Wotcha chaps,
I tried posting this question in the reloading section but apart from SIKA98K, nobody else could comment. I figure this must be the next best area to ask in as Vihtavuori is a European manufacturer and the 6.5x55 appears more popular this side of the pond.
Anyway, here's what got posted originally...


Hi there,
Need a little help developing a load with Viht N150 or 550.
Bullet: PPU 139gn .263" BTFMJ at 1.246" in length
Case: R-P unfired but full len resized, length 2.159"
Primer: CCI 200LR

Prvi Partizan load the same pill with a OAL of 2.975" at approx 2540fps so I'll be aiming for the same OAL.

I was angling at 38.8 gns of N150 or 40.5 of 550 but those pills are fairly deep seated so had worrries about pressure

Any ideas lads?


SIKA98K Posted 11 April 2009 15:46

If you take a look at the VV loading tables your load of N150 is above max already. I would think you,d be better of with a slower powder in the 6.5. R19.R22,N160,N165 have all worked fine for me in my 6,5,s and I am sure there are others equally suitable I can,t speak for N550.


Haggis Posted 12 April 2009 03:25

Hi there Sika,
thanks for the reply. That's the thing with the tables. I'm looking at a set of 2008 Vihtavuori tables and the nearest bullet to the PPU is a Norma HPBT. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's 1.279" long and with N150, min is 35.2 and max is 39.4 gns with a COL of 3.071".
Reason for N150/550 is it's all I have to hand, N160 and the Reloader powders are unavailable at the moment. The only other powders available are the "Accurate" range but I've no experience with this brand.


There it is so far...

Free Accurate Powder Company reloading guide

That lists:

AA2700 for a 140 SIE SBT ##Start Load of 39.9 gr. 2,416fps to max load of 42.0 gr. for 2,570 fps @ 50,400psi @ 3.000"

AA4350 for a 140 SIE HPBT ##SL 40.5 gr. 2,314fps, max 45.0 gr. 2,629fps 48,100psi 3.000"

AA3100 for a 140 SIE SBT ##SL 42.3 gr. 2,221fps , max 47.0 gr. 2,524fps 41,400psi 3.000"

I leave it to the more experienced to say how much more pressure the round will succesfully take in a modern action.

Please note that the data is not for a FMJ projectile but of a soft point, boat-tail 1 grain heavier. I confess I don't know how that fact modifies the data above....

As for the N150/ N550 their burn rates are listed as closest to Hodgdon H414&Accurate Arms 2700/Hodgdon HYBRID 100V&Alliant Reloder 19 respectively. In each instance the powder given first is a little faster and the powder given second is slightly slower. The source is the Hodgdon powder burn rate chart.

For loads with H414 and HBRID100V try this link Online Hodgdon Powder manual and selct the 6.5 x 55.

I hasten to add that I have not reloaded the 6.5, or much of anything beyond a hundred 30-06 or so with only one powder, but hope that the various resources I have found researching various bits and bobs might be of some use to you.

Let us know how your load development goes.

Regards,

Amir

Hi Amir,
thanks for the info on the Accurate powder loads. I'm at Bisley possibly end of this week or beginning of next so I'll ask for a tub of 2700 from Fred in the NRA office.

Thanks again,
Haggis

Haggis,
i would stay clear of 550 in the 6,5x55 unless you are a very seasoned reloader,

pressures comes fast and hard with those powders, generally within a grain, 1 grain, you go from pressure signs to blown primers.

That does not mean that they are bad powders just that one has to keep a keen eye out when loading it.

Were I to do a 150 load then I would use a magnum primer instead and make the load in the middle of the road so to speak.

I have had very varying sucess with the FMJ:s from Privi, some were great and another batch had loose cores, not conductive for good shooting.

Best regards Chris

my recipe consider the following components:
Lapua Case,
Federal 210GM primer,
46 grains of VVN160
Lapua scenar 140grains with an OAL of 79mm

Using Norma cases you can arrive to 47 grs. I suggest to start from 43grs ad raise the load.

Hi I use N160 and N560 powders for both sierra 120gr and 140gr. When I load for my Sauer 202 I use the lapua realoding data and stay just below the max load. Works fine for me. But when I load for my old Carl Gustav I lower the charge for about 2 grains.

http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin...nalReloguide2009.pdf

Thanks for all that info lads. I think I'll add a can of 160 to the shopping list.

another vote for N160 it's all I've ever used in the 6.5