Shooting longer ranges with 6.5x55

[scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Question for the 6.5x55 guys.

A friend of mine has a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 and as he's joining the NRA at Bisley wants to try shooting at longer range there

(Bisley you can shoot from 100 to 1,200 yds)

So, he's got a couple of questions about shooting those distance with a 6.5x55

Would it be worth getting an inclined rail? (10 or 20 MOA?)

What's a good factory load for longer range shooting that's available?

Thanks in advance,

Scrummy

 

[Muir]

Hi folks,

Question for the 6.5x55 guys.

A friend of mine has a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 and as he's joining the NRA at Bisley wants to try shooting at longer range there

(Bisley you can shoot from 100 to 1,200 yds)

So, he's got a couple of questions about shooting those distance with a 6.5x55

Would it be worth getting an inclined rail? (10 or 20 MOA?)

What's a good factory load for longer range shooting that's available?

Thanks in advance,

Scrummy

I have shot my 6.5x55 hunting rifle past 700 yards with good results, but, not with factory ammo. I was using PPU 120 BTHP handloads. In the US, 6.5x55 ammo is not generally available in Match grade; it almost entirely hunting ammo, loaded with hunting bullets.

M41 Swedish military ammo is superb if he can find it. If your friend really wants to play out there you should encourage him to indulge in a basic loading outfit. JMHO ~Muir

 

[Border]

Thomas Haugland (THLR) used to use a Sako Finnbear in 6.5x55 before .243w and 6.5x284w. Was 1000m capable with a long barrel if I remember correctly. Probably best with high b.c. match bullets around 140 grains.

 

[bowji john]

I’ve shot my 6.5 creed out to 1200 m (once !) and my 6.5 x55 out to 850 m quite often

No earthly reason why the swede can’t do 1200 if the creed can

I did run out of elevation with the scope on the swede beyond 850 m

I have 40 MOA on the creed but didn’t need that much for 1200

I’d say a 20 MOA rail or mount would / should be sufficient - depending of course upon launch speed

My reloads when shooting @ 1200 had an ES of 30 which is not very good and did cause significant vertical spread

It wasn’t me of course…..

I use 143 ELDx and RL 17 for the creed and 143 ELDx with RS 62 for the Swede

 

[25 Sharps]

Unless he’s got a 34 mm target scope put a 20 MOA rail on it, run a suitable bullet (I like 139 gr scenar) and load it to a suitable speed and he’ll get out there no prob’s.

Factory ammo wise I think he’ll struggle to be honest

 

[andychas]

It’s certainly capable of proper long range, take a look at this Fieldsports Britain film from a couple of years ago, shooting a 6.5x55 mauser m12 at 1500m.


ammunition wise, If it has to be factory, I’d be tempted to see how 140gun PPU does in your rifle, or some Hornady 140SST superperformance

 

[25 Sharps]

It’s certainly capable of proper long range, take a look at this Fieldsports Britain film from a couple of years ago, shooting a 6.5x55 mauser m12 at 1500m.


ammunition wise, If it has to be factory, I’d be tempted to see how 140gun PPU does in your rifle, or some Hornady 140SST superperformance

Ppu is slow and has a low BC (i don’t believe the .539 G1 for a second), it wouldn’t be a great choice.

SST super performance would be a good shout but homeloads would likely be better

 

[pendle]

I shot out to a 1000 yrds at WMS with my tikka 695 in 6.5x55 20" barrel using 129grn sst home loads and was hitting the gong. I was using a
C-more scope

 

[ashray]

i hope your friend has at least a 24" barrel,mine is 20" and fine for 600 yards but not for any thing above.! my max muzzle velocity is 2700 with max n150 and 140gr eld-m.good luck to your friend

 

[big ears]

i hope your friend has at least a 24" barrel,mine is 20" and fine for 600 yards but not for any thing above.! my max muzzle velocity is 2700 with max n150 and 140gr eld-m.good luck to your friend

Try a faster powder Rl17/RS60 will push that speed up to 2850 out of a 20” barrel in 6.5x55 which will extend your range.

 

[scrumbag]

I’ve shot my 6.5 creed out to 1200 m (once !) and my 6.5 x55 out to 850 m quite often

No earthly reason why the swede can’t do 1200 if the creed can

I did run out of elevation with the scope on the swede beyond 850 m

I have 40 MOA on the creed but didn’t need that much for 1200

I’d say a 20 MOA rail or mount would / should be sufficient - depending of course upon launch speed

My reloads when shooting @ 1200 had an ES of 30 which is not very good and did cause significant vertical spread

It wasn’t me of course…..

I use 143 ELDx and RL 17 for the creed and 143 ELDx with RS 62 for the Swede

Cheers John!

 

[Ronin]

Just don’t tell the gun your shooting that far and get on with it

 

[Davee]

1915'ish military rifle, open sights. Ok he is an Aussie gunsmith but what the heck? Check out the modified rear sight.

 

[Sako75Hunter]

I’ve shot my 6.5 creed out to 1200 m (once !) and my 6.5 x55 out to 850 m quite often

No earthly reason why the swede can’t do 1200 if the creed can

Out of pure idle curiosity, what sort of drops are we talking with the 6.5x55 at these ranges?

 

[Heym SR20]

6.5x55 was one of the original military rounds that came along at the sort of time as the 7x57, 303, 30 krag etc. They all shot long heavy for calibre bullets and we effective out to well over a mile.

The vast majority of such rifles have the ability to stabilise long heavy fir calibre bullets, so will or should stabilise long high BC bullets. These maintain velocity well, and don’t need high muzzle velocities to remain supersonic well past 1,000 metres.

It will come down to how accurate individual rifles are with such ammo, and then how good the shooter is at adjusting for distance and reading fir wind.

And in Scandinavia the 6.5x55 is still the standard full bore target cartridge - in the same way as .303 was and 7.62 is in the UK.