Let’s discuss the 6.5x55 SE

[stealthgoat]

.... I have some 120 gr Nosler BTs currently that I'm going to test out with a lighter charge. Hoping to get it so mild that my kids can shoot it eventually....

Not sure of your kid's ages, but when my daughter was very young she transitioned: BB -> 22RF -> 223 -> 6.5x55

Initial swede range load to make her transition easier:
- 100gr SP + 10.0gr Trail Boss
- low recoil & muzzle blast, so great to acclimate

She uses 100gr NBT/Partition + 42.0 Varget for whitetail.
- range of 36-42gr Varget seems fine at shorter ranges

* usual reloading safety caveats

 

[NinjaVanish]

Not sure of your kid's ages, but when my daughter was very young she transitioned: BB -> 22RF -> 223 -> 6.5x55

Initial swede range load to make her transition easier:
- 100gr SP + 10.0gr Trail Boss
- low recoil & muzzle blast, so great to acclimate

She uses 100gr NBT/Partition + 42.0 Varget for whitetail.
- range of 36-42gr Varget seems fine at shorter ranges

* usual reloading safety caveats

Great intel there. I have a 6 year old boy who weighs 50 lbs and a 4 year old that is much madder at critters who is right behind him. Gonna be a fun journey watching them grow.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

We load 85 grain Sierra bullets for paper, steel, and prairie dogs. Recoil is negligible (even for my 65-75 lb kids)with a light load of H4895.

 

[Yarbs003]

6.5x55 is amazing little cartridge and popular among my hunting group. I have a semi custom tikka with a 25” Prefferred Barrel Blank prefit. Shooting 127 LRX Barnes, Lupua Brass, 44.8 grains of H4350, and fed 210 primer right at 3000fps. No pressure signs but stopped there with ES in single digits over 5 shots. My go to deer and lope round. Really manageable recoil and with the XLR a rifle I can adjust to my wife or any youth we are mentoring. Wife shot this buck at 385yds. I also shoot a target load with a 140 match burner over 45 grains of RL22 shooting right at 2750fps. Could definitely push it harder but a good mild load for shooting steel with accuracy.

 

[NinjaVanish]

6.5x55 is amazing little cartridge and popular among my hunting group. I have a semi custom tikka with a 25” Prefferred Barrel Blank prefit. Shooting 127 LRX Barnes, Lupua Brass, 44.8 grains of H4350, and fed 210 primer right at 3000fps. No pressure signs but stopped there with ES in single digits over 5 shots. My go to deer and lope round. Really manageable recoil and with the XLR a rifle I can adjust to my wife or any youth we are mentoring. Wife shot this buck at 385yds. I also shoot a target load with a 140 match burner over 45 grains of RL22 shooting right at 2750fps. Could definitely push it harder but a good mild load for shooting steel with accuracy.

Hell yeah. Love it. Great trophies from an incredibly underrated caliber.

 

[NinjaVanish]

Bump for update

Loaded up some 95 gr Vmax in front of 47.2 grains of IMR 4350. 100 yard five shot group below. That’ll do lol.

 

[Garandimal]

Came across a coupla cases of 6.5x55SE Norma Professional Hunter 140 gr. Nosler Partition ammo, on liquidation ($1.35/rd. delivered).

This SE load clocks at very near 2700 fps (24" Bbl.).

Am also handloading Speer Grand Slam 140 gr. (current "Mag-Tip" production) over a full charge of H4831sc at the same velocity.

And Barnes 130 gr. TSX w/ the same powder at ~ 100 fps faster.


GR

 

[Ozarkansas]

Given the case capacity advantage of the 6.5x55 over the 6.5CM and .260, and the fact that tikkas have such long throats that I can get even more capacity than SAAMI says, I’ve had no problem hitting the velocity numbers you’re talking about. Out of a 22” barrel I’m getting 2700 with no pressure signs and plenty of room to go up using 140 grain bullets, 2600 with 156 grain bullets in a hot load, and right under 3000 with the 127 LRX before pressure signs showed up.

 

[Garandimal]

These are comfortable loads out of a Ruger Hawkeye African w/ aperture sights.

​

No need to push.

