I have just placed an order for Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless in 6.5x55.
I like that diameter and want to reload for this caliber.
Where I live it is not popular and I want to ask Swedish or European friends how you guys reload this cartridge?

I am looking to shoot this primary for deer and maybe moose.
I am planning 140gr bullets, which should be good fo 1-8" twist.
Powder choices as for now:
Re19,
H4831,
NN550,
AA3100
maybe H4350 and gonna go and buy Re22 which supposed to be the one.
Brass, I am ordering Lapua
Primer, Federal 210M

How do you reload,
which bullets do you recomend,
what velocities I have to look at,
what this (140 gr) is able to do,
what is maximum range for moose...

Lots of questions

Please advice,

Peter

PS,
scope Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44

Congrats with your new rifle.
I personally dont have a 6,5X55, but I have the popular wildcat 6,5-06.
U can see some reloading data here, most of them use Norma or Vithavuori powder.

Robbans reloading pages

Norma

And u can download reloading data from Vithavuori here: Vihtavuori Reloading Guide 1/2004

For bullets choice I'll guess u know the moose better than me.
I use my 6,5-06 for deer, roe deer, seal and smaller animals.
I like the 140 grs Nosler Partition and the 156 grs Norma Oryx.

The moose is a very big animal and think would choose one of the premium bullets like 140 grs Swift A-Frame or maybe Barnes 130 grs Triple Shock X Bullet.

Hi Peter.

I´m not a huge fan of the 6,5x55 used on moose but there is thousands of moose shot here in Sweden every year with the "old faithful" 6,5 so it´s working allright

As Dachsterrier points out, a premium bullet like Swift A-frame or similar is a good way to go on moose! The Hornady Interlock bullets performs quite well when it comes to regular bullets without bonding etc. The 160 gr RN is quite popular here and loaded to about 2500 fps it holds togeather quite well in a moose.

The 140 gr Hornady SP Interlock is also a good choise if you don´t whant to go for the premium stuff.

Before the time of bonded bullets in 6,5 the Nosler Part. was a popular bullet here for moose. Norma offered ammo but due to rules for energy the 140 gr bullet have to be loaded to about 3100 fps to make the legal minimum energy at 100 m. This resulted in quite a lot of damaged meat when you hit the shoulder

I would stay away from un-bonded bullets with boattails. They tend to loose the leadcore quite easy when things get tuff with bones etc.

The Norma Oryx is a great bullet for the 6,5x55. Its a 156 gr FB bonded protected point. It shoots like a match bullet and performance is exellent in game! Probably really expencive and a bit tricky to find i Bolton!?

I have used Norma 204 and Vv N-160 to most 6,5x55 loads with 140-160 gr bullets so i can´t really give any ideas for the powders you have over there.

Good luck with your new Tikka!

Stefan

the most accurate powder I have used in severel M96/M38 swedes has been H4350 44gn with any good 140gn bullet shoots beutifully speeds are around 2750fps out of my 24" sporter
in my near new M38 41gn of H4350 with 140 sierra matchkings shot close to 1" groups of a bench with a std unaltered military rifle you can't ask for much more than that
the swede is a fantastic round it kills out of all propertion of its size in a Tikka it should be a tack holer for the smaller deer a 120gn bullet would be great they can be loaded to near on 3000fps and shoot flat the 140gn bullets could be loaded up to 2800fps and also will work well the hornady seem tougher than the sierra's I have no experience with the nosler partitions
woodliegh have just released a 140gn bullet that I imagine would be excellent on moose
for accuracy I try and seat the bullet to be just of the lands start around 41-42gns of H4350 and work up slowly
45gr is the maximun load according to several sources so approach with caution you may well find a milder load shoots beter in your rifle
as for the other listed powders I have never used them (some are unavailble in Oz) some guys here use Varget but I believe it is a bit fast for 120-140gn bullets it works great with the lighter bullets though I have tried some H4831 (sold here as AR2213SC) it doesn't seem to get the velocity of H4350 (sold here as AR2209) varget is sold here as AR2208 here is a link to the ADI website it has data for the powders mentioned
www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide

Thanks guys for responding,

here in Ontario, Canada we have (still) pretty good assortment of powders, especially Hodgdon, IMR, ALLiant -Re, and still I can get Vihta Vuori and Accurate. I haven't see Norma powders, but I really didn't ask for them.

The reason I have post it on European forum is my believe that European friends, especailly Scandinavian know that cartridge better then anyone. Also myself being from Europe I have an sentiment to the old continent.
I don't want to relaod hot, but for hunting pourpose I like bit better velocities, for target I don't care too much.
I have selected target bullets to plink at paper in range of 600m, it is 139gr Scenar.
I will get 140gr Sierra too, just to fire form the brass, due to lower cost of bullets.

As for hunting I haven't decided yet.
I like A-frames, that Oryx looks good, just went on Normas web site. I wonder how much costs..
TBBC is waaay to pricey for me, $2/per bullet .
I think Scirocco makes something too. I like the idea of polymer tip incorporated into the tip of the bullet and thicker jacket.

On April, I have my friend coming form Deutchland to see Ontario and maybe come back fall time for black bear hunt, so I will take him to Cabelas and we will see what kind of hunting bullets they have there.

Thanks for help

Happy Easter

Dachsterrier,

my father moved do Norway, I think is Arendal, south of the country.Suppose to be beutiful country.

Greetings