or
- you can do something in the middle.
Of course if you rely on factory ammo, then you are stuck with 6.5-284 factory ammo, and you eliminate 6.5X55 AI, 6.5 Arch and the like from your list.
To all those who recommended something other than a 6.5mm, read the OP's first post. Squirrel!
A good source for cartridge drawings is "Steve's Pages". I just got notice that he recently died, but his site will carry on with someone else at the helm. Look here for the 6.5X55: http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd65x55swedishmauser.jpg Even so, quite a lot of 6.5X55 brass has been produced in the US in the past with a 30-06 sized (0.470") casehead. The casehead would bulge to fill the extra gap in the chamber and while unsightly to some was not unsafe.
I assumed that by "better" the OP meant faster and perhaps more accurate. Here's why I recommended the 6.5-284.
- it cleans up the chamber without having to set back the barrel;
- brass and dies are readily available and are not custom; and
- it has enough greater case capacity that it will offer a noticeable difference in performance.
I also assumed that the OP would be a reloader. People have pointed out that the 6.5-284 operates at a higher pressure than the 6.5X55. True, but if you handload there are things you can do that you can't is you are a slave to factory ammo:
- you can operate at higher MV's at the same pressure as the 6.5X55; or
- you can operate at the same MV's as the 6.5X55 at lower pressures; or
- you can do something in the middle.
Of course if you rely on factory ammo, then you are stuck with 6.5-284 factory ammo, and you eliminate 6.5X55 AI, 6.5 Arch and the like from your list.
To all those who recommended something other than a 6.5mm, read the OP's first post. Squirrel!
