Let’s discuss the 6.5x55 SE

[mpstan]

Yah have R22 on hand. By hot are you talking sticky bolt, primer signs, or ejector marks? And you’re .002 off lands?

 

[Runwilderness]

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…..

I’m also planning on a suppressor and cutting my Swede back to 20ish. I’m interested to see if others have data on that combo but I’ll post here if/when I get things built up.

In my case I also picked up a 6.5prc barrel,with the plan to happily hunt with the PRC if I can shoot suppressed around 2800 (19-20”), while the Swede does target work at lower fps.

 

[Runwilderness]

Yah have R22 on hand. By hot are you talking sticky bolt, primer signs, or ejector marks? And you’re .002 off lands?

Grabbed my book to refresh my memory.

Caveats: 6.5x55 is the first and only rifle
I load for, so your experience reading pressure may outstrip mine. Also, looking back at my notebook early loads were worked up in fired/collet neck sized Herter’s headstamp brass not Lapua. Finally, I’m an idiot that used to keep a notebook to record what I loaded at my bench and a separate notebook in my rangebag to jot down pressure sign notes as I fired, with those range notes now missing.

As always work up your load for your specific rifle.

My load is targeted at 0.002 off the lands in my rifle; notes show 2.61 base to ogive using a Hornady comparator.

My max loaded round from notes was 47.9gr. I can say that I’ve never blown a primer or locked up my action. I’ve never seen a flattened primer using CCI 200s or No. 34s. Typical pressure signs have been light ejector marks and a stiff bolt, with the later being my usual subjective back-off, since the ejector marks have also been more inconsistent round to round and occur at times for relatively low charge weights in my Tikka, while the next step up is mark free.

My current load is 47.1gr at a magnetospeed chrono’ed speed of 2751fps in the 570mm/22.44inch Tikka barrel, which is currently more than adequate for the ranges I’m comfortable shooting game at.

 

[Butcher8]

Great round, and an even greater round in a modern bolt action. 140s at 2700-2800 fps will handle all your needs. 120gr TTSX at 2800+ will do what the 140s will.

 

[Weldor]

I’m also planning on a suppressor and cutting my Swede back to 20ish. I’m interested to see if others have data on that combo but I’ll post here if/when I get things built up.

In my case I also picked up a 6.5prc barrel,with the plan to happily hunt with the PRC if I can shoot suppressed around 2800 (19-20”), while the Swede does target work at lower fps.

Have a 20" prc, you'll be at 2800 plus no problem. That's what I'm thinking also for the Swede, light work and a good project.

 

[WI-Carcosa]

I have a number of rounds I tried in my Swede today. I currently am not able to reload so I use Hendershots or my uncle does some for me. The Hendershots is a decent albeit expensive way to get vsrous bullets if you can’t reload. Quite anemic though.

6.5x55 Swede in a Tikka T3 19” barrel with Banish Backcountry

Hendershots:
120g ttsx
2.89” coal
Norma brass
2289.6fps

120g CX
2.93” coal
Norma brass
2348.3 avg fps, 4.9 Stdev, 14.8es

Hand load:
140g Hornady sst
Win brass
9 1/2 rem primer
2.9” coal
41.0g imr 4350
2416.6 fps avg, 16.7 stdev, 37.9 es
*will be trying this with 43.0g next run with 140s

Hand loads to come with 135g DRT, 127 LRX and 143g eldx as well later this year.

 

[WI-Carcosa]

This one is from Hendershots and I had them work up a load for the 6.5x55 Swede in a Tikka T3 19” barrel with Banish Backcountry suppressor. They do a nice job, but with the Swede and lack of modern book values, most loads are pretty anemic.
2.95” COAL
135 DRT terminal shock
Lapua brass
N560- They did not share grains of power used, but I weighed components and came out with 48grains minus primer which I estimate at 2.5-4 grains. Guesstimating around 45g or so of powder.
2694.6 fps average, ES 52.9, Stdev 15.3
The load shot fine but my shooting today was terrible. VV SKAN loading table below.

I will be working up a 135g round with my uncle with 555 hoping to be north of 2800 with a bit better ES and stdev.

 

[Waterdoctor]

My Tikka settled in @ 2825 with 130 gr Sierra gamechangers and 47.8 Reloader 23. Most 5 shot strings are under 10 FPS on the ES.

Took 3 deer between 350-425 yards last year.

 

[Ozarkansas]

I’m going to cut my Tikka down to 18” and thread it soon. I’m hopeful to stay at 2600+ FPS with 140 grain bullets, but anything above 2500 will work just fine for my needs. @WI-Carcosa your data makes me think I should be able to achieve that pretty easy

 

[WI-Carcosa]

I’m going to cut my Tikka down to 18” and thread it soon. I’m hopeful to stay at 2600+ FPS with 140 grain bullets, but anything above 2500 will work just fine for my needs. @WI-Carcosa your data makes me think I should be able to achieve that pretty easy

The VV website and Shooter reference had some helpful data points. With an 18” barrel down from the average 24” barrel or so used for many of the Swede test data, you would lose 150fps (if my reading and understanding on rokslide is correct). Given 2750 seems pretty achievable and below pressure on a longer barrel, 2600 should be pretty easy I agree. Keep us posted on what you come up with! I’m going to move to 44.0 grains IMR 4350 from 41 which should get me there as well and be a safe round. I will use slightly less for the 127 LRX and 143 eldx.

