I am just recently starting to reload for my 6.5x55. I didnt' find any loads in my books that I liked for this, so I looked on the internet and found this one. I bought some Nosler 100 gr. BT's and some IMR3031 powder. I am mainly just piddling around, I shoot paper a lot and some times ground hogs and cyotes. I was wondering what you guys think of this combination, and what grain powder should I start out with. I have read where people use about 38 grains of powder with this load. I am using remington cases and CCI primers. I read to seat this at 3.00" AOL. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

Hi whiter,

There are 6.5X55 loads listed for IMR3031 powder on the IMR website, but the only two bullet weights they have data for are 85 & 140 gn. But, since IMR 3031 is listed for both weights, it should also be suitable for the 100s - but I am not going to venture a guess at maximum charge weight ....

Follow the links to the Reloader's guide:
http://www.imrpowder.com/

Regards, Bill

We reload a lot of 6,5x55 for cross the course use. Some of the best loads with 107/108 grs bullets are 39-41 grs of Vithavouri N-140. Will give you from 2750-and up to close to 3000f/s.

In most 1-9" barrels this load will give you sub 0,5 moa groups.

I have a 6.5x55 in the Remington Classic. I reload the Nosler 100gr Bal.Tip with IMR4895 41.0grs. I load it out to 3.002" with a muzzle velocity of 2700fps. It will print 5 shot groups of .609" (100yds). An even more accurate load in my rifle is the Lapua Scenar 108gr. HP, pushed along by VihtaVouri 550, 44grs. I load this one out to 3.071" with a muzzle velocity of 2900fps.
It prints .533". Rarely does either of these loads exceed .7" These loads are safe in my rifle. I cannot speak for yours as you don't mention the rifle brand so be careful. This is a remarkedly
accurate caliber with mild recoil. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

While I can give you a few velocity loads with the 100 grainers, they are not really needed. 40 grains of IMR 3031 is a good start.

Sierra's manuals list 41.5 grains with 3031, and the Lyman 47th Edition lists 43 grains as the max with 3031.

It has proven to be an accurate powder in both 6.5 x 55 and 7 x 57 Mausers for me with all bullet weights.

whiter, you don't mention a name, or model for the 6.5 X 55. Remember, the M 96's won't stand the pressures the 98's and modern guns will.

Mine is a Carl Gustaf M96. My uncle gave me this gun. It is in a hunting rifle stalk, I guesse that who ever had it put it in there, because I have been trying to find one on the internet that looks like mine and I have not found on yet. All I have found is one that look like the old militarty rifles. Since mine can't hold as much pressure, where do you think I should start out at with the loads.

Does anyone out there have a load for a 6.5X55 using 120 gr Nosler Part. Beeman

Norma has some good load data for this cartridge. No experiance with the 100 grain bullets but quite a bit with 140 to 160. You can get good results with RL22 which seems to equate to Norma MRP.

whiter, I don't shoot the 100 grain bullets, so I borrowed these from Lyman's 46th edition. I like the 140's and 160's, and as you start to load and learn more about your rifle, you'll see it is throated for the lo-ong 6.5 calibre bullets.

1) R-P 100 grain bullet:
i)IMR 3031 39.0g - 43.0g
ii)IMR 4320 42.0g - 47.0
iii)IMR 4895 41.0 - 46.0g

2)R-P 140 grain bullet:
i)IMR 4895 36.0g - 40.0g
ii)IMR 4320 39.0 - 43.0

3)Hornady 160 bullet:
i)IMR 4895 33.0g - 37.0g
ii)IMR 4320 35.0g - 39.0g

Test Specifications: Swedish Military Carbine, 18" BBL

Thanks for the info. I was shooting some factory bullets thourhg it, the remington 140 gr. sp's and the federal gold medal 120 gr. hp's and the federals shot better than the remingtons, it was about 1.5" @ 100 yards. The muzzle velocity on the back of the box was 2800 fps, I think. Since it is throated for the long bullets, do you think that the 100 grainers will be ok? What do you think that I shoule be seating them at.

I forgot to add something in there, since mine is the 96 and can't hold as much pressure, should I start lower than 39 gr. of powder. Your opinion will help.

Anybody load 120-140 grs (Partitions, even?) with VV powders??
- mike

I shoot a spoterized M96 swede. The best powder I have found is IMR 4831 I shoot 100gr Nosler BT with 50gr's 4831 at OAL 3.047 =3110ft/s and .75 groups. also I started loading for coyotes same powder charge 50gr's 4831 only I load 85gr sierra HP's OAL 2.880 also .75 groups. I use 215 federal match primers and remington brass. These are mildly warm loads but I shoot them all year round,and never seen over pressure in the warm weather. I would start at about 47gr's and work your way up.

So far I've only shot match bullets in my 6.5x55.

With 120 Sierras, I like 47.5 grains of IMR 4350.

With 140-grain AMAX or 142 Sierras, I like 47.5 grains of H4831SC ignited by a Federal 210 Match primer. Out of my target rifle, this load gives me 1/2-inch groups at 200 metres. Reloder 22 also works very well with this bullet weight.

When I try the 100-grainers, I'll certainly try Varget and IMR 3031.

FWIW, the M96 action is not a 'weak' action. The Swede's don't load it mild. I generally don't, but have pushed Sierra GameKings at 2880fps with 46gr of H4350 in my CG model 1896. Most US loads are mild, but check out the Norma loadings velocities and bullet weights.I do not reccomend hot loading any firearm. The most logical reason the military 6.5X55 with approx 140gr bullets are pushed about 2600fps is that the cartridge was used in the 6.5X55 Norwegian Krag/Jorgenson rifle with a single locking lug. Kimber and others rechamber the 96's into 308's, 22-250's, and other non-mild pressure cartridges. Best-o-Luck

I finally got some loaded up. I used remington brass, wenchester primers, nosler 100 grain bt's, and IMR3031 powder. I used 38 grains of powder. There is only one thing that I would question about what I dit. I seated the bullets a little to deap that what I was wanting to. I seated them at 2.999 oal. I was wondering if this would do anything bad to my gun, or if it will be ok. I also put them in my rifle to see how they chambered, and the bold is a little hard to close, I was wondering why this is, and what I should do to fix it. I am going to head to the range tomarrow to try them out, so if anyone has anyadvise, I would greatly apreciate it before I head to the range.

Whiter:

If the bolt is hard to close, it sounds like that you did not totally resize the brass all the way. Depending on your die set, if it is RCBS, you should turn the die all the way down until it touches the Ram. The lift your handle up just a bit, and screw the Die down another 1/8th to 1/4 turn. It will give a camming effect.

I did the same when I first started hand loading. Seating the bullet too deep will also not hurt your rifle or cause pressure problems if you used 38 grains of 3031. 43 grains is listed as max for a 100 grain bullet.

Thanks for your info. I have a lee die set. Next time, I will take it another 1/4 turn, and see what that will do.

Well, I tried those loads out today. They shot 1.5" I am going to try a 39 grain and set the AOL at 3.000 next time, and see what that will give me.