6.5x55 Speed?

[Sweet 6.5]

Hi
I know you can load the 6.5x55 a bit faster in the CZ than in the older
rifles. Can somedody give me an idea of what you could get out of your rifles?
 
Thanks
 

[BBF]

The reason is that American Ammo makers hold the pressure down because of rifles made during war time  may not have the pressure limit that new rifles have.
 
Norma and probably a few other European makers load them hotter.
 
My very old Norma loading book shows a 93 gr bullet at 3150 fps.
                                                         139 gr  """   at 2946 fps
                                                         144 gr " "    at 2723 fps
                                                          156 gr " "   at 2720 fps
 
All of these loads use various Norma powders.
 
For modern rifles SAAMI is 51,000 psi. Some of the loads for the above velocities surpass 49,000 psi

[james]

I built a 6.5x55 on a Savage action and tried getting some higher velocities for 400-500 yard shooting.   It started losing accuracy in direct porportion with speed using 139gr boat tails in front of Varget and 4831 powders. It still wasn't showing pressure signs but I quit when I got a few grains over today's max.  I decided the fast twist 8:1 likes the slower speeds because it will clover leaf several loads and bullet weights about a half grain under the book max.  I will try some 129 poly tips and other powders before antelope season and will let you know if I find a fast load that is accurate. 

[one eye joe]

I get 3000 with no problem using two different powders with a 120 Ballistic Tip. Don't remember for sure, but believe 2950 with the 129 Hornady. No pressure signs from any load. I found good accuracy, so didn't try pushing any further.

[us920669]

That cartridge should have brackets, like 45-70.  I had a 6.5 m/m Arisaka chamber for the Swede, don't know how they compare with the CZ, but the Arisaka is a very strong action.  I got what I thought were blistering velocities, although I see others have gone higher.  The140 gr Speer GS went around 2750 with 46.5 gr H4350.  Just a few tenths more started to get pretty peaky - 2830 - so I called 46.5 final.  I had a partial box of 127 gr RWS Cone Point that hit 2900 with 42.7 gr N150.  They flattened the primers, but they slid right out of the chamber.  They cost so much I didn't follow up.  My barrel had been 22 inches, but rechambering pushed it back a turn, so it was a bit under that.


Don't run right out and load these, a million things can enter in.  I used the Century brass imported about 20 years ago.  They came with a puny 140 gr load, but an excellent case with vivid annealing, sort of Russian looking markings. 

[Sweet 6.5]

Thanks guys. 2750 with 140gr and 2850 with 129gr will be more than enough for me.