Another 6.5x55 SM thread
- Thread starter PPCLI-Jim
- Start date
The Surplus shot great, but I cannot source any more. I went to the range and fired it all in one go, it's berdan primed so I'll hang onto it if I can find a sleeve of primers I'll reload it.
This wasn't intended to be a video shoot day, rather a video editing practice. I'll bring the good camera and tripods out next time.
This wasn't intended to be a video shoot day, rather a video editing practice. I'll bring the good camera and tripods out next time.
I bought a large jug of VihtaVuori N150 powder a little while back for handloading the 6.5x55mm SE, and I'm definitely regretting it. I have heard it's a great powder, but I can't find any manuals that use N150 in their data. The VV website only gives data for Lapua bullets. Sierra only gives data for their 107gr bullet and Hornady only gives data for their 100gr bullet. I cannot find any published data for Sierra, Speer, or Hornady bullets in the 130 to 140gr weight.
I thought a Scandinavian powder specifically made for 6.5 Swedish would have all sorts of options, but it's the opposite. It's like it's too exotic or something.
I thought a Scandinavian powder specifically made for 6.5 Swedish would have all sorts of options, but it's the opposite. It's like it's too exotic or something.
I'll say this for you Peter, I really appreciate your customer service. I just saw your e-mail on this same topic.
So while I have you here, when we talk about slower or faster powders, how is this measured and indicated? How can I compare burn times between powders?
Scottish Teeth:
There are a few burn rate charts on the internet such as: https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/updatedburnrateschart-1.pdf
Reloaders will often extrapolate, if that's the right word, and use data on powders with the closest burning rate to what they have.
With VihtaVuori, the higher the number, the slower the burning rate. Usually 6.5 calibres require slower powders than larger calibres and heavier bullets use slower powders than lighter bullets in general.
Regards,
Peter
There are a few burn rate charts on the internet such as: https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/updatedburnrateschart-1.pdf
Reloaders will often extrapolate, if that's the right word, and use data on powders with the closest burning rate to what they have.
With VihtaVuori, the higher the number, the slower the burning rate. Usually 6.5 calibres require slower powders than larger calibres and heavier bullets use slower powders than lighter bullets in general.
Regards,
Peter
N560 is great in the 6.5x55, including for bullets in the 120-140 grains range, with very high speeds and small groups. In fact N560 and Reloder 22 are my favorites for the 6.5x55. Vihatvuori has loads for old Mausers and modern rifles. Use WLR with N560.
I'm not an expert on this, so I want to make sure I'm following you here. Based on the chart you linked (thank you for that, BTW) N150 has a burn rate of 124, and Alliant Power Pro 4000 MR has a burn rate of 125, which means it's a touch slower than N150, but really close.
The Speer data for their 140gr Hot-Cor gives a maximum charge of 43.2gr of Alliant Power Pro 4000 MR to send that round to 2664 fps. Because the powders are so similar, could I use that same data for the N150?
Or because it's not the exact same powder, is doing that unsafe?
I guess I'm lucky, and have about 600 Lapua 139 grain 9 gram bullets. Tried the load that matches the 140 gr Surplus, and had good results with RWS brass. Had a crappy spotter, but a good friend TRY to spot for me. But It was a complete fail, I did get my desired results but only after a bunch of ammo being shot incorrectly.
After how it was down played, I hate to say N150 
. I'm loading to nearly Max load, but I'm using a M/96 actioned CG63 with a looooong barrel. When my usual shooting partner and I next go to the range, I'm hoping to get doped in @ 600+m.
. I'm loading to nearly Max load, but I'm using a M/96 actioned CG63 with a looooong barrel. When my usual shooting partner and I next go to the range, I'm hoping to get doped in @ 600+m.That's how I do it, on all my rifles, and calibers. I have a friend who's destroyed a rifle from his dad, good cautionary info.
Took a few rounds out on Sunday as it was a warmer day, I had the range almost to myself. There was a father & son, just about to leave as I pulled in. Dad was interested in seeing if reloading steel case, was possible. So we had a chat about it, I don't think he had reloaded much before. I explained yes it's possible, but it's a messy and time eating procedure. He wasn't aware of Berdan vs Boxer primers, so I hope I cleared up a lot of unknowns for him.
And then I broke out my good camera for a few shots
And then I broke out my good camera for a few shots
It's interesting that you bring this up.
When 6.5x55 rifles started appearing in Canada, there were only a few sources for factory loaded ammunition or components.
CIL, Dominion Cartridge Co out of Canada and Western out of the US, loaded and distributed ammunition.
Rumor had it at the time that they didn't originally produce their own cartridge cases and bought them from European manufacturers, with their company logo stamped on the base.
They made their bullets and supplied their proprietary powders/primers. They made bullets in weights from 87 grains to 160 grains.
What was interesting was the powders they used. The factory powders were mostly in the IMR3031 burn rate and bulk, which is very similar to Norma N130, which most would consider to be on the fast side.
Century International and Ammo Mart, sold component packs, consisting of your choice of bullet weights, surplus powder, and surplus, Berdan primed cases, all made in Norway and Sweden. I still have many of the bullets and a few hundred cases, which all have "wooden" bullets and are filled with a very fast "flake" type powder, which works great for very light bullets or in 45 Colt cartridges.
Both of these outlets supplied enough powder, #44, which was made by Bofors, and has a burn rate almost identical to IMR3031. I helped Tom Higginson develop loads for the 6.5x55, which would be safe for use in the AG42b rifles and provide consistent reliability with feeding and extraction.
Tom already knew the burn rate of #44 powder was quite fast, but at the time the powder was developed by Bofors for the Swede, Norwegian, and Danish firearms chambered for the 6.5x55 the burn rate was "slower" than most other available types, and was bulky enough to be acceptable for most purposes encountered by the cartridge in the military firearms it was chambered in.
It wasn't until firearms with "stronger" actions, and components became available for sporting purposes, that people demanded more from the cartridge.
No surprise at all, as the same thing happened with several other military cartridges that were seconded for purposes other than which they were designed for.
Presently there are several very good powders, some of which are no longer being produced, such as RL26, which are suitable for some very spectacular loads in "modern strong actions"
Interesting as to how "perceptions" of what's acceptable have become, since the inception of this fine cartridge.
