My brother is taking his daughter deer hunting in a mentored hunt. She is 8 years old and does well supervised with firearms.They will be hunting side by side in a tree stand with shots less than 100 yards. He has a Win70 in 6.5x55 Swede. So I need a tried and true reduced load. Thanks

Considering the max distance you'll be shooting a lighter projectile; 100 or 120gn, will give less perceived recoil even with a full power load.

I`d look at something like the 100 gr Nosler Partition with Varget or 4064 as a powder. You won`t need a max load at 100 yd or less and anything that proves accurate and over 23-2400 fps should suffice.

Perhaps a Hornady 100gr sp or Speer's 120gr. Hot Core driven with 21.5 gr. of Blue Dot at 2300 to 2400 fps. would get the job done. roger

Take your pick:

BLUE DOT Range Report: 6.5 x 55 Mauser

Rifles Used: Carl Gustaf 6.5 x 55 ( 1920 Production) 29 inch barrel

Ruger 77 Mk 2, 22 Inch barrel

Case Used: Winchester/ previously fired.

Primer: CCI Large Rifle

120 Grain Sierra Match: Mauser

20grs: 2214 fps
21grs: 2318 fps
22grs: 2382 fps
23grs: 2464 fps
24grs: 2539 fps ( ejector marks)

Consider 23 grains Max for reliable case life



129 Hornady SP: Ruger 77 Mk2

15grs: 1738 fps
16grs: 1737 fps

Mauser:
17grs: 1791 fps 21grs: 2196 fps
18grs: 1855 fps 22grs: 2261 fps
19grs: 1953 fps 23grs: 2350 fps
20grs: 2121 fps 24grs: 2410 fps

Consider 24 grains Max for reliable case life


140 grain Remington SP: Mauser

15grs: 1690 fps 20grs: 2019 fps
16grs: 1801 fps 21grs: 2084 fps
17grs: 1874 fps 22grs: 2179 fps
18grs: 1927 fps 23grs: 2245 fps
19grs: 2023 fps 24grs: 2303 fps

Consider 24 grains Max for Reliable brass life.

160 grain Sierra SMP : Mauser

16grs: 1497 fps 21grs: 1918 fps
17grs: 1640 fps 22grs: 2018 fps
18grs: 1730 fps 23grs: 2077 fps
19grs: 1831 fps 24grs: 2143 fps
20grs: 1839 fps


Consider 24 grains Max for Reliable brass life.


All bullets were seated out to magazine length since both the Mauser and the Ruger are long throated.

All brass for the Mauser was necked sized only after initial firing.

Results obtained from the Mauser were checked with the same loads from the Ruger and there was no appreciable difference in velocity.

Recoil was substantially mild, on par with a 22/250 in a Varmint Weight Rifle.

260 Load Data which is close if you want to go with lighter bullets...

260 Remington and Blue Dot Range Report…

Rifle Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2

Barrel Length: 22 inches

Primers Used: Federal 210


I. 85 grain HP Sierra OAL: 68.25mm

10 grs: 1628 fps
11 grs: 1712 fps
12 grs: 1825 fps
13 grs: 1922 fps
14 grs: 2065 fps

15grs: 2167 fps
16 grs: 2254 fps
17 grs: 2381 fps
18 grs: 2467 fps
19 grs: 2558 fps

20 grs: 2646 fps
21 grs: 2718 fps
22 grs: 2767 fps


II. 95 grain Hornady V Max OAL: 70.50 mm

10 grs: 1602 fps
11 grs: 1682 fps
12 grs: 1779 fps
13 grs: 1924 fps
14 grs: 2031 fps

15 grs: 2119 fps
16 grs: 2162 fps
17 grs: 2242 fps
18 grs: 2365 fps
19 grs: 2470 fps

20 grs; 2574 fps
21 grs: 2609 fps
22 grs: 2692 fps

II. Nosler 100 grain Ballistic Tip: OAL: 72.85 mm

10 grs: 1524 fps
11 grs: 1677 fps
12 grs: 1862 fps
14 grs: 1936 fps

15 grs: 2043 fps
16 grs: 2126 fps
17 grs: 2213 fps
18 grs: 2310 fps
19 grs: 2397 fps

20 grs: 2453 fps
21 grs: 2548 fps
22 grs: 2619 fps…

Notes;

No need for Magnum Primers… even large pistol primers are both satisfactory and there was no real noticeable difference in MV.

Work up from the 20 grain mark to the 22 grain mark, as some throats produce tight chambers in some rifles… not so in the Ruger Test Rifle

The Ballistic Tip was chosen for the 100 grain bullet, based on the fact that it will open up nicely down to 1500 fps, and the 2600 fps max is just below my recommended MV of 2700 fps that is max for the ballistic tip without suffereing meat loss…

The Nosler Partition will work well down to about 2000 fps impact velocity..

The 100 grain Hornady SP seemed to work well down to about 1750 fps MV

The Sierra 100 grain HP seemed to work well down to about the same for adequate lethality on a deer in the 150 lb range and under…

Remember to always work up.. and your loading techniques are YOUR responsibilities.

I highly recommend loading a round and then seating a bullet before going onto the next one.. this will prevent an accidental double charge from happening.

Do not exceed the above recommendations.. I have and have determined there is nothing gained in velocity above that listed, but there is an increase in pressure and remember being a fast powder, it shows up much quicker than with slower powders…

All the loads proved to be very very accurate in my Ruger and my Rem VLS…


Remember to work up...

and Good Luck to her on her hunt...
cheers
seafire

Thanks for the load info. I was leaning towards Blue Dot. Seafire..thanks for the data.

22 Win,

My pleasure.. and glad to be able to help out..

I hope you find something the young lady can handle...

all loads proved to be accurate in my different 6.5 x 55s...