6.5x55i: Your best choice of primer, brass?

Onemansheart

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Starting to think of what componants to order for the 6.5x55-improved barrel to be installed on the ruger this winter. Should a guy go for new Norma or starline brass or just good old rem/win brass?

I have been using Winchester primers and IMR 4064 mostly for the possible cold winter shooting in my present 30-06. What works best in your 6.5?

And while your at it, if you have a fav bullet for:

coyotes;
deer;
elk;
bear?

The bullets seem really long in 6.5. That's good right?
 
I have had outstanding accuracy with

Lapua Brass
fed GMM Primers
RL-22
and Hornady 140 gr Sp points, as well as Nosler Parts and light game load and a heavier game load, and the POI is really close so I do not require a sight in switching back and forth.

I will honestly say I have only shot 2 deer with the Hornady bullets nothing with teh Nos Parts yet. But the Hdy 140s worked very well on the deer.

You just cant ask for a better load for my 6.5x55 T-3

The B.C is very good for 6.5 bullets.
 
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Lapua Brass, (if not available, use Winchester.) WLR primers, 140 Partition and RL 22 or Norma MRP. 125 Partition and W760/H414 or IMR4831. The lighter bullet will take deer reliably out to 400 meters, the 140 will do the job on even larger animals up to 300. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I just switched over to H1000 for my 140gr loads and it is accurate and meets or exceeds published velocities. Have also had good success with rl-19 for heavier bullets and H4350 for 120-130gr bullets.

Loading up the 130gr Accubonds this year for the wifes' 6.5x55. I have used both Rem and Win brass with no noticable diferences in my rifles.
 
Lapua - great brass ... Winchester is satisfactory.

Federal Gold Medal 210 Match primers ... IF you can find them
(real short supply currently)

Nosler Ballistic Tips work very well for me.
 
I have had outstanding accuracy with

Lapua Brass
fed GMM Primers
RL-22
and Hornady 140 gr Sp points, as well as Nosler Parts and light game load and a heavier game load, and the POI is really close so I do not require a sight in switching back and forth.

I never thought of Lapua brass. Will check it out. I have always wanted to try rl19, etc. Hornady is hot. Not familiar with the primers.
 
Lapua Brass, (if not available, use Winchester.) WLR primers, 140 Partition and RL 22 or Norma MRP. 125 Partition and W760/H414 or IMR4831. The lighter bullet will take deer reliably out to 400 meters, the 140 will do the job on even larger animals up to 300. Regards, Eagleye.

Would you recommend the heavier bullets in 169-160g.? I wonder whether they are sort of like using the 200 g. in a 30-06; not as perfected as a 180g., not as much penetration, and slower than need be.
 
Lapua - great brass ... Winchester is satisfactory.

Federal Gold Medal 210 Match primers ... IF you can find them
(real short supply currently)

Nosler Ballistic Tips work very well for me.

Fed primers mentioned again and again, and Lapua brass. Got it. If you use a lighter Nosler BT, does the speed blow it apart?
 
Not a chance blowing a bullet apart from a 6.5x55! your looking well under 3000 fps and more like 2750-2800 !
I pushed bullets at insane speed from 7 mm Rums chronied over 3600 fps and up to 3762 ! It held together and was a 140 gr bullet!

Or are you speeking on impact! if so your still in great shape with a 6.5x55
 
Anyone have a varmint load for the Swede? I see there are 100 and 85 grain bullets available. Either could be really awesome for coyotes or even gopher blasting with the 85 gr.
 
You said 6.5x55 Improved, right? As in Ackley?

I just changed over this year. Case has a lot of capacity, so a slow powder will get you the extra velocity. I have had good results with H1000, RL22 and RL25.

Thse slow powders need a hotter primer than the federal 210M. The Winchester you use now would be perfect.

The long bullet has excellent penetration. I suggest you test both 140 and 160 and go with whatever works best.

I use Winchester brass and also Lapua. Lapua is better, but I sorted all my Winchester by .5 grain (1000 pieces) and it worked just fine.

Have you considered a 6.5-08 Improved or a 260 Rem Improved? Brass much easier to come by. I have one and love it.


By the way, the Federal 210M is now made with a new process. Federal has changed hands. I have reports the Federal is not as good as it used to be. When my old stock runs out I will switch to the CCI BR2.
 
Remington brass works very well in both my Kimber and my Tikka. Norma brass is also excellent but pricey of course. I only use win large primers. Most American manufacturers use the standard 30-06 case rim thickness and European manufactures use the proper thickness rim, which tends to make the brass last allot longer(lapua, norma, igmann).
Fav loads Kimber mauser96 47gr of H4831SC rem brass WLR.
Tikka t3 Lite 48gr of RL22 rem brass WLR
 
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