6.5x55 swedish vs .260

[Jaeger308]

Starting thoughts on a project for my son, who just returned from a deployment. Would like to get opinions and experiences between 6.5x55 and .260? Our vault has .308s and .338 LM tactical rifles, he is looking for a hunting rifle in 6.5. We Plan on driving 140 Berger VLD hunting bullets and build it around a #5 contour barrel. I have done some research onthe pros and cons, figure I would ask here for thoughts?

 

[fdkay]

You can push the heavies a bit faster in the old swede without running pressures to high.
Both excellent cartridges, you'll want a long action for the swede, short action for the .260, which makes a difference to some folks.
You can also consider the 6.5-06 or 6.5x57.

 

[M.rolen]

I have been looking for a reason to get a 6.5x55 interested to see what people say here.

 

[stik]

I love my 6.5 Swede Remington 700. I may be selling it soon to help finance an AI in the next month or two though. I have realized that I can only shoot one rifle at a time so I am pairing down. I still may keep it, I haven't really decided yet. I am going to take it hunting this weekend for sure though.

 

[wakajawaka]

Maybe there's room in the vault for both?

I'm a fan of the 6.5x55 but only have a collection (30 or so) of Swedish Mausers, no modern guns.

In .260 I've one lonely Savage LRPV.

If your building a rifle for hunting, I can't see that you would be disappointed with either.

All things being equal, or close to it, I'd go with the shorter action.

 

[ptaylortx]

Performance between the two would be negligible at best. If you're a reloader, the 260 would be the obvious choice imo. Brass is easily formed from common 308 based cartridges that you can pick up off the ground at the local range.

 

[turbo54]

I don't dig all the body taper of the Swede, but love the improved versions of it.

While 260 is no slouch, the 6.5x55 improved really hits the sweet spot in case capacity for ~140gr 6.5 bullets. It'll zing them at 2900fps with ease, while not torching barrels like a 6.5-284 will when running 2950-3050.

 

[AK264]

Lapua brass available for the 6.5x55. 100fps more out of the 6.5x55. Case capacity better suited to slow 6.5 powders in the 6.5 x55. 6.5x55 cartridge seats up against lands at magazine length in a long action. 6.5x55 WINNING. but only in a long action.

 

[FCS]

Starting thoughts on a project for my son, who just returned from a deployment. Would like to get opinions and experiences between 6.5x55 and .260? Our vault has .308s and .338 LM tactical rifles, he is looking for a hunting rifle in 6.5. We Plan on driving 140 Berger VLD hunting bullets and build it around a #5 contour barrel. I have done some research onthe pros and cons, figure I would ask here for thoughts?

What action on you building on?

260 really needs about 2,980" OAL to run the VLDs. Yes, can and people do run 140 VLDS from shorter OALs but IMHO you are hamstringing performance by doing so w/260. If running standard AICS magazine with 2.865" max OAL constraint the 6.5 Creedmoor is best option.

I did a long lead 260 (reamer designed for F-open originally, put BT / bearing @ N / S junction w/142 SMK or 139 Scenar) on a Win 70 which with hinged floor plate, block removed from back of mag box and bolt stop trimmed will allow 3.030" OAL to feed from magazine. If you run AICS type magazine you can get 2.980" OAL into magazine if front plate is removed.

140 Berger VLDs at 2925 and printing sub 2" groups at 600 yards, feeding from magazine.

6.5X55 Swede is a neat round but I'd go 260 or even 6.5 Creedmoor over Swede, not a fan of all the body taper on 6.5X55 Swede.

 

[bodywerks]

You can push the heavies a bit faster in the old swede without running pressures to high.
Both excellent cartridges, you'll want a long action for the swede, short action for the .260, which makes a difference to some folks.
You can also consider the 6.5-06 or 6.5x57.

Or 6.5 saum if you want to REALLY run those 140s while staying with a short action. I am in love with my 7saum. Thinking about a long range laser myself and the 6.5 fits that bill nicely.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Jaeger308]

Why the concern for the case taper on the swed? I understand it can be an issue with loads in the upper limits of pressure, we reload and have always kept pressures in the middle finding a accuracy node and going with it. Any other concerns with the taper?

 

[Layton]

I'm throwing 140 Hybrids at 2970fps with a 26" barrel out of my Swede and I have pushed them past 3000 with ease and no pressure. In a long action where a Swede belongs it will out perform the 260 by more than just negligible speeds as mentioned above. If you are going with a short action then there's no reason to go with a Swede. Stay 260.

L

 

[santee116]

If I was doing a Long Action build for hunting I would just go 6.5-284 over the 6.5x55.

If it is for hunting, barrel life is not a concern of mine. Maybe 20 shots a year while hunting should equal a lifetime of barrel life, with better terminal performance.

If short action I would go .260 or 6.5 creed.

 

[Natty Bumpo]

not a fan of all the body taper on 6.5X55 Swede.

I thought the body taper on older hunting and military rounds was for reliable extraction. If a straight walled case becomes stuck, it will stick the entire length during extraction. A tapered case will extract more reliably; since, if stuck, just a little movement rearwards will completely free it. At least that was my understanding of the reason for tapered cases.

 

[6.5BR]

Just like the old 98 was well thought out, so too was the 55 and the '94/'96. Looking at pure performance, not just speed, the round is highly effective, efficient, very accurate, and reliable. Both rounds will reach more than 90% will shoot under 90% of the conditions when hunting.