Last year I bought a Ruger No.1 single-shot that had been rebarreled. The price was right and the rifle was very nice and sported a 27" light taper barrel marked "6.5x53R." I like the old stuff and the challenges they bring so I went all-in to get some ammo loaded. Long story short, found the only brass available was by Bertram and was almost $4 per case. The dies were special order group G from RCBS that only set me back $152. I decided to make cases from .303 British as outlined in my case conversion book. I found it hard to believe that a round that had been in use since 1893 and was used last during WWII would have disappeared since, but that is the case. There is some load data out there but nothing very recent. Apparently the Brits designated this round the .256 Mannlicher so found some data on Load Data.com. All the loads I found ended up being 2200-2300fps with 140 gr. bullets. About the same time I was working on this I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor, the darling of the magazine writers. I did have good results with the Creedmoor and wondered how the 2 cases compared. I seated a 140 gr Ballistic Tip to the proper length in the Creedmoor, and then seated one to the proper depth in the 6.5 Mannlicher. After drilling out the flash hole somewhat I poured in some Ramshot Hunter powder, which is a ball powder that looks like miniature ball bearings. I poured in until it got to the flash hole in both cases and then poured it out into my scale pan. Turns out the 6.5 Mannlicher held exactly 1 more grain of powder than the Creedmoor. This changed my outlook on the old Mannlicher. I loaded the same charge of powder in the Mannlicher as I do in the Creedmoor and went to the range.
6.5 Creedmoor
40.0gr. Hodgdon H100V Federal GM Match Large Primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2560fps
43.0gr. Winchester StaBall Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2650fps
44.0gr. Ramshot Hunter Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2625fps
6.5x53R
40.0gr. Hodgdon H100V Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2620fps
43.0gr. Winchester StaBall Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2805fps
44.0gr. Ramshot Hunter Federal GM Match Primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2760fps
The barrel on the 6.5x53R is 4" longer which probably accounts for the different velocity with each load. Pressures appeared to be the same also.
I must also say that the 6.5 Creedmoor I shot was a Ruger American Rifle. I was amazed at the accuracy out of the box with that rifle. Most loads I shot grouped less than 1", with the smallest being .290"
I will put a target scope on the Ruger to see how it will group in just a few days. Nothing to do with this shelter in place but load ammo.
Funny how this 6.5 rage should have started years ago. The antique cartridge I have will do anything the 6.5 Creedmoor will.
6.5 Creedmoor
40.0gr. Hodgdon H100V Federal GM Match Large Primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2560fps
43.0gr. Winchester StaBall Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2650fps
44.0gr. Ramshot Hunter Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2625fps
6.5x53R
40.0gr. Hodgdon H100V Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2620fps
43.0gr. Winchester StaBall Federal GM Match primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2805fps
44.0gr. Ramshot Hunter Federal GM Match Primer 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip 2760fps
The barrel on the 6.5x53R is 4" longer which probably accounts for the different velocity with each load. Pressures appeared to be the same also.
I must also say that the 6.5 Creedmoor I shot was a Ruger American Rifle. I was amazed at the accuracy out of the box with that rifle. Most loads I shot grouped less than 1", with the smallest being .290"
I will put a target scope on the Ruger to see how it will group in just a few days. Nothing to do with this shelter in place but load ammo.
Funny how this 6.5 rage should have started years ago. The antique cartridge I have will do anything the 6.5 Creedmoor will.
