The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Small Calibers 6.5x55mm Favorite LoadsGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Looking for a good all-around load for the 6.5x55mm Thanks in advance for the help! | ||
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This load is for a modern rifle and should be worked up to. 45.8 grains of H4350 under a 130 Barnes TSX seated 60/1000 of the lands. You should start at 44.2 and work up in .4 increments. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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140 hpbt - H414 - 41.5 fairly light. | |||
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I have a CZ 550FS and found a nice load with the 130gr Swift Scirocco. I use 43.0grs of Reloader 17 with a Federal 215M primer and Norma cases. I get a littler over 2700fps from the 20.5" barrel and a three shot group around 3/4". | |||
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I found the following 6.5x55 load that was developed by Ross Siegfried and Terry Wieland wrote that he also uses this load. 140gr Nosler Partition 48.0grs IMR-4350fps Velocity = 2840fps | |||
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I don't have my load book for my Swedes handy but I always had best success with 139-142 grain bullets and either RL22 or IMR 4320. I shoot Swede 96's and a CG63 as well as one of the Ruger 77 International carbines. I have some 156 grain RN Hornady bullets that I am gonna work up a load for but am in the process of moving so it will likely be a while on that. Grumpy old man with a gun,,,,Do not touch. | |||
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That load is 4 grains over published loads. People should use caution when duplicating loads from the internet. I'm averaging 2793 fps with 44 grains of IMR4350 I'm pretty sure 4 more grains is not attainable in my rifle. | |||
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My favorite load is 47.0 grains of IMR 4831 topped with a 129 grain Hornady soft point. I think it is fairly mild but the game animals don't seem to know it. | |||
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No doubt - would only use in a modern rifle and I would reduce and work up. | |||
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My standard load too. Not hot, excellent accuracy (in my Ruger 1A), excellent case life, and a grim reaper among the deer population. | |||
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I used to like the 156gr round nose Norma loads. Distances in the NE woods aren't long, so trajectory wasn't a concern. They sure flatten a Whitetail. | |||
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Yep… don’t discount round nose bullets. They can be very effective in the right circumstances. I use quite a few in my 6.5x55, 7x57 and even in my 30-06. Shoot Safe, Mike NRA Endowment Member | |||
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I found a good load the other day. norma brass, 140 grain nosler partition, 24.99 a box ammoshop.com. No matter where you go or what you do there you are! Yes tis true and tis pity but pity tis, tis true. | |||
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If you like heavy RN bullets, try: Hornady 160 gr. RN with 45 gr. R22. This comes from the German Wiederladen manual, which loads to CIP industry pressure level, not the reduced SAAMI specs. It's always best to work up to a new load. It's sub 1" and 100 yards and goes end thru end on deer, black bear and hogs. Good Hunting! Steve | |||
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140 Gr. Nosler AB 45.5gr. of RL22 Rem. Large Rifle primer 3.03" OAL I'm getting 2700-2710 fps, 3/4" accuracy with a 22" barrel. That load is a grain under book max but I felt that was my realistic limit. Rifle is a Merkel Helix. Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
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I have also been shooting these - haven't had time to work up a load yet. I have killed a couple of pigs with these with bang flop performance. | |||
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My best load is with RE16 and 140 grain Bergers, accurate and performs very well on game. . | |||
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I loaded up 140s speer HC bullets using 38.5gr of IMR 4064 @ 3.035 OAL and it seemed to do the trick... | |||
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My police officer son never fails to bag Montana Mule Deer with a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 with my reloads of Barnes 120g in front of Vihta Vuori N160 or N165. Range 250-450 yards.  | |||
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My police officer son never fails to bag Montana Mule Deer with a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 with my reloads of Barnes 120g in front of Vihta Vuori N160 or N165. Range 250-450 yards.  | |||
