any one with 6.5x55 experience? - Page 2

**44 AMP** · November 26, 2018, 06:27 PM

Quote:

my 8mm mauser rims are at .469.

the spec for your 8mm Mauser rims is .473" and the spec for the case head is .470"

The spec for the 6.5x55 Swede rim is .480" and also for the case head. The Swede case is not the exact same case as the other Mausers, (7 & 8x57mm)

Now, you've measured, and you see that the ACTUAL diameter of factory ammo is a little less than the spec. This is intentional, as #1, the listed specs are maximum dimensions, and #2, so the ammo will work though guns that are not at maximum dimensions

I have used R-P brass (though I don't have any available to measure right now, I'm told its the "standard" .473/.470 rim/head diameter.

it works just fine through my 1917 dated M96 long rifle and also works through my 1897 Norwegian Krag. At the industry standard max pressure of 45,000psi, the slightly smaller American brass doesn't give ME any issues.

If you're going to hot rod the Swede, and in a suitably strong rifle, push it to 50-55,000 or higher, I would recommend using the closest match between your chamber and your brass possible.

ALSO, mark the rounds (sharpie or something) so you can determine at a glance if you are loading over standard pressure loads.

The Swede is a great cartridge, delivering flatter trajectories than similar weight bullets in the .30-06, and enough energy to get the job done, even on beasts the size of moose.

120 and 140gr are the most popular, but don't overlook the effectiveness of the long 160gr RNs. The Swede "military" load with a soft point bullet is a great penetrator, and gets the job done in workmanship fashion.

Ammo availability has been mentioned, and its true, not every Walmart will carry the Swede. So what?

reynolds357 · November 26, 2018, 07:48 PM

I don't really see why loading the 6.5x55 to 60k psi in a modern firearm is hot rodding it. The modern brass is plenty strong. The modern bolt action is plenty strong. Kind of like 45-70. I have boxes marked "trapdoor safe." I have boxes marked "marlin/ruger only." I have boxes marked "Ruger #1 only." I am quite sure the #1 only, would grenade the trapdoor.

300 wsm hunter · November 26, 2018, 09:29 PM

thanks 44 amp. I'm compiling a list of work that needs to be done lol

emcon5 · November 27, 2018, 01:14 AM

I just threw the calipers on both a Winchester case, and a Swedish surplus round.

The Winchester case had a rim diameter of .474".
The Swede military round has a rim diameter .480".

However, the case body, above the ejector groove is closer, .474" for the Winchester, .478" for the military case.

emcon5 · November 27, 2018, 10:09 AM

Just to add, the Winchester case has been fired and neck sized 5 or 6 times, the Swede military round is (obviously) a virgin unfired case.

Looking at the actual case drawings from SAMMI and CIP (posted on Wikipedia), the rim sizes are the same, 12.2mm, so the US cases with the smaller, 308 sized rim are out of spec fir the standards.

300 wsm hunter · November 27, 2018, 11:55 AM

thanks. every one has been a big help!

300 wsm hunter · November 27, 2018, 03:02 PM

So I'm a mold ,tool,and die maker not a gunsmith. I called a Smith to talk about getting this project going .he told me the action has to be trued.any one know what that process is? Why is it done?

emcon5 · November 27, 2018, 05:07 PM

https://www.albertatacticalrifle.com...uing-an-action

reynolds357 · November 27, 2018, 06:08 PM

Quote:

So I'm a mold ,tool,and die maker not a gunsmith. I called a Smith to talk about getting this project going .he told me the action has to be trued.any one know what that process is? Why is it done?

It's done so that the centerline of the action, the barrel threads and the bolt face are properly aligned. It makes rifles shoot tighter groups and keeps poi from shifting as rifle heats up. In my opinion, It's not necessary in a big game hunting rifle.

Jack O'Conner · November 27, 2018, 08:03 PM

My wife hunts with a custom Browning in 6.5mm Swede loaded with 140 grain Nosler Partitions. One shot kills are the norm.

Jack

reynolds357 · November 27, 2018, 09:24 PM

My wife hunts with a 6.5 Creedmoor. The deer are perfectly safe with her shooting at them. I tried to teach her to shoot, but she knew more than me.

FITASC · November 27, 2018, 10:44 PM

And if you were the smart husband, you would get her a Christmas gift of lessons that do not involve you but preferably a female instructor

reynolds357 · November 28, 2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

And if you were the smart husband, you would get her a Christmas gift of lessons that do not involve you but preferably a female instructor

Maybe so.

