6.5x55 In A Strong, Modern Action

Redhouse

Redhouse

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Just curious what you might be running. The books and online data I have access to are all very conservative for old 96 Mausers etc. I see no reason why a modern action shouldn't approach 2900fps with a 140 class bullet.

And so I have experimented a little with such. To this point I have tried:

H4831SC 47.5gr was quite accurate but 2750fps. I don't think the next node up for my gun is achievable at reasonable pressure, though there is certainly room in the case.

IMR4350 45gr also accurate at 2850fps. No pressure signs and very close to what I am wanting to achieve. Again, I feel there is no chance of finding a node higher up, going up 1gr begins to show pressure.

Haven't tried RL22 yet but think I will run out of case before I get where I think I can be.

How about you? Must be lots of experience out there with the Tikkas and other modern actions available in this sweet Swede.
 
I have a Remington 700 "Classic" in 6.5x55. It has been shot so much [I obviously love the Swede!] that I am now on the third barrel. I toasted the throat on the original barrel, and likewise on a Pac-Nor supermatch SS. Takes a lot of shooting, trust me!. I could not reach 2900 safely with the original barrel, but the Pac-Nor [24"] gave 2910 average with 48.5 grains of Norma MRP and the 140 Partition, and 2935 with the same load and the 140 Hornady IL. Brass stood up well, and no issues that indicated abnormally high pressures. The present barrel is a Shilen with a 1-8" twist, and is a bit shorter throated than the previous barrels. It is new enough that I have not actually found it's limitations yet, but have 2825 showing, using IMR 7828. Primers are still very round on the edges, and the bolt falls open uasily, so suspect I can move up from the 48.5 grain load I am using. The groups are fabulous at 2825, so I may just leave it well enough alone. No deer/bear/elk or moose will be able to tell if it is 75 fps slower or not. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
I have a Remington 700 "Classic" in 6.5x55 ... I could not reach 2900 safely with the original barrel ...
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I also have a Rem 700 Classic. Moose load is a 140 gr Barnes XLC in front of 47.0 gr IMR 4831, producing 2818 fps. Very accurate, and fortunately enough, has the same POI with my 120 gr Nosler BT and 95 gr Hornady Vmax loads.
 
Redhouse said:
Haven't tried RL22 yet but think I will run out of case before I get where I think I can be.
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Its worth a try, I loaded up to 48.5 grains behind a 140 grain partition in Winchester brass. Nothing spectacular for speed in my 22" barrel (Tikka Model 65) Not near my recorded data but Im believe I was around 2750-2800 fps.

Ill be playing with that load again soon before deer hunting begins for me.
 
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I am interested in this thread aswell..just going to start reloading for the Swede, in a Tikka Varmint..
 
The nice thing about the Swede is that you really don't need to push it fast for it to perform. It flies accurately and penetrate well at moderate velocities, why try and make it a racehorse when it does not need to be?

If you need velocity, maybe a different chambering is what you want?
 
troutseeker said:
The nice thing about the Swede is that you really don't need to push it fast for it to perform. It flies accurately and penetrate well at moderate velocities, why try and make it a racehorse when it does not need to be?

If you need velocity, maybe a different chambering is what you want?
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I guess.. what I think the OP is getting at is.. if a guy is going to run a 140 gr at 2400 fps..there is no use in using it for any gain in B.C..at least these are my thoughts.
 
I'm running a new T3 and am having good results with both H4831sc and RE22. I started a thread on the 24hourcampfire in the ask the gunwriter about this issue. My theory was the 6.5 has slightly more case capacity than the 260 rem, therefore I should be able to work up to at least 260 data in a modern action. John Barsness of Rifle and Handloader fame agreed with me.
 
noneck180 said:
I guess.. what I think the OP is getting at is.. if a guy is going to run a 140 gr at 2400 fps..there is no use in using it for any gain in B.C..at least these are my thoughts.
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I'm not necessarily trying to 'play the speed game'. There's a guy on AccurateShooter running 3000fps (he says) out of an M96. I'm not suicidal, I'll be real happy with 25-2600 as per the manuals out of an M96 I have incoming.