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I have had great luck with 120 gr. nbt, and reloader 22, 120 sierra just as good. these are so good I never saw the need for 140's No matter where you go or what you do there you are! Yes tis true and tis pity but pity tis, tis true. | |||
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That load is excessive--way over max, as Snellstrom has pointed out. I plugged the data into QuickLoad, and it indicated something on the order of 74,000 PSI pressure (via the modern piezoelectric method) for 48 grains of IMR 4350 with the 140-gr. Nosler Partition. A load with 44.0 grains showed a pressure of close to 60,000 PSI (with MV of 2728 fps), and so that's where I'd stop with that bullet/powder combination (and work up slowly from lighter charges, checking for signs of excessive pressure as you go). I don't sense that folks here are loading for maximum velocity, and that makes sense. However, if you are looking to get the most, velocity-wise, from your 6.5x55, the powder to try is Alliant Re26. By my QuickLoad calculations, this magical powder will give you about 75-100 fps higher velocity, at completely safe pressures, than any other powder with any given bullet weight. As just one example, for the Nosler 140-gr. Partition noted above, QuickLoad shows about 2900 fps at safe pressures with Re26 from a 24" barrel (putting it right on the heels of the .270 Win.). The best I can do with Re22 at the same safe pressures is about 2825 fps, and with H4831, about 2770 fps. Re26 shows the same velocity advantage for many other cartridges like the .270 win. Of course, other considerations like accuracy are important, and so I'm not advocating that we always load for maximum velocity. ______________________________ The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. - Bertrand Russell | |||
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The Nosler reloading book max load with 125 NP and IMR 4350 .02 off the lands. .75 inch accuracy and 2893 FPS, Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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FWIW I use the Barnes manual book max of IMR4350 47 grains behind a ttsx 120 grain today. Bolt lift was hard, primers are flattened and accuracy looked like an improved cylinder. By the Chrono 3150fps. I do believe I'll back off some. | |||
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Scott, Also try seating the bullet a little deeper. The TTSX likes a healthy jump to the lands. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I have two pet loads for my 6.5x55: 100 gr Nosler Partition over 47 gr IMR4350. Clocks in at 3,050fps. 1,100 ft/lbs at 300 yds 140 Nosler Accubond over 47.4 gr H4831. Clocks in at 2,825. Still has >1,000ft/lbs at 600 yards. THIS IS 0.4 OVER THE BOOK MAX. | |||
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I may have missed it,but I asume these hot loads are PROBABLY not in the Swede action? I have a gret deal of respect for that action, but just curious. | |||
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About 25+ years ago I had 2 rifles in 6.5X55 Swed. One was a Sako Hunter AV & the other was a Winchester Mod 70 Sporter. Both had 22 inch barrels. In the early 90s it was not easy to find loads for modern actions at 52000 CUP pressure. I spent a year developing loads with H4350, IMR 4831, N160, MRP, Re19, Re22, etc. I measured case head expansion for over 300 rounds. I ended up with very accurate loads using Norma & Hornady 140 gr bullets at 2750 fps. Hornady 160 gr RN gave an honest 2600 fps. I go great results with the Nosler partition 125 gr at 2950 fps. Its trajectory out to 300 meters rivalled the 270 Win. I found the 120 gr Ballistic tip to be too frangible for deer when the other options were far better and penetrated very well. I shot my first red stag with the Nosler partition 125 gr. The 160 gr RN is an incredibly effective bullet with deep penetration and weight retention. With today's double based powders I would try IMR 4350 (single base), N550, Re17 and probably Ramshot Hunter or Big game. I have no personal experience with the Ramshot but the Vitahvouri 500 series powders are incredible. "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
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I have had half a dozen 6.5x55 rifles over the years and one load has shot well in all of them. 47 grs IMR 4831 and a 129 gr Hornady. deadly on deer. I have also found there is a big difference in max loads depending on what brass you are using. Much of the European made brass is much heavier (thicker cases walls ) and has less capacity. Max loads can be 2-3 grs less than when using Win brass. | |||
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I’m shooting a cz550 action and Kreiger barrel. So, no, I’m not using an action that is 100 years old. | |||
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