6.5x55 Swedish factory ammo availability

[Ade]

Just wondering what the availibility of factory rounds is in Australia. Without hand loading?

Thanks

[Jack V]

In major gun shops you should be able to buy it no worries . It's a fairly popular cartridge but in the smaller country gun shops you may have trouble.
The best way is ring around your local suppliers and ask .

[Westy]

I've been shooting it for over 35 yrs and have never had a issue getting factory Ammo

[VICHunter]

I frequent 2 or 3 gun shops here in VIC and it's common enough.

"common" is a relative turn these days. .308, .223 so common - so many people shooting it - it can be tough to get a few bits.

6.5x55 is common enough without being in overly high demand to run out often.

[The Brass]

Easy enough.

Remington, Sako, PPU, Federal, Hornady, Norma. etc. etc. all make factory in 6.5x55.

[Sleepy_Hunter]

Pretty bummed its illegal to hunt deer with this calibre. perfect for deer for any range.

[bobnob]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

[Gregg]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

Sambar, Red and Rusa all require .270+ calibre there in Victoria. Of that I'm sure.

I thought that was the same case in NSW to be honest too?

[Spooner]

See them all the time

[Chronos]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

Sambar, Red and Rusa all require .270+ calibre there in Victoria. Of that I'm sure.

I thought that was the same case in NSW to be honest too?

NSW has no legal minimum cartridges for deer, only recommended minimums. That leaves cartridge choice up to the hunter as it should be, there's no reason a skilled stalker shouldn't have the choice of a smaller cartridge as long as game is taken in a humane manner

Chronos

[1290]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

Sambar, Red and Rusa all require .270+ calibre there in Victoria. Of that I'm sure.

I thought that was the same case in NSW to be honest too?

NSW has no legal minimum cartridges for deer, only recommended minimums. That leaves cartridge choice up to the hunter as it should be, there's no reason a skilled stalker shouldn't have the choice of a smaller cartridge as long as game is taken in a humane manner

Chronos

Can you even hunt deer in NSW ?? ok... ok.... R license.. book in a time (what a load of crap)

Seriously, regardless of what the chambering can do, and no doubt the swede has downed many beasts in its time....... if you can 'legally' hunt 'the' Victorian deer species, then don't even consider a 6.5x55 for hunting deer in Vic.

[KWhorenet]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

if you can 'legally' hunt 'the' Victorian deer species, then don't even consider a 6.5x55 for hunting deer in Vic.

Are you suggesting a 6.5x55 isn't suitable for fallow and hog deer ?

[1290]

Only illegal for sambar afaik?

if you can 'legally' hunt 'the' Victorian deer species, then don't even consider a 6.5x55 for hunting deer in Vic.

Are you suggesting a 6.5x55 isn't suitable for fallow and hog deer ?

Not at all, its more than suitable for ALL vic deer... but law trumps suitability
If you're going to pass up a Sambar that you come across 'because you're only after the Hog or Fallow', then fine.... else you'll be in a bind... If you 'know' there are no Sambar in that particular country... then thats another thing.

[Bourt]

Can you even hunt deer in NSW ?? ok... ok....

Yeah I think you need to book a tree to stand under and tie a GPS to your foot and paint yourself orange.

[Gregg]

NSW has no legal minimum cartridges for deer, only recommended minimums.

I stand corrected then.

[1290]

Can you even hunt deer in NSW ?? ok... ok....

Yeah I think you need to book a tree to stand under and tie a GPS to your foot and paint yourself orange.

while at all times remaining in eye and ear shot of a parks inspector??

[Chronos]

Can you even hunt deer in NSW ?? ok... ok....

Yeah I think you need to book a tree to stand under and tie a GPS to your foot and paint yourself orange.

while at all times remaining in eye and ear shot of a parks inspector??

Just wow, so much ignorance here

Chronos

[Title_II]

Sambar. Well. This round has taken down every animal that has walked the Earth since firearms were invented, including a whole lot of Elephants. Not that I would recommend it for that.

I want to get a CZ or something in this caliber. It is not really used in the US. I just think it is neat.

[Chronos]

Sambar. Well. This round has taken down every animal that has walked the Earth since firearms were invented, including a whole lot of Elephants. Not that I would recommend it for that.

I want to get a CZ or something in this caliber. It is not really used in the US. I just think it is neat.

It's surprising you don't have milsurp sweedish mausers over there in 6.5X55, they old girls still shoot pretty good but the low chamber pressures seem to hamper the round a fair bit..

I watched a guy shoot a 500m group a while back with a target rifle chambered in 6.5X55AI that measured just over 1"

I think a modern long action rifle and handloads would make full use of the cartridges strong points launching quality 130-140gr bullets at good speeds the cartridge would be hard to beat here in Oz

Chronos

PS: the "experts" who set the legal limits in the state of Victoria chose .270 as the minimum caliber for Sambar deer down there rather than an energy limit so while you could use .44 magnum you cannot use 6.5X55SE

[Title_II]

I'm not a Mauser expert but it seems to me most I have seen are 8mm or were converted to .30-06.

