Which 6.5 cartridge for long action - SSG 3000?

[alpine44]

I have a SIG SSG 3000 that I want to rebarrel to 6.5mm caliber.

Magazine and action will accommodate cartridges up to 3.450" COAL. However, the single stack magazine is too narrow for anything based on the 284 case.

Keeping in mind the known accuracy nodes for 140 grain LR bullets, what case would you choose?

Rifle will be used for long range plinking and with the forearm weight removed also for hunting if needed.

 

[natdscott]

6.5-06 is pretty well known at this point, and some have AI'd it.

 

[alpine44]

6.5-06 is pretty well known at this point, and some have AI'd it.

Yes, the 6.5-06 A Square and 6.5x65 Brenneke are on my list. I think both can be formed from Lapua 7x64 brass.

 

[yej0001]

SSG 3000 is designed around 6.5x55. I have Benchmark make a 6.5x55 for me and it shoots light out. They use PTG's 6.5x55 Match reamer with a shorter throat than Tikka/SAKO's 6.5x55 rifles. It turned out it was very easy to fine tune loads with this chamber.

 

[alpine44]

SSG 3000 is designed around 6.5x55. I have Benchmark make a 6.5x55 for me and it shoots light out. They use PTG's 6.5x55 Match reamer with a shorter throat than Tikka/SAKO's 6.5x55 rifles. It turned out it was very easy to fine tune loads with this chamber.

Many more of these actions were and still are chambered in 6.5x55 compared to the smaller batch of 308 rifles that were also imported to the USA. The only odd thing is that the magazine and action is much longer than necessary for the 6.5x55. So who knows what Sig/Sauer had in mind.

What velocity do you get with your most consistent 140 grain load?

 

[Vargmat]

Here in Scandinavia, every long range shooter and their mom has had a Sauer STR 200 (pretty much a SSG3000 without the integrated picatinny) at one time or another.
They are known to shoot extremely well and you can change the barrel yourself with only a 5mm hex key. The standard caliber is 6,5x55 Swede and most use it as is. Some have had the chamber re-cut to 6,5x55 AI. Mine was a regular 6,5x55 with the 74cm barrel, my standard load sent 139 grain Lapua Scenars at 2930fps. And there was a bit of room left if you would wand to go faster. But I figured it was good enough, as I shot plenty of sub 0.5 MOA groups with it at the 300 meter range.

 

[Basher]

Hard to go wrong with a good 6.5 Swede!

 

[TorF]

You can use all std long action Sauer 202 hunting rifle barrels if you remove a 3/10mm of the "sholder" of the barrel. I use a 20" 30-06 semi weight barrel for hunting tipped with an Ase Utra SL5 can. Shoots well.

Eurooptics would be a good source for 202 barrels in the US.

 

[alpine44]

You can use all std long action Sauer 202 hunting rifle barrels if you remove a 3/10mm of the "sholder" of the barrel. I use a 20" 30-06 semi weight barrel for hunting tipped with an Ase Utra SL5 can. Shoots well.

Eurooptics would be a good source for 202 barrels in the US.

Thanks. I read about using the Sauer 202 barrels but they are not exactly cheap and the caliber selection is limited. I already have an extra extension and a 6.5mm blank, so the remaining question is about the cartridge.

Does anyone here shoot a 6.5-06 or similar?

 

[alpine44]

Ca

Hard to go wrong with a good 6.5 Swede!

Can't argue with that. Plus it looks like it could be reamed up to 6.5-06 if needed.

 

[jakelly]

I love the 6.5-06 AI. I don't have time to type it all out, but if you want to call 406-696-1500 is my number.

 

[duramaxed]

West Texas Ordnance has a 6.5-280AI as a favorite caliber. Since I already have 280AI it fits. Probably close to the 6.5-06AI

 

[8208]

6.5x284 has my vote. Commercially available brass, solid load data and it can push up to 150 grain projectile.

