Custom 6.5 x 55 load data help needed

Tikkam65

Tikkam65

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So to all you long range shooters I could use some help .
I'm building a 6.5 x55 rem 700 action , Kraiger 24 inch medium heavy varmint
With 3 in muzzle break On a McMillan sporter stock with a SWFA
Fixed 20 x this will be build for 600 yard accuracy hunting .
I will be using hand loads
Hornaby
Sst 140
Re loader 19
Rem brass
Match 210 primers

So I'm thinking 47 g with R 19
Does any one have any experience with a load like this .
And using it on elk at 600 yards .

Just so we know we're I'm comming from I have been hunting elk so 20 years and have a good track record with my 7 mm at these distances on elk .

My big rifle will always be close enough to go get if I choose to reach out a little further .
We are always developing long range loads filming our accuracy out to 800 +

Your guys load data would be greatly appreciated

Your thoughts

James
 
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Ps I'm a bit of a newbie on here how do I get my thread header in bold and what's with the pink mail icon
 
first, I would stay away from Re doublebased powders because they are unstables to tempwerature changes
in my 6.5x55, I have seen 100 fps drop with only 15 deg c. drop with re22
I suggest you use one of the hodgdon extreme powders. they are a lot more consistant in extreme temperature changes

I now use H4895 even if I get less velocity, it is lot more consistant and accurate
H4350 is also a good powder
I will soon try H1000
I also use federal magnum match primers for more consistancy in cold weather (for that reason, I only use magnum primers)
 
Like all custom rifles, start low and work your loads up in .2 grs increments. R22 is one of my favorite powders with 49grs. and 140grs bullets.
V160, V165, H4831SC are also other powders I load for it.
Nobody can give you an exact load. It may be too hot in your chamber. For what your trying to achieve to 800yds you are doing well with that cartridge.
What chamber are you using? I find the standard chamber has too long of a throat. You need to get bullets touching the lands for best accuracy.
 
So I take it that you will be using a custom reamer for this? Otherwise your cases will exhibit a bulge above the solid head. R-P & Winchester & FC cases are all made with the standard '06/-08 case head size, ie 0.473", & not the CIP specified 0.479" case head size, as exhibited on European, ie. Lapua, Norma, Metallwerken, Sako or PRVI brass.

Depending on the actual capacity of your cases, COAL, ambient range, ammunition temperature & a bunch of other factors, a quick check of Quickload reflects pressures of 57,329 psi at a MV of 2,820 fps, over the pressure specs for the cartridge & perhaps the brass. Even using your pressures, which I would not, a load using either RL25 or RL22 would give you the same MV but with 5,500 psi less pressure.

In any event, your drop at 600 yds. will be 70" giving you a very small usable PBR setting and your remaining velocity will be 1823 fps. Is that within the design parameters of this bullet for adequate penetration & expansion, especially on an elk?

Have a look at bcsteve's 264 bullet test thread.

By any chance, is your 7mm a 7mm Remington (or other) Magnum? I've done a lot of historical research on cartridges & originally magnum cases were developed to extend useful range for trajectory, by increasing velocity without the concomitant increase in pressure in attempting to accomplish the same thing in a smaller case. Remember that's why the .264 Winchester "Westerner" cartridge / rifle was introduced in 1958, with a 26" barrel.

Any thought to a 6.5-284 (140 @ 3,025 fps MV or 3,063 fps MV with a 26" bbl.) which generates pressures within the specified maximums and remaining velocity, at 600 yds, of 2,011 fps and 10" less drop? That would, of course, require a full-length action (sell the short action & pickup a full length action), but then you could go to a full length cartridge like the .264 Winchester Magnum.

Virtually all of my 6.5 experience has been with about 10 6.5x55 rifles, including one CG80 with 29" heavy Schultz & Larson barrel (1 Tikka, 3 Carl Gustavs, 3 Husqvarnas, 2 custom built rigs), other than a short stint with a .264 Winchester, and I have always found that accuracy (& at 600 yards that would be a very major factor) went south rapidly if bullets were pushed beyond their design limits, notwithstanding the cartridge itself was capable of pushing said projectile much faster and still staying within design pressures. All that did was produce shotgun-like patterns rather than discernible groups, notwithstanding outstanding groups produced with velocities, and pressures within the bullet's design envelope.

My $0.02, FWIW!
 
7 mm mag 1970 s tikka m65 with 26 inch barrel 3/4 inch
Leopold 6-18
And have taken alot of elk at 600 with 162 sst
 
I'm NOT a fan of shooting game at the suggest range. However for target shooting, targets not moving, I would use Lapua brass, H4831 and an accurate bullet such as Berger 140vld or Lapua 139gr. Muzzel velocity of 2850-2900 will work for the 600 yd distance.
Bill
 
Been banging away at LR steel with 6.5x55 for a few decades now.
There is a small mountain of tested, now partly consumed, component containers downstairs.
Keep coming back to what always works ... consistently ... for me.

140 Amax or 139 Scenar.
48+- gr. R22(winter)
47.5+- gr. R22(summer)
Lapua brass. annealed regularly.
Fed GM215M(winter)
CCI br2(summer)
0.020" jam.
0.002" neck tension
0-1.5 thou. TIR.

Loaded with Lee collet, "M" die, and Redding BR seater.

Had high hopes for a casefull of H1000, and at 50-52 grains, the speed was there ... but not so much the accuracy in my rifles.
My standards are consistent sub .5 MOA at 200, and within MOA out to 900. FWIW.

Some say, the Horn. 140 Amax works ok on game at LR. Never personally tried it. Just staying on an Elk's vitals sized gong, on the CCB shot, is plenty tough enough for me ... specially when the wind gets to blowing a bit.
 
