When hand loaded up to its real capacity the 6.5x55 will leave the Creedmoor in the dust especially with the heavier longer bullets which can be seated farther out to take full advantage or the extra case capacity. The Swedish Mauser actions, Carl Gustaf M96/M38 and the Husqvarna actions were built with an extremely tough steel stronger than any German steel. Even the German built “Swedish” Mausers were required to use that special Swedish steel. Those guns were proof tested to almost 63,000 psi. Husqvarna built 30-06 and other higher pressure cartridges for many years on that same action with absolutely no problems.

@Eddy7848

5 ай бұрын

Yeah, but it doesn't have the "cool hipster hotness factor" of the Creedmoor! 😅 The USA is very good at marketing and selling new stuff. 6.5x55 and 260 Remington are great rounds.

@CharizardFan_og

5 ай бұрын

I agree, I get about 100fps more from my 6.5x55 than the 6.5 creedmore by hand loading... My rifle is a modern one, not 100 years old...

@jmkhenka

5 ай бұрын

@@Eddy7848 It's mainly the short action aspect i feel that makes the 6.5CM more popular nowadays. I can buy many of the popular rifles here in sweden in x55, like the t3x, bergara, sauer, mauser, blaser. But we also have much more shooters of x55, so used rifles are cheap (and often really good!), x55 ammo is the cheapest you can get - 308 is approaching those levels though. I love the X55, I had a sauer 101 in it. But as we can own limited nr of guns, I had to sell it to swap rifles around. But now i have a Bergara in 6.5CM. But I reload, but its nice to use the same bullets and powders for them. I went CM because of the SA - more compability with 3rd party stocks primary.

@ryanupchurch9683

5 ай бұрын

The factory loads in the Swede are anemic not because of old Mausers but because of old krag Jorgensens. Which do have a weak action.

@davewinter2688

5 ай бұрын

@@ryanupchurch9683 I should have mentioned that. The Krag-Jorgen in 6.5x55 is very rare in the US. They weren't imported like the Swedish Mausers. Carl Gustaf or Husqvarna were. As far as I know, the 30-40's were all U.S. built.

I have not used a 6.5 Creedmore but I do own 2 rifles in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. I have a 1908 Carl Gustav model 1896 and a 1943 Husqvarna model 1938. Both rifles have taken everything from coyote to moose and are the flattest shooting guns I own.

You have to LOVE THE SWEED !!!! Love the Nostalgia of the ROUND....accurate and a great killer !!!

An example of re-inventing the wheel, the Creedmoor is a fantastic design, but it's main accomplishment is opening America rifle makers eyes to the wonders of the 6.5 caliber. If Ruger, Weatherby, Browning or even Winchester had of chambered in the 6.5 x 55, the Creedmoor would never of been. Speaking of reinventing the wheel, 300HamR and the 7.62x39.

@henrynelson11

6 ай бұрын

It's not that simple, one of the major advantages of 6.5 Creedmoor is that it fits in 308 magazines which are very common in North America

@Eddy7848

5 ай бұрын

Don't forget about 260 Remington! 😉 The obsession with "short action" rifles is a bit inane. A half inch longer receiver really makes no difference in hunting rifles. Now they're reinventing 6.5x284 with 6.5 PRC. The gun industry has to come up with new calibers if they want to sell new rifles... 😏

@trevorgale1176

5 ай бұрын

the 260 Rem should of been the big seller years ago, however you need rifles in that chambering.@@Eddy7848

@user-hc3eo5nt3c

Ай бұрын

My 6.5x55 m96 is 106yrs old has no rust ,i'v read the is mild steel,copper& nickel ,It Carl Gustafs Stads.

I have a 6.5x55 Swede chambered in a Savage 110; with a 26” match barrel. My go to load gives me 2900 fps with a 142 gr SMK. I could get more velocity, but my load has given less than an inch at 300 yds. If I do my part.

