The Accurate Reloading Forums
Lapua 6.5x55 Brass @ >60K pressure?
11 March 2016, 05:12
wildcat junkieLapua 6.5x55 Brass @ >60K pressure?
I'm chambering the Sweed in a modern commercial M98 action & want to push 129gr Nosler Accubond LR bullets to 3050+ fps.
W/MRP I should be able to get there W/O pushing chamber pressure much above 60K.
Will the brass hold up to that kind of chamber pressure?
11 March 2016, 07:03
SnellstromI think before the brass "fails" you will see some strong indications with flat or pierced primers or any other number of pressure signs. I would look at using Reloader 17 as well.
I can't say you will or you won't achieve your goal of 3050 fps but I think your rifle, brass and primers will tell you when you've over done it.
Just my opinion.....
11 March 2016, 17:22
wildcat junkiequote:
Originally posted by Snellstrom:
I think before the brass "fails" you will see some strong indications with flat or pierced primers or any other number of pressure signs. I would look at using Reloader 17 as well.
I can't say you will or you won't achieve your goal of 3050 fps but I think your rifle, brass and primers will tell you when you've over done it.
Just my opinion.....
My concern isn't catastrophic case failure, but rather early case failure due to loose primer pockets & onset of incipient case head separation.
The case construction at the web is my primary concern, given that the Swede is designed for moderate chamber pressure.
I have had extraordinary results W/MRP in slightly overbore cases like the 280 Remington W/140gr bullets achieving great Mv W/O getting into anything like dangerpus pressure levels. In fact, one can't get enough MRP into the 280 case to get over 60K W/that weight bullet.
The Swede isn't quite in the same boat, but QL predicts 3075fps @ < 62K in a 24" barrel when loaded to a moderately compressed load of MRP @ 3" COAL.
I'm looking to build a light weight
"mountain rifle" W/a + or - 3" MPBR range to just over 300yds & still be able to hold "on hair" when shooting @ medium sized game out to 400yds.
Since I am building this on a traditional Mauser of the Oberndorf Classic genre, I want a traditional Mauser cartridge.
11 March 2016, 17:48
SnellstromHere I go with my opinion again

Other cartridges that operate at the pressures you want to push your Swede to don't seem to suffer from any of the maladies that you are trying to avoid. With good quality brass, in my opinion, you shouldn't see any special problems just because it's a Swede and not a 270.
By the way I have been getting great accuracy in my Swede with 120 grain bullets as well as the 130's and 140's. With 120's you might be able to obtain your flat trajectory if you find the right B.C. bullet.
Sounds like you have a fun project.
11 March 2016, 18:01
SnellstromI just ran some numbers through my Sierra program with a 130 grain bullet going 3000 fps sighted in +3" at 100
you are zeroed at 265
you are -2.7" at 300
you are -8" at 350
and then -15" at 400
That's not bad from zero to 300 you are plus or minus 3" and still on hair holdover to 400 yards. For most people that covers a lot of hunting situations.
11 March 2016, 18:50
wildcat junkiequote:
Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Here I go with my opinion again

Other cartridges that operate at the pressures you want to push your Swede to don't seem to suffer from any of the maladies that you are trying to avoid. With good quality brass, in my opinion, you shouldn't see any special problems just because it's a Swede and not a 270.
By the way I have been getting great accuracy in my Swede with 120 grain bullets as well as the 130's and 140's. With 120's you might be able to obtain your flat trajectory if you find the right B.C. bullet.
Sounds like you have a fun project.
I have similar opinions as far as maximum pressure. As long as the action is up to it. I load the 8X57IS to just over 60K W/200gr Speer Hotcores @ 2730fps W/RL-17 & get a lot of criticism for doing so.
The bullet I have chosen is the Nosler 129gr Accubond LR that has a BC of.561.
If I want to push to 270 pressure, the mv would be 3100fps. @ 63,599psi (Quickload prediction)
According to Quicktarget, that load sighted in @ 265yds would be:
+ 2.5" @ 100yds-2926fps/2452'#
+ 3.0" @ 150yds-2842fps/2313'#
+ 0.0" @ 265yds-2654fps/2017'#
- 3.0" @ 311yds-2580fps/1907'#
- 11.8" @ 400yds-2442fps/1709'#
11 March 2016, 20:14
.366torqueIn Yuropea they call the modern 6.5x55 loads SKAN
Vihtavouri gives some judicious loads.
11 March 2016, 20:52
bartsche
Just out of curiousity,why are you trying to limit out on the 6.5x55 rather than achieve your velocity goal with perhaps a 6.5X.284 long throat?