However, I have one (modern strong action as per the title, Savage actually) I'm going to use for long range target/tactical type stuff. This one, I'd like to shoot a bit flatter for real long range with, for example, a 140VLD. As posted above by Martin, it just makes sense that, with slightly more capacity than a .260, one might expect to see similar or slightly up velocities. I'm not trying to get WinMag/x284 type velocities by any means.

I've shot groups at around Eagleye's 2900+ that were OK on the brass, mildest possible description of primer flattening on a warm-but-not-hot day, but just weren't that accurate....and I certainly would NOT consider chasing the next node up.

Carry on then, and thanks for the replies so far.
 
Redhouse said:
I'm not necessarily trying to 'play the speed game'. There's a guy on AccurateShooter running 3000fps (he says) out of an M96. I'm not suicidal, I'll be real happy with 25-2600 as per the manuals out of an M96 I have incoming.

However, I have one (modern strong action as per the title, Savage actually) I'm going to use for long range target/tactical type stuff. This one, I'd like to shoot a bit flatter for real long range with, for example, a 140VLD. As posted above by Martin, it just makes sense that, with slightly more capacity than a .260, one might expect to see similar or slightly up velocities. I'm not trying to get WinMag/x284 type velocities by any means.

I've shot groups at around Eagleye's 2900+ that were OK on the brass, mildest possible description of primer flattening on a warm-but-not-hot day, but just weren't that accurate....and I certainly would NOT consider chasing the next node up.

Carry on then, and thanks for the replies so far.
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Totally agree with you..
 
Pathfinder said:
Its worth a try, I loaded up to 48.5 grains behind a 140 grain partition in Winchester brass. Nothing specular for speed in my 22" barrel (Tikka Model 65) Not near my recorded data but Im believe I was around 2750-2800 fps.
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Thanks for those numbers. I just tested out loads up to 48.0gr of RL-22 with 140gr SST's this last weekend with no pressure signs beyond very mild flattening of the primers. The rifle is a BSA CF-2 with a 23" barrel, Winchester brass and CCI 200 primers. There was a very pronounced node around 47.5gr that I will be fine tuning this weekend. If I can get close to 2800fps with this load I would be very happy. That is 400fps stronger than commercial ammo, with a much higher BC bullet.

Mark
 
Sure appreciate your posts on my current favorite rifle caliber. Sometimes I think I should have rebarreled my ruger in 260 Rem as it would be easier to reload, but I will stick with the 6.5x55 swede for now. If more speed should be desired in the future, the 6.5-284 would be more than enough for me at an additional 300-400fps, and the cartridge should be able to superimpose over the swede's odd size.
 
My3KidsDad said:
Sure appreciate your posts on my current favorite rifle caliber. Sometimes I think I should have rebarreled my ruger in 260 Rem as it would be easier to reload, but I will stick with the 6.5x55 swede for now. If more speed should be desired in the future, the 6.5-284 would be more than enough for me at an additional 300-400fps, and the cartridge should be able to superimpose over the swede's odd size.
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I think you are right on the money. 260/6.5x55 are ballistic twins, if more velocity is desired, go with the 6.5x284 or the 6.5-06.

A guy in Fort McMurray built twin 1000 yard rifles on Browning single shots in 6.5 WSM that were pretty cool.
 
We asked a similar question to Nammo Lapua Oy who advised that most factory loads are limited by CIP in deference to the '96 actions. However, Lapua brass can stand higher pressure and is perfectly safe in modern actions. Great round!

Regards,

Peter
 
noneck180 said:
Reloading manuals have it wearing panties..
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Yeah, but we know better and can adjust to suit modern actions. It's not hard or anything, just takes a bit of time. A good starting point is .260 loads, since the x55 has a bit more capacity, pressures are lower and it gets you into the correct neighbourhood faster than working up from the baby loads listed for the x55.

If you look back in older loading manuals, you will see the lawyers have been hard at work on a lot things. I have data from older manuals that would curl the hair of the people that write the current manuals. Just like modern deer are more bulletproof than 50 years ago, modern loading components somehow magically produce much higher pressures than the same ones did decades ago.

Mark
 
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