6.5x55
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Ask Laurie. He knows everything!
Laurie Holland | Target Shooter Magazine
I don't think there is a CIP pressure rating for the 6.5x55SE
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flytie
Well-Known Member
On the Vihta reloading pages there are figures given for the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser and the 6.5x55 Skan, this is what it says about the Skan;
[FONT=&]
Test barrel: Sauer STR 200
Primers: Large Rifle
Cases: Lapua, trim-to length 54,80 mm (2.157”)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]WARNING: This reloading data is intended to use at modern rifles in good condition such as Sauer, Sako or Blaser chambered to 6,5 x 55 SKAN or 6,5 x 55 SE WARNING: DO NOT USE with Krag-Jörgensen, Mauser M1896 or similar rifles. This data has max loads set at pressure of 380 MPa! NOTE: Data contains velocity information for standard barrel lengths of Sauer STR200 rifles
[/FONT][FONT=&]380 MPa = [/FONT]55114.3 psi
[FONT=&]
Test barrel: Sauer STR 200
Primers: Large Rifle
Cases: Lapua, trim-to length 54,80 mm (2.157”)[/FONT]
[FONT=&]WARNING: This reloading data is intended to use at modern rifles in good condition such as Sauer, Sako or Blaser chambered to 6,5 x 55 SKAN or 6,5 x 55 SE WARNING: DO NOT USE with Krag-Jörgensen, Mauser M1896 or similar rifles. This data has max loads set at pressure of 380 MPa! NOTE: Data contains velocity information for standard barrel lengths of Sauer STR200 rifles
[/FONT][FONT=&]380 MPa = [/FONT]55114.3 psi
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Thanks Flytie,
I am pretty sure they have CIP for the swede, would they be allowed to build rifles in Europe for it if it didn't? Or sell cartridges?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5×55mm
What I was on about was this talk about the higher pressure SKAN, what higher pressure?
If you go higher Pressure ( higher than 3800 bar for the swede) like +P one would need to increase the wall section of the case, it is not always only about the firearm being used.
edi
I am pretty sure they have CIP for the swede, would they be allowed to build rifles in Europe for it if it didn't? Or sell cartridges?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5×55mm
What I was on about was this talk about the higher pressure SKAN, what higher pressure?
If you go higher Pressure ( higher than 3800 bar for the swede) like +P one would need to increase the wall section of the case, it is not always only about the firearm being used.
edi
flytie
Well-Known Member
Edi, When I first started reloading for the 6.5 I read all that I could about it, it would seem that some of the early rifle actions will not cope with the modern higher pressure loads, hence all the warnings about not loading them too hot.
Much the same as the 7x57, the 6.5x55 in modern actions with modern steels and actions, the same actions in some case that will take much higher pressure loadings in other calibres, there is room to push the calibre a bit harder than our forefathers used to be able to do. Obviously this has to be done carefully, as with all reloading, to be within safe tolerances.
I believe that the talk of higher pressures is a historically based warning for reloaders, to make sure older rifles are not put in the position of becoming unsafe.
Simon.
Much the same as the 7x57, the 6.5x55 in modern actions with modern steels and actions, the same actions in some case that will take much higher pressure loadings in other calibres, there is room to push the calibre a bit harder than our forefathers used to be able to do. Obviously this has to be done carefully, as with all reloading, to be within safe tolerances.
I believe that the talk of higher pressures is a historically based warning for reloaders, to make sure older rifles are not put in the position of becoming unsafe.
Simon.
I get that, what I don't get is that surely the measurements that CIP use are the standardised measurements as those are the ones with CIP. At 55000 psi the CIP spec rounds are modern pressure, sure you can go a little higher if you want to match the oresssure of say the 30-06 but, whether one calls it the SKAN or not, all it is going "over book" which plenty of people do anyway, especially with wildcats. Doesn't make it right though.
I guess i don't see the need, just get a modern rifle and buy European CIP pressure rounds or handload to the same spec from a trusted source.
I guess i don't see the need, just get a modern rifle and buy European CIP pressure rounds or handload to the same spec from a trusted source.