That was agreat video. Thanks for the information and the knowledge. Man oh Man is the snow coming down. Take Care and Be Safe.

In Europe the price per ammo is vice versa. 6.5x55 is cheaper because it's more wildly used

@patmiddleton3947

Ай бұрын

Yeah,those Europeans get pretty wild with their shooting.😎

Just got an older zastava m70 Lk in 6.5x55 se today for a whopping $300. came with a nice set of Leopold bases and rings, very excited to fix it up and turn it into my main hunting rifle. used to have a rifle in 6.5x55 and was probably the nicest shooting rifle I'd ever owned, never felt under guned, and it dropped everything i aimed at. will probably end up passing this rifle onto my son one day, maybe on his 21 fist b day, still gives me 13 yrs to play with it. 😁. not as nice as my carl Gustaf ( think spelled that wrong), but this zastiva is still a sharp looking old fella.

@paulsouth4794

4 ай бұрын

I have the M70 6.5SE stainless. If the bolt is tight pop off the extractor ring and polish the groove as the machining is rough . If it scrapes brass off the case the extractor claw needs a little attension to make the rim groove sit in the claw . I have worked up a 100gr load using nosler tipped bullets and plan to use barns 100gr for larger game like red deer . ADI 2209 /H4350 is the best powder so far 3400fps at max book load. 3150fps is where the accuracy node is . The twist (1:9) is a little slow for the heavier bullets ,yet with the modern action one should be able to move them a little quicker .

@outdoorsythings2573

4 ай бұрын

@@paulsouth4794 awesome. thank you. I'll do that.. thank you

@paulm7448

3 ай бұрын

I've got a zastava m70 in 6.5x55. only shot it at the range so far but it shot under an inch 5 shot group with my hand loads. 129grain Hornady SST.

3:50 You are wrong. In Europe you'll have the option to have ur newest, most modern rifles chambered in 6.5x55. For exampel Sako, Tikka, Blaser, Sauer, Merkel, Remmington, Winchester, Howa etc. And if you handload you can defintly exceed the maximum powdercharges with modern rifles and brass. I see so many videos from american youtubechannels that compares the creedmoor and the swede and uses an ancient rifle for the swede. How about comparing say a tikka t3x chambered in both and compare actual modern ballistics?

@travischapin886

4 ай бұрын

Agreed.

@leejohanson6162

2 ай бұрын

Tikka T3 6.5x55 130 grain Accubond 2500, all I use on deer and antelope

@NorwegianViking86

Ай бұрын

Tikka is plastic my friend. Husqvarna all day everyday

@leejohanson6162

Ай бұрын

@@NorwegianViking86 wood stock has to count for something 🤔 I sure do harvest what I'm hunting 🙂

Being a Swede it's almost mandatory to own and use a 6.5x55 rifle or two. I made fun of the Creedmoor when I first heard of it as it seemed quite "pointless" for me, but obviously it certainly has its merit. And I was even more convinced after hearing Dave Emery and the other guys on the Hornady podcast talking about it 👍 In Europe the 6.5x55 is far more common and popular, but I guess that will gradually shift over time. But we have all the major manufacturers making rifles in it, including Blaser, Sauer, Sako, Tikka, etc. And I can find buckets of once-fired Norma brass at my shooting range, so I have a brass collection at home for the rest of my life.

@Huntinggearguy

5 ай бұрын

Cartridge performance hasn't changed a lot in 100 years. The creedmoor is more efficient and uses a shorter case but that doesn't matter if the rifles designed for it use long actions for all cartridges (and many do).

@TheIrishd501

5 ай бұрын

A while back I bought a Tikka T3X in 6.5 x 55 and a lot of people here in Hawaii just were not familiar with it. I knew of this cartridge from long ago when I used to hunt in Pennsylvania ( we had a friend that had a converted Mauser that was chambered in it). After seeing my rifle shoot, they were pretty impressed by it. That Tikka I have is under a half inch @ 100 yards with almost all of my handloads, absolutely outstanding and with great ballistics. This is my "go to" rifle now and I don't see a need for another rifle chambered in anything else.

