I am building a new gun, it is being done on a 700 BDL long action. I am having it done in 6.5 x 55 40deg improved. The parts are almost all here now , the barrel should be at the gunsmiths in the next ten days and he can get started on it. I am in no big rush for the gun as it will be 4 to 6 weeks to get the dies for it. I know there are a hundred other ways I could have gone with a 6.5 but I liked this one.
I have found a few loads for this round but could use any help form anyone with experience with this cartridge.

H4831 is your friend.

i have a 6.5x55AI built on an oberndorf M96 and i absolutely love it!! it is incredibly accurate with the barnes 130gr tsx and 55gr of ramshot magnum, i use lapua brass and rem91/2M primers. it chronos a very consistant 3050fps and if i do my part all shots will touch at 100yds. not bad for a 111 year old action that is still cock on close... i installed a #3 contour shilen barrel (one of brownells pre threaded, short chambered barrels) and fit a boyds dakota will stock to it and mounted an older leupold M8 fixed 7.5x scope on it. it's got a bold trigger and i had norman johnson modify the bolt shroud for a two position side swing... wonderful set up!!

you will absolutely love the cartridge!! easy to load, easy accuracy it's a real treat to work with!

Big Dan,

That sounds like a very cool gun! Would you be able to post a picture of it so I can drool??

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Big Dan
Thanks for the load.
I am having my built on a 700 long action. My gunsmith say I will not have to have the bolt face opened up even though the 6.5 X55 has a hair larger face.
I am thinking that with a modern action I will be able load a little hotter but by the sounds of your load there is not a lot of need for a hotter loads than the old action can handle. Plus it should give longer barrel life if I keep the loads below max for the gun.
Anything I have been able to find on the 6.5 x 55 says they shoot very well I am hopping that with a jewel trigger in 700 action and l go with an improved version it will be just more of a good thing.
Having said all that I find that taking a 100 plus year old action and making it shoot like you have done has a very special "cool" factor to it. I am sure you get lots of lookers when you take that gun to the range.
Thanks again for your post.

i'll see what i can do about posting a picture or two, i'm about as computer literate as a fence post but it's something i ought to learn to do anyway...

my thoughts on that load that i listed is that it's more than is necessary to take deer out to 300 or so yards, i might be able to go higher in terms of powder charge and velocity but i just don't see the need. besides i whine too much about wasting meat to bloodshot as it is so for deer i'll probably back it off to around 2800fps.. i really enjoy the 6.5x55 and i like to mess around with the old mausers so it has been a fun one. the one change i'm thinking about making which would be simple enough to do is to have the barrel fluted, that #3 pipe is rather stout and the overall package is a bit on the heavy side due to the barrel and the laminated stock but it's a keeper!!!

I too have a 6.5x55 Ackley. H4831SC is your friend, trust me on this. Win LR primers or Wolf LRM ( same priming compound as LR, but tougher cup ), a 142gr SMK or the 140gr AMax and you are gold. JLK makes some really nice bullets as well.

http://www.6mmbr.com/SixFive284.html
This says 6.5-284, but the Ackley is *VERY* close to it. This is a good read for powder, primers, and bullets to use. Also Nosler just started making 6.5 swede brass, which is pretty good stuff, but pricey.

Good Shooting,
Gary

North of 53, I have built a 6.5x55 A.I. about 2 years ago. My 6.5 is built on a Swede M96 Mauser with extensive custom work, E.R. Shaw barrel, richards thumbhole stock...ect. I have all the load development data from fire forming to final long range loads. There is a thread on www.mausercentral.com regarding the build with pictures and end results (4 rounds sub 1/4 moa typical) at 100yards. Also an article on the build was published in The Varmint Hunter Magazine, send me an e-mail if you want additional info. It's an amazingly accurate cartridge and 4831 worked best for final loads with 123grain Match Kings.

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One ragged hole! the quest for accuracy continues.

Bob the nailer

Bob
thanks a lot for the info I will have a look.My gun is still a few month away the barrel is holding things up a little. Up here in Canada it can take a little longer to do a project because it is now getting harder to get some parts out of the US. A few of the guys are starting to look more to Europe for parts, not to sure how that's going for them.
Thanks again for your help

If your interested in some winter reading send me a pm with your address and I will drop a big envelope in the mail. Articles on Bob Jourdans 6.5x55 Ackely, my build and lots of load data...

__________________
One ragged hole! the quest for accuracy continues.

Bob the nailer