6.5x55 Brass

[Chris C]

I've heard Starline makes the best 6.5x55 brass. Is that correct?

[DeanWinchester]

I was unaware they made much (if any) by way of bottle neck rifle brass.

[Chris C]

By golly, you're right. Don't know where I got that info. Must have dreamed it up.

So WHO does make the best brass for the 6.5x55?

[lefty o]

i'd say lapua is at the top of the heap.

[Chris C]

I was kind of thinking that, but wasn't sure. Never reloaded for this round before and didn't want to buy a bunch of brass that was considered substandard. Of course, Lapua is, as you say, "at the top of the heap". Thanks.

[Comrade Mike]

Lapua and Prvi

[RPRNY]

Lapua, Norma and PPV in order of quality and price (although PPV is not far behind on quality) are all good. I have had loose primer pockets with S&B.

[Chris C]

Thanks. Not familiar with Prvi. I'll check them out.

[timspawn]

Prvi is good brass. I have used it quite a bit in the Swede and I am fixing to load some for my 7x57.

[Uncle Grinch]

These manufacturers (listed above) make the 6.5 Swede with the proper rim diameter .480 +/-, while American brass is .473 +/-. I've always thought it works better in my Husqvarna AB (my avatar) better than the Winchester brass. At least that's my perception. I use NNY, which is supposedly made by Prvi.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have 200 rounds of PMC factory loads which will provide the cases for all of my future reloading for that caliber. If I buy new brass it would be either Norma or Lapua.

Probably Norma since Lapua is over priced for nearly the same thing IMHO.

Randy

[str8shot426]

Norma is the way to go.

[Dutchman]

I shoot 90% Norma. Been shooting Norma 45 years. She is a good woman this Norma, yes?

Dutch

[Chris C]

Thanks, Dutch.

[zomby woof]

Lapua

[Huffmanite]

Check the price of Lapua 6.5x55 swede brass vs Winchester for example and you'll find there is not much price difference. But, Lapua certainly makes a better brass than Winchester. To me anyway. Nothing wrong with the Prvi 6.5x55 brass that you can buy from Graf and Sons.

[Chris C]

I finally ordered Norma Brass from Brownell's. Seemed to the only way I was going to get it now.

[NVScouter]

These manufacturers (listed above) make the 6.5 Swede with the proper rim diameter .480 +/-, while American brass is .473 +/-. I've always thought it works better in my Husqvarna AB (my avatar) better than the Winchester brass. At least that's my perception. I use NNY, which is supposedly made by Prvi.

My Norma brass feeds/extracts fine. The 40 rounds of Winchester often come loose of the extractor with slow bolt operation.

[TNsailorman]

I am a big Lapua fan. I have used Norma, Winchester, R-P, Federal, and PRI but find the Lapua to be in spec from the factory; no trimming, no primer pocket uniforming, or de-burring needed. I use it in both 30-06 and a 6.5x55.

[smlekid]

I have 200 rounds of PMC factory loads which will provide the cases for all of my future reloading for that caliber. If I buy new brass it would be either Norma or Lapua.

Probably Norma since Lapua is over priced for nearly the same thing IMHO.

Randy
The PMC will be fine if you only want to load it twice we had it here for a few years and the stuff was horrid case head separations on the 2nd load no mater how you sized your cases
as others have said Lapua Norma and Prvi are the ones to use

[ELFEGO BACA]

I have had excellent results with both Winchester and Remington brass.
In the 90s I necked up 6 mm Remington brass for my cast bullet loads for my Swede!

[muskeg13]

These days we beggars are not in a position to be too particular about brass, but the best 6.5x55 brass I've shot is Lapua. In a bull barreled casual target/heavy hunting rifle I had built a few years back, Winchester, Remington, Federal and PMC brass gave OK accuracy, ~ an inch or so with Hornady 95 v-max or 140 grain A-max bullets. I was shooting weekly with several Norwegian bench rest shooters, who recommended switching to Lapua or Norma brass (in that order). When I got my Lapua brass, I noticed that the U.S. and PMC brass had a rim/base diameter of only .473 (same as .308, 30-06 ect...). The Lapua brass base/rim diameter is .480. U.S. 6.5x55 brass is undersized. With the Lapua brass, my groups instantly were halfed, and sometimes shrank to near one hole groups when I was able to do my part. Nothing was changed except for the brass.

The moral of my long winded story is: If you want/need extreme accuracy, pay the big bucks and buy the best: Lapua. If you have a military surplus M96 or run of the mill U.S. manufactured hunting rifle, it may not make enough difference to justify the pricey brass.

[Comrade Mike]

These manufacturers (listed above) make the 6.5 Swede with the proper rim diameter .480 +/-, while American brass is .473 +/-. I've always thought it works better in my Husqvarna AB (my avatar) better than the Winchester brass. At least that's my perception. I use NNY, which is supposedly made by Prvi.

nny is Cyrillic for PPU

[muskeg13]

Norwegian military brass is also of very high quality and is very consistent, with the proper dimensions. It is headstamp marked with a crown at 12 o'clock and RA (Raufoss) at 6 o'clock, with or without a date stamp at 9 and 3 o'clock. Raufoss is now part of the Nordic Nammo Group, made up of Raufoss, Norma and Vihtavuori.

[EDG]

No
For 6.5X55
#1 is Lapua
#2 is Norma
#3 is PPU
#4 not worth considering the rest


I've heard Starline makes the best 6.5x55 brass. Is that correct?

[6.5 swede]

You made a good choice, I have reloaded my norma brass many times with no problems, you might pay a little more but you get high quality brass that will last a long time for you.

[curator]

EDG,
You forgot S&B as #10. I once made the mistake of buying some 6.5X55 mauser 139 grain jacketed soft point ammo made by S&B. All of the cases had signs of incipient case-head separation after their first reloading. This was shooting them in my match chambered DWM benchrest rifle. I have had OK results with R-P and Winchester brass, but the most accurate is always the Lapua as muskeg13 points out.

[PAT303]

Another vote for Norma,I have both swede and 303 brass that is 20 years old and countless reloads later I still use them,buy right the first time. Pat

[timspawn]

EDG,
You forgot S&B as #10. I once made the mistake of buying some 6.5X55 mauser 139 grain jacketed soft point ammo made by S&B. All of the cases had signs of incipient case-head separation after their first reloading. This was shooting them in my match chambered DWM benchrest rifle. I have had OK results with R-P and Winchester brass, but the most accurate is always the Lapua as muskeg13 points out.

I never got to reload any of the S&B I had. It wouldn't even fit in the shell holder..and I tried several different ones.