Just recently had a rifle given to me, a 6.5x55SE CZ 550 that was accurized (bedded, trigger adjusted.....ect) by a well known gun shop in TX. Thus far I have shot the following bullets using RL-22, H4831, and H4350.

1) 100gr Sierra HP (Sub 0.5" groups at 0.100" off lands)
2) 100gr Nosler BT (Sub 0.5" groups at 0.100" off lands)

3)100gr Nosler Partition (1.5"-2" groups 0.100" off lands)

4)100gr TTSX (1"-3" groups 0.100" off lands)

5)95gr V-Max (1.5"-3" groups ---dont recall COL)

5)120gr TTSX (1.5"-3" groups 0.050" off lands)

6)120gr TSX (1.5" - 3" groups 0.050" off lands)

All of these were shot at 100 yards and at this point only the 100gr Sierra and 100gr Nosler BT consistently shoot well. I have not loaded heavier than 120gr bullets yet, I do have some just have not loaded them yet. I am scratching my head wondering what is making this so finicky? I know the rifle is capable of good groups shown by the two bullets that will shoot under 1/2" but the others I have tried pattern instead of group!! I have always has great success with the Barnes bullets and feel like I am missing something, the knob that will make these other bullets shoot better.

I have never loaded for the 6.5x55 and through a little research on the web people say that it can be finicky with seating depths, I have loaded for numerous other cartridges in the past but have yet to run into a rifle/cartridge that is so bi-polar with accuracy. I typically start the solid copper bullets 0.050" off the lands and the short 100gr bullets ended up 0.100" off the lands and that was just in order to get what I felt was enough of the bullet in the neck to hold it properly.

If anyone has suggestions based on experience with this cartridge please chime in.

Thanks

My out of the box CZ550 Swede really likes 130gr Accubonds and RL19. Have had good accuracy with SST's as well.

Yours might shoot heavier bullets better. I have not tried any of the mono metals in mine.

Z

Try a heavier bullet. A 140 with 4350 has always been a good combination !

I have a couple 6.5's and have loaded for several others that I no longer have. I my experience bullets in the 120 to 125 gr range like IMR 4350. Any lighter bullets like a faster powder such as 4064.Bullets in the 140 gr range do better with 4831, RL19 & RL 22. Hope that helps.

The CZ-550 has a 1:9" twist. intended to accommodate more modern, shorter length bullet designs.
How much of the bullet is in the neck? I would seat it at least .264. into the case and load a few to test. my loads, like a jump to the lands
120gr sierra oal 2.88" I like H414. for the 140gr 3.05" oal speer I like H4350.

120 gr, noslers, and 120 sierra works very well in four of my 6.5 x 55 swede rifles I have not shot anything heavier using r22, I suspect all are 1-8 twist, tikka, remington , two customs

Take your 120 TTSX, load the bullet and crimp it in the first groove. Let me know how that goes. I have 4 6.5mm guns and they all shoot the 120TTSX very well. I use to play the "off the lands game" a decade ago but anymore I load them to easily fit the magazine and I go shooting/hunting. Have not pulled out my COL gauges in years.

Thank you all for the posts, next time I make it to the range I will post the results.

quote:

Take your 120 TTSX, load the bullet and crimp it in the first groove.

I second this response from McKay; if he meams the first (front) relief groove towards the bullet nose, not the first relief groove from the base of the bullet.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp Die with a very firm crimp - the accuracy is very good.

The 6.5x55 is a great cartridge, one down side is most chambers are cut to accept the original 160 grain round nose. Standard chamber dimensions are throated for the very long 160 grain round nose bullets. I have three 55 rifles and they will not shoot well unless the bullet is seated 10 to 20 thousands from the rifling. The problem is, it's impossible to seat bullets lighter than 140 grains close to the rifling due to the long throat dimensions. In my experience all 140 grain bullets with a boat tail aren't long enough to be seated just short of the rifling, when the bullet has to jump to hit the rifling it distorts the bullet going down the barrel, thus crating bad accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:

quote:

Take your 120 TTSX, load the bullet and crimp it in the first groove.