 

[BrBa]

120g ttsx
2.89” coal

120g CX
2.93” coal

140g Hornady sst
2.9” coal

Those are seated quite deep if your 6.5x55 barrel is the Tikka factory barrel. My factory barrel had a very long throat. The coal for a 127 LRX was @ 3.17" to reach the lands. Have you checked any of those with a Hornady L&L Comparator or something similar?

 

[WI-Carcosa]

120g ttsx
2.89” coal

120g CX
2.93” coal

140g Hornady sst
2.9” coal

Those are seated quite deep if your 6.5x55 barrel is the Tikka factory barrel. My factory barrel had a very long throat. The coal for a 127 LRX was @ 3.17" to reach the lands. Have you checked any of those with a Hornady L&L Comparator or something similar?

Great points, I appreciate the feedback. I agree on short length. No to the comparator but I need to check length a bit more. I will likely do the Form sharpie trick with a few various rounds.
Of those bullets, The first two came from an online store as is and the third was a box to test. Seating them a bit longer sounds like a good idea. Thank you!

 

[Ozarkansas]

120g ttsx
2.89” coal

120g CX
2.93” coal

140g Hornady sst
2.9” coal

Those are seated quite deep if your 6.5x55 barrel is the Tikka factory barrel. My factory barrel had a very long throat. The coal for a 127 LRX was @ 3.17" to reach the lands. Have you checked any of those with a Hornady L&L Comparator or something similar?

I can’t even get to the lands on some high BC bullets in my tikka, I run out of neck first. Those LRXs touch lands at 3.2 on mine

 

[WI-Carcosa]

This one is from Hendershots and I had them work up a load for the 6.5x55 Swede in a Tikka T3 19” barrel with Banish Backcountry suppressor. They do a nice job, but with the Swede and lack of modern book values, most loads are pretty anemic.
2.95” COAL
135 DRT terminal shock
Lapua brass
N560- They did not share grains of power used, but I weighed components and came out with 48grains minus primer which I estimate at 2.5-4 grains. Guesstimating around 45g or so of powder.
2694.6 fps average, ES 52.9, Stdev 15.3
The load shot fine but my shooting today was terrible. VV SKAN loading table below.

I will be working up a 135g round with my uncle with 555 hoping to be north of 2800 with a bit better ES and stdev.

Shot a 10 round group of this pretty quickly to see how it would perform. Grouped very well with 2680avg fps, 60 es, 27std dev. This bullet shoots great in my 19” T3 6.5 Swede, I’m pumped. I am hoping the n555 shoots well and I can get a bit more velocity out of it. I am really hoping to hit 2750 with a 19” barrel.

 

[WI-Carcosa]

Shot a 10 round group of this pretty quickly to see how it would perform. Grouped very well with 2680avg fps, 60 es, 27std dev. This bullet shoots great in my 19” T3 6.5 Swede, I’m pumped. I am hoping the n555 shoots well and I can get a bit more velocity out of it. I am really hoping to hit 2750 with a 19” barrel.

update on this for those trying to get more speed from a shorter barrel. I had Hendershots add .5g of n560 for an updated load shooting 135drt out of a 19” T3.

Original Hendershots 135g drt: 2714 fps avg, 40 std dev, 111 es
With .5g added n560 135g drt: 2740 fps avg, 20 std dev, 66 es
Both shot very similar groups.

I am waiting to try n555 to get more temp stable. This is a fun round to shoot

 

[farmerlifter]

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.

Just ordered my own Tikka in 6.5se and got it cut down to 20 and drilled for open sights, odd question, do you have full pics of your tikka? Im buying a Wildcat stock this week for it.

 

[bigunit]

2900 fps is doable with imr7828 and a 140gr bullet. I shoot barnes match burners. This is out of a t3

 

[TxxAgg]

Just ordered my own Tikka in 6.5se and got it cut down to 20 and drilled for open sights, odd question, do you have full pics of your tikka? Im buying a Wildcat stock this week for it.

I want to see a pic please when you're done. I'd love a short barreled Tikka with open sights.

 

[Decker9]

Just ordered my own Tikka in 6.5se and got it cut down to 20 and drilled for open sights, odd question, do you have full pics of your tikka? Im buying a Wildcat stock this week for it.

You’ll like the setup! This small tikka will outshoot my full customs most days.

 

[farmerlifter]

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.

Stupid question here, but I see people mentioning the long throats on the tikka rifles, do most people when loading for hunting not go to cartridge base to ojive? Would that not solve the problem of how deep or shallow the throat is cut?