Hi fellas,I just picked up a ruger in 6.5x55...has a 22 inch barrel with a 1 in 8 twist........I have some Hornaday 140gr ballistic tips and some 120 gr Speer hot cores....any of you guys have a good powder suggestion for me...I am new to reloading....what I have on hand is H380 and some IMR 4831....my local shop only deals in IMR and Hogdon.....I want to use this on deer and elk,and the odd bear if I see one...any tips and tricks would be most appreciated........thanks

Bob

Many powders will work, but I like H4831SC the best. Meters well and gives uniform velocites.

Wes

Lookee here

I have the same gun and it is my favorite. I had it bedded and put a Timney trigger on it. I have the best accuracy with 140 gr. bullets. Every one I have ever tried from Nosler Partitions to Hornady SST's have shot under 1 MOA. Lighter bullets have always shot slightly larger groups. I have used IMR4831 for all my loads. I try to get the velocity around 2700 fps w/good groups and go hunting. I

I shoot my Swedes in target shooting mainly and here at least (Australia) the most popular powders are H4350 and Varget I have used Varget with the 100gr bullets but step up to H4350 with 120gr up
45gr of H4350 with 140gr sierra's gets an honest 2750fps with first class accuracy in my 23" barreled rifle (note this load is maximum in most manuals so start low and work up)
in the same rifle 47gr of H4350 with 120gn sierra's gets 2900fps it is the best load for accuracy I have found in my sporter
I have tried H4831SC but in all honesty I find it a bit slow I cannot get the velocity I can with H4350 also there is a huge pressure wave from the muzzle when shooting the H4831SC loads it is quite a sight to see bushes 20 odd feet in front of you getting blown about and a dust trail kicking up off the ground (I shoot in comps where we shoot prone) it may well work better in a M96

quote:

Originally posted by smlekid:
I shoot my Swedes in target shooting mainly and here at least (Australia) the most popular powders are H4350 and Varget I have used Varget with the 100gr bullets but step up to H4350 with 120gr up
45gr of H4350 with 140gr sierra's gets an honest 2750fps with first class accuracy in my 23" barreled rifle (note this load is maximum in most manuals so start low and work up)
in the same rifle 47gr of H4350 with 120gn sierra's gets 2900fps it is the best load for accuracy I have found in my sporter
I have tried H4831SC but in all honesty I find it a bit slow I cannot get the velocity I can with H4350 also there is a huge pressure wave from the muzzle when shooting the H4831SC loads it is quite a sight to see bushes 20 odd feet in front of you getting blown about and a dust trail kicking up off the ground (I shoot in comps where we shoot prone) it may well work better in a M96

That is why I prefer the mid burn range powders in the Swede vs the slower ones. RL 15, IMR 4064, and W 748 and the H 380 listed do an excellent job. I also will toss IMR 3031 and IMR4895 in there.

If you want a very flat shooting ( junior 270) load, try 44.4 grains of IMR 4895 with a 100 grain Hornady SP. I took a deer last season with one in the same Ruger Set UP. One 4 x in the scope even at 100 yds, I saw the deer drop in the scope picture as recoil was that low, yet I chronograph the same load at 3350s fp out of that rifle. 44.4 grains of IMR 4064 also work the same way.

work up if you are new to reloading. Bullets were also seated to magazine length as the Rugers are long throated.

As we speak I have the same rifle now loaded and zeroed with a 160 grain RN with 30 grains of RL 7 for a low MV of 2100 fps waiting to drop a spring bear. The range is not going to be far and that bullet will perform better at low velocity than high velocity for penetration.

If the quarry doesn't weigh 1000 lbs and plans to eat you before you get him, I'd say you have the best balance of rifle and cartridge out there.
That is what I think of mine!

Cheers and good shooting
seafire