I second this response from McKay; if he meams the first (front) relief groove towards the bullet nose, not the first relief groove from the base of the bullet.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp Die with a very firm crimp - the accuracy is very good.

Yes that is what I meant. Seams to work for all TSX/TTSX bullets in my guns.

You might try the 156 gr. Norma or if you can find them, the 160gr. Horn. RN. I've owned 6 different 6.5s and all of them liked the 160s. roger

It would help if you shared what powders you used with which loads...

Larry

my 6.5x55 loved RL-19 powder and 156-160 grain bullets was where it was at in my rifles as most generally 6.5x55s are twisted very fast for heavy bullets.

Just worked out loads for a Sako 85 rifle in 6.5x55.

Using Sierra 120 grain MK and 140 grain MK.

I never worry about how far the bullet jumps, I seat the bullet one caliber in.

Both bullets were shooting less than 0.5 inch groups.

I am a bit curious on the your rifle.

If you seat the bullets that far out with those light bullets, you must have a non standard chamber.

It will be interesting to know.

Maximum over all loaded length is 3.150 inches. So I am guessing you cannot seat those light bullets so far out.

Took the 6.5 out over the weekend and tested the 120gr TSX using 47.0gr of RL-22 results as follows.

0.050" off lands - 2.0" group
0.100" off lands - 0.5" group
0.200 off lands - 4.5" group

Will test 0.100" off land load again to validate results. Velocity was 2900 fps from a Lab Radar.

quote:

Originally posted by safari:
Took the 6.5 out over the weekend and tested the 120gr TSX using 47.0gr of RL-22 results as follows.

0.050" off lands - 2.0" group
0.100" off lands - 0.5" group
0.200 off lands - 4.5" group

Will test 0.100" off land load again to validate results. Velocity was 2900 fps from a Lab Radar.

Seams something is off? Check your scope mount maybe? 4" group size difference with .100 seating difference seams odd to me.

I loaded for a Sako and a Winchester in 6.5X55

I found Re22 & MRP a waste of time

Best results were with VV N160, H4350 & Re19

I got great results with Nosler 120 BT, 125 gr Partition, 140 gr Hornady, 160 RN Hornady

Some of those loads were a single bug hole with 5 shots!

Velocity was 3000 Fps with 120 gr BT, 2900 fps with 125 gr Partition, 2750 fps with 140 gr and 2600 fps with 160 gr RN.

All loads were developed very carefully with chronograph and measuring case expansion.

All loads gave case life of over 10 reloads.

Seating depth was 0.030 inch off lands for lead core / cup bullets as above.

That is a very mild load IMO. I trust you might get 2800 fps with that.

Also Re22 is far too slow for such a light bullet.

Are you chronographing your loads?

quote:

Originally posted by safari:
Took the 6.5 out over the weekend and tested the 120gr TSX using 47.0gr of RL-22 results as follows.

0.050" off lands - 2.0" group
0.100" off lands - 0.5" group
0.200 off lands - 4.5" group

Will test 0.100" off land load again to validate results. Velocity was 2900 fps from a Lab Radar.

Are you shooting these "round robin", or one group at a time?

I'm not surprised you are having a good node at .1" from the land. I'll bet you can shrink it by moving in or out .005" at a time.

McK, I've seen that plenty of times myself. .1" is a lot in this situation. Also, at .2 off the lands I'll bet the pressure is spiking making it worse. That's a long way to go with the same charge.

Gotcha. On my last dozen or so rifles I could not even tell you where the lands are. Haha. A decade ago I use to chase the land game. Now I just crimp in the cannalure or one of the top two grooves in a tsx and end up with a sub 1" usually after just a few load tests. But what has changed is i have not been buying any factory rifles in the past decade as well.

I still run a round robin test to find where my rifle likes a bullet seated.

Here is one I did with my .243 & DTAC 115 grain bullets.



Here is another same rifle but Berger 115 VLD bullets. There out one group because it had fliers.