has anyone varget in their 6.5x55? i kind of already know the answers to my questions but i want some first hand experience.

1. varget is fast for the swede and especially a 140gr bullet.
2. The data i've seen and the velocity i want(2950+-50fps) out of a 30" barrel means i need to go about 5grs over book max. which is fine for me i'd work up obviously. I will use a savage action and lapua brass.
3. varget will increase barrel wear far quicker than a much slower powder(H-4350 or R-19)

these are my questions/observations.
can anyone confirm or correct me with actually fact.

quote:

Originally posted by crout:
has anyone varget in their 6.5x55? i kind of already know the answers to my questions but i want some first hand experience.

1. varget is fast for the swede and especially a 140gr bullet.
2. The data i've seen and the velocity i want(2950+-50fps) out of a 30" barrel means i need to go about 5grs over book max. which is fine for me i'd work up obviously. I will use a savage action and lapua brass.
3. varget will increase barrel wear far quicker than a much slower powder(H-4350 or R-19)

these are my questions/observations.
can anyone confirm or correct me with actually fact.

1. Yes varget is too fast burning for a 140 grain bullet in the 6.6x55 and you are wanting 2900 fps minimum
2. I would advise aginst loading any cartridge over "Book" as a general rule. But 5 grains over??
Your cavalier attitude towards ignoring confirmed pressure data is disconcerting.
3. No hard and fast rule here. But generally a faster burning powder in large quantities will lead to quicker erosion.
Not meaning to flame but I would feel uncomfortable sitting next to you at a range.

muck

quote:

1. varget is fast for the swede and especially a 140gr bullet.

fully agree.....find a slower powder (H-4350 maybe)

2. The data i've seen and the velocity i want(2950+-50fps) out of a 30" barrel means i need to go about 5grs over book max . which is fine for me i'd work up obviously. I will use a savage action and lapua brass.

this would not be my recommendation.....but as long as you work up have a ball!

3. varget will increase barrel wear far quicker than a much slower powder(H-4350 or R-19)
there's no credible data to support this!

As far as I'm concerned you can load twenty grains over the book as long as you work up and watch for signs of pressure.....I'm guessing you'll reach terminal pressures at about 2,800 FPS or there abouts.....

It's your gun and your butt!

thanks for the info guys. and no i'm not an idiot and no i don't just randomly pick a powder and charge weight and start at it. but in all seriousness. am i the only one that looks at this wonderful wealth of knowledge on this website?http://www.accuratereloading.com/65smauser.html

I've used Varget with great sucess in my 6.5X55 built on a Rem 700 action with 100 grain and lighter bullets ( 3100-3250 fps ). I have not tried it w/heavier bullets but I wouldn't hesitate to give it a go with the 120 pills.

For me R19 and H4350 are the ticket for 120-130 ( 2900 fps ) grainers and R22 for the 140 grainers (2800 fps )

260 Rem from Hodgdon Website

quote:

140 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon Varget .264" 2.780" 34.0 2469 53,300 PSI 36.0 2578 59,400 PSI
140 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon H4350 .264" 2.780" 39.0 2530 51,900 PSI 42.0 2677 58,800 PSI
No Varget load for 160gr
160 GR. HDY RN Hodgdon H4350 .264" 2.860" 40.0 2417 52,100 PSI 43.0 2538 58,200 PSI

6.5x55 Swede from Hodgdon Website

quote:

140 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon Varget .264" 3.030" 32.5 2312 37,500 CUP 36.0 2528 46,000 CUP
140 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon H4350 .264" 3.030" 39.5 2418 38,600 CUP 44.0 2617 45,700 CUP
160 GR. HDY RN Hodgdon Varget .264" 3.000" 32.5 2173 38,200 CUP 36.0 2354 45,600 CUP
160 GR. HDY RN Hodgdon H4350 .264" 3.000" 40.0 2317 38,800 CUP 43.0 2445 44,900 CUP

There was a test or study done on throat erosion and it was found that the erosion is proportional to the amount of powder in the case i.e. the slower the powder the more the erosion due to increased quantity. I don't know were to find the results right now but someone posted them on this forum I think.

It's hard to see why the Swede has to operate at a lower pressure than the 260 on the same action. Hodgdon use different units of pressure for the two, making it harder to compare. The Swede case capacity lies halfway between the 308 Win and the 30-06 for extrapolation purposes.

I found it had not grouped all that well out of my 18 barrel swedish mauser. Stick to the slower powders

My friend and I each had an SEE event with 46 gr of 4831 and the 129 gr Hornady that blew the primers and stuck the bolts.
I went to Varget and with 36 gr and the 140 gr Hornady, it shot 5 shots into .436" at 100 yd's.
With the 129 gr, 37.5 gr of Varget is as accurate.
Varget WORKS, plain and simple.

bfrshooter....did you go any hotter with the varget or did you stick to book(max) loads?