[SendIt]

PS: the "experts" who set the legal limits in the state of Victoria chose .270 as the minimum caliber for Sambar deer down there rather than an energy limit so while you could use .44 magnum you cannot use 6.5X55SE

I read that the limit was decided "in conjuction" "with advice" from hunters.

Bugger knows who these hunters supposedly were though.

Probably some guy who heard a hunting story in a gun store one day when he was kicking tyres.

[1290]

Low pressure? who told you that Stevo, the Swede is rated higher than the 50Browning.....

The murikans probably never got into them in great numbers because theyre smaller than a 30cal, plus the aversion to metric designations (dang new fandangled meticizational business )

The swede is interesting in that it is similar to the 303Brit, featuring a bullet diameter under the groove diameter (i.e. engraving only, no swaging)

As far as use on deer in vic, given the numbers of them around, it might be time the shooters got in the ear of our 'representatives' and said hey... lets have another look at this, 310cadet yes, 6.5Swede no.....how about minimum energy???

[Chronos]

Low pressure? who told you that Stevo, the Swede is rated higher than the 50Browning.....

No one had to tell me, it's s fact.

The 6.5x55 is rated 6,000 psi lower that the 8mm Mauser round and your example the .50 BMG, 10,000 psi lower than the lowly .308 or 30-06 and nearly 15,000 lower than modern "high pressure" cases like the 6.5X47 lapua.

More than a few old swedes have stretched actions as a result of people trying to ring it's neck.

However in a modern action this would not be as much of an issue and the case has been pushed much harder than it was designed for.

Chronos

[1290]

If you read it on the interwebs it must be true....

6.5x55 vs 50bmg.jpg (347.08 KiB) Viewed 6551 times

edit for linkies --->
page with 6.5x55SE
page with 50Browning (BMG)

[Chronos]

If you read it on the interwebs it must be true....

6.5x55 vs 50bmg.jpg

LOL, well that table looks legit, shame about the date I remember the 84th of June well.

I'm at work so I can't argue until I have a look at some stuff tonight (not that it's an argument)

Where does that table come from mate? Do you have a link to it?

Seem they are measured averages, not reccomended maximums which is where I mean it's a "low pressure cartridge"

I'll have a look at some data tonight and get back to you.

Chronos

[sarki]

"low" is a relative term after all.

[1290]

If you read it on the interwebs it must be true....

6.5x55 vs 50bmg.jpg

LOL, well that table looks legit, shame about the date I remember the 84th of June well.

I'm at work so I can't argue until I have a look at some stuff tonight (not that it's an argument)

Where does that table come from mate? Do you have a link to it?

Seem they are measured averages, not reccomended maximums which is where I mean it's a "low pressure cartridge"

I'll have a look at some data tonight and get back to you.

Chronos

I just cobbled a bunch of numbers together, arranged them in rows and colums, added some colours and fancy shapes... just to bewilder you, did it work?

I'll put some linkies up there, so you've got something to do tonight after work... you can see the 'C.I.P. in the top cell, thought you may have heard of them, aka Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives.....but that up there I cut and shut the table as it contains all the rimless rounds..theres a searchable table online.

page with 6.5x55SE
page with 50Browning (BMG)

Go nut stevo

If you go to the fifth column, select EN, you can view/download the case and chamber spec for the chambering... any chambering rimmed, rimless, mag, handgun, shot, rimfire can also be found..... hours of fun for everyone in there

Once we've settled this little debate and agree that 3800 bar (=380 MPa) is greater than 3700 bar (=370 MPa)... then we'll touch on this stretching of front locking action business

and I'll let you have a think about the date....and maybe have another read..

[Chronos]

So basically what i saw on both 1290's linked CIP site and the SAAMI data was as i originally posted the 6.5X55SE is by comparison a low pressure cartridge, the pressure rating of the .308 is around 9% .223 is around 13% higher and a big hitter like a 408 chey tac nearly 16% higher than the


Name Country Pt max
223 Rem. United states 4300
6,5 x 55 SE Sweden 3800
308 Win. United states 4150
408 Chey Tac United states 4400

I'll stand corrected on the .50BMG, I didn't realise it too was a dinasaur and as such has a LOW PRESSURE rating, nearly 20% lower in fact than the 408 chey tac above. boy it's no wonder old Mr Browning's work horse is out of fashion with the "reach out and touch something" crowd

As for the "stretched" Swedish mauser action, well that's a something for another day

Chronos

[1290]

What you're really saying is;"So basically I'll never admit I was wrong....."

Sure Steve. 6.5x55 is a low pressure cartridge and the 50BMG is an extra low pressure cartridge have I got it right??

By comparison a low pressure cartridge now.... what about in comparison to a cadet? a stupendously high pressure cartridge? You statements are kind of irrelevant and pointless don't you think? Sorry, I forgot to qualify that with 'respectfully'.....

[Title_II]

I read that the limit was decided "in conjuction" "with advice" from hunters.

Bugger knows who these hunters supposedly were though.

Probably some guy who heard a hunting story in a gun store one day when he was kicking tyres.

See, some things don't change no matter where in the world you go

Good ol' sage gun shop wisdom