Want to build a 6.5x55

[doeroller]

I have a Ruger 77 .270 with the 20" pencil thin barrel. It does not shoot that well. I want to rebarrel it to 6.5x55. My smith recommends a 9" twist and I THINK I need a 8" twist to shoot all the 140s and larger grain bullets. The gun will be used for deer and targets only. Moderate range, nothing exceeeding 400yds. Light recoiling for older and larger kids to use in deer stands. Need a blood trail and quick kill because the area we hunt is thick. ADVICE PLEASE

[mjbgalt]

i would go with a heavier contour barrel, less recoil and better accuracy, on average.

the swede is fine with a 1:9 twist, that's what mine uses, and i get good groups from both 100 hp's and up through 130's. i have not tried 140's but the 120's will damn near equal a .270 with a 130 grain bullet if you load it right.

have the barrel throated normally, like any modern rifle. sometimes smiths will cut them like the old swede military guns and you will have a heck of a time getting results with lighter bullets.

if you want to shoot a load the kids can handle, i use 42.5 grains of Varget with a 100 grain Nosler BT. Shoots way under an inch, and is travelling about 3200 fps.

i also recommend IT&D Gunsmithing in Medina, Ohio. great work and i got my mauser barreled with a featherweight contour douglas xx air gauged barrel, stainless, about $300 total. very good price.

-Matt

[mjbgalt]

also, for the penetration and blood trail, i would load the 140's with a relatively light load. i think that should drive right through the deer. varget and h4350 are good choices in this cartridge.

you only need that 1:8 twist if you're doing crazy stuff like loading 160 or more grain bullets. no need for this, as the 140 will do 100% of what you want.

[mcwoodduck]

For kids,
why not go with lighter bullets.
Seller and Bellot makes a 131 grain soft point that expands well with mild recoil.
If you are going to roll your own...
How about even lighter bullets like the 120 grain A frames.
yes they are a little costly but they can be loaded down and will expand.
Let's see pictures before and after.

[mjbgalt]

with the speeds a swede tosses bullets at, no need for premium bullets. no need for anything expensive at all for that matter. point and pull the trigger, and go get whatever died. been poking a lot of very long holes for a very long time.

[nomosendero]

with the speeds a swede tosses bullets at, no need for premium bullets. no need for anything expensive at all for that matter. point and pull the trigger, and go get whatever died. been poking a lot of very long holes for a very long time.

I agree when you consider the application, Deer & targets. I load the 130 Accubond for my Wife's Swede, but for accuracy reasons, not because it would be needed for Deer, it just likes the bullet.

[james]

 I screwed a McGowen 1:8 stainless barrel on a Savage action and it will shoot the cheap Privi 139 gr bullets into an inch at 200 yards.  I took two antelope with it a few of weeks ago and couldn't be happier with it.  I shot prairie dogs with it last summer with the same load so the lopes were a gimme at 300 yards.
My daughter uses an Encore in the same 6.5 x 55 and I think has a 1:8 twist which shoots the 100 and 120 gr Sierra's in one inch at a hundred yds.  I have had good luck with the tight twist swede sporters so I didn't want to take a chance on a longer twist.

[Mikey]

I believe the Swedish Mausers and the 6.5x54 Mannlichter Schoenaeur both wore a 1:7.5" twist.  The Swede is known for its accuracy with everything from 85 - 160 gns.  HTH.

[Brithunter]

Actually Norma laods 77 grain bullets in both FMJ and SP which shoot well through the swedish mauser military barrel long lead and all  the FMJ's are Jadgmatch and meant for practice and come in 50 count boxes.

[AtlLaw]

I believe the Swedish Mausers and the 6.5x54 Mannlichter Schoenaeur both wore a 1:7.5" twist.  The Swede is known for its accuracy with everything from 85 - 160 gns.  HTH.

+1
I want to shoot 160's in my 6.5x55 which is why I had it done w/a 1:7.5 barrel.  Trouble is, it shoots the 120's and 140's so good I haven't got around to the 160's yet!   

[lilabner]

I have a Tikka T3 in the 6.5 Swede. It has the 8 inch twist. I was somewhat concerned about how it would shoot with bullets in the 120 to 130 grain weights but it shoots sub minute of angle with them. I know shooters that use 100 grain bullets and get good groups. I love my Swede but it helps to be a gun nut if you want to use the cartridge. You should handload as our factory ammo is loaded light to be used in the old military rifles. The case head of American cartridges is slightly undersized so I recommend buying European cases. Also, you will need the full size shellholder as those American cases fit too loose. If you don't want to handload, go with the .260 Remington. Similar ballistics and performance, but the Swede will  handle 156 and 160 grain bullets better.

[doeroller]

   I handload almost all of the ammunition I hunt with. What RCBS shell holders do you use for #1 American 6.5x55 brass and #2 European brass?

[kombi1976]

Here in Oz we have a lot of M96s and M38s that were imported, restocked with Ramlines, had their bolt handles bent and scopes fitted to them so they could be sold off for reasonably cheap amounts.
A few mates have had them and always found them effective rifles.
My best mate has a Husky model with a timber sporting stock and Tasco 6x scope and with the standard military bbl it shoots Nosler 100gr BTs at just over 3000fps.
Now, they wouldn't be my choice for a deer bullet but they're excellent on small game and predators.
The only thing that has stopped me investing a Swede is the fact we have a minimum calibre of .270" on our larger deer species.
Aside of that I can't think of a better all round rifle for someone who isn't keen on recoil and has no minimum calibre limitations.
And they're the duck's guts for target work!
The 6.5 Grendel, 260 Rem, 6.5/284 and other 6.5mm cartridges now all the rage for target shooting were inspired by the excellence of the 6.5x55.

[Gerry N.]

  I handload almost all of the ammunition I hunt with. What RCBS shell holders do you use for #1 American 6.5x55 brass and #2 European brass?

For American brass use the shell holder for the .30-06 case head.   RCBS #3
For Euro brass use the .30-30 win sized shell holder.  RCBS #2

I use Lapua brass in my M700 Classic, it likes it, it does.

Gerry N

[cleveland48]

The 1:9 twist should be just fine.  I know alot of people think it might not stabilize the 140's. But I have a browning a-bolt in 260 and it has a 1:10 twist rate. The truth is that the 140 gr. Hornady sp with  a max load of IMR 7828 is the best load I have it averages between .5 and .75 in groups with 3 shots.  And an inch and sometimes a little less at 200 yards.  The only other load that gives it a run for the money is a max load of H4350 and 120gr. BT.  The 1:9 twist should be just fine.