@travischapin886

4 ай бұрын

@@TheIrishd501 I am a Pennsylvania hunter and the 6.5x55mm is quite popular here and I use two Swedish Mauser's myself. One is an M-94 carbine and the other is an M-96 rifle.

@extraextra4380

3 ай бұрын

Yep Hornady reinvented the wheel 😮😅🎉😂

@hb9145

Ай бұрын

@@Huntinggearguy The creedmoor makes sense if you live in the USA and can't get the 6.5x55 at a reasonable price. If you can get both at a reasonable price, or if you live in Scandinavia, the Creedmoor makes no sense: 140gr bullet (rough numbers): SAAMI 6.5x55 350MPa 810-820m/s 6.5 Creedmoor 435MPa, 830m/s CIP/SKAN 6.5x55 380MPa 860-880m/s Home loaded max (max pressure minus a little for safety). 6.5x55 415MPa, 900-920m/s

That 160 grain Hornady RN bullet kills heavy elk size game real well at fairly low velocity from carbine barrels in 6.5x55. It penetrates deep.

@jmkhenka

5 ай бұрын

2450 feet or 750 m/s is not slow by any stretch. You have to consider the ranges they are used for aswell - they are not 500 yard bullets after all. But the flat head design makes them really effective.

@travischapin886

4 ай бұрын

@@jmkhenka Round nose, not flat head.

Swede all the way

Would you mind sharing the scope bases you used on the rifle in the video? I have an M38 that was drilled and tapped before i bought it and I have been using it as a hunting rifle.

Swede would be easier on barrels pressure matters a lot for barrel length. For a reloader the brass will last longer with less pressure as well in theory.

@Eddy7848

5 ай бұрын

I believe you meant lower pressure gives longer barrel life. That is more true when going to smaller caliber rounds, like 7.62mm to 6.5mm with essentially the same powder capacity and pressure.

@jmkhenka

5 ай бұрын

But x55 and CM is made in the same barrel lenghts now. And the powders used are almost identical - The higher volume of the x55 allows for a tiny bit slower powders - but reloading them you can basicly use the same powders with no issue. but then we have muzzle pressure - the x55 is a bit louder :)

And we buy 6,5x55 Norma GTX 130 grain and Norma Diamond Line 130 grain för about 1 usd a piece here in Sweden. Im glad atl something is not extremly expensive here, even thou they did cost about 60-70 cents a few years back.

Can 6.5x55 brass be found that takes small rifle primer? LRP are a premium these days and LRPM and unobtanium. Would make a different in my selection for reloading capabilities l. Thank you for uploading this video, cool comparison

@Huntinggearguy

4 ай бұрын

Not that I've found.

@travischapin886

4 ай бұрын

No.

the swede is a good example of getting it right the first time. if you hand load for a modern gun load it up to creed more pressures and CIP specs for 6.5x55 SKAN

I just picked up a tikka t3x in 6.5x55. Haven't even mounted a scope yet

Prices in Denmark (close to Sweden 😊) 50 Lapua creedmoor 150 $ and 50 Lapua 6,5x55 106 $ Would like to try Creedmoor but shoot longrange with the swede in 6,5x55. Works great.

I have a tikka t3x and a 1942 m38 husqvarna in 6.5x55. If you look at european manufacturers ammo is very similar in cost to 6.5creed. I bought some ppu soft point for 42 bucks a box and rws match with a 120gr hollow point for $83 for a pack of 50 both at a lgs in the prairies.

So what I’m seeing here is build a 6.5x55 in a modern stronger action and push it and see how it performs with modern ELR projectiles.

The name of the cartrigde is just 6,5x55. The «swede» name is made up by saami, not the official name. The cartrigde was made by a joint Norwegian-Swedish commitee. Oh, the tapered case of the 6,5x55 was made for reliability as the cartrigde is military. The tapered cartrigde gives smoother operating of the action and better extraction. The 6,5x55 is better in the field, the 6.5 creedmoor has the advantage on the shooting range.

