What are "real world" velocities one can expect to get when hand loading a 140gr bullet in a 6.5x55 with a 24" barrel? Is 3000fps possible?

The storied 6.5 is so old it suffers from the same limitations as the 45-70 since there are a few Krags floating around out there. This is usually delineated by calling modern loadings 6.5x55 SKAN or 6.5x55 SE which tops out around 2700fps.

Alliant Load

Viht. Load

2800 is probably approaching max pressure. I generally don't push above 2700 with a 22" barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
2800 is probably approaching max pressure. I generally don't push above 2700 with a 22" barrel.

An it well kill a lot of stuff at those velocities

Norma had a 140gr vulkan load that was called legal for biggame in sweden about 2750f/s it was revealed many shortbarreled rifles didnt reach the legal limit of 2700j at 100m(about 2740 f/s).

My 22" barrel swede can get a 140 berger to 2750 and that's about it.
It has killed elk, mule and whitetail, antelope, mouflon, axis deer, wild hog, etc.
Very effective.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
2800 is probably approaching max pressure. I generally don't push above 2700 with a 22" barrel.

An it well kill a lot of stuff at those velocities

Yep. Most of those 140 have such good BCs they can reach way further than most can shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
2800 is probably approaching max pressure. I generally don't push above 2700 with a 22" barrel.

An it well kill a lot of stuff at those velocities

Yep. Most of those 140 have such good BCs they can reach way further than most can shoot.

I hear this quote all the time......but:

140gr 6.5mm BC = 0.509

160gr 7mm BC = 0.531

180gr/.308 BC = 0.507
200gr/.308 BC = 0.588

225gr/.338 BC = 0.550
250gr/.338 BC = 0.575

I just don't see the "magic" in the 6.5mm

The above BC data is for Nosler AccuBond bullets

Berger is .612 and the new ELD-X is .620.

If you are comparing them to 30 & 338 calibers you are going to burn a hell of a lot more powder than 45 grains to get those weights close to 2800 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
Berger is .612 and the new ELD-X is .620.

If you are comparing them to 30 & 338 calibers you are going to burn a hell of a lot more powder than 45 grains to get those weights close to 2800 fps.

I wanted to keep it an apples-to-apples comparison.....sticking with the "same" bullet type. All the ones I mentioned will take more powder (not sure how that suddenly became important in the discussion) but they will also deliver "more" energy and be more resistant to wind drift. When you talk to long range shooters the most important variable to hitting at long range is.....the wind drift variable. They all know how to crank their scopes for elevation.

I guess I don't see a moderate velocity 6.5 as an "apples" to "apples" comparison to 338 caliber. I'll politley bow out of the conversation now because I'm obviously not adding value to the topic and it's your topic.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I guess I don't see a moderate velocity 6.5 as an "apples" to "apples" comparison to 338 caliber. I'll politley bow out of the conversation now because I'm obviously not adding value to the topic and it's your topic.

That's fine as the discussion was about ballistic coefficient and it morphed into something else....my point is the 6.5mm/140gr isn't unique in that regard.....having a high BC

I just don't see the "magic" in the 6.5mm

The magic comes when you compare/contrast both SD and BC.

MHC, the "magic" comes as the complete 6.5 package, not just the BC. SD, less powder to get the same distance, less recoil. That's why most of the 1000 yard shooters are shooting 6mm Dasher or 6.5s. None of them shoot the 338.

My 24 inch 6.5x55 is running at 2800 with 47 of RL19 with 140 sierra gamekings without showing any pressure signs. I could possibly go more but I haven't really found the need to yet.

I'm like JP
My 24" barreled 6.5x55 shoots 140 grain Sierra Matchkings into tiny groups with 44 grains of IMR 4350, OAL is 3.03" and it runs at 2800fps.
I haven't found a reason to push any harder.

I've shot a ruger m77 6.5x55 for 15 years. I just got it rebarreled with a 24 inch pac nor and I am liking it more everyone I shoot it.

Every time I meant. I hate the correct texting on cell phones.

2800fps with a 140gr bullet out of a 6.5x55 is respectable.

I have in my notes a load the Ross Siegfried used for the 6.5x55:

140gr Nosler Partition
48grs of IMR-4350
Don't know what kind of velocity he may have been getting.


The reason for all my questions is I'm trying to decide what to do with a nice g33/40 action.....hence my interest in the 6.5x55

My 6.5x55 [custom M98] gets 2750 with 24" barrel and 46gr 4350.Less than 1MOA. High BC ,high SD keeps it going !

