So guys, I like thelong pencil bullets in this caliber and the 6.5X45MS, but which ones?

Hornady 160gr RN
Lapua 155gr Mega Tip
Lapua 140gr Natualis
Norma 156gr Alaska
Norma 156gr Oryx
Norma 156gr Vulkan

The Naturalis is non-lead but still has the length. This is to be used on black-tailed deer, black bear, wild boar, and a few wild steers.

Yes, I am sure I do not want to hype the cartridge up with a 120 grain spitzer. I want to load the cartridge the way it was originally desinged and shot, as was the 6.5X54MS.

Thanks for the help. I would appreciate comments on these different bullets from you guys who have experienced thier performance.

I've got both a 6.5x55SE and a 6.5x54MS. Both rifles are very accurate with the 160 Gr Hornady round nose. The Swede also likes the 131 gr Sellier Bellot factory load.

Both my rifles like the 4831 short cut powder from Hogdon for reloading and Federal 210 primers. With the 160 gr round nose bullets, you get a round that is not very flat shooting, but will penetrate clear through just about anything you hit.

Mac

333_OKH,
it depend by your rifle...if you have an original C.Gustav rifle or a Husqvarna, or cusomized, or a recently producted rifle.
In the second case, I never had good results with heavy bullets (over 140grs) and I normally work with 140grs bullets.
In the first case I used Hornady, but I don't rememeber the load data

I am custom building a rifle to mainly handle the long 155 to 160 grains, but on the light side will stabilize the 140 grains....A 1:7.5" twist.

Well in any case remember that all manuals have very mild loads, beacuse a lot of old gustavs. In a modern rifle the loads can be hotter.
My noraml load for 140grs bullets using VVN160 powder is a grain or two over the max described in VV manuals.
And I have no pressure signs. If I remember well Hornady bullets gave a short near to conical point and a long cilindric body.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
Well in any case remember that all manuals have very mild loads,

Steve - we all know that many manuals take account of 96 style actions but your statement is dangerously sweeping. There are a number of manuals out there that state that their data is for strong modern actions only (eg speer)

Even data with no such statements is not always mild. Max Nosler book loads give pressure signs for me in 6.5x55.

Viht data appearsto take 96 actions into account but (not that you would) don't extrapolate this into Viht data for modern cartridges such as 243 which are 3gr over Nosler book max.....

I was given an old 6.5x55 Swede, M98 action, by a friend and got signs of pressure at very mild loads. My gunsmith found the fault: the barrel is much tighter than modern 6.5´s. Case length also needs to be shorter, factory ammo exceeds this guns specs.

I use the 156 Norma Oryx, in handloads I usually stick with the Hornaday 160 RN. I have had wonderful success with the 120 grs BT however

Aleko

The rifle I am building will have a fast rate of twist at least 1:8 and will be shooting 140grains and up. I am hoping to stick with 155/156 grain loads. It has a modern action and long 26 inch barrel. I am looking for the best penetration I can from this caliber at ranges less than 250, hopefully!

My commercial Husqvarna rifles in 6.5x55 (1640 action) shoot the Norma 156 gr. and 139 gr. factory loads equally well. A friend of mine gets excellent accuracy with very light bullet handloads in 1900 action guns with factory barrels. I don't think this cartridge is as "touchy" as some others when it comes to bullet weight and twist.

On the other hand, the Husqvarnas in 7x57 will shoot sub-MOA with 139, 150 154 gr. loads but will keyhole 175 gr. loads.

SBHVA--

We meet again. I had to solve my Husqvarna problem of not being able to take one apart to build the custom rifle by using modern commercial equip. Now I have Lothar on target with a 26 inch 1:8 inch twist barrel in a profile similar to the Husqvarna 46.

quote:

Originally posted by JKKP:
Norma Oryx is a good bonded bullet with large expanded diameter, very popular for moose in Sweden.
Alaska and Vulkan are not bonded and sometimes fragment.
Lapua Mega is a good non bonded bullet also popular for moose in Sweden.
Hornady is not very common here but seem to have a good reputation.

Now what about the Lapua naturalis in 140 grain. The bullet is longer in length than the 156s with a covered round nose. Anyone tried it?

A 140gr longer than the 156gr? Is that a non-toxic bullet? Wouldn't you have to seat it deeper in the brass and lose case capacity? I know that is a concern in Sweden that the heavy grain non-toxic bullets won't meet the energy requriements for the 6.5x55 if lead is banned.