Hi Guys,

Finally I got my Tikka 6.5x55 right from Finland (It took one year to import it to Canada) and am very excited to shoot this rifle.
I will load for it and need some help.

How close to the lands you set the bullet for accuracy loads for 6.5x55 with Max pressure under max allowed 55,114psi/3800bar?

Thats all, thanks

Peter

Dear PeterPan

I suppose it depends on the weight of the bullet. I either seat the bullet a calibres depth to make sure it will sit square in the brass for hunting purposes. If on a heavy for calibre or long BTSP I make sure they fit the magazine magazine box and feed easily. You can waste a lot of ammunition making a accurate rifle more accurate

Regards

Mark

It is not uncommon for 6.5x55 chambers to be cut for use with the long, round nose 160 grs bullets. That means it can be difficult to sensibly reach the lands with lighter projectiles. To achieve decent seating depth, I chose to seat about .02" off the lands with a 125 grs NP. Not a huge jump, but not exactly close either.

Others here will have a bunch more experience regarding this caliber.

- mike

Thanks guys,

as for now, I am loading Hornady SST 140gr with 3 diff powders, more to fire form the brand new Lapua cases then get any excitment. I will use Forester FS die for hunting loads and Redding Comp. w/ bushings for accuracy load, for seating I have Wilson die. I try to go about 10,000psi lower then max and about 0.050" from lands.
Later, I will come closer to lands and will try to develop accurate load using ladder method.

Greetings,

Peter

Hi Peter,
I have found the 6.5 to be very accurate. A load I'm not using at present but has proved very accurate is the 129 grain Hornady with 46 grains of ADI 2209, this is the same as H4350. On a good day I used to get 3/8 inch 3 shot groups. On a not so good day it still put 3 shots into an inch.
The little Swede is one good cartridge.
Good Luck with yours.

I have found that the published data is a bit slow for a modern rifle. I start with data for the 260 Remington and work up with it.

As far as the OAL the magazine length will dictate that. I too am a huge swede fan, it was the caliber I chose for my Blaser 93, it just plain works...................JJ

I usually set for a lengt of 79/80mm and it works well, but bullets oftena re in the neck for a pair of millimiters.