The Berger is a failed round for hunting
Does not break up at all punches a same hole and animals walk away
 
Vviking thank you that's what I was looking for I here that the r 19
Load will move with weather your spec shows it I was looking for 2840 with 47.5 r 19
I'll work my way up to that and see what Mia we can get at 600 if not I will move to the r 22
Do you think I will require better brass . The gun smith thinks I will be ok .

Your thoughts

James
 
Your thoughts
Click to expand...

Well James, you asked for it ...
Methinks that there are so many many factors that must be sussed out just perfect, to be nailing an elks boiler room at 600yd., on the first shot, in the field, from a CCB. ... with absolute certainty of making that hit.
It is a tall order indeed.
That the target is a noble beast that deserves to be killed cleanly .... ups the ante IMO.

I wounded two moose one day long ago, both shots under 300yds, one of those many many ^ factors ^, was not sussed out correctly.(warmer temp. for load developement and zero .... super cold temp. the day I held on hair). A rookie mistake?, yup, for sure, ... and have been making plenty more miscalulations since that day, on my path of the LR rifle. :redface:. Never have hunted since then. That screwup really hurt me and the mooses.

6.5x55's suitability for taking a heavy animal cleanly, it ends, at whatever distance its 140gr. proper game bullet falls below 1900 fps ... IMO.
Perhaps a few 10 litre water bottles, placed beside the target to test expansion/penetration, at whatever distance you can make certain hits within a 12 inch circle, six inches either side of the aim point. Using a bullet that penetrates deep and exits the far side will make tracking easier.

Please excuse the thread drift, ... having asked this crusty old curmudgion for his thoughts? ... that can get some tedious, eh? f:P:2:

Tryed R19, ... this in two, 10x scoped, well tuned, M96 Swede sporters. Both of 'em consistent 1/2 MOA shooters.
The powder was touchy on pressure when approaching max.. The upper vel. accuracy node was quite narrow. ES's?, well they were not so good, 60+fps if I recall, tryed out a few different primers ... no real improvement. It would shoot a pretty good group at 200, then a not so good one. None of the clusters were as tight or consistent as R22 produces for me. Never did take it long, as the groups had some vert.
a load using either RL25 or RL22 would give you the same MV but with 5,500 psi less pressure.
Click to expand...
2840fps., that is right up there and max. in a sporter length barrel. This goes to your brass life. I doubt that the Win. cases primer pockets would stay snug for very long.
Lapua brass is well worth the cost, they hold a tight pocket at pressures that may well bin N.A. made cases in a single firing. The neck walls are uniform, this for less runout in loaded rounds, they are dimensioned properly ... no need to fireform ... most rifle chambers will shoot new Lapua cases just as well as once fired ones. Some of mine have 30+ reloads, and still going strong.

Consistency. It matters. In reloads, that means low ES, low vert. dispersion, no runout, seated to jam if possible, BR primers, bulk powder purchase, annealed brass, +-2 thou neck tension, and did I mention No Runout(- 1 thou.).
A balance beam scale is more consistent/reliable than any digital is, for me.

In the rifle?. A stock that fits from prone, a full circle FOV every time through the scope, a crisp light trigger, a pod-loc, a anti-cant level, good repeatable turrets, drop dope developed from shooting that load in that rifle at that distance.
When the temp changes ... the point of impact also changes(won't forget that one). Plenty of free float in the barrel channel(the sun on one side will warp the forend). Perfect bedding.

Whew! ... time for a beer.
:cheers:
Good shooting
 
Thanks vviking

That's the kind of info I've been looking for
We are hunting a paticual mountain side were the elk hang up
And there is no way to get ne'er to them
Other than from across the valley .
I have been hunting the area for 3 years now and our group have taken 7 elk
All very around the 500-650 range
So we are very focused on practicing at 500 to 800
I can get a 12 group all day long at 800
Out of my old tikka m65 with all the fixenens
I'm using Hornaby 162 sst with r 19
With 64 grains it seams to give reasonable groups
But I have been using the same rifle for
26 years my lands are bearly visible
I'm thinking this 7mm mag barrel is coming close to the end .
It still shoots under an moa
But not consistently maybe my powder or lands
So thought I would go with the new build 6.5 and I'm looking for
Under 6 inch groups at 600 .
Over the years of 3 generations of hunters I don't take the heart and lung shoots
They don't work consistently .
I have found that breaking the front shoulder
Ggeting the shoulder to shrapnel into the heart and lung
Is a direct stopper and clean kill .
So from your comments you would drop the r 19 powder go to r 22
Buy lapua brass what about my primers
The barrel will have lots of float .
 
You asked the new gun

A rem 700 action
Kreiger barrel 24 inch varmint contour with 3 inch custom made muzzle break
McMillan sporter stock dug out to except barrel
About 8 lb beaded
Super sniper straight 20 x
Haven't figured out the trigger yet

My current rifle
7mm rem mag
1970s tikka m65 with 26 inch barrel
Leapold 6 x 18 x 40 target
With again the 64 grains r19 -162 Sst
Win brass 210 match federal primers
 
Hey Tikkam65. Been shooting 6.5x55 for many years. I gave up on alliant powders RL-19 and RL-22. Found them temp sensitive and dang dirty. lately in my Tikka I have been using 49 grains of N560 with great results. You have said that you dont like the Berger VLD hunting. I am using the 130 and 140 HUNTING VLD with excellent killing results. If you get a chance buy a box of HSM 130 hunting vld loaded ammo, really amazing stuff. Muzzle at 2940fps wow....
 
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