Favorite 6.5 X 55 powder?

30 July 2002, 09:11

<Sawblade>

You guys were such a big help when I posed this question about the .308, I thought I would ask about the 6.5

What is your favorite powder for the 6.5 X 55 with 120 grain bullets(preferably Ballistic Tips)?

Thanks for all the help. You guys have gotten me off to a GREAT start with this reloading stuff!!

30 July 2002, 09:38

waxman

My Ruger 6.5x 55 thrives on RL 19. 49 gr. and a 120 gr. ballistic tip spits out right at 3,000 fps. It is also my most accurate load.

30 July 2002, 09:39

<Kimmo E>

Norma 204

30 July 2002, 10:01

Battle River

quote:
Originally posted by waxman:
My Ruger 6.5x 55 thrives on RL 19. 49 gr. and a 120 gr. ballistic tip spits out right at 3,000 fps. It is also my most accurate load.

49.5 gr of IMR 4350- this is a hot load for M700 Rem only. 2950 f/s and is asuper light deer/coyote load for me

BR

30 July 2002, 10:02

Bill Leeper

I seldom use bullets as light as 120 in the 6.5 but when I do I use either 4350 or win 760. For proper 6.5 bullets (139-142) I use vihtavouri 165. I can easily exceed 2900 fps from my 26"barrel with 142s. Another favourite is 4831SC. Not as fast but maybe more accurate. I use the 6.5 primarily as a long range target round. Regards, Bill.

30 July 2002, 11:21

<Abe Normal>

Anyone care to share what there favorite powders/recipes are for the old Swedish Masers?

30 July 2002, 15:33

Bobby Tomek

For 120 to 140 grain bullets, nothing has come close to Re-22 in my 6.5x55 rifles, which range from standard military issues in carbine & rifle configuration to a 24" Encore and a customized M98.

In the 24" Encore:
With 46 grain Re-22 (2 grains under max), I get 2740 fps with the Hornady 140 grain SP using Lapua brass and Fed 210s. 48 grains gives an even 2800 fps with the Speer 140 grain Hot Core.

Using the same brass & primers, 49 grains of Re-22 speeds the 120 grain Ballistic Tip along at 2963 fps and gives groups in the 0.5 MOA range (when I do my part).

30 July 2002, 19:13

Shawn460

My M38 prefers 43 grs of IMR4350 at an average of 2646 fps with 120 gr Sierra HPBT Match bullets.

My M96's are best with 42 grs of IMR4350 at an average velocity of 2580 fps.

Both loads are extremely accurate, but it also took a while to find the perfect load. Now, I won't use any other load then the two listed above.

Shawn

30 July 2002, 19:28

ricciardelli

H-4350 From 41.5 grains to 47.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

31 July 2002, 07:51

<Yspen>

I have to agree with Bobby Tomek - Stick to Reloader 22 .
The Swede favours slower powders .

I load from 120 to 160 in the Swede and get more accurate loads out of Rel 22 than any other powder .

Currently using Somchem S385 ( as Rel 22 not available in SA) but burnrate almost the same as Rel 22 .

Ben

31 July 2002, 09:22

<Mats>

quote:
Originally posted by Abe Normal:
Anyone care to share what there favorite powders/recipes are for the old Swedish Masers?

Norma 204 and MRP, no doubt. VihtaVuori N 150 works good for slow but accurate light bullet (sub-120) loads, a lot less recoil and blast than the more accurate and faster Norma 204...

With 100 gr pills VV N 160 really pushes them - 204 works too, but N 160 seems to have a small edge in accuracy.

Load weights are up to and, in the case of MRP, slightly above Norma's published max.

http://www.norma.cc

With VV powders, loads are WAY above published max for N 160, but N 150 is a strangely acting powder - never approached max w/o strange pressure symptoms. E.G: 36 gr: Sooty cases, anemic speed... 36.5 gr: Locked bolt... I have a buddy that feeds his Sauer and CG's way, way more of the N 150 stuff, but that's his eye behind the bolt... Last I heard from him he was trying 44 gr (published max for that powder and bullet: 38.8 gr) behind a Norma 130 gr VLD, the primers fell out but I know he's used 42.5 gr for a long, long time - in a Sauer, though.

http://www.lapua.com

-- Mats

31 July 2002, 09:31

Mark R Dobrenski

Bobby T I know you are a bit of a 6.5 fan-you had any working with a 260??

Thanks

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

31 July 2002, 09:32

Gatogordo

36 gr Varget.

31 July 2002, 22:55

M.Fox Jancik

For Balistic tip I use 46grs Accurate 4350

01 August 2002, 07:03

polecat

Using Lapua brass, Sierra 120SP and CCI primers in a standard Tikka rifle the following all gave sub 1/2 minute groups centre to centre.
IMR 4831, 47gr (most consistant powder)
RL 19, 46.5gr (poor obturation in the cold)
V160, 49.5gr (chrono'd at 2850fps)

01 August 2002, 15:42

<chuckwalla>

My M38 likes 49.0 grs(max load)of RL-19 behide a Speer 120 gr sp. ~2800 ft/s.

01 August 2002, 15:44

<chuckwalla>

[ 08-01-2002, 06:49: Message edited by: chuckwalla ]

01 August 2002, 15:45

<chuckwalla>

[ 08-01-2002, 06:47: Message edited by: chuckwalla ]

03 August 2002, 18:36

<ppro>

46.5 grs. of Reloader 22 and Nosler 140 Partition, Winchester case and Fed 210M primer....very accurate.....recovered the Nosler Partition bullet from a end to end quartering shot my wife made on a big moose.....she pretty much shoots all her game with the 6.5 x 55 and loves it....with its moderate recoil and all.

Paul

04 August 2002, 15:02

<Exercion>

I reload the 6.5x55 for competition and just general shooting, all with swedish military rifles. My favorite powder is R-22, current match load is Lapua brass, Win primers, 45.5grs R-22, Sierra 140gr HPBT Match Moly bullets. Velocity is right at the 2600fps mark from the M96 barrel.

08 August 2002, 08:48

<James Bond>

I have tried a few different types of powder, after not being successful and satisfied with the groups I got off the bench. Every rifle shoots differently. I asked competitive shooter what there loads were and tried them... My rifle didnt like it. I tried IMR 4064 - IMR 4831, but after two years of trying I found my sweet load 1/2 to 3/4 inch open sights off the bench.... Yeah...yeah... I hear ya!... give us the details. Well I'm using a 140gr HPBT Match with 40.6grs IMR 4350. OAL is 80mm. I'm shooting a Carl Gustav 1902 Swedish Mauser.

09 August 2002, 16:12

ElCaballero

My m94 swedish likes
norma brass
cci 200 primer
42 gr win 748 powder
140 gr nosler partition

10 August 2002, 00:00

<Made in Sweden>

I have used Norma MRP, Norma 204 and Vihtavouri N160. I have always had the best results with 204, although MRP enables a little more velocity. Vihtavouri seems to be afraid of lawsuits since their stated loadingweights are very low.