roger
Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..
11 March 2016, 23:00
wildcat junkiequote:
Originally posted by bartsche:

Just out of curiousity,why are you trying to limit out on the 6.5x55 rather than achieve your velocity goal with perhaps a 6.5X.284 long throat?

roger
As I stated in my previous post,
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6711043/m/5741000912 I want to stay W/a traditional Mauser cartridge for a Classic Oberndorf style rifle similar to my 8X57.
It's for my son. We were going to do it in 7X57, but I have a 264 blank barrel in hand so that is what it will be. He wanted it to be similar to my 8X57
This rendition will have a Black Walnut stock W/fiddle-back throughout the stock & a standard bolt handle.
12 March 2016, 22:06
The DaneIf you want to stay German and classic then why not the 6,5x68?
Thats a hop from @57gr H2O to 68gr.
And your desired V0 at @43kpsi
12 March 2016, 22:52
wildcat junkiequote:
Originally posted by The Dane:
If you want to stay German and classic then why not the 6,5x68?
Thats a hop from @57gr H2O to 68gr.
And your desired V0 at @43kpsi
It's a LR VZ500 intermediate length action, 3.235" magazine & not much room to extend it. I thought about 6.5x57, but no proper headstamp brass available.
My 98K action is going to be 8X68S W/a 26" barrel.
13 March 2016, 00:10
hogfarmerquote:
Originally posted by wildcat junkie:
quote:
Originally posted by The Dane:
If you want to stay German and classic then why not the 6,5x68?
Thats a hop from @57gr H2O to 68gr.
And your desired V0 at @43kpsi
It's a LR VZ500 intermediate length action, 3.235" magazine & not much room to extend it. I thought about 6.5x57, but no proper headstamp brass available.
My 98K action is going to be 8X68S W/a 26" barrel.
Huntingtons website says they have RWS 6,5x57 brass in stock, but it's not cheap.
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind..."
Hosea 8:7
14 March 2016, 08:57
416RigbyHunterquote:
Originally posted by wildcat junkie:
I'm chambering the Sweed in a modern commercial M98 action & want to push 129gr Nosler Accubond LR bullets to 3050+ fps.
W/MRP I should be able to get there W/O pushing chamber pressure much above 60K.
Will the brass hold up to that kind of chamber pressure?
I loaded my Mauser '96 in 6.5x55 to modern pressures without issue, the brass xan withstand more than 60, 000psi with no problem.
The only way to really know for certain is to try it.
My question is, does your chamber have the long throat?
If it does, then all should be fine, if it doesn't, chamber pressure may rise faster than the velocity does.
Cheers.

15 March 2016, 08:25
wildcat junkiequote:
Originally posted by The Dane:
If you want to stay German and classic then why not the 6,5x68?
Thats a hop from @57gr H2O to 68gr.
And your desired V0 at @43kpsi
After weighing the options I'm going to do it in 7X57 & save the 6.5 barrel for a more contemporary style.
Here is the semi-inletted stock I've had tucked away for a few years.
I'm going to send Dennis Olson an ER Shaw #3 contour 7x57 barrel to turn down & fit to the VZ500 action.
I'll have to change the bolt handle to something more appropriate.
16 March 2016, 02:41
AtkinsonI would prefer the 7x57 and suggest you have Dennis throat it out to take a 160 gr. Nosler .284 deep in a case..I sent him 3 dummies, that should fit the magazine and the throat needs to match..You can then seat all bullets out further and compete with the 280 and match the factory 140 gr. 7 mag that's under loaded apparently...I do all my 7x57 or metrics that way, gets me a lot more velocity especially with the heavy bullets when combined with H414 powder..
As to your pressure that has to be determined by you and you alone, watch for the obvious pressure signs such as black around the primers, sticky bolt, ejector marks on the case head, head expansion, a crack as opposed to a boom, and your chronograph..Flat primers IMO don't mean much, not to be ignored, but rather as a concern in as mush as primer metal varies in strength and has little if any control..
I didn't see much wrong with your loading of the 6.5 Sweede, in a strong modern rifle, caliber as a rule makes little diference within reason IMO.
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
23 March 2016, 07:53
Palladin8I have been using Norma brass for my CZ full stocked 550 in 6.5x55. I have been loading somewhat on the hot side without any issue. I have been loading the Swift 130gr Sirocco IIs as well as 140 sierra game kings. I was looking for information on the CZ when I stumbled into this article.
http://www.realguns.com/articles/493.htmMaybe this will help.