300 wsm hunter · November 28, 2018, 06:22 PM

went to my local gun shop today to pickup some norma 6.5x55 bullets.they had a mod 70 winchester featherweight in 6.5x55. i talked him down to 290.00 so my wife has her rifle lol

shurshot · November 28, 2018, 08:45 PM

I remember in the early 90's, Woolworths had the Carl Gustav Mausers 6.5x55 for $89.00. Straight and turned bolts. Almost bought one, but instead picked up a SS Ruger mini 14 for $275.00.

smarquez · November 28, 2018, 08:50 PM

Quote:

went to my local gun shop today to pickup some norma 6.5x55 bullets.they had a mod 70 winchester featherweight in 6.5x55. i talked him down to 290.00 so my wife has her rifle lol

.
How in the world did you pull that off? Those rifles should not be less than $500. If you need new Winchester brass for it I can help.

emcon5 · November 28, 2018, 10:53 PM

Quote:

went to my local gun shop today to pickup some norma 6.5x55 bullets.they had a mod 70 winchester featherweight in 6.5x55. i talked him down to 290.00 so my wife has her rifle lol

Score.

eastbank · November 29, 2018, 05:31 AM

not a score, but plain robbery.

300 wsm hunter · November 29, 2018, 09:27 AM

yea lol he said its been siting there for the past 6 years every one wants 6.5 creed
its well used needs a little tlc

Nathan · November 29, 2018, 11:33 AM

Wow! I’d rather have 6.5x55, but I’m not trying to be trendy!

300 wsm hunter · November 29, 2018, 04:59 PM

theres no need to be trendy.the stuff that has been around 100 + years still works fine. sometimes i think people are trying to reinvent the wheel.

November 27, 2018, 08:03 PM	#35
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	My wife hunts with a custom Browning in 6.5mm Swede loaded with 140 grain Nosler Partitions. One shot kills are the norm. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

November 27, 2018, 10:44 PM	#37
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	And if you were the smart husband, you would get her a Christmas gift of lessons that do not involve you but preferably a female instructor __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

November 26, 2018, 07:48 PM	#27
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	I don't really see why loading the 6.5x55 to 60k psi in a modern firearm is hot rodding it. The modern brass is plenty strong. The modern bolt action is plenty strong. Kind of like 45-70. I have boxes marked "trapdoor safe." I have boxes marked "marlin/ruger only." I have boxes marked "Ruger #1 only." I am quite sure the #1 only, would grenade the trapdoor.

November 26, 2018, 09:29 PM	#28
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	thanks 44 amp. I'm compiling a list of work that needs to be done lol

November 27, 2018, 01:14 AM	#29
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	I just threw the calipers on both a Winchester case, and a Swedish surplus round. The Winchester case had a rim diameter of .474". The Swede military round has a rim diameter .480". However, the case body, above the ejector groove is closer, .474" for the Winchester, .478" for the military case.

November 27, 2018, 10:09 AM	#30
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	Just to add, the Winchester case has been fired and neck sized 5 or 6 times, the Swede military round is (obviously) a virgin unfired case. Looking at the actual case drawings from SAMMI and CIP (posted on Wikipedia), the rim sizes are the same, 12.2mm, so the US cases with the smaller, 308 sized rim are out of spec fir the standards.

November 27, 2018, 11:55 AM	#31
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	thanks. every one has been a big help!

November 27, 2018, 03:02 PM	#32
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	So I'm a mold ,tool,and die maker not a gunsmith. I called a Smith to talk about getting this project going .he told me the action has to be trued.any one know what that process is? Why is it done?

November 27, 2018, 05:07 PM	#33
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	https://www.albertatacticalrifle.com...uing-an-action

November 27, 2018, 09:24 PM	#36
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	My wife hunts with a 6.5 Creedmoor. The deer are perfectly safe with her shooting at them. I tried to teach her to shoot, but she knew more than me.

November 28, 2018, 06:22 PM	#39
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	went to my local gun shop today to pickup some norma 6.5x55 bullets.they had a mod 70 winchester featherweight in 6.5x55. i talked him down to 290.00 so my wife has her rifle lol

November 28, 2018, 08:45 PM	#40
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	I remember in the early 90's, Woolworths had the Carl Gustav Mausers 6.5x55 for $89.00. Straight and turned bolts. Almost bought one, but instead picked up a SS Ruger mini 14 for $275.00.

November 29, 2018, 05:31 AM	#43
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	not a score, but plain robbery.

November 29, 2018, 09:27 AM	#44
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	yea lol he said its been siting there for the past 6 years every one wants 6.5 creed its well used needs a little tlc

November 29, 2018, 11:33 AM	#45
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Wow! I’d rather have 6.5x55, but I’m not trying to be trendy!

November 29, 2018, 04:59 PM	#46
300 wsm hunter Member Join Date: November 19, 2018 Posts: 19	theres no need to be trendy.the stuff that has been around 100 + years still works fine. sometimes i think people are trying to reinvent the wheel.