260 Rem vs. 6.5×55 — Laurie Holland Compares the Cartridges
One of our Shooters’ Forum readers, Trent from Louisiana, asked for help deciding between a 260 Remington and a 6.5×55 for his latest gun project. In the Forum thread, respected UK gun writer Laurie Holland provided a good summary of the differences between the two chamberings. Laurie writes:
“The 6.5×55 case has 6 or 7% more capacity than the .260s, even more in practice when both are loaded to standard COALs with heavy bullets, which sees them having to seated very deep in the .260 Rem using up quite a lot of powder capacity. So loaded up for reasonable pressures in modern actions, the 6.5×55 will give a bit more performance.
The issue for many is what action length is available or wanted, the 6.5 requiring a long action. So sniper rifle / tactical rifle competitors will go for the .260 Rem with the option of the many good short-bolt-throw designs around with detachable box magazines. If a bit more performance is needed, the .260AI gives another 100-150 fps depending on bullet weight.
Brass-wise, you’ve got really good Lapua 6.5×55 off the shelf that needs minimum preparation, and it’s strong and long-lived. There is an Ackley version too that was popular in F-Class in Europe for a while that isn’t too far short of 6.5-284 performance. If you go for .260 Rem, the American brass isn’t as good but you can neck-up Lapua or Norma .243 Win and trim them (or neck-down .308 Win or 7mm-08). This has the downside that doing so usually creates a noticeable ‘doughnut’ at the case-shoulder junction, that may cause problems depending on how deep bullets are seated.
For purely target shooting, I think I’d go with 6.5×55 if I was making the choice again today for performance and brass-preparation reasons. In fact, I’ve considered going back to the gunsmith to have the barrel rechambered.
You want a multi-purpose rifle though and that makes things trickier depending on the bullet weight(s) you want to use. The [typical] 6.5×55 and 6.5-08 throats are really designed for 140s, so 90-120s make a long jump into the rifling. If you’re always going to use 130s and up, it’s less of an issue. If you want to use the lighter stuff, I’d say go for .260 Rem and discuss the reamer with the gunsmith to come up with as good a compromise as you can depending on the mix of shooting. 1:8.5″ twist is the norm and handles all the usual sporting and match bullets; you can go for a little slower twist if you won’t use the heavies.
Over here in the UK, in Scotland to be precise, we have a top sporting rifle builder (Callum Ferguson of Precision Rifle Services) who almost specializes in .260 Rem usually built on Borden actions. He throats the barrel ‘short’ so it’s suited to varmint bullets, but will still handle the 100gr Nosler Partition which he says is more than adequate for any British deer species including Scottish red stags.
Accuracy-wise, I don’t think there’s anything between them if everything else is equal. The 6.5 has a reputation for superlative accuracy, but that was high-quality Swedish military rifles and ammunition matched against often not-so-high-quality military stuff from elsewhere. Put the pair in custom rifles and use equally good brass and bullets and you’ll be hard pressed to tell them apart.” – Laurie Holland
After Laurie’s helpful comments, some other Forum members added their insights on the 260 Rem vs. 6.5×55 question:
“To me, the .260 Remington has no advantage over the 6.5×55 if one is going to use a long action. Likewise, the only advantage the .260 has in a modern rifle is it can be used in a short-action. There is more powder capacity in the 6.5×55 so you have the potential to get more velocity plus there is a lot of reloading data available to you for loading at lower velocity/pressure if you choose. The Lapua brass is great and Winchester brass is pretty good at low pressures. Having loaded a good bit for both, the 6.5×55 would always get the nod from me. To me, if someone wants to use a short-action, the 6.5×47 Lapua is even a better option than the .260 for a target rifle.” — Olympian
“There is just one small item that has been missing from this conversation — the 6.5×55 has a non standard rim diameter of .479″ vs. the standard .473″ of a .308 and all of its varients. Depending on your bolt this may be an issue, or it may not.” — Neil L.
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excellent post. Good work done to compare two highly accurate cartridges.
