6.5x55 SE would it compliment and fit in or be a waste ?

Another point, how much does a box of Norma 120gr BT cost?
edi

They are fairly expensive alright. I personally use Sako Powerhead II, which are a bit cheaper (about €55/box of 20).

They do the job every time, and per kg of venison it's a pretty good deal.
 
No-one suggested that the personal weapon for infantry soldiers will change anytime soon from 5.56. There's a host of reasons for that. However, there will be (and already have been) changes to specialised weapon platforms such as sniper rifle platforms, because there is recognition that for years now NATO has relied principally on two platform types for sniper use: The first is 30 cal (.308 Winchester) for short to medium range (to 800m) and the second platform being HME calibres, including 50 cal, .338 Lapmag and .408 Cheytac for example. The latter 3 all include for long range (800m to 2300m) anti-personnel and hard interdiction use (including targets within vehicles).

What was missing in essence was a section weapon which sort of plugged the middle, so a weapon that covered 800m to say 1200m and was also a section or platoon weapon. The Afghan war and the war in Iraq highlighted that specific need.

What has happened is that the US Marines have now adopted (for trials at least), you've guessed it, the 6.5 CM as that intermediate range sniper calibre, and bought a shed load of new rifles up to train troops on.

It's highly likely that the UK armed forces, at some point, will follow suit and adopt at least a platoon level, if not section level intermediate range sniper rifle. The 6.5 fits that bill perfectly as do a number of 7mm options (I'm surprised actually that the 7mm options were discounted by the US Marines).
Actually Edi did suggest it in comparison to 5.56 and it was that post I was responding to
 
They are fairly expensive alright. I personally use Sako Powerhead II, which are a bit cheaper (about €55/box of 20).

They do the job every time, and per kg of venison it's a pretty good deal.

Think that most of us have found that virtually ANY "Premium Bullet" topped cartridge has a "Premium" price tag. Always been that way...... hasn't it??

That is why many of us who do LIKE to use a Premium projectile have broken into loading our own at home. There again, if one is a shooter that goes out, grasses a deer and spends the next month or so relishing the different cuts and recipes before going out again to take another singular deer, .... Or you are another low shot per year hunter for whatever reason, the price of a GOOD QUALITY round with a Premium Bullet atop that you are comfortable and confident with at say 2€ to even 5€ a round really ISN'T that much of a financial hit,..... is it??
And the 120gr Nosler BT really IS an amazingly accurate projectile that will do the business with aplomb (as long as it isn't launched/loaded too fast and used at seriously close ranges)!... But that goes for a whole host of other proprietary projectiles. Horses for coarses.. Reload for your anticipated shooting conditions whenever possible!

ATB ....... and shoot safely
 
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Well now I wasn't a 6.5x55 advocate until relatively recently . I first delved in the 6.5mm market with a 6.5 Rem Mag followed later by a 264 Win Mag and after that a 260 REM .

At the present I have three 6.5 Grendels , two 260 REM's , four 6.5x55's , a 6.5-06 and a 26 Nosler .

My 6.5x55 that's used for hunting is a plain old CZ550 FS with a Leupold Vari XII 3-9 and shooting handloaded Nosler 140 BT's , Gun shoots very well for any bolt action and exceptionally for a rifle that's mannlicher stocked . The other three 6.5x55's I own now and two others I had in the past are all variations of the Swedish Mauser and while none are scope mounted they all shoot or shot relatively well with handloads provided I was seeing the target well .

So yes I always have room for a 6.5x55 whether I really need it or not . But then again it's a heck of a lot easier for those of us in the USA to have excess then it is for most folks in other countries .
 
There again, if one is a shooter that goes out, grasses a deer and spends the next month or so relishing the different cuts and recipes before going out again to take another singular deer, .... Or you are another low shot per year hunter for whatever reason, the price of a GOOD QUALITY round with a Premium Bullet atop that you are comfortable and confident with at say 2€ to even 5€ a round really ISN'T that much of a financial hit,..... is it??

Couldn't agree more
 
the price of a GOOD QUALITY round with a Premium Bullet atop that you are comfortable and confident with at say 2€ to even 5€ a round really ISN'T that much of a financial hit,..... is it??