 

[BurnOut]

I think I'm gonna do a 6.5-280AI.

 

[alpine44]

6.5x284 has my vote. Commercially available brass, solid load data and it can push up to 150 grain projectile.

The 284 case diameter is too large for the SSG 3000 magazine. I tried.

 

[alpine44]

I think I'm gonna do a 6.5-280AI.

The 6.5-280AI will be 3.520" long with the Berger 140 VLD according to West Texas Ordnance. The SSG 3000 magazine only holds rounds up to 3.450"

 

[sandwarrior]

You might be interested in the 6.5x55 RCBS improved. It's a 28* shoulder instead of the typical Ackley of 40* A smidge off in performance, but both are better than the original for performance. It will feed better than the Ackley improved will.

If not interested in the improved versions the regular 6.5x55, using Lapua brass (which is what I'd use on the improved cases too), is nothing to turn your nose up at. It's always had outstanding ballistics without the recoil. Then along came better bullets and it's about as much as you'd ever need.

 

[TorF]

Just a little teaser from Norway.

Blaser matchbarrels in 6.5x55 for SSG3000. Price is about $400 + local tax:
Blaser matchbarrels

Våpensmia barrels made from Lothar Walther, Heym, SIG Sauer, Schultz&Larsen blanks. Price from app $400 + local tax and up :
A lot of barrels..
(eks: L.W 6.5 21/700-220mm = Lothar Walther, 6.5x55, muzzle dia=22mm, length=700mm=30", 220mm = twist)

 

[mpk1996]

If you are looking for custom barrels, I would look at the 6.5 Addiction. Its basically a 6.5x55 improved. it fits in a short action, but would be fine in a long action too. if you are looking for more, maybe the 6.5x284.

 

[sandwarrior]

Just a little teaser from Norway.

Blaser matchbarrels in 6.5x55 for SSG3000. Price is about $400 + local tax:
Blaser matchbarrels

Våpensmia barrels made from Lothar Walther, Heym, SIG Sauer, Schultz&Larsen blanks. Price from app $400 + local tax and up :
A lot of barrels..
(eks: L.W 6.5 21/700-220mm = Lothar Walther, 6.5x55, muzzle dia=22mm, length=700mm=30", 220mm = twist)

How are you getting Blaser barrels for $400? Here in the U.S. they usually run around 2 grand.

 

[alpine44]

You might be interested in the 6.5x55 RCBS improved. It's a 28* shoulder instead of the typical Ackley of 40* A smidge off in performance, but both are better than the original for performance. It will feed better than the Ackley improved will.

If not interested in the improved versions the regular 6.5x55, using Lapua brass (which is what I'd use on the improved cases too), is nothing to turn your nose up at. It's always had outstanding ballistics without the recoil. Then along came better bullets and it's about as much as you'd ever need.

The sharper shoulder of the 6.5x55AI drags a bit on the locking lugs when pulling the bolt back. Polishing the edges of the lug would probably help.

 

[sandwarrior]

The sharper shoulder of the 6.5x55AI drags a bit on the locking lugs when pulling the bolt back. Polishing the edges of the lug would probably help.

I think one of the biggest problems with that is people pushing Ackley cartridges too hard. They are wonderful in single shot applications at the same pressures as the original cartridges. For some reason people think that now they have an improved cartridge, they can jack the pressures up. I know, because I did it. What I found when I backed off was that brass grew very little. Accuracy was exceptional. Feeding got worse.

 

[alpine44]

I think one of the biggest problems with that is people pushing Ackley cartridges too hard. They are wonderful in single shot applications at the same pressures as the original cartridges. For some reason people think that now they have an improved cartridge, they can jack the pressures up. I know, because I did it. What I found when I backed off was that brass grew very little. Accuracy was exceptional. Feeding got worse.

Did you use them in a SSG 3000?

What I meant was that the bolt drags on the next round in the mag. Otherwise, the 6.5x55AI feeds well into my current .308 chamber as far as it will go.