As I understand it, and that doesn't say a great deal as even the Swedes and Norwegians get confused over this issue, the SE is still the official CIP version and was where the 55,000 psi MAP limit was adopted for modern rifles.
The SKAN appeared as a result of the joint Scandinavian countries' initiative to adopt a single rifle model as the 'Scandinavian Target Rifle' in the 1980s. Regional competitions using the cartridge had thrown up an issue that Norwegian manufactured cartridges wouldn't chamber in some Swedish rifles, or if they did as a crush fit - a headspace issue'. When it was investigated, it appeared that the interpretation of tolerances in the original military cartridge and chamber had varied between the various users of the cartridge and it was deemed essential to agree a common version that gave guaranteed chambering in the new rifle irrespective of which country the competition was shot in and therefore which national shooting body procured the ammunition to be issued. This became the 'SKAN'.
Hence the Sauer STR200 which was chosen by the various participants as the definitive Scandinavian match rifle being chambered as per the new SKAN chamber dimensions. The differences from previous practices when they do exist are very small indeed.
So far as loadings / pressures go, the SKAN doesn't change anything from the previously adopted CIP higher-pressure 'SE' version, so both SKAN and SE data should only be used for loads in modern rifles.
There is an occasional suggestion or hint, can't put it stronger than that, that sizer dies made specifically for cartridge to be used in SKAN chambers may not 'bump' shoulders enough to allow easy chambering in a chamber whose case-head to shoulder datum line measurements were right on the short end of the old Swedish arsenal tolerances.
In any event, none of this affects how many grains of Viht N160 or N165 you stuff into a modern 6.5X55 'Swede' Tikka, Sako, Sauer or whatever. You're allowed just over 55,000 psi and although a very modest pressure by today's standards it gives more than enough performance for any British deer quarry, and more than enough MV to shoot the cartridge competitively at 1,000 yards in club level F-Class, Benchrest and similar.
People are now claiming almost the same performance levels in terms of MVs from the 6.5X47 Lapua and no doubt soon the 6.5 Creedmoor once the very strong small primer Lapua brass for that cartridge appears here (expected in April), but being an old-fashioned git I still prefer a lower stressed 'big un' to a 65,000 psi stressed 'little un'.
The SKAN appeared as a result of the joint Scandinavian countries' initiative to adopt a single rifle model as the 'Scandinavian Target Rifle' in the 1980s. Regional competitions using the cartridge had thrown up an issue that Norwegian manufactured cartridges wouldn't chamber in some Swedish rifles, or if they did as a crush fit - a headspace issue'. When it was investigated, it appeared that the interpretation of tolerances in the original military cartridge and chamber had varied between the various users of the cartridge and it was deemed essential to agree a common version that gave guaranteed chambering in the new rifle irrespective of which country the competition was shot in and therefore which national shooting body procured the ammunition to be issued. This became the 'SKAN'.
Hence the Sauer STR200 which was chosen by the various participants as the definitive Scandinavian match rifle being chambered as per the new SKAN chamber dimensions. The differences from previous practices when they do exist are very small indeed.
So far as loadings / pressures go, the SKAN doesn't change anything from the previously adopted CIP higher-pressure 'SE' version, so both SKAN and SE data should only be used for loads in modern rifles.
There is an occasional suggestion or hint, can't put it stronger than that, that sizer dies made specifically for cartridge to be used in SKAN chambers may not 'bump' shoulders enough to allow easy chambering in a chamber whose case-head to shoulder datum line measurements were right on the short end of the old Swedish arsenal tolerances.
In any event, none of this affects how many grains of Viht N160 or N165 you stuff into a modern 6.5X55 'Swede' Tikka, Sako, Sauer or whatever. You're allowed just over 55,000 psi and although a very modest pressure by today's standards it gives more than enough performance for any British deer quarry, and more than enough MV to shoot the cartridge competitively at 1,000 yards in club level F-Class, Benchrest and similar.
People are now claiming almost the same performance levels in terms of MVs from the 6.5X47 Lapua and no doubt soon the 6.5 Creedmoor once the very strong small primer Lapua brass for that cartridge appears here (expected in April), but being an old-fashioned git I still prefer a lower stressed 'big un' to a 65,000 psi stressed 'little un'.
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