6.5x55mm QL

F

frankm

Handloader
May 10, 2009
460
58
Would someone be so kind to run a QL on above cartridge assuming modern bolt action strength? (Barrett Fieldcraft)

Here's inputs please:

IMR 4831
R22
R26

147 ELDM
3.20 COL
Lapua or Norma brass
Fed 210M

24 inch barrel length

I have an inkling that this cartridge in the Fieldcraft long action at 5.6 lbs would be a sweetheart with great performance and mild recoil. Quite possibly outperform the Creedmoor and 260 Rem cases.

In addition would love to hear of others experiences with 'the Sweed'

Thanks
 
Frank, I think if you search 6.5x55 you may see a few posts on them.

Totally agree, the 6.5 Swede is an animal loaded to modern pressures with RL26. I think you’re right, the Fieldcraft in 6.5 Swede is the best of the bunch. Plenty of magazine, awesome cases and easy to love.
 
Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 147, Hornady ELD-M 26333
Useable Case Capaci: 51.859 grain H2O = 3.367 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.200 inch = 81.28 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 4831

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% 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

-10.0   86    39.42   2435    1936   40404   9341     99.4    1.503
-09.0   87    39.86   2460    1975   41627   9418     99.5    1.482
-08.0   88    40.30   2484    2014   42886   9492     99.7    1.462
-07.0   89    40.73   2508    2053   44180   9562     99.8    1.441
-06.0   90    41.17   2532    2093   45510   9628     99.9    1.421
-05.0   91    41.61   2556    2132   46879   9690     99.9    1.401  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   92    42.05   2580    2172   48286   9748    100.0    1.382  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   93    42.49   2604    2212   49733   9802    100.0    1.363  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   94    42.92   2627    2253   51221   9853    100.0    1.345  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   95    43.36   2650    2293   52752   9904    100.0    1.327  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   96    43.80   2674    2333   54326   9954    100.0    1.309  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   97    44.24   2697    2374   55946  10003    100.0    1.291  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   98    44.68   2720    2415   57613  10052    100.0    1.274  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0   99    45.11   2743    2456   59328  10100    100.0    1.258  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  100    45.55   2766    2497   61093  10148    100.0    1.241  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  100    45.99   2788    2538   62909  10195    100.0    1.225  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     96    43.80   2765    2496   64586   9590    100.0    1.217  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     96    43.80   2535    2098   44170  10213     98.2    1.432
 
Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 147, Hornady ELD-M 26333
Useable Case Capaci: 51.859 grain H2O = 3.367 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.200 inch = 81.28 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% 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

-10.0   87    44.91   2524    2079   38028  11069     99.0    1.512
-09.0   88    45.41   2553    2128   39371  11166     99.2    1.488
-08.0   89    45.91   2583    2178   40764  11255     99.5    1.463
-07.0   90    46.41   2613    2228   42214  11337     99.7    1.439
-06.0   91    46.91   2642    2279   43719  11412     99.8    1.416
-05.0   92    47.41   2672    2330   45285  11480     99.9    1.393
-04.0   93    47.90   2701    2381   46913  11540    100.0    1.370  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   94    48.40   2730    2433   48609  11592    100.0    1.348  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   95    48.90   2759    2485   50372  11640    100.0    1.327  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   96    49.40   2788    2537   52209  11686    100.0    1.305  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   97    49.90   2817    2590   54120  11731    100.0    1.284  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   98    50.40   2845    2643   56112  11776    100.0    1.264  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   99    50.90   2874    2696   58188  11819    100.0    1.244  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  100    51.40   2902    2749   60352  11862    100.0    1.224  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  101    51.90   2931    2803   62605  11903    100.0    1.204  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  102    52.40   2959    2857   64940  11943    100.0    1.185  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     97    49.90   2944    2828   68431  11211    100.0    1.173  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     97    49.90   2621    2242   41967  12034     97.4    1.431
 
Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 147, Hornady ELD-M 26333
Useable Case Capaci: 51.859 grain H2O = 3.367 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.200 inch = 81.28 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-22

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% 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

-10.0   89    43.20   2472    1994   38855  10476     95.3    1.499
-09.0   90    43.68   2500    2040   40140  10603     95.7    1.477
-08.0   91    44.16   2528    2087   41467  10726     96.2    1.454
-07.0   92    44.64   2557    2134   42844  10846     96.6    1.432
-06.0   93    45.12   2585    2181   44267  10962     97.0    1.410
-05.0   94    45.60   2613    2229   45740  11074     97.4    1.389
-04.0   95    46.08   2641    2277   47265  11182     97.7    1.368  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   96    46.56   2670    2326   48847  11286     98.0    1.347  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   97    47.04   2698    2375   50485  11385     98.3    1.328  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   98    47.52   2726    2425   52176  11480     98.6    1.308  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   99    48.00   2754    2475   53920  11570     98.9    1.288  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  100    48.48   2782    2526   55718  11655     99.1    1.269  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  101    48.96   2810    2577   57576  11736     99.3    1.250  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  102    49.44   2838    2628   59499  11811     99.5    1.232  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  103    49.92   2865    2680   61489  11882     99.6    1.214  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  104    50.40   2893    2732   63550  11947     99.8    1.196  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     99    48.00   2887    2720   65561  11230    100.0    1.188  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     99    48.00   2570    2155   43061  11248     92.9    1.420
 
SJB358 .... agree 100% with the pros you mentioned. Sounds like a real nice package that would handle 95% of critters I hunt, would be light and won't kick a guy out from under his hat. I have a 6.5 CM with 24" barrel but it's a portly 8 3/8 lb vanguard. Thought about a lightweight stock for it but even then it'd outweigh the Fieldcraft by a pound or so.

