6.5X55 loading for modern action IMR7828 - H4831SC

kilohertz

kilohertz

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
7   0   0
Location
Planet Earth, left part of Canada, Brokenagan
Hello all,

I am really enjoying reloading for all my calibers and have been working thru ladder tests for various rifles for a few a few weeks now and have had some great success with the chrono and grouping, but I am now working on a good load for my 1968 Voere Kufstein 6.5X55 Swedish which is built on the Mauser 98 action, which I am assuming is considered "modern", could someone first confirm this before I go beyond "loading data for military actions"?

So in my research of various powders I have decided to start with H4831SC and 143g ELD-X bullets. I am using new R-P brass and CCI 200 primers. I measured the chamber in the rifle and distance to the rifling is 3.25", book COAL is anywhere from 3.025-3.075 which in my rifle leaves .2" bullet jump. I have loading manuals from the 60's thru to current published data and it seems 4831 gets me good load density and velocity for the 140g range of bullets, although one manual from the 60's states 51g of 4831 as max (I think that may be a misprint, awfully hot load).

The main reason for my post here is to get some feedback from people who have been down this road before and have made the tests and have some sound conclusions. My thinking is that with a factory COL, and large jump, there could be an accuracy problem, but until I actually test myself, I won't know. If I seat the bullets out to 3.24" which gives me .01" jump, which works in my magazine and pretty much seats all the way on the neck, there is extra space in the cartridge and pressures could be quite different from what the book data indicates, which may still be safe in my rifle but won't know until I chrono and test in small increments.

I have loaded the first ladder tests from 45.5g to 47.5g and am off to the range shortly, and have seated to 3.15" for now. My goal is to get good grouping at around 2800fps and will depend on what the barrel likes. It's 23.5".

Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you and your experience with this subject, I really am enjoying the science of reloading and get a lot of satisfaction with working up good loads. My preference would be not to have really long COL and stay with something around 3.15" as max, but maybe even the book COL of 3.05" will give me good results also as the case space will be less. Just thinking out loud.

Thanks for your guidance.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
It was a fun day of shooting and did tests on 3 different calibers, but the one I am working on currently is the Voere 6.5X55. I used H4831SC and CCI200 primers and loaded from 45.5 to 47.5 with decent but not great results, 2650fps to 2720fps. There was a really nice happy spot for the rifle at 46.5g with an ES of 4 and SD of 2 and 2631fps, but the grouping was 1.75" or so. I had a much better group at 47.5g but the ES was 31 and SD was 15, still not bad, but I guess the grouping is more important than the data.

Last night I loaded up beyond yesterdays' trials and loaded 48-49g H4831SC to see if I can find another sweet spot and get to 2800fps or so. I also decided to try IMR7828 with CCI200 primers, same brass and COAL of 3.15", 47.5-49g and will test cautiously and watch for pressure signs at each step. I have read of others on this forum with success with 49-50g 7828, I'm hoping for the same. Bullets are 143g ELDX again.

Off to the range shortly and will report back tonight. BTW chrono is Oehler M33 and works like a charm.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
It has been a while since I loaded for the 6.5x55, but it was with max loads of IMR4350 with 140 gr Barnes X and Nosler Partition bullets and their respective older manuals (1994 era).
Never was able to chrony those loads back then, but would get 5 shot 1" groups at 200 yards with either. That particular Rem 700 Classic showed a slight preference for the Barnes load.
It also shot the factory Hornady Euro Spec Light Magnum 140gr Interlock ammo rated for 2780 fps (IIRC) into the same sized groups. As a comparison note, the felt recoil for the factory load was similar to the reloads. Performance on game was very good.

Today, with my new Sako 85 Hunter LH, I am looking at trying the same load for the Nosler Partition, and trying Re-26 with the 140 gr AccuBonds. The factory Nosler 140gr AccuBond ammo listed as 2650 fps will produce sub-MOA 3 shot groups at 100 yards in this rifle.
 
OP, I can safely reach 2800fps with 140grn bullets using IMR7828SSC and CCI250 Magnum primers.

My rifle is a Tikka T3 Lite with a 22 inch barrel.

Your Voere Kufstein is a Mauser 98 variant and should be equally as strong as my T3. However, if the chamber tolerances are sloppy, you may not be able to safely reach similar velocities.

I believe your rifle also has a 24 inch bbl but it's been a while since I had one.

All of the north american hand loading manuals will only give you safe loads for the Swede M96 and Norwegian Krags.