I prefer quality rounds that I can use for zeroing and little practice without wincing. Using ammo at 5e a pop would mean hundreds extra per year per rifle.
 
I prefer quality rounds that I can use for zeroing and little practice without wincing. Using ammo at 5e a pop would mean hundreds extra per year per rifle.

What is that addage?... "Cut your cloth to suit your pocket" or something like that?... If I was going to shoot a whole lot of them in practice I too would have to rethink which bullets I was throwing downrange. But I shoot a lot with my other (pest destruction) rifles and find the transition across to a weightier caliber perfectly acceptable, so my need to practice is very much reduced....

ATB ...... and shoot safely
 
You can if you live in the UK - reloading isn't pernitted by law in the Republic :(

WOW!! I had NOT realised that and I am betting like me, many shooters next door in the UK won't know that either!??...

That is a tough one to live with 'Sako75Hunter' and I apologies if any of my responses came across as a tad thoughtless here!! Ignorance is NOT bliss is it?.. Just ignorance!......

I don't know if I would even BE a lifetime shooter if I could not reload BY LAW... .. DAMN, and Respect!

ATB ....... and shoot safely
 
Or shoot PRVI rounds at less than 85p a round and save the reloading. They still go bang the same and I'm yet to meet a deer or fox that was disappointed it wasn't a prememium brand at £44 for 20 (PRVI £16.95 for 20)
 
What has happened is that the US Marines have now adopted (for trials at least), you've guessed it, the 6.5 CM as that intermediate range sniper calibre, and bought a shed load of new rifles up to train troops on.

USMC has (since WW2 anyway) been more willing to experiment / innovate than most infantry based bodies. However, translating trials into adoption and issue is a huge step and there is an enormous canyon to be crossed called procurement / logistics. Military planners hate any and all diversification of equipment and supply requirements, and when it comes to ammunition they hate it doubly or trebly. It's not that many years ago that the UK Parachute Regiment allegedly nearly mutinied over being sent into a Balkans combat zone sans 7.62 GPMGs because the MoD / Army had decided at a senior level that the forces could and should manage with 5.56 weapons only at squad level for logistics reasons. As long as 7.62 continues to be used in MGs, there is a huge disincentive to adopt another calibre for sniper rifles. A hard-pressed unit in combat and out of its sniper grade ammunition sees its specialised rifles continue in use firing cooking 7.62 ball; one that uses 6.5CM or anything sees them downgraded to use as clubs.

Ignoring different bullets/ loadings, there are four smallarms cartridges in use now - 5.56, 7.62, 338LM and .50BMG.
 
WOW!! I had NOT realised that and I am betting like me, many shooters next door in the UK won't know that either!??...

That is a tough one to live with 'Sako75Hunter' and I apologies if any of my responses came across as a tad thoughtless here!! Ignorance is NOT bliss is it?.. Just ignorance!......

I don't know if I would even BE a lifetime shooter if I could not reload BY LAW... .. DAMN, and Respect!

ATB ....... and shoot safely

Thanks and no worries.

TBH it doesn't bother me much, as I don't really go through enough rounds to make it worth my while investing in all the gear etc., and I doubt if I'd do it for enjoyment either, even if it were allowed.

Lots of other shooters here find it a pita though!
 
Bull****....the swede will outlive Creedmoore for sure, the swede is and will be by far the most popular 6.5mm on the market for years to come
Not so sure about that. I am no 6.5 fanboy but the CM is growing fast in the worlds largest market and along with PRS it is having a big impact on the factory rifle market. It does make me smile when I listen to the fanboys about performance because it does nothing a Swede cannot do with modern bullets and powders. It also has the limitations of the Swede that made it the less favoured cousin in the UK medium centre fire rifle market.

I was in a gunshop last week looking for reloading bits and was surprised by the huge amount of stock they carried for the Creed.

Looking at Guntrader bolt actions for laughs:

243 - 770
308 - 667

270 -163
30-06 - 158
6.5Swede - 143
6.5CM - 121

7x57 - 18
260 -17
7x64 -13
7-08 -10

So its almost on a par with the Swede and hasn't been around for that long. Interesting how unpopular the 7mm's are considering their ballistic advantages with modern bullets and powders.

