Could someone who has a barnes manual PM me the data for the 120gr ttsx for the 6.5x55 swede . thanks rembolt . Ps . got a new t3 hunter and would really like to get a load worked up for the coming deer season .
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TTSX 120gr data for 6.5x55 se
- Thread starter rembolt
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http://www.barnesbullets.com/files/2014/11/6-5x55SwedishMauser.pdf
This is from the Barnes on line manual. It may not be totally up to date but it is a start.
This is from the Barnes on line manual. It may not be totally up to date but it is a start.
The Barnes data max's listed are 51k psi... that's on the safer side, so you can carefully load up a bit higher with your Tikka. I only mention this because you have a modern firearm and Barnes need an impact velocity of 2200fps or so to be reliable.
I don't find the current Barnes bullets need any reducing of loads like the originals, my experience has been they load the same as any other bullets of the same weight. I do moly mine, but that's a personal preference thing...
Here is some Nosler data that is more inline for a Tikka/Howa/Ruger etc.
I don't find the current Barnes bullets need any reducing of loads like the originals, my experience has been they load the same as any other bullets of the same weight. I do moly mine, but that's a personal preference thing...
Here is some Nosler data that is more inline for a Tikka/Howa/Ruger etc.
Thanks for the info Hitzy . A buddy of mine and I bought the same caliber .his is in the forest stock .he also reloads so it will be interesting to see the results of the 2 rifles .will report back after some trigger time at the range .
Throttle_monkey1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Also check out the Nosler Accubonds/Long Range Accubonds....wicked bullets. Here is a 129gr LR Accubond I just loaded up.
X2
I've got the 129 ablr & 127 LRX shooting to the same poi and they're both great bullets.
mossyhorns
CGN Regular
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The 6.5 swede is my favourite calibre, so much so I own three. Everyone of them loves a hearty dose of IMR4350 with 120-130 grain bullets and they also shine with Reloader 19 and 22.
Love my swedes.
Love my swedes.
Throttle_monkey1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Glad I'm not the only one who has more than two of them!
mossyhorns
CGN Regular
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I darn near bought a fourth in Ruger #1 recently but I have a daughter getting married next month and another off to England to do her masters in Sept. My gun buying is currently on hold thanks to extensive withdraws from the bank of daddy.
How many 6.5x55's...
Lets see...2x '96 sporters, one has a CG63 barrel cut back a bit, both shoot amazing and cost less then $300 each.
4x Schultz & Larson '98 target rifles, and a spare barreled action for backup.
HVA 1640.
Howa 1500.
I hope that's it... although I am eyeballing a nice new Winchester M70 in 264 Winchester just for a bit more smoke.
Lets see...2x '96 sporters, one has a CG63 barrel cut back a bit, both shoot amazing and cost less then $300 each.
4x Schultz & Larson '98 target rifles, and a spare barreled action for backup.
HVA 1640.
Howa 1500.
I hope that's it... although I am eyeballing a nice new Winchester M70 in 264 Winchester just for a bit more smoke.
The 6.5x55 is my go to cartridge. As I age and my shoulder complains louder with every shot the 6.5 Swede allows me to continue to hunt big game. I am determined to use up my body completely doing the things I enjoy before it's my time to move on. So far my body is telling me it needs some attention in certain areas or else that won't happen.
Ok, one thing being overlooked here is that the Tikka T3 along with other strong actions like the Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70 and even the Ruger No 1 and Mod 77 are strong enough to safely handle regular operating pressures in the 60,000 plus psi range.
The data that is printed in North American manuals doesn't come anywhere near those pressures. This is done in deference to the multitudes of milsurp actions out there being used regularly. Same goes for North American commercially loaded ammo. In Europe, you are expected to know how strong your action is and purchase/load the ammo accordingly.
I use the 260 Remington maximum loads as a starting point. If you check the tables you will see that similar loads are listed in the 6.5x55 section as maximum as well but with generating much lower pressures.
OK, I can understand using those loads in the milsurps, even the 98 actions but in a modern action, no way am I going to limit myself to those very moderate velocities and pressures.
Let me give you an example of a hot but safe load in my Tikka T3 6.5x55. It uses CCI 250 magnum primers, IMR7828sc and 140grain sst bullets and will achieve 2900fps over a chrony on a cloudy day. I won't tell you how much powder I use. If you want to know, Google IMR7828sc and the 6.5x55. There are reams of loads and pressure tables out there that have been developed and tested by knowledgeable people.