At least he conceded there is not much difference. Could have left it there. You can get a bigger bullet in Swede. Also Mausers got good twist rate for copper.

Im somewhat curious about the 6.5-06 wildcat. Wonder if any worthwhile advantage could be found there? The '06 case has plenty of room for modern fuel. Bet you could really get some decent speed and heavyweight bullets to turn it on out of a 24-26" tube. The 6.5-300 Weatherby is getting noticed lately, but I think its just too much overbore for 6.5mm.

@Huntinggearguy

6 ай бұрын

25-06 cooks

@davewinter2688

6 ай бұрын

I have a friend who hunts just about everything on thing on the North American continent with the 6.5-06. He thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. With the 6.5mm/.264" bullet in the the '06 case you can get close to .264 Winchester Magnum velocities with all the ballistic advantages of the 6.5mm/.264" bullet over both the .257" and .308" diameter bullets. Better ballistic coefficient and better sectional density with bullets of the the SAME WEIGHT. I shoot rifles including one 6.5x55, chambered in cartridges with bullet diameters from .224 to .458. Only one called a Magnum in the bunch (300 H&H) and nothing introduced in the last 30 years. Most of those types were solutions to a non-existent problem. If I wanted a 6.5mm cartridge hotter than my Swede, the 6.5-06 would be my choice. You should go ahead and buy yourself a Christmas present. There are a lot of rifles easily re-barreled to 6.5-06. I think you'll be happy. Happy hunting! 😊

@Eddy7848

5 ай бұрын

That would be about the same as the 6.5x284 a lot of long range bench rest shooters use. 🙂

@travischapin886

4 ай бұрын

@@davewinter2688 Easily, hands down if I ever can build a wildcat it will be the 6.5-06 or the A.I. variant of it.

if you reload the swede, 140 grain easily touches 2700 plus out of the same barrel length as the 140 Creed same barrel length at about 2650? I think

Don't think he knows what he is talking about 6.5x55 any day of the week. 😊

Same velocity? With my Tikka superlite 6.5x55 i am sending the 143 gr. ELD-X with 900 m/s or 2950 fps. With 22" pencil barrel. And it keeps sub-MOA to 1200 meters.

@Huntinggearguy

2 ай бұрын

Reloads? That speed is a lot higher than I'm seeing for factory loads

@koltzi111

2 ай бұрын

@@Huntinggearguy Correct. The factory ammo is very lightly loaded because of the thousands of 100 y.o. rifles still used around the world. Every manufacturer plays safe..

The Swede isn't a barrel burner. The other is

6.5 credmore has been overrated since it came out.

@Eddy7848

5 ай бұрын

I believe the Creedmoor was made for niche short action rifles, such as the AR-10; which are now banned in Canada. 😡 Manufacturers know they need support for new calibers, so they hyped it up to ensure it's popularity and survival.

@jmkhenka

5 ай бұрын

Its not overrated. Its a good caliber with modern "features". But cartridge design has been perfected for almost 100 years. Much smarter people has allready done all there is to do with a copper casing, the 6.5x55 is proof of that.

Ha ! If U know U know 🎯

I just had an old rifle rechambered to THE SWEDE ! fk the new wheel garbage

the carl gustav husqvarna m96 and m 38 are the highest quality steel available at that time, ive loaded em up and seen no issues. except, the military coarse groove barrels dont like anything under 130 grains., they will keyhole = over spin, 250.000 rp second due to 1-8 twist meant for larger heavier projectiles

Ron: its hard to really find a real attractive sexy cartridge these days , could it be the 7-08? The 280 rem? How bout the 7x57 , or perhaps, the 300 H&H magnum? its all confusing, or because of the 6.5 x 55 😮 but then, here in America the affordable and plentiful 243 win , really looks real good with a long VLD 😉