New generation of shooters though, so they are destined to relearn the lessons. Says the old fart...
 
USMC has (since WW2 anyway) been more willing to experiment / innovate than most infantry based bodies. However, translating trials into adoption and issue is a huge step and there is an enormous canyon to be crossed called procurement / logistics. Military planners hate any and all diversification of equipment and supply requirements, and when it comes to ammunition they hate it doubly or trebly. It's not that many years ago that the UK Parachute Regiment allegedly nearly mutinied over being sent into a Balkans combat zone sans 7.62 GPMGs because the MoD / Army had decided at a senior level that the forces could and should manage with 5.56 weapons only at squad level for logistics reasons. As long as 7.62 continues to be used in MGs, there is a huge disincentive to adopt another calibre for sniper rifles. A hard-pressed unit in combat and out of its sniper grade ammunition sees its specialised rifles continue in use firing cooking 7.62 ball; one that uses 6.5CM or anything sees them downgraded to use as clubs.

Ignoring different bullets/ loadings, there are four smallarms cartridges in use now - 5.56, 7.62, 338LM and .50BMG.

Yes...apparently, the Paras were none too happy and I can well understand why.

Since the trials were announced in the US (that must have been back in late 2017?) I have been a little out of touch it seems. Things seem to have gone back and forth and I gather now that no fixed plans for a replacement platform to the 5.56 are yet decided due to budget concerns by the US department of defence and ongoing trials, with Congress putting the brakes on procurement of current replacement M27 rifles for the Marines. The Marines seem to be standing by their wish for a replacement personal weapon based upon the M27 using enhanced 5.56 M855A1 ammunition but the Army don't have confidence that 5.56 will be up to the task in future theatres due to advances in body armour and concerns raised after recent conflicts.

I hadn't appreciated that trials with the Textron's case-telescoped 6.5 round rifle have (to all intents and purposes) been ditched due to cost and weight concerns (the "lightweight small arms technology" programme apparently resulting in rifles prototypes which were anything but light weight!).

It seems that the only branch set on the 6.5 is Special Ops who want to replace their 7.62 platforms with a new intermediate range 6.5.

Until the USA settles on an across-the-board replacement for the M249 SAW and M4 carbines, I doubt that the UK will make any moves for a change of calibre, or at least a wholesale replacement of the SA80A3. As you say, the 7.62 Sharpshooter section weapon seems to have won favour and it looks like the LSW and L110A3 are being taken out of service leaving the door open for the GPMG to make a return as a section weapon. That leaves us with a mix of 7.62 Sharpshooter and 5.56 SA80A3 at section level with I'd hazard a guess, the return of the GPMG to replace the LSW.
 
USMC has (since WW2 anyway) been more willing to experiment / innovate than most infantry based bodies. However, translating trials into adoption and issue is a huge step and there is an enormous canyon to be crossed called procurement / logistics. Military planners hate any and all diversification of equipment and supply requirements, and when it comes to ammunition they hate it doubly or trebly. It's not that many years ago that the UK Parachute Regiment allegedly nearly mutinied over being sent into a Balkans combat zone sans 7.62 GPMGs because the MoD / Army had decided at a senior level that the forces could and should manage with 5.56 weapons only at squad level for logistics reasons. As long as 7.62 continues to be used in MGs, there is a huge disincentive to adopt another calibre for sniper rifles. A hard-pressed unit in combat and out of its sniper grade ammunition sees its specialised rifles continue in use firing cooking 7.62 ball; one that uses 6.5CM or anything sees them downgraded to use as clubs.

Ignoring different bullets/ loadings, there are four smallarms cartridges in use now - 5.56, 7.62, 338LM and .50BMG.

I recon the thought of finding a compromise between 5.56 and 7.62 is not new. However I understood there will be a new attempt to find a solution and a new rifle at the same time. I presume one must think of the future or? It will need to happen at some stage. On another note, isn't the 7.62x51 as a sniper platform being replaced with 300wm, at least in the US Navy? Stiller action etc.
edi
 
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