6.5x55 Loads?

Save yourself a bunch of trouble and start with a box of Winchester 140 gr. factory loads, cheap like borscht at Crappy Tire. For some reason, every Swede I've come across seems to like them. If it shoots them well, it's worth handloading for.

Conversely, if it won't shoot reasonably well with them, you very likely have barrel problems. (They also seem to like PMC 139 gr. psp)
 
You'll probably find that the heavier bullets shoot best, but these rifles are generally quite accurate. This case seems to prefer medium-slow and slow burning powders also. I have had the best success with Norma MRP and Reloder 19 and 22. But other slow burners have also worked well, like IMR 4831, H4831, Vihtavuori N-165, and AA 3100. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I would try H4831sc or RL22, with a 140 gr. Spitzer or, if you don't often shoot past 200 yards, a 160 gr. semi spitz or round nose.
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A friend of mine squeezed a 3-3/4" group at 500 yards out of his 6.5. Not sure of the powder he used but the bullet was a 120gr spitzer. Brass was Remginton.
 
I have awsome results both accurate and great velocity with Alliant RL-22 at 46.5 gr (Max) with either a Hornady SP soft or a interbond 140g always, will clover 5 shots every time if I do my part and bite at 2830 FPS 5 shot avg, and the bullet about 25 thous back off the lands, no crimp.

By far the fastest powder velocity for the 6.5 x55 at safe psi
 
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NewToTheGame said:
Any loads with H414 or H380? Those are the powders I have at home at the moment. However it looks like RL22 is a good idea to invest in for this calibre.
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No never tried them I have tried a bunch of Hodgdon powders for it 4350, 4064 and 4895 with ok 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 " results but nothing compared to RL-22
RL-22 in my T-3 LS works magic.
 
Shot 4 deer this year with a 129 gr. Hornady and 44.0 gr. H4831SC, WW 81/2-120(WLR) primer, seat well out past the cannelure. Had one frontal shot go in near the shoulder and exit just in front of the hind leg. Good bullet for deer. About 1" groups @ 100 with a cut down milsurp.

Andy
 
Varget is a doozy of a powder with the Swede Mauser. Work your way up to the maximum 36.0 grains with a 140gr bullet and see what your rifle likes.
 
6.5 Swede

I have to agree with Reloader 22 for the Swede. Great velocity at low pressures. I have used a sporterized M38, a Winchester model 70 Classic featherweight, and a Remington Model 700. All have liked Rolader 22 with 125 or 140 grain Nosler Partitions or 129, 140, or 160 grain Hornady SPs. I find the Winchester cases good, Norma ones better, and Lapua best of all. I only used one box of Remington brass and it appeared to be formed from .30-06 stock and I don't like it. Might have been just an early lot but I have never used it since.

I used IMR 4831 years ago with good results but Reloader 22 is great.

6.5X55 Swede is my favorite cartridge!

Regards,

Outdoors
 
I have used the 120 gr Nosler Solid base(discontinued) with 49 gr IMR 4350 in norma brass at 2900 f/s. This loadinmg has now taken 10 deer with great results. Work up to this load as it is in a rem 700
 
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