I'm thinking seriously of getting a Win 70 in 6.5x55 and would without a doubt reload for the round. I was just wondering if you good ol' folks who shoot 129 grn and 140 grn pills in the 6.5x55 would share with me which powders you like the best. From the 22" Winchester tube, I would expect about 2900 fps with the 129 grn and 2800-2850 fps with the 140 grn. Any of you guys get those velocities with good accuracy? By good accuracy, I mean something that will shoot sub-minute-of-whitetail-vitals out to 300 yds.

I did look at some load data and it looks like I might consider 4350, 4831, H1000, or (to be punk) IMR 7828. Any comments?

For 120 grain bullets, I like R-19 or H4350 equally well.

For 139-142 grain bullets, H4831SC and R-22 (In that order)

For 160 grain bullets, IMR7828 , R-22 and H4831SC (in that order)

I feel your velocity expectations may be little high for a 22" barrel. If you set a pressure max of 60 kPSI for your loads, you can expect to see 100 FPS less for each bullet weight.

Scott

Scott told you right, your velocities will be a bit lower than your looking for. I use H4831sc with the 120 / 129 gr bullets and R22 for the 140s. My rifle does about 2750+ fps with the 129 and pushes 2700 with the 140s. I don`t seem to get much more out of the 129 than I do the 140 for some reason. This is with a 24" douglas BBL on a MarkX action.

46.5 grains of RL22 gives me a trifle over 2800 fps on a 140 grain bullet, with my 29" Swedish Mauser. The Alliant published load of 48.1 grains is for a modern, higher pressure firearm.

So you'll lose maybe 200 fps with the 7" barrel difference, and pick up 75 fps for the hotter load, netting you out somewhere around 2675-2700 fps, give or take.

48.2 grains R-22 should be "legal" with a M/96. My Alliant data shows it at 44,400 CUP.
The Alliant Data does not make any special warnings with this load.

Hmmm, now I'm confused. I'm not trying to be a jerk here and I'm not trying to say that you guys don't know what you're talking about. As I write this I have the August 2001 issue of Rifle's Handloader in front of me. On page 49 I see one of Al Miller's favorite loads for the 6.5x55. The one I am looking at says that with 50 grs of H4831 and a Rem 9 1/2 primer behind a 139 grn Norma bullet in Norma brass he gets 2841 fps out of the 22 inch barrel of his Rem 700. Now I am being told that this is impossible. Does Al Miller know this?

46 grains of N140 Vithavuori OY.
col 79millimiters
bullet Lapua Scenar 139 grs.
case Lapua.

If you use norma cases you can increase the load of 1grs
bye

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bye
Stefano
Waidmann's Heil

Adirondack Joe,
I read it. IMO, the reported 2841 fps may be a typo. It was probably 2741 and Al Miller hit 8 on the keyboard by mistake. Notice the 129 Hornady grain and 130 grain Barnes loads reported on page 49 support my hunch.

In my 29" barrel 50.2 grain H4831SC clocks 2930 (Sierra 140 spbt at 3.06" OAL.) The same load clocks 2980 to 3014 with Hornady 140 SP at 3" OAL. If one assumes a rough reduction of 25-30 fps per inch, my rifle would probably net 2720-2800, if I cut the barrel to 22".

Actually, a 22" barrel clocking 2750 with a 140 is hauling a$$ for a hot loaded swede or .260 Remington. I suppose it could be juiced up a bit more, but you could be pushing it. My 140 Sierra load is stiff and will give a slight hint of sticky bolt lift on hot days.

[This message has been edited by Scott H (edited 09-21-2001).]

Steve Malinverni,

That is a seriously HOT load. With a 100gr bullet such as a ballistic tip the max amount of N140 is about 42-43gr! N140 is normaly a tad fast for a 139gr bullet.

Adirondack Joe,

The key (IMHO) to a 6.5x55 is to get a round that touches of with that sweet hollow boom and a push so you can watch that deer crumple. The world is unfortunately not filled with gun writers who print articles such as 'My loads for the Swede - exactly replicating the factory ballistics of 1894 for which the cartridge was designed for' - just doesn't sell.

Maybe it fall down to the level of just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done.

Enjoy your 6.5, the thinking mans 270!

Adirondack Joe,

I got a nice M70 with a 22" barrel. The barrel is wery thin and makes it no way near a 300-meter-killer as I see it - but I sure love is! The best goups are around 25-30mm at 100 meters and good enough for my hunting at normal range.

The max speeds is for 156grain 2600 fps, 140 grain 2700 fps and 120 grain 2800 fps. Please note that these loads for some odd reason are not the best concerning group size ! My best load uses a Hornady 140 grain, 46 grain of N160 and gives 2650 fps. I dont think any deer has ever noticed the missing fps.

Please do not use more than 40-41 grain for N140 !!! Start with 37 grain. Preasure strart to get real bad with just 1 grain more than what seems to be a safe load. But normaly slow powder like N160 or MRP are the best.

I agree with "1894". The 6.5x55 is made for heawy bullets at normal speeds. This is not a Weatherby !

Menander

1894,
mea culpa, I really apologize for my error hitting the wrong key. N160, I repeat N160 N-one-hundred-and-sixty produced by Vithavuory!!!!
Please understand me, it were about 20:30 in Italy, and I was at work at 8:35. It was the eleventh hour of fighting against software developers that release their work a good time after the sun shine. I left the office 30 minutes later.
Yesterday evening my brain was like porridge.
Also this is not a quiet load, but it is absolutely sure and overtested.
bye

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bye
Stefano
Waidmann's Heil