OK, enough of that. Now, I am looking into the Barnes TTSX 120 grain monolithic offerings. They look good and like most monolithic bullets are long for their weight which is why they have bands in their sidewalls instead of being solid walls. This is to reduce friction and of course pressures. I have gone as far to reduce the width of these bands by chucking them up on my lathe and turning them off. Didn't make any difference in velocity and I didn't see any noticeable difference in pressures. That would take more sophisticated equipment than I have.
Anyway, IMHO Hitzy is an astute fellow and also very conservative. I also believe that the Nosler tables he posted were also conservative. Norma loads the 6.5x55 intended for the M94/38/96 Mausers to an industry standard of 47,000 psi. Just about what most Nato rounds and most other milsurp rounds are or were loaded to. The Nosler tables just exceed the Norma pressures by about 10%. IMHO there is still a lot of room left in the case for more powder and more velocity.
The 120 grain projectile relies heavily on velocity to be effective. Not that they wouldn't be anyway but it doesn't hurt to give them everything they need to perform to their best ability.
Google hot loads in modern rifles for the 6.5x55, you will be surprised at how efficient that cartridge can be with modern components in a modern rifle made of modern steel.
Ok, one thing being overlooked here is that the Tikka T3 along with other strong actions like the Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70 and even the Ruger No 1 and Mod 77 are strong enough to safely handle regular operating pressures in the 60,000 plus psi range.
The data that is printed in North American manuals doesn't come anywhere near those pressures. This is done in deference to the multitudes of milsurp actions out there being used regularly. Same goes for North American commercially loaded ammo. In Europe, you are expected to know how strong your action is and purchase/load the ammo accordingly.
I use the 260 Remington maximum loads as a starting point. If you check the tables you will see that similar loads are listed in the 6.5x55 section as maximum as well but with generating much lower pressures.
OK, I can understand using those loads in the milsurps, even the 98 actions but in a modern action, no way am I going to limit myself to those very moderate velocities and pressures.
Let me give you an example of a hot but safe load in my Tikka T3 6.5x55. It uses CCI 250 magnum primers, IMR7828sc and 140grain sst bullets and will achieve 2900fps over a chrony on a cloudy day. I won't tell you how much powder I use. If you want to know, Google IMR7828sc and the 6.5x55. There are reams of loads and pressure tables out there that have been developed and tested by knowledgeable people.
OK, enough of that. Now, I am looking into the Barnes TTSX 120 grain monolithic offerings. They look good and like most monolithic bullets are long for their weight which is why they have bands in their sidewalls instead of being solid walls. This is to reduce friction and of course pressures. I have gone as far to reduce the width of these bands by chucking them up on my lathe and turning them off. Didn't make any difference in velocity and I didn't see any noticeable difference in pressures. That would take more sophisticated equipment than I have.
Anyway, IMHO Hitzy is an astute fellow and also very conservative. I also believe that the Nosler tables he posted were also conservative. Norma loads the 6.5x55 intended for the M94/38/96 Mausers to an industry standard of 47,000 psi. Just about what most Nato rounds and most other milsurp rounds are or were loaded to. The Nosler tables just exceed the Norma pressures by about 10%. IMHO there is still a lot of room left in the case for more powder and more velocity.
The 120 grain projectile relies heavily on velocity to be effective. Not that they wouldn't be anyway but it doesn't hurt to give them everything they need to perform to their best ability.
Google hot loads in modern rifles for the 6.5x55, you will be surprised at how efficient that cartridge can be with modern components in a modern rifle made of modern steel.
Throttle_monkey1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
^what he said. You can squeeze a lot of juice out of the 6.5x55 in a modern action. As always, start low and work up. I'm currently running the 129 abLR & 127 LRX up around 3050-3070 fps with awesome accuracy out of my T3
I've also got the 142 accubond long range shooting around 2900 with Norma MRP (almost identical to reloader 22) in a husqvarna 1900. It didn't like the lighter bullets.
I've also got the 142 accubond long range shooting around 2900 with Norma MRP (almost identical to reloader 22) in a husqvarna 1900. It didn't like the lighter bullets.
Thanks for the in sight bearhunter . I have been at the bench and have 2 different powders loaded with the 140sst for testing and 120gr ttsx loaded with R-22 at book values for testing . Hoping to get to the range this weekend .
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DaveMachine
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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50.5gr of H4831SC with a 130gr Accubond gives me ~2800 fps out of my Tikka.
An update I got the range on Saturday morning to do some testing .the 120 gr TTSX grouped well with the R22 but the velocity was disappointing at .779" 2569 fps /45gr and 1.4" 2613fps /45.5gr . the average velocity spread for the 2 five shot stings were 27fps and 28fps respectfully . not sure whats up with the flyer in both stings .
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