I load my ammo for "f�ltskytte" with Normas 130 gr VLD bullet and 49 gr. N-160. This is a hot load and I suggest you start lower and work up if you are going to use it. The flat trajectory is inportant in this form of competition thats why i push the bullet as fast as I dare.

Sierras 107 gr. MK and Lapua 7 gram Scenar bullets shoot very good with N-135. Loads around 40 gr use to work well.

Good shooting!

Stefan.

I don't really have any answers for you as I am in the same position myself. I am currently working up loads for Hornady Vmax - only available in 95 grain - and N160. One problem I have experienced a lot of is inadequate obturation, resulting in sooty cases. Apparently a common problem. My next set of test loads is ready to go and I have changed from CCI 200 primers to Federal 210s to see if that will change things.

I have previously overcome this problem using Nosler 100gr BTs and 45.5grs N550. This load is clean, but produces a lot of muzzle flash. I just decided to try switching to the Hornady and see how I got on.

One of the regular contributors here, Mats, recommends 51 grs N160 with 100gr bullets. He has also had some very good experience with Lapua Scenar. Of course, these won't expand as dramatically as a ballistic tip, so it depends what you intend to use the round for.

Patrick

IME, they can shoot really well even with the lighter pills, although they're seated about a quarter mile from the lands... It would appear that 1:9" is near optimal for the 107-130 gr boattails, 1:10 hasn't got the same following. 1:8" rules the 1000 yard game, with 139 gr and up VLD's.

-- Mats

I must agree with Faina. Just because the rounds seem similar does not mean the loads will be. I have the latest Vit reloading manual, and for the x57 with lighter bullets they use N135 or N140. In the x55 they use 140,150,160,540,550,560. But nothing as fast as 135.

I got out to try some loads yesterday in my 6.5x55, using Hornady Vmax 95gr, 49.5grs N160. Chrono'd just around 3000fps. I was using Federal 210 primers, and this seems to have cured problems with blackened cases.

Martin, if you need any load data from the Vit manual, let me know.

Patrick

Interested in your muzzle flash I don't like this which was why having tried n560 which had bad flash I went down to n550. I have 24" barrel. I'm surprised your 129gr hornady flashes with n550 as even with n560 my rifle did not have muzzle flash with this bullet.

Now I am moving on to single base powders I realise how lucky I was. My rifle doesn't like lapua or norma cases nor n150. Trying rem cases and n160. Want an accurate clean 2,800fps 120gr load and a 100gr load that shoots to same POA.

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick_D:
I have the latest Vit reloading manual, and for the x57 with lighter bullets they use N135 or N140. In the x55 they use 140,150,160,540,550,560. But nothing as fast as 135.

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Try 37-39 grains N 135 behind 100 grain bullets in the x55, they'll run at 2650-2800 fps with very good accuracy. Lapua has a stubby little 100 gr roundnose that seems to like this powder and these velocities a lot... These are very light loads, so some black necks could occur.

For wayward crows, I've taken to 50-ish grains of N 160 behind the various SP and SPBT 100 gr pills, they move at 3100-3200 fps and shoot just nicely. It appears they like this velocity spectrum with 1:8" bbls, I have friends with 6.5-06's (God, I need one - please...) that keep the velocities there too.

Of course, if the crows are R-E-A-L-L-Y far away, a 142 MatchKing or 139 Scenar is the best ticket...

-- Mats

1894 first. I was using N550 with Nosler 100gr BT. Shooting prone, the grass would be smoking afterwards as if I was using black powder. Accuracy was OK, but not great. So I decided to try Hornady vmax (95gr not 129gr) and N160. Every case was dirty. I have now swapped from CCI to federal primers and this problem has almost disappeared. I am slowly working towards the kind of loads Mats suggests, although I have a slight problem. The maximium charge Hornady suggest is 49.6. Now every other loading manual I have shows around 50.5 or 51 grains with similar or slightly heavier bullets. But we all know about the wisdom of exceeding the loads shown in the manuals.....

Mats, I had an interesting mail from Martin who started this topic, and he - I think rightly - pointed out that the powder choice for the x55 and x57 were perhaps as much a result of cultural differences and the perceived uses that each rifle would be put to given their different national origins. So I won't argue with your suggestions regarding N135. You have a lot more experience with this round than I do.

Regards

Patrick

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick_D:
But we all know about the wisdom of exceeding the loads shown in the manuals... -- ...I had an interesting mail from Martin who started this topic, and he - I think rightly - pointed out that the powder choice for the x55 and x57 were perhaps as much a result of cultural differences and the perceived uses that each rifle would be put to given their different national origins.

