6.5x55 or 6.5CM for new build shorty

[Movistar]

Hey gents (and ladies?). I want to build a new rifle. I love shorter barrels. I also like to be different from everyone else. I’m going to have this gun built using a Cadex chassis cause I just like the way they look and feel. I want it to be 6.5 because I don’t have one and I’m interested in it. I do hand load, and I mostly shoot steel and paper. I have unlimited access to any distance here in Utah. I have a hunting rifle so this won’t be for that. My question is about action and barrel length. I don’t anticipate shooting any matches but I won’t rule it out. This mostly just for fun for me. It will be suppressed as well.

So 6.5x55 is a long action and gives lots of flexibility with pressure and seating. Factory ammo is cheap and easy enough to find. As is Lapua brass. I’ve never seen anyone use this in less than 20 inches in a modern rifle. I want to do either 16 or 18. But with that much powder will this still work?

6.5CM is short action obviously. Ammo is fine but costs 75% more than the Swede but there’s more choices etc. Lots of info out there and lots of guys doing 16-18 inch barrels and proving you don’t need a 26 inch barrel to make 6.5 work.

So the biggest question I have is 18 inch 6.5x55 or 16 inch 6.5CM?

Thoughts comments and help are appreciated. Lots of good guys in this community with good experience. Thanks!

 

[Movistar]

I should note that I haven’t bought the chassis yet so I can do either long or short action.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I'd say go with 6.5CM if you want to have a chassis rifle and use easy to find magazines.
The 6.5x55 is a great round, but won't fit in just about any short action magazine & you have to mod the LA ones to fit.
With a short barrel, no reason to go with the 6.5x55 as you won't get any benefit due to the short barrel length.

 

[Movistar]

Huh that’s kind of what I was thinking about the barrel length. I figured 6.5x55 would feed out of a 30-06/308 long action mag ok. But I guess my desire to be different won’t gain me any benefits with such a short barrel?

 

[flyer]

Where are you finding 6.5*55 ammo $6.00/20?

 

[Movistar]

16 bucks 6.5x55 for match ammo at cabelas yesterday. 3 flavors. The 65CM was 30-38 a box depending on your flavor.

 

[flyer]

I rarely paid over $25 for a box of 6.5 Creedmoor, usually $23-24 for 140 grain AMAX or 140 grain ELD-M from Hornady and some for $19-20 a box with an unnamed 140 grain hollow point.

I'll have to look at that Sweede ammo but it's not 75% less.

 

[ddavis]

6.5x55 only holds a couple grains more than 6.5 Creed. It gains just a bit of velocity, but I think it's mostly due to being able to hang the bullets way out there since it's sort of a "medium" action. 6.5x55 is definitely different and neat, but with it you are pretty much stuck with handloading (factory ammo is WEAK due to old low pressure rifles like the Krag) and you are also really restricting your choices in rifles/options because you are dealing with long action chassis/bottom metal/mags. The Creed in a short action is just a whole lot more practical.

 

[Defuzer]

if your wanting the x55 go for it. using the cadex, no issue on mag length/bm, etc as you can change mag sleeves.

using the LA, allows you to get an action wrench and jump up or down as you see fit if you want to go larger/smaller in future with the Cadex versatility.

with that, I would probably go LA Cadex, but in 6.5CM to start using the SA mag sleeve option on LA chassis, if that makes sense.

 

[Simia Dei]

if your wanting the x55 go for it. using the cadex, no issue on mag length/bm, etc as you can change mag sleeves.

using the LA, allows you to get an action wrench and jump up or down as you see fit if you want to go larger/smaller in future with the Cadex versatility.

with that, I would probably go LA Cadex, but in 6.5CM to start using the SA mag sleeve option on LA chassis, if that makes sense.

Sorry to sidetrack slightly, so a tikka action could use the cadex chassis and swap out mag sleeves, and provided you have the applicable bolts, you could build a short action and magnum switch barrel...?

 

[Defuzer]

tikka looks to only be able to use factory mags on LA look here:

http://www.cadexdefence.com/products/chassis/lite-strike/

not sure how much the factory Tikka mags have on OAL compared to other actions that are AI compatible. only other company I can think of that has LA Tikka chassis is GRS. a few DBM manufacturers make LA Tikka AI compatible products, but I think those are capped at 3.5-3.6"

 

[Simia Dei]

tikka looks to only be able to use factory mags on LA look here:

http://www.cadexdefence.com/products/chassis/lite-strike/

not sure how much the factory Tikka mags have on OAL compared to other actions that are AI compatible. only other company I can think of that has LA Tikka chassis is GRS. a few DBM manufacturers make LA Tikka AI compatible products, but I think those are capped at 3.5-3.6"

Well viewing that just fills me with disappointment... would be good if you could use those long action AI mags

 

[JMcBurn]

Why not 6.5 addiction if you don't mind reloading? it is a SA 6.5x55 with an improved shoulder.

 

[Hairy Biker]

Well I have a 6.5 Swede on a Rem 700 SA action off an AICS with an 18 inch barrel. It can be done and the 130 Bergers can be loaded deep to fit the magazine. Muzzle blast is big but it is accurate and a handy length.

 

[Hairy Biker]

About 2800fps MV for those interested. Otherwise the 123 Lapuas work well from the magazine.

 

[Movistar]

Thanks Hairy biker for posting the velocity you’re seeing.

 

[Mossyoak44]

I vote the Swede, a 6.5x55 in a 18 inch barrel sounds cool. I’m a big fan of the 6.5x55 so I might be a little biased. If you have some good long range shooting spots you wouldn’t mind sharing with a fellow Utah shooter, please send me a pm.