Dr Mike, thank you for the QL. R22 and R26 'wake up' that Sweed if you go 56-58K psi!
 
I’ve got a Model 70 Featherweight that may get a McMillan Hunters Edge Compact before it’s all said and done. It’s the rifle I use to shoot 140 ABs at 2900 with RL26 out of. Great shooting little rifle and I’d have no issues taking just about anything with. If you bump up to the 60K mark with RL26 it’s really an amazing little combo.
 
So brass design not a factor... just old actions I take it.

2900 with a 140 is right in 270 Win area and the 6.5 has much more aerodynamic bullets!
 
Modern brass will readily handle pressures within reasonable limits. Modern rifle designs are robust, allowing a margin of safety well beyond what the brass will allow. This is not meant to be an argument to press pressures before reason--we do reach a velocity plateau despite increasing maximum chamber pressure.
 
DrMike":38glxq9y said:
Modern brass will readily handle pressures within reasonable limits. Modern rifle designs are robust, allowing a margin of safety well beyond what the brass will allow. This is not meant to be an argument to press pressures before reason--we do reach a velocity plateau despite increasing maximum chamber pressure.
Click to expand...

Mike nailed what I was going to say much more eloquently than I can muster. The 6.5 Swede brass is made by Lapua and is wicked strong. I have seen no problems in the least with running my current loads in my little Featherweight and to be honest, I won't change them at this point. This rifle and load has shot some amazing groups out to 500, and like you said, it isn't very far behind a 270 Winchester with a bit sleeker bullets. Keeping in the 60-62K range is my comfort zone, but ever in the 56-58K range isn't exactly loafing. Nosler has always had some good 6.5x55 Swede data and has ran the 140's into the 2800 range with the standard powders. 26 is just a bit faster and I cannot hurt a case so far.
 
I remember the magazine article headline that got me fired up about the 6.5 x 55 Swede back in the early 90's;

"The performance of the 270 Winchester, the recoil of the 257 Roberts, and more accurate than either."

Still have that magazine somewhere!

Bought a European militarry semi automatic for $80 as it was the only 6.5 Swede I could find, and had fun with it. Sold it to a friend who wanted it after I acquired my first Remington 700 Classic in the Swede. Shot Norma's 139 gr ammo in both rifles, as well as Winchester's 140 gr ammo. Also found that the Hornady Light Magnum and European Spec Light Magnum ammo shot very well in that Classic, and almost duplicated the Norma velocities of 2780 fps (manufacturer's specs) and field performance on game.

Found that handloads in that Classic would shoot the 140 gr X Bullet, with max IMR4350 charge as listed in original Barnes Reloading manual, 5 rounds into less than 1" at 200 yards. The Nosler Partition would group 5 rounds into 1" at 100 yards, with the max charge of IMR4350 in the Nosler No.3 reloading manual. Sorry, but I never had a chance to chrony those loads. Recoil and field performance on game was very similar to the regular 6.5x55 Swedish factory loads from Winchester.

I used to put between 500 and 700 rounds a year through that rifle off the bench, just practicing trigger control. It was such a pleasure to shoot! That didn't include sighting in or load development shooting. Probably put 5000 rounds through that rifle before I foolishly sold it. Never noticed any decrease in accuracy. My next Classic had prettier wood,but did not shoot as accurately with the same loads as the previous one did. Sold it, with hopes of finding or building a lefthanded 6.5. Finally got the LH Sako 85 Hunter a couple of years ago. First 3 shot group out of the box went less than 1/2" at 100 yards!

With modern firearms, I believe that it safe to increase loads to that 60,000 pressure level. Giving this great cartridge the bump in performance that brings it right on the heels of America's favourite, the 270 Win.

Looking forward to trying Re26 in this new Sako with 140 gr AccuBonds!
 
My soon to be ex-wife's first rifle was an old Swede, so I had to be careful with pressure, since they have some issues with steel-quality. Lots of headspace, but performed well with 140gr AB on the range and on game with a 18'' barrel. Now it is waiting for my younger son to take it to the fields.
He has to be 16 here to do so :-(


Gesendet von meinem HUAWEI VNS-L31 mit Tapatalk
 
just played a bit with quickload.
seems that out at 300m, the Swede catches up to my current 30-06 load.
ok - it is comparing apples to pears, but the 140 gr AB retains similar speed and energy as my standard 30-06 round (LOS HT 150 gr, which isn't a long range bullet). saying that: 18" barrel for the Swede, 24" for the 30-06. makes me wonder why I take that heavy dun out so much ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
QL 22-250 AI 40 degree
Replies
15
Views
2K
SJB358
S
AMMUNITIONAmmunition BULLETSBullets BRASSBrass FirearmsFirearms GearGear
Back
Top