6.5x55 no pressure signs, now what?**Now with velocity**

bcsteve

bcsteve

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Went to the range today with my first batch of reloads for my M70 FWT in 6.5X55. I had made 4 loads last week taking date from my Barnes and Hornady manual. I used the method in the Barnes manual to determine the max loads for my rifle (start 2gr below max and work up to max to see if there's signs of pressure in your rifle). These are the loads I made:

Load #1
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primers
Barnes 130 TSX
Powder H4350 at 44gr, 45gr, 46gr, 46.5gr, 47gr, 47.5gr, 48gr
Barnes says max is 46gr but can use 1-2 grain more with TSX.

Load #2
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Barnes 130 TSX
Powder H4381sc at 46gr, 47gr, 48gr, 49gr, 50gr

Load #3
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Honady 140 SST
Powder 4381sc at 44gr, 45gr, 46gr, 47gr, 48gr

Load #4
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Hornady 140 SST
Powder RL22 at 46gr, 47gr, 48gr, 49gr, 50gr

I was hoping to see some pressure signs so I could find my max and back down. But I can't see any difference between my minimum and maximum loads. No flat primers, no extractor impressions, no stiff bolt, nothing out of the ordinary. Some of those loads should be max and maybe a little more (it's hard to find modern data for the swed). So what do I do now? Get a chrono? Today's session didn't really tell me much :( :confused:
 
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bcsteve said:
Went to the range today with my first batch of reloads for my M70 FWT in 6.5X55. I had made 4 loads last week taking date from my Barnes and Hornady manual. I used the method in the Barnes manual to determine the max loads for my rifle (start 2gr below max and work up to max to see if there's signs of pressure in your rifle). These are the loads I made:

Load #1
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primers
Barnes 130 TSX
Powder H4350 at 44gr, 45gr, 46gr, 46.5gr, 47gr, 47.5gr, 48gr
Barnes says max is 46gr but can use 1-2 grain more with TSX.

Load #2
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Barnes 130 TSX
Powder H4381sc at 46gr, 47gr, 48gr, 49gr, 50gr

Load #3
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Honady 140 SST
Powder 4381sc at 44gr, 45gr, 46gr, 47gr, 48gr

Load #4
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
Hornady 140 SST
Powder RL22 at 46gr, 47gr, 48gr, 49gr, 50gr

I was hoping to see some pressure signs so I could find my max