You can start with the maximum loads shown, using magnum primers as a starting point in your rifle. If you're concerned with this info, take your rifle to a smith or check the internet to see which other cartridges your rifle is chambered for and compare the pressures those cartridges are loaded to
 
Thanks guys, appreciate the info.

Well it was a good day of shooting at the range, slightly cloudy and no wind. I won't go into a lot of detail tonight, but quickly what I found is as follows.

IMR7828 with CCI200 with range of 47-49g, ~2575fps @ 47g to 2675fps @ 49g, grouping wasn't terrible, right around MOA, maybe a little over, and chrono data unimpressive, no real sweet spots noted like I saw in my 22-250. ES all around 30-40 and SD 15-18. Nothing really jumped out and said "pick me!".

IMR4831 with CCI200 46-48g, ~2650fps @46g to 2700fps @48g grouping was way better overall, a sweet spot seemed to be at 46 and 46.5g with 1 MOA and ES of 11 & 15 and SD of 8 & 7. 48g had really good grouping but had an oddball 2842fps with the others around 2700, ES of 144 and SD 76, grouped 1 MOA also.

I realize now that I can load hotter with both powders and will do so for the next tests. Going to do some detailed chamber measurements and figure out what I am dealing with. Overall it's not bad, but I think I am spoiled by my Tikka M595 in 22-250 which I did extensive ladder tests with and last week had several sweet spots to choose from, sub MOA, and one group shot 3698fps on all 3 shots, a first for me, bloody amazing!

Again, thanks for the input, the testing continues.

Cheers
 
You may want to try Reloder 23 or 26 in your 6.5x55. These
powders seem to be well suited to that chambering.
I have also used Norma MRP with stellar results, but to some,
that powder is unobtanium. :) I have a Remington 700
"Classic" chambered 6.5x55, and I expect 2850 with the 140's Dave.
 
kilohertz said:
Thanks guys, appreciate the info.

Well it was a good day of shooting at the range, slightly cloudy and no wind. I won't go into a lot of detail tonight, but quickly what I found is as follows.

IMR7828 with CCI200 with range of 47-49g, ~2575fps @ 47g to 2675fps @ 49g, grouping wasn't terrible, right around MOA, maybe a little over, and chrono data unimpressive, no real sweet spots noted like I saw in my 22-250. ES all around 30-40 and SD 15-18. Nothing really jumped out and said "pick me!".

IMR4831 with CCI200 46-48g, ~2650fps @46g to 2700fps @48g grouping was way better overall, a sweet spot seemed to be at 46 and 46.5g with 1 MOA and ES of 11 & 15 and SD of 8 & 7. 48g had really good grouping but had an oddball 2842fps with the others around 2700, ES of 144 and SD 76, grouped 1 MOA also.

I realize now that I can load hotter with both powders and will do so for the next tests. Going to do some detailed chamber measurements and figure out what I am dealing with. Overall it's not bad, but I think I am spoiled by my Tikka M595 in 22-250 which I did extensive ladder tests with and last week had several sweet spots to choose from, sub MOA, and one group shot 3698fps on all 3 shots, a first for me, bloody amazing!

Again, thanks for the input, the testing continues.

Cheers
Click to expand...

IMR7828 likes magnum primers. Much more consistent ignition and less velocity variance tighten groups to sub half moa
 
bearhunter said:
IMR7828 likes magnum primers. Much more consistent ignition and less velocity variance tighten groups to sub half moa
Click to expand...

Thanks Bearhunter, that was an item which I contemplated for some time before going with the CCI200 to start. I will back up 1g and proceed to 50g with CCI250.

Dave I have contemplated trying yet another powder, but want to give what I have my best efforts before adding another pound to my collection.

Thanks for the help.

Cheers
 
Comparing your 6.5 x 55 to your 22-250 is not quite a fair comparison, as many who have a 22-250 find it very easy to find 1/2-MOA loads for them, regardless of rifle manufacturer. Seems to be a cartridge that is easier to find accurate loads for.
Finding accurate loads for the Swede takes a little more work for most, as their is a larger variance in rifles and actions, and chambers, used to chamber for this cartridge (i.e. the Krags and Mausers mentioned above). Don't get me wrong, there are some very accurate Swedes out there, and some come by it easily.
It is a great cartridge, and one of my all-time favourites.
Hope you have as much fun and enjoyment with it as I have over the past 25 years!
 