I am building a 6.5x57 rather than the x55 so should be able to run in the same velocity range.I had been thinking of the 129gn Hornady Interlock

.....been using the 129gr Hornady's for years in my 6.5x55 Improved......never had to shoot shoot anything twice....goats, fallow, pigs...zeroed at 200 metres, an inch or so up or down from there for any distance.

Roger

Look at Saeed's loads with RL19 in the load info forum. They're hauling butt. But like I said I haven't had a reason to try to go there yet.

In my 6.5x55 winchester featherweight I get about 2650 with 140 gr bullets, although I haven't experimented with many powders and bullet combinations. Above that and accuracy starts to go altho there are no pressure signs.

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
What are "real world" velocities one can expect to get when hand loading a 140gr bullet in a 6.5x55 with a 24" barrel? Is 3000fps possible?

If you are loading in a modern bolt action you can easily attain 2950 fps W/Norma MRP & 140gr bullets @ around 60K.

300 fps will push you into the 64K + range.

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
What are "real world" velocities one can expect to get when hand loading a 140gr bullet in a 6.5x55 with a 24" barrel? Is 3000fps possible?

In a modern bolt action, W/Norma MRP you can attain 2900+ fps at 60k. 3000 fps will push you into the 64K range.

Funny thing - every rifle is very different than the next (*as are temp conditions and the like).

My first forays into the 140gr. Partition and Ramshot Magnum (48-51.5gr) were positive but I was barely squeaking out 2600 fps.

I'm headed back to the range soon and will try H4350 and both 100 and 140 gr bullets. My first efforts with H4350 pushed me over the top of the pressure curve VERY fast. 50.0 gr of H4350 and a 100gr Partition has ejector marks, cratered primers and a scary report.

I like H4350 also for 6.5x55 and 260 rem. You have to be careful, it will build pressure quickly in some calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by JP_6.5:
I like H4350 also for 6.5x55 and 260 rem. You have to be careful, it will build pressure quickly in some calibers.

Here's the part that's really telling. I had a 7x57 and ran 50.0 gr of H4350 with a 145 Speer HC for 2800 fps and that was great. In my .257 Roberts 43-44.0 of H4350 and a 117 SGK was superb for 2800 fps. Neither of those loads gave me significant pressures signs.

Case-capacity wise with a long loaded 140, the 6.5 should be in the sweet spot with around 43-44 H4350. Dang if that load didn't stick the bolt!

So as always, work up safely!

I get extremely good accuracy with my 22inch 6.5x55 if I keep my velocity at 2650 above that and pressure starts to show and I loose accuracy

quote:

Originally posted by wildcat junkie:

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
What are "real world" velocities one can expect to get when hand loading a 140gr bullet in a 6.5x55 with a 24" barrel? Is 3000fps possible?

In a modern bolt action, W/Norma MRP you can attain 2900+ fps at 60k. 3000 fps will push you into the 64K range.

How do you get that much into the case?

I am shooting 2850 with 47.5g RL19 with a pacnor 24 inch barrel on a Ruger action with 140 Sierra gamekings. It is very accurate at that speed.

quote:

Originally posted by bbell:
I get extremely good accuracy with my 22inch 6.5x55 if I keep my velocity at 2650 above that and pressure starts to show and I loose accuracy

My M96 Mauser shoots Nosler 140 Partitions at 2550 and is super accurate. In that old action, I have no good reason to push it faster. But like others have said, I push my M98 VZ-25 6.5x55 a bit faster, but found accuracy suffered when I tried to push it much faster.

I can't get it anymore, but RE-19 was the best powder I found for accuracy and velocity. After looking at the ballistics, I felt I had no reason to push it beyond 2650-2725. I gained virtually nothing ballistically at the ranges which I would feel comfortable shooting at game.

I've been through this as well. If you want bigger velocities, you really should go to the 6.5x284.

With my model 70 featherweight 22in barrel, with 140s if I go above 2600/2650 I loose accuracy. Seems to work fine at those velocities.

A7Dave, I do not know your specific situation, no ground shipments, etc, but Powder Valley has RE-19 in stock for 1 and 5# cans.

If you have a modern actioned rifle, you can achieve some useful velocities with the 6.5x55.

I'n not sure if you can get N560 powder in the States, but that is wonderful in this calibre. Using this powder, Nosler brass and 140 grn SST or AMax my 21" barrel (modern) Schultz & Larsen rifle achieves 2,840 fps with no pressure signs.

With IMR 4831 I get 2,800.

I think that using decent brass like Lapua or Nosler is the key.