In terms of brass, both Nosler and Norma 260 Rem brass is also now available.
I´m shootin various 6,5×55´s over the years, and I think the accuracy of this cartridge is poor. The accuracy of the cartridge in swedish mauser type rifles is excellent,but a heavy F-classer, chambered for this cartridge, shoot nearly the same groups. Constant half inch groups are more exception than the rule. I´m shooting also short range br, with good success in local matches.
Another thing that was not mentionned: The standard throat on most 6.5×55
rifle is to long and is made to accomodate the 160gr round nose original
hunting load.It also avoid ovepressure in the old mauser 96, but that does not neccessarly good for accuracy.
If you get a custom rifle being built, you should ask for
the “match” version of the 6,5×55 reamer, with tighter tolerances and a throat
designed for the modern vld bullets.
What is the barrel life of the 6.5 X 55 compared to the 260 Rem and 260 AI?
Barrel life of the 6.5×55 is very good up to 7000 rounds. Best barrel life is optained with medium burning powders,like VV N140 or N150 and various others, like varget.A washed out throat area in the barrel is not so critical to accuracy, Nicolas at top says right,the standard throats are very long. Custom Barrels made to your own specifications, is here in austria a real problem. You will wait a year or longer for it(especially on reamers and that stuff) and proper gunsmiths are hard to find here. austria can made one of the best and finest hunting rifles in the world but match rigs…..
I have two 6.5×55 Blaser’s, an R93 semi-weight and a K-95 Stutzen. They both shoot sub .5moa with almost any load I have tried from 95gr V-max bullets to 156gr Norma Mega factory loads.
With the R93, action length is not an issue and my 130gr Berger’s will make 2900fps in a 22.5″ barrel with 50gr of VV N560 in Lapua brass.
The long and high SD 6.5mm bullets’ performance on game is well in excess of it’s paper ballistics. It is a well balanced and effective cartridge for any animal up to 700 pounds of so.
Dave Funk
http://www.CongressNeedsFunk.com
If a 6.5x55mm match rifle is not accurate, then it is a problem with the work or the barrel. The same goes for any other caliber. Military chambers in a match rifle is just poor planning. A friend has a Tikka M695 6.5×55 built by MT Guns that has virtually no rifling in it for the first half inch if not more after 3000+ high velocity rounds, but it still shoots sub-0.5MOA at 100yds; although, the velocity is down around 200 fps. It has a tight chamber throated for 140gr class bullets.
Thank you for the quick response regarding barrel life – I have been shooting 6.5/284 for many years. I’ve had 3 barrels just the last 2 years, last one lasted 850 rounds. Although accurate, it will send you to the poor house, can’t fire any practice rounds for trigger time because of barrel short life. I’ll even take 5000 rounds – thank you, you just made my decision for my next chambering easier.
Very good article on two excellent cartridges, one thing that may make a difference in choosing which cartridge is if you plan on using a DBM system on your rifle, the .260 will run fine through the AICS type magazines right out of the box, the Swede will be too long, it will run through the AI 300WM magazine but requires some modification to the magazine
I cut my teeth on the 6.5 Swede and I loved that round for years. I have used a 6.5 Jap (think about it with modern components!) and settled on the 6.5/284 for several years before barrel life sent me into 7mm.
I am just building a tactical rifle on an AICS in 6.5 x 47 but would have gone back to the Swede if it fitted into the SA magazine!
I shot the swede for 5 years out to 1000. No issues with lapua 139’s.
Change to the 6.5×47. Ten grains less powder for almost the same results. Less recoil.
Love it.
No donuts what so ever in necked down Win7-08 in my 260.
I must disagree with Johannes Nowak and his predictions of 7000 round barrel life.
The accurate life of this cartridge under match conditions is roughly 1500 rounds or less.
