6.5x55 Swede shooters,

If you could have only one powder for the 130-140gr bullets which would you choose and why? Thanks,

Alan

easy one....4350.....take your choise of IMR or H

vapodog is correct: easy answer!

Except... Reloder 22 is clearly the powder of choice.

flaco

I prefer IMR 4350 because there is more loading data to be found and the powder is easy to find.
In addition IMR 4350 is likely to be around the rest of your life time.

DP85 get a lot of it while you can. In testing it the burn rate is a tad faster than the 4831s. accuracy in most rifes has been excellent.Using the 4350s data for starts has proved OK. Start of course with the recommended lighter loads.

example 140gr.psp, REM, CBC cases, 215 primer, OAL= 3.1750", 2642 to 2670 FPS., 3 shot 1/4" group.roger

R22, H4831 for 140 gr, 4350/R19 for 129 gr

Just one powder? H4831

Re-22 fuels my 6.5x55 with 140s, H4831 for my .260 with 129s.

In my sporterized M96 Swede IMR-4064 edges out IMR-4350 by a slim margin, Varget and RL-15 showed some promise albeit not great and H380 was not good in my rifle in initial testing of 140 grain bullets.
Have fun and good luck!

I've found it hard to beat RL 22 with 140 grain bullets in two different 6.5x55's.

Al

I would have to think hard on that, because. With the 140gr. RL#22 and H-4350, both do a very good job. So if I could only have one! H-4350.

6.5 SWEDE

R22 works best for me to date.

RL 22 - or even better: MRP

In a number of different 6.5x55 rifles, Re-22 has proven to be the hands-down choice for both velocity and accuracy with 120-140 grain bullets.

I've burnt many cans of R-22 in my military Swedes behind 140gr pills. 4831SC is another good choice.

Eric

Currently loading Accurate Data 86 Extruded. (Very similar to their 3100) If I had a bigger budget, I would probably use Vihta Vuori N-165 exclusively. Reloder 22 and IMR-4350 have also performed well.

VV- N160.

I tried the RL 22, but always end up going back to IMR 4064. Why better groups.

quote:

Originally posted by 2ndtimer:
Currently loading Accurate Data 86 Extruded. (Very similar to their 3100) If I had a bigger budget, I would probably use Vihta Vuori N-165 exclusively. Reloder 22 and IMR-4350 have also performed well.

2ndtimer! How is that DP 86 working out for you? roger

I have two Swedes and both of them love R-22 and 140gr Partitions. But, my powder of choice is DP 86. When my supply of DP-86 is gone I will go back to R-22.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
DP85 get a lot of it while you can. In testing it the burn rate is a tad faster than the 4831s. accuracy in most rifes has been excellent.Using the 4350s data for starts has proved OK. Start of course with the recommended lighter loads.

example 140gr.psp, REM, CBC cases, 215 primer, OAL= 3.1750", 2642 to 2670 FPS., 3 shot 1/4" group.roger

Hey Roger, I havn't tried my DP 85 in the 6.5. Maybe I should give it a try. What are you using for grains with that load? How does it stack up against DP 86?

quote:

Originally posted by steve4102:

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
DP85 get a lot of it while you can. In testing it the burn rate is a tad faster than the 4831s. accuracy in most rifes has been excellent.Using the 4350s data for starts has proved OK. Start of course with the recommended lighter loads.

example 140gr.psp, REM, CBC cases, 215 primer, OAL= 3.1750", 2642 to 2670 FPS., 3 shot 1/4" group.roger

Hey Roger, I havn't tried my DP 85 in the 6.5. Maybe I should give it a try. What are you using for grains with that load? How does it stack up against DP 86?

44gr. DP85--, Dp86 is a good bit slower burning; kinda like accurate 3100. Both have proved accurate.

45.5 grns IMR 4350
129 grn hornady sp

this bullet, at this speed(2650-2800 depending on bbl length) kills deer with almost boring dependablity

quote:

Originally posted by budiceale:
45.5 grns IMR 4350
129 grn hornady sp

this bullet, at this speed(2650-2800 depending on bbl length) kills deer with almost boring dependablity

That looks like a good load, I just loaded the same, with both H and imr 4350

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by 2ndtimer:
Currently loading Accurate Data 86 Extruded. (Very similar to their 3100) If I had a bigger budget, I would probably use Vihta Vuori N-165 exclusively. Reloder 22 and IMR-4350 have also performed well.

2ndtimer! How is that DP 86 working out for you? roger

Hi Roger, that DP 86 is still working great. I have gone up to 47.0 gr with the Hornady 140 gr SP in Rem cases with RP 9½ primers. No excessive pressure signs, bolt lift fine. Wasn't able to chrono them since my oldest boy managed to break the tripod I use for my ProChrono Digital. I suspect the velocity will come in around 2550 fps out of my Howa's slow barrel. I also managed to put 3 shots into .317 of an inch with the DP 86 (64.0 gr) and the 130 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip in my .270WSM last time out. Really like the DP 86, glad I still have around 20 lbs of it....

140 grain Bullets....

40 grains of IMR 4064...
40 grains of RL 15...

MV 2800 fps...

accuracy...

Both of my 6.5x55 Swedes like H-380 very much in this bullet weight. I have a Custom Built Mauser and a Steyr Mannlicher Mountain Rifle in this caliber. I shoot the now defunct Speer 140gr, Grand Slam (I bought a lot of them thank goodness)The Mauser likes Speer cases and the Steyr likes Lapua cases. Both shoot well with Federal primers.