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Patrick,

When it comes to exceeding manual loads that's just fine - what you should be careful of is exceeding manual velocities. Pressure and velocity are intimately related. Taking the words of friends with substantial pressure measuring experience (note: pressure measuring - not pressure guesstimating...), they arrive at the same pressures as the manufacturers when shooting at the same velocities, be the loads lighter or heavier than the posted.

Maybe I'll just rob the bank and get an Oehler 43 someday... The Fabrique Scientific thingofajig is about to be ordered, but is has some drawbacks.

Oh, I almost forgot: I've loaded the 6.5x57 too. It liked exactly the same powders as the x55 (medium-slow to slow) when shooting the same bullets. It appears that many manuals does not differ between the 6.5x57, mostly used in bolt actions, and the 6.5x57 R, which is mostly used in break-barrels and thus loaded to lower pressures. With lower pressures and more air in the case, faster powders normally gives better results combustion- and accuracy wise.

-- Mats

quote:

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Originally posted by Scott H:
Mats,
What is a typical group size with 100 gr. bullets and a M96? I have been unable to break the 1" barrier with 100 grain bullets and group averages tend to be 1.25 inch. In all fairness though, my swedes throat is 1/4 mile from the 142 MK. I am probably expecting too much from the original 82 year old barrel.
Thanks,
Scott

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Well, my 98 year old bbl, which now appears to have a throat length just barely shorter than the barrel itself, shoots just above one MOA (30-35 mm 5-shot @ 100 m) with anywhere from 36 to 38.5 gr N 135 propelling Lapua's 100 gr FMJ. This is my running moose (practise) load, which also happens to shoot to the same POI as my 156 gr hunting load at 100 meters - very practical. I don't think I've fired a group over 40 mm with these loads, but then again I've never seen tighter than 27-28 mm. If loaded with 50 gr N 160, I think it aggs just below one MOA (< 29 mm @ 100 m, that is) with best single group, which of course proves nothing, 12 mm or .4 MOA.

I seat this bullet with the base just above the neck/shoulder junction (OAL 70 mm), freeflight is then 10.5-11 mm (0.41-0.43") in my rifle. 100 gr Sierra Varminter's are a lot more picky, but loaded to an OAL of 71.5 mm (freeflight 11-11.5 mm) with 50 gr N 160 ignited by CCI 250's in fresh Norma cases, it'll shoot 25-30 mm @ 100 meter. I've had three or four in zero.nothing and one or two out on many occasions, so I don't think this is a magic load with this bullet. I shot a 2 mm three-shot group when sighting in at the moose range once, while a buddy was spotting for me: "About 20 mm high... ehh, can't find it - you missed... ehh, you missed again, dumbass!" I just smiled at him and said nothing, I could see just fine in my Redfield... When we retrieved the target, I wore my best "happens all the time with ol' Betsy" face - he almost swapped me his two year old Sako .308 for the old war horse...

-- Mats

There you go, the secret gun rag formula for stating groupsizes! Do you still wonder how they can shoot 1/2 MOA "all day long" with factory junk..?

-- Mats

[This message has been edited by Mats (edited 04-27-2001).]

quote:

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Originally posted by Stefan:
...Normas 130 gr VLD bullet and 49 gr. N-160.

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Stefan, how fast does it move? I still think it sounds a bit milder than the load a buddy was recommended, 47 gr N 150 - yikes!!! He was stupid enough to try it in his CG 80 - they bent the bolt handle getting it open...

Now I'm headed down to Vapencentrum to see if John and Elisabeth has got some new funny stuff in.

-- Mats

[This message has been edited by Mats (edited 05-03-2001).]

N150 seems funny stuff. From Viht book it's just barely slower than N140 and appears to 'flip flop' in a number of cases ie smaller max reccomended loads.

I e mailed Viht to say there seemed to be a big gap how about an N155. They didn't agree and said they allready had N550 which was in between.

I'm trying it in 100gr ballistic tip to try to get a clean accurate load with same POI as the 120s

quote:

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Originally posted by 1894:
N150 seems funny stuff.

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Indeed it is. I tried it with the Norma 130 VLD and sissy loads (I thought) in an effort to reduce barrel heat for match shooting. 36.5 gr N 150 shot fantastic at about 2300 fps, but cases were really sooty. 37.0 gr N 150 locked the bolt...

A buddy of mine swears by the N 150 for the 130 VLD in his Sauer, and he uses 42 or was it 42.5 gr!

-- Mats

It looks like my m96 barrel is performing as it should.

Like you, I believe group measurements should include all shots.
Scott

[This message has been edited by Scott H (edited 04-29-2001).]