Question for Ron Petty at Montana Rifle

[Dwight Beagle]

On your website the 6.5x55 and 26 Nosler are listed as having 1:8.5 barrel twist rates whereas the 6.5 Creedmoor has the more common 1:8 twist. I’m curious as to why your 6.5x55 and 26 Nosler don’t come with 1:8 twists? The reason I’m asking is because I like Berger Hunting VLD bullets and their website strongly suggests a 1:8 twist for 130 and 140 grain 6.5 caliber bullets. If I ever get another 6.5x55, I currently have a CZ 550 American, it could possibly preclude getting a Montana rifle. And I like your rifles.

 

[Shootist43]

REAL 6.5(s) I mean the 1896 Swedish Mausers have a twist rate of 1:7.8". But do you really think that a .5" difference in twist rate is going to make that big a difference? Besides that I thought faster twist rates were necessary when using heavy for caliber bullets. Neither the 130 gr. or the 140 gr. qualify as heavy for caliber in my book.

 

[Sand Rat]

@ Dwight Beagle , your welcome to handle and shoot my Ruger African. I bet you'd change your mind. Twist is 1:8.

 

[Von S.]

REAL 6.5(s) I mean the 1896 Swedish Mausers have a twist rate of 1:7.8". But do you really think that a .5" difference in twist rate is going to make that big a difference? Besides that I thought faster twist rates were necessary when using heavy for caliber bullets. Neither the 130 gr. or the 140 gr. qualify as heavy for caliber in my book.

Actually, yes!

The 96 took international long range rifle matches in the early 1900' s.

Every little bit helps with the loads of the day.

I have many cases of battle packs that are full of the old copper Nickel jacket rounds that those rifles were built to fire and they ate extremely accurate.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

@ Dwight Beagle , your welcome to handle and shoot my Ruger African. I bet you'd change your mind. Twist is 1:8.

Please elaborate, I don’t understand your point.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I built two 26 Noslers, one with an 8.5 and one with an 8 and shot Berger 130 and 140 VLDs in both, no issues and very accurate at long ranges. Plug your velocities in to Berger's twist rate calculator. With the 26 Nosler, 8.5 twist, 130 VLDs pushing 3300 (my chrono data), standard atmosphere, SG is 1.66, comfortable stability, bullet achieving it's max BC. The 140 VLDs shot in the 3100 range, using the calculator, 8.5 twist still showed sufficient stability. With the 6.5x55 a slower cartridge, using the 130 VLDs in the 2800 range, the calculator still says you have sufficient stability.
Having said all that BUY THAT MONTANA!

The zebra in my avatar was taken with a 6.5-284 and Berger 130 HVLD. IIRC, he was a tad over 350 meters. For all intents and purposes DRT.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I don’t believe .5” should make a difference but I’m not an expert. I’m curious, not in a critical way as to why Montana uses the twist rates they do in different 6.5 cartridges. And though I believe .5” shouldn’t make a difference I want to hedge my bet. My current 6.5x55 has a 1:85 twist and shoots 130 grain VLD bullets great but doesn’t shoot 140 grain VLD’s well at all. I know there are myriad factors that could cause this and there could easily, up to probably, be no link between twist rate and my rifle not liking 140 grain VLD’s. But as stated earlier I’d want to hedge my bet.

If you look at the barrel twist rate of currently manufacturered 6.5 caliber rifles it is almost exclusively 1:8. Hence my question.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

Okay my concern about 1:85 twist barrels not stabilizing 140 grain VLD’s is obviated but that was not the main purpose of my question. I’m curious as to why Montana Rifle Company uses different twist rates for different cartridges chambered in 6.5 caliber.

 

[Shootist43]

Dwight, have you tried 156 Gr. Norma Orex rounds in your rifle? If so, how did it shoot? Just in case you didn't know it, the original projectile designed for use in this caliber was 156Gr. Somewhere in the late '30(s) they switched to 140 Gr. projectiles which are in common use today.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I have not. I tried two 140 grain bullets, Berger Hunting VLD and Sierra GameKing. The accuracy was abysmal. I tried 130 grain Berger Hunting VLD’s and the accuracy was outstanding. Since I’m one of the seemingly few who doesn’t particularly enjoy reloading I stopped when I found a combo that worked. I’ll also admit to not having heard of the Oryx at the time. I’ ve been aware of the bullet for awhile now and would like to try it in a faster cartridge than the 6.5x55. It’s not going to be anytime soon due to lack of funding but my next rifle will be a custom or semi custom chambered in a long action 6.5 WSM or 6.5 SAUM. At that time the first bullet I’ll try will be the 156 grain Oryx.

Don’t know why I roll this way but in rifles I encounter a bullet in a caliber I like that appeals to me first and the second step is deciding what cartridge to get the rifle chambered for. This is backass words to the way most people do it I know.

I also don’t have any idea why but heavy for caliber bullets appeal to me. There is no practical application for this because 99% of my hunting is for coyote, deer and hogs.

Then again the women I’ve always been most attracted to had big butts and small chests so maybe I’m just different.

 

[Sand Rat]

@Dwight Beagle Just pulling your leg a little, I know your not a big fan of Rugers. But seriously, if you ever want to try a Ruger African Swede the offer stands. Still the best handling rifle I've ever owned but then again I am a Ruger guy. The 140 gr Partition shoots sub MOA in mine and well pleased with game performance but I'm curious about the Bergers as well. IIRC the twist vs stability of a bullet has more to due with the length of the projectile than the weight. Most of the time the longer bullets = more weight but the mono's kind of throw that theory out the window. I'll try to find the article and post a link.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

@Dwight Beagle Just pulling your leg a little, I know your not a big fan of Rugers. But seriously, if you ever want to try a Ruger African Swede the offer stands. Still the best handling rifle I've ever owned but then again I am a Ruger guy.

PM sent.

I’m not but believe I might really like an African.

 

[ronp]

On your website the 6.5x55 and 26 Nosler are listed as having 1:8.5 barrel twist rates whereas the 6.5 Creedmoor has the more common 1:8 twist. I’m curious as to why your 6.5x55 and 26 Nosler don’t come with 1:8 twists? The reason I’m asking is because I like Berger Hunting VLD bullets and their website strongly suggests a 1:8 twist for 130 and 140 grain 6.5 caliber bullets. If I ever get another 6.5x55, I currently have a CZ 550 American, it could possibly preclude getting a Montana rifle. And I like your rifles.

Dwight.
We worked closely with Norma when we added the Swiss calibers to the line and they recommended 1/8.5 as the truest twist rate for their ammo , as they are the main producer for this caliber we used that info.
on the Creedmoor, all data recommended a 1/8 twist. I think you would love one of our rifles in any 6.5 range! My Creedmoor is a one holer!!

 

[Dwight Beagle]

Swiss calibers?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Swiss calibers?

6.5x55

 

[Dwight Beagle]

6.5x55

That ain’t a Swiss cartridge.

 

[Bullthrower338]

6.5x55 Swiss is a crafty name then

 

[PeteG]

6.5x55 Swiss is a crafty name then

Isnt she a Swedish chick rather than a Swiss lady?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Indeed

 

[Dwight Beagle]

6.5x55 Swede
7.5x55 Swiss

Never heard of a 6.5 Swiss or 6.5x55 Swiss.