You will find that chasing velocity with the 140gr bullet in a 6.5x55 rarely lives up to book speed. Go for accuracy.The game doesn't seen to notice -100 fps it just kills e'm dead with no fuss.
 
Some time ago I had a M96, still had the stepped barrel and it was well used.
I did a few things to it and played with reloading to see what I could get out of it.
The gun started out at 4-5 moa, it had issues but as I fiddled with it the groups shrunk.
I never used some of the powders here, I never could hope to get close to the lands and maximum loads always opened up.
Most experiments came in 1.5 to 2+ moa.
At some point I tried IMR4895, 37.5 grains with a Winchester Primer under a Hornady 140 grain SP (#2630) with a COAL of 3.030”.
The chrono averaged 2460fps but regularly put 5 in .5 to .7 moa, the best was 3/8” (one off).
I chased accuracy and let the velocity look after itself, in the end the pressures were mild and the accuracy exceptional all with a powder I rarely read about being preferred for this cartridge.
Your barrel and action may likely respond differently.
 
Those 96's can shoot with the long range military sights as well. We were hitting head sized clods of mud across a snow covered field at 700 yards with irons off a picnic table.I had younger eyes then.
 
I load my daughter's 6.5x55 BSA with Varget and 100 grain Nosler Partitions. She is 19 this season and has 4 bucks and 2 does under her belt. All one shot kills with the first buck at 325 yards.
 
Wow! Super info and thanks so much for sharing your stories. I haven't been doing anything shooting for a day as the wood shed collapsed with a wind and a pile of wood that fell over...need to rebuild before the snow flies.

I will reply in the morning...as I have found an interesting phenomenon within my data, I spent several hours going over targets and data and found some cool things.

Thanks again for the input, I love the science of loading but may be chasing something unattainable, but being a hunter and a science nerd, I will continue pursuing all options that have been suggested, guess some Reloader is in my future. :runaway:.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
So I pulled the stock off the rifle this morning to make it easier to clean and check the chamber and such, and found the stock is split behind the magazine, and there is a crack starting behind the safety tang, pretty common and I have several rifles I have had to repair in this area. Before I removed the stock I checked the barrel clearance, clearance? What clearance? Ok so the barrel is rubbing hard against the stock about 2 inches in front the barrel/receiver junction, and for about 3" out towards the end of the stock, not good. So all load dev is on hold for now, going to float the barrel and bed the action.

But to complete this phase, what I found was that both IMR4831 and H4831SC had a sweet spot at 46.5g, at least as far as ES and SD go, both were less than 10, but the grouping on IMR4831 was non existent at that charge however at 48g the ES was terrible but the group was about 1.5moa. I only loaded H4831SC to 47.5g and those were just over 2700fps, and the grouping was sub moa, there was the node at 46.5g ES 4 and SD2, so I think once the bedding is done, I will continue on with H4831SC for another grain or 2 to see if another node shows and shoots around 2800fps and groups well.

The other thing to note here, is that I have not sorted cases by weight, but am loading all new RP and am not sizing the new brass, just using them as is. Not sure if this is acceptable practice? Your thoughts?

Anyway off to the shop to start the bedding work.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
All Swedish Mausers were chambered for the 6.5×55mm cartridge, and all Swedish-made actions were proof-tested with a single 6.5×55mm proof round developing approximately 455 MPa (65,992 psi) piezo pressure (55,000 CUP).[4][5] Swedish Mausers were manufactured by Waffenfabrik Mauser AG in Oberndorf a/N in Germany and in Sweden by Carl Gustafs stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag. All Swedish Mausers, whether built in Germany or Sweden, were fabricated using a Swedish-supplied high grade tool steel alloyed with nickel, copper, and vanadium, a product then noted for its strength and corrosion resistance

Their proof pill is pretty impressive.

I've never worried about the factory chambered rifle I have in 7.62 Nato but after looking through this thread, I came across another Carl Gustaf in the back of the safe, chambered for the 6mm Remington, using a take off Remington barrel. I built that rifle from a bubba I picked up at a gun show. Brian Oldfield, a now deceased friend and mentor, cautioned me against the build because he felt the action wasn't strong enough.

That being said, I've put a lot of rounds through that particular rifle. I also picked up a #### on opening kit for it and installed an adjustable trigger. The only reason I set it aside was because of the heavy profile barrel. I think I'm going to have to show it more daylight in the future. It's supposed to be stronger than I thought.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom