Velocities from a 6.5x55 with 120-140 weights?

[rmarshall]

Of course I'm talking modern guns loaded to higher pressures. Would it give me anything over a 260 rem? Thanks all

 

[SJB358]

Loaded to the same specs a 6.5 has more space than a 260. How much difference, I don't think you'll ever shoot anything that notices. What I generally see is 120's a little over 3000, 130's at around 2850-2900 and 140's in the 2750-2800 range. Seems general but those are decent numbers across both cartridges.

 

[orchemo]

The swede with bullets seated really long, looks way cool

 

[Jimbeaux82]

Here is some of the 140 gr loads that I have tested in my CZ 550 FS, 20" barrel. I have not experimented too much with the 120 gr loads.

Federal Factory Blue Box 140 gr - 2435 FPS

51.0 gr H4831SC 140 gr SST 2770 FPS 1.5 moa

47.5 gr VVN160 140 gr NBT 2745 FPS 1.0 moa

 

[1Shot]

It all depends on barrel length. I am shooting loads that come from the Accurate manual that are under 46000 CUP which is lower pressure for the small ring Mauser etc. With the 96 Mauser Swede's 29" barrel the max load of 46 grs AA4350 averages 3000 fps with 120 gr bullets and 45 grs AA4350 with 140 gr bullets gets 2800 fps. As has been said all things equal the Swede may get 100 fps more than the 260 Rem. The real difference is that you can shoot the 260 Rem through a short action rifle and with the Swede you need a longer action. So far the 25+ deer I have shot with my Swede with 120 Sierra SP and Nosler ballistic tips, 140 Sierra SP and Hornady interlock SPs from point blank to around 400 yards can't tell the difference between them. BANG FLOP 90% of the time with the rest doing a hop, stagger, nose plow powered by back legs for a few yards DRT dance.

 

[FOTIS]

I got 2780 from the 140 Hornady using IMR 4831

 

[desertcj]

Kind of curious about this as well. I had a 96 Swedish mauser years ago and I worked up a load with the 120 BT and IMR 3031. I was 17 and it's what I had! Shot a few hundred rounds at 38 grains of 3031, seems really mild. My cousin has it now and he sporterized it. We are going to load up his brass again with that same load and I just got a chronograph too so it will be fun to see what velocity that load is at.

 

[Anonymous]

The Swede is really interesting- particularly in a modern rifle.

Factory ammo and a lot of manuals out there are pretty timid in deference to all the very old rifles floating around. It probably gains you a little over the .260 with greater case capacity if you're adventurous when it comes to max loads. Given a choice- I'd take the .260...easier to find high performance factory fodder and a lighter rifle to carry around.

 

[Dwh7271]

Kind of curious about this as well. I had a 96 Swedish mauser years ago and I worked up a load with the 120 BT and IMR 3031. I was 17 and it's what I had! Shot a few hundred rounds at 38 grains of 3031, seems really mild. My cousin has it now and he sporterized it. We are going to load up his brass again with that same load and I just got a chronograph too so it will be fun to see what velocity that load is at.

Here you go for ideas.
Ran it with a 24" barrel

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 120, Nosler BalTip 26120
Useable Case Capaci: 53.905 grain H2O = 3.500 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 3031

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   65    30.40   2359    1482   28530   7778     99.6    1.575
-18.0   67    31.16   2407    1543   30178   7926     99.8    1.542
-16.0   69    31.92   2454    1605   31906   8060    100.0    1.511
-14.0   70    32.68   2501    1667   33717   8181    100.0    1.480
-12.0   72    33.44   2547    1729   35613   8298    100.0    1.450
-10.0   74    34.20   2592    1791   37598   8413    100.0    1.417
-08.0   75    34.96   2637    1853   39675   8527    100.0    1.382
-06.0   77    35.72   2681    1916   41847   8639    100.0    1.348
-04.0   79    36.48   2725    1978   44119   8750    100.0    1.315
-02.0   80    37.24   2768    2041   46495   8860    100.0    1.284
+00.0   82    38.00   2811    2105   48979   8967    100.0    1.254  ! Near Maximum !

 

[desertcj]

Not bad. 38 grains looks like a good safe load. With the 29" barrel I bet it was pushing 3000fps!

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Probably a .300 Savage vs. .308 comparison literally.

Game will be dead either way.