What is the ideal barrel length for a 6.5 55 rifle?

[Southern]

I have found that the powders which work for a cartridge and bullet weight in a 26 inch barrel work best in a 20-inch barrel as well.

For example, my .270 and 7x64 Mannlichers do best with the same H4831 recipes which work in my 22-inch .270 Remington 700, 24-inch .270 Mauser, and my 23.6 inch Steyr Pro Hunter 7x64. My .270 Mannlicher shows only 50 fps less than my 24-inch Mauser with the same 130-gr and 150-gr ammunition.

Likewise, the best loads for my 22-inch .30-06 rifles are also best in my 26-inch Browning B78 - they just fly faster.60

There was a discussion of this for the 6.5x55mm a few years ago, right after I joined. The OP had a 20-inch carbine, and was wondering about a faster powder. He found that N160 gave the top accuracy and velocity.

There are just other factors at play: chamber dimensions, brass, primers, 1/1,000 inch tighter bore, etc.

 

[Blobby159]

Well that's interesting news 'Southern' but given the complexities of the art of reloading I am not at all surprised!.. Thank you..

ATB .... and shoot safely.

 

[The deer man]

% burnt powder matters not if you cant get the thing off tje shoulder and into the aim because its so unwieldy. Best to consider the rifle and moderator as a whole. With a JetZ I find 20-21" about my limit. With a Hausken I can stretch a bit further.

Adjusting powders for barrel length is a bit of a myth. Best powder for velocity for 24" is the same for 20" and if its moderated muzzle flash isnt normally an issue.

You can call it a myth if you like so I hope this clarifies what I said a bit better...

When we conducted real tests on two identical rifles but one with a shorter barrel the results of the tests were as I've said. Accuracy wise there was no discernible difference between one barrel length or another when using the same powder.

As I stated the velocity from the longer barrel was better with a slower burning powder and with the faster burning powder the shorter barrel had a very slight advantage. This is the fact but a more pertinent question is whether the difference in velocity in the real world, given accuracy remained stable in differing barrel lengths, made any difference to a hunting situation out to say 300 yards? Answer: None.

Conclusion, go for whatever barrel length favours you and work up the most accurate powder/load and forget chasing velocity, "shorter will work".

 

[JTO]

The Nosler manual gives data based on using a Lilja 23" barrel with a 1:9" twist.

 

[WildBoarHunter]

The Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5×54 MSch carbine with the barrel length of 45 cm achieved velocities from about 650 m/s and perhaps up to about 700 m/s, and it seems it worked fine for the most part, considering the limitations of the 6.5 cal... 6.5×55 should achieve better velocities than this even from a 20 barrel.

 

[I. Farticus]

The Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5×54 MSch carbine with the barrel length of 45 cm achieved velocities from about 650 m/s and perhaps up to about 700 m/s, and it seems it worked fine for the most part, considering the limitations of the 6.5 cal... 6.5×55 should achieve better velocities than this even from a 20 barrel.

Agreed. 20 1/2" barrel: 140gr SST - 2,770fps / 844m/s

 

[Orvil]

I won a sporting rifle comp at Bisley this year with an (older) T3 Hunter 20" barrel 6.5x55, dropping 2 points from 100 to 300 yards and can safely say that 4" or 10 feet extra barrel length wouldn't have made the slightest difference to accuracy. It's a superb calibre and the 6.5/.264" bullet range has a terrific selection when it comes to weight and BC. You'd have to be well up the weight stakes in 30 cal say to get even close. Top calibre!

 

[nordicspitz]

I won a sporting rifle comp at Bisley this year with an (older) T3 Hunter 20" barrel 6.5x55, dropping 2 points from 100 to 300 yards and can safely say that 4" or 10 feet extra barrel length wouldn't have made the slightest difference to accuracy. It's a superb calibre and the 6.5/.264" bullet range has a terrific selection when it comes to weight and BC. You'd have to be well up the weight stakes in 30 cal say to get even close. Top calibre!

Any pics of the rifle?
Would you say that you get any kind och muzzle flash when shooting 20" barrel?
I myself own a tikka t3 in a grs stock chambered in 6,5x55. Thinking of shorting the barrel to get a little more well balanced rifle. (Thanks to the suppressor)

Skickat från min SM-T800 via Tapatalk

 

[simonalexsmith]

22 with 160 match ammo I have seen being used to very long range accuracy of 400 yards.