I've had great results using Varget in two cousins: 260 and 7/08. 260 was with 120 grn bullets 7/08, with 130 and 140. It's not alwyas the fastest (RL 19 is, H4350 next) but it was the most accurate for me.

I've had very fine results from H4350, RL22, and AA4350 in a modern 6.5x55. Varget is useable, but will yield less than wonderful MV at safe pressures.

In a modern action, the 6.5x55 is safe at pressures in the same range as the 260, but 5 grains over book is going to put you well beyond that.

quote:

Posted 04 April 2009 06:25 Hide Post
bfrshooter....did you go any hotter with the varget or did you stick to book(max) loads?

Posts: 88 | Location: Alberta, Canada | Registered: 25 October 2007

No, I just worked for accuracy. The caliber kills about anything without going crazy with velocity.
I have found Varget is extremely accurate in everything I shoot it out of. It even works in the 7BR. Hodgdon told me it was too slow but I get super small groups and good velocity from my pistol.

I am not sure what you intended uses are for your rifle and load but will share my experience with this caliber.

I purchased a Kimber sporterized mil surp version with a 22" barrel, several years ago as a package deal for my daughter. I contacted Kimber about the strength of the action and handloading for it. I was concerned with not getting into the red zone with an older Mauser action, and having something go wrong in my daughter face. Their response was that they had pressure tested every action that was used, and that they were all up to modern loading velocities and pressures. This included up to the 2800fps range, with 140gr loads.

Being that as it may, after more research on the action I decided to keep things on the sae side as the rifle was only intedned to be used in thick areas where shots of 150yds and under were the rule. At the time I was starting this Hornady came out with their A-Max series of bullets. I was looking for something which would reliably expand at the lower velocities, that I had set my mind to working with so I contacted them on using the new 140gr A-Max for this task. At the time, they had very little data on the use of them for hunting, and positively said they would not suggest this as it would leave me terribly disappointed.

Sometimes I am a bit hard headed, and have to see things for myself. Seeing as these bullets when driven to a modest 2550 fps with H4831 or RL-19 from this rifle, groups around 3/8" at 100yds, I was destined to put them through something to test their integrity. Since we have somewhat of an over abundance of feral hogs here, these provide excellent test media for new loads. If they will reliably work on them deer really do not stand a chance. So after loading 20 rounds I headed to the country and found what I was looking for, a pack of around 15 or so busted out of the brush along side a flood levee and the test was begun.

First two shots were DRT, as the pack made it's way along and away from me through the brush. They crossed over the top of the levee down around 150yds from me and another one bit the dust. After hitting the pasture below the levee they headed straight away and were obscured from view by a small tree, which I hastily got down and around to enable another shot. By not they were out around 300yds and still heading away at a good clip. The 4th shot hit somewhat behind the last one in line and after adjusting for the distance and drop, I hit it in the top of the left ham and it exited just inside the right shoulder. So for a bullet that wasn't supposed to work for hunting, I had 4 dead hogs, for 5 shots, and all hit the ground where they were when hit. The performance was awesome, all had complete pass throughs and the internals were totally wrecked. The end to end of the last one was nothing more than what would have been on any other made for hunting cup and core. Nicely expanding wound channel with a very moderate just over 1/2" exit hole.

This all being said, I have repeated these same results using two other 140gr bullets form other companies. The velocities have all been under 2600fps, and everything hit with these loads has dropped withing 15 - 20yds if not on the spot. I prefer using the Hornady A-Max over them all however simply due to the fact they out shot everything we have tried in this rifle. Even the two deer and several hogs, my daughter has taken at 20 - 50yds with these loads have not shown any over expansion.

Like I said I do not know what your intended use is for the velocity your seeking with your rifle, but I can tell you that most standard 140gr loads from the 6.5x55 will generally perform way out of proportion from what you would think they should. This is mainly due to the sectional densities of the bullets, and if you bump up to the 160gr loads you can really get some awesome penetration, and performance from them. I am a speed freak and simply love high end velocities in most of my rifles, but after working with this little gun, I completely overhauled my thought processes on several of my rifles loads.

Thank you Mike, very informative and I will have to try those bullets.
I have always said the same thing about this wonderful little caliber. It is the only rifle I kept, I sold my .280 and 30-06 long ago because all of my hunting is with archery and revolvers. I just will not part with my Swede. My bore is rough but it will still shoot tiny groups, I wish it was smooth enough to shoot cast.
I made a stock from a cherry tree that fell in my woods. I slabbed it up with a chainsaw. I cut down the barrel to 26", polished the thing and had my gunsmith blue it and drill and tap it. It is mostly a safe queen!

i'll also be using 140gr amax. got a good deal on some moly bullets so i thought i'd try them.

i'm not concerend at all with achieving the velocity i need to shoot out to 1000yards. a 30" barrel helps alot with that.

i'm just more concerned with someone who actually uses varget with 140gr bullets and is safely achieving my type of velocities.

I'll probably end up using H4350 or H4381sc. as the slower powders will really perform well in a longer barrel.
But keep the info and opinions coming.