It is also common lore that 243 brass produces doughnuts in 260 brass. This is just not true. I have formed 260 cases from many hundreds of lapua 243 cases and doughnuts are simply a non-issue
Lapua is making 260 brass, and a 260AI is IMO the perfect capacity for 140gr bullets, at rational pressures, around 3100fps. This is already beyond the capabilities of a 6.5×47(so heavily touted), so it’s hard to stretch for benefit in the larger/odder 6.5×55.
I think the article would have applied better 5yrs ago, than today.
If a 6.5X55 is great, would the 6.5X57 be even better?
Two thoughts. I have one Richard Whitley’s brainchildren in the 6.5Super Long Range and push the 140s at 2900 with no pressure with more leeway in the neck length.
I also shoot a 6x47L and a buddy shoots a 6.5x47L and we both wondered about a version blown forward ala the dasher.
Justin
In addition to its serious accuracy potential in sophisticated target rifles, 6.5X55 in the 1896 Swedish Mauser is fun to shoot and extremely competitive in DCM Vintage Bolt events.
Be sure to load the Mauser with regard for its design around relatively low pressures.
Big fun. Small investment.
I would add I use a Barnard Action and Winchester brass in my 6.5×55 works will.I have had a 260 impov.now the 6.5×55. These are 1000 yard rifles shooting 142’s.The 6.5×55 is a little better all the way around.
I call it my “Best 198 1000 yard rifle”.
In a short action the 260 Rem or Ackley are the way to go.
If going long action I’ll go with the 6.5×284 and if barrel life is a concern I can load down to Sweede speed with less pressure, hence, less wear on the throat. Both cartridges are the same length.
Right now, in my 260 Ackley, I’m loading 130 Bergers to 3,000 mv with Superformance 22″ barrel short action.
I just can’t find a use for the Sweede.
I have been shooting the swede with 142’s and the .260 rem and the jap. I love the swede for its wonderful accuracy and the .260 edge’s it out for me with respect to constant accuracy and consistent results. I simply loved the article and would suggest the swede to anyone.I would also like to try the 6.5x47L myself,but that will be next year.
I have been shooting the swede for 20 years. If using slower powders its life may be shortened? I found its true performance will shine, a 140jlk or berger vld,and a non stated load of N165 and a 30 inche tube,is capable of 3080,fps,est 25 mins elavation at 1k. That would be a great match load but after 700 rounds group have dubbled from .300 to a ave.600, if you want it to last I would recommend no slower than RL22, a serious long ranger.
Not reallysure if it’s been said, but the .260 rem can be made from necking down .308/7.62military surplus (annealed) brass. This is the main reason, alonside the short action, that I say the .260is preferrable. Now, I’m a hunter, and I use this caliber for anything from varmints and predators to northern Michigan whitetail, and I would have no qualms using this rifle for elk, mulies, anything up to black bear size. Aftr having read most of your mall ninja, google-search responses,, it’s clear most of you fail to appreciate the simpler things in life, such as a lightweight, handy rifle, in a caliber capable of lethal 1000yd accuracy and shootability, with minimal muzzle blast, flash, recoil and report, maximum ballistic and pyrotechnic efficiency, all adding up to a package that cannot be beat. Sure you can get 6.5’s with more powder, bigger bangs, but none will be anywhere near as efficient or cheapto shoot (for the handloader that is).
Hi, I`m new here. when I bought my Tikka Varmint in 6.5×55 I bought 400 Lapua brass from the Vita vuri people in QLD, The first 100 ok, with rest 40% refused to go in the shell holder! The groove diameters varied so much. who said “W`eve never had that problem before”. Yeh,right! About the same period, a friend went for a 6.5×47, he chose Lapua and he complained a lot of case mouths were almost square!
Another problem I`ve come across with Lapua, is the primer pockets have a very crisp or sharp edge with no rounding. So requiring every cae to be bevelled at the pocket. For there reputation and cost that`s just not good enough. With other calibers .223; .270Win; .308Win & .30-06, I`m perfectly happy with R-P & FC. brass.
Alec. Welcome to the world of reloading. The Swede takes a different shell holder depending on where the brass was made and square necks should go through a neck sizing die.
Happy shooting.