 

[alpine44]

Thanks everybody for the input and suggestions.

For now, I am leaning towards the 6.5x65RWS for the following reasons:

1) I was born in Germany, ha ha...
2) PTG has reamers in stock
4) I can get ready to go RWS brass for 20% more than Lapua .30-06 brass, which needs to be reformed.
3) Good factory ammo is available in Europe if I ever take the rifle overseas. Reloaded ammo is always at risk of being confiscated by the airline since it does not have the 1.4s or appropriate EN label. Lost already 200 rounds on this technicality.
4) The 6.5x65RWS chamber is supposed to have a short throat since it was also envisioned as an upgrade for 6.5x57 rifles with limited mag length. I will get the dimensions from PTG and hopefully will be able to figure out the COAL with the 140 grain VLD touching the lands.

The last point could be a deal breaker if the throat is too long for what I can fit in the mag (3.450" COAL). In this case I will go with some flavor of the Swede.

 

[sandwarrior]

Did you use them in a SSG 3000?

What I meant was that the bolt drags on the next round in the mag. Otherwise, the 6.5x55AI feeds well into my current .308 chamber as far as it will go.

How does it do with a full magazine? Are you limited to five in your Sig 3000?

 

[alpine44]

How does it do with a full magazine? Are you limited to five in your Sig 3000?

The original mag fits 5 of the AI rounds without problem. There is a 10 rounder available that I have not bought yet. Someone also make a +2 extension.
Rounds based on the 6.5x55 are harder to get in the mag than the longer rounds based on the .30-06 case. The magazine lips are a tad longer than the 6.5x55 body, so the shorter cases are more difficult to push down when loading the next one.

 

[sandwarrior]

The original mag fits 5 of the AI rounds without problem. There is a 10 rounder available that I have not bought yet. Someone also make a +2 extension.
Rounds based on the 6.5x55 are harder to get in the mag than the longer rounds based on the .30-06 case. The magazine lips are a tad longer than the 6.5x55 body, so the shorter cases are more difficult to push down when loading the next one.

Interesting. I thought they would have made cartridge specific mags. I guess not, eh?

 

[101stinfantry]

Benchmark has the +2 extensions, not sure if they are the ones that makes them or not. I had them make me a barrel up in 6.5CM for my SSG 3000. The only thing that isn't perfect is it takes a little more force to strip the cartridges from the magazine, probably would've been fine if I'd went with a .260.

 

[alpine44]

Benchmark has the +2 extensions, not sure if they are the ones that makes them or not. I had them make me a barrel up in 6.5CM for my SSG 3000. The only thing that isn't perfect is it takes a little more force to strip the cartridges from the magazine, probably would've been fine if I'd went with a .260.

The front portion of the magazine, that raises the round towards the chamber, is shaped for cartridges with a more tapered body and lesser shoulder angle.

I am pretty confident that a slight chamfer on the rear edges of the two "rails " in from of the mag lips will improve the feeding of the 6.5CM. I will give this a try if I go with a cartridge that has less body taper and more shoulder angle than the .308Win or 6.5x55SE.

(Let me know if you need a pic to understand what I am referring to)

 

[101stinfantry]

Your completely right, I just put a .308 round, and 6.5CM round in there, and slowly pushed them forward with my thumb, and I see exactly what and where you mean. I'll have to give that chamfer a try.

 

[xdeano]

6.5 addiction. An improved 6.5x55 Swede.

Xdeano

 

[yej0001]

I had a Benchmark barrel made for SSG3000 (27"). They use "6.5x55 match reamer," which I assume is from PT&G. It has a shorter throat than in Tikka/Sako rifles. This barrel is very accurate and easy to tune loads. I settled at 147 Hornady ELD and RL26. A mild load (with 46.5 gr RL26) gives me 2800 fps. I am pretty sure I can push to 2900 if desired.