​

GR

 

[Decker9]

My all time favourite cartridge (and my most accurate / consistent rifle). I cut mine down to 19” (6 1/2 lb scoped/loaded), running 2675fps with 140gr AB’s with reloader 22.

 

[BCsteve]

I settled on 143 ELDX and H4831sc at 2750fps in my Tikka.

 

[Garandimal]

I settled on 143 ELDX and H4831sc at 2750fps in my Tikka.

Curious as to the charge wt. and Bbl. length?

Don't think 50 fps would matter much, but might try it the next load ladder.


GR

 

[BCsteve]

Curious as to the charge wt. and Bbl. length?

Don't think 50 fps would matter much, but might try it the next load ladder.


GR

50.5 gr and standard Tikka Lite barrel lenght, 22.4".

 

[Mojave]

It is a personal favorite round. Here in Germany it is mildly popular. In Scandanavia it is massive. For certain the most popular and cheapest round there.

I have a Sauer 200 STR (sold in Germany as a TR) in 308 and I am trying to find a barrel in 6.5x55 (the normal caliber for this rifle).

I killed my last pronghorn in Wyoming 2022 with a Blaser in 6.5x55. Was a super shooter.

It would not be my first choice for bigger game loaded with the standard 140 grain VLD bullets for shooting targets. But if I had to use it with a 160 grain deformation bullets like a Swift, Woodleigh, or Partition I would hunt brown bears with it. Though I would rather have a 416.

 

[Garandimal]

50.5 gr and standard Tikka Lite barrel lenght, 22.4".

Seems pretty hot.

For that bullet weight/powder/cartridge, one grain less (49.5) should be very near 50K CUP/60K PSI 30-06 pressure.

Smokin'.


GR

 

[BrBa]

6.5x55 is amazing little cartridge and popular among my hunting group. I have a semi custom tikka with a 25” Prefferred Barrel Blank prefit. Shooting 127 LRX Barnes, Lupua Brass, 44.8 grains of H4350, and fed 210 primer right at 3000fps. No pressure signs but stopped there with ES in single digits over 5 shots. My go to deer and lope round. Really manageable recoil and with the XLR a rifle I can adjust to my wife or any youth we are mentoring. Wife shot this buck at 385yds. I also shoot a target load with a 140 match burner over 45 grains of RL22 shooting right at 2750fps. Could definitely push it harder but a good mild load for shooting steel with accuracy.

I went up to 44.7 gr H4350, Fed 210, with the 127 LRX, also Lapua brass. C.o.a.l. was fairly short as I recall @ 3.05" (0.12" jump) and got just above 2900 fps with my factory Tikka 22.4" barrel. Also could not see any pressure signs.

 

[mpstan]

I’ve had my son’s Swede for 13 years and he just asked to have it back. The Tikka T3 Hunter pushed 140 Accubonds to 2605 fps with 46.1g R-22. Lapua brass. That is max from Nosler’s data, which is safe for old actions. After much research I’ve gathered that 2750- 2800 is attainable and are planning a pressure ladder to 50 g R22.

Me? Replaced the Swede with a 6.5 CM

 

[Weldor]

Be nice if Ruger would put one out in the Gen II . Still looking for one with threaded bbl. Thinking 18"-20" for my needs.

 

[mpstan]

Be nice if Ruger would put one out in the Gen II . Still looking for one with threaded bbl. Thinking 18"-20" for my needs.

Don’t Swedes like slow powders and long barrels? I’d think with the ballistics out of an 18”-20” barrel you’d be Creedmoorish or slower…..

 

[Runwilderness]

I’ve had my son’s Swede for 13 years and he just asked to have it back. The Tikka T3 Hunter pushed 140 Accubonds to 2605 fps with 46.1g R-22. Lapua brass. That is max from Nosler’s data, which is safe for old actions. After much research I’ve gathered that 2750- 2800 is attainable and are planning a pressure ladder to 50 g R22.

Me? Replaced the Swede with a 6.5 CM

If you’re still able to find RL22 or have it on hand, it’s worked well for me, but in my Tikka I see pressure for 48+gr shooting 140gr Partitions, 2thou off, lapua brass. I don’t have my reloading notebook handy, but I believe I settled at 47.3 or 47.5gr and about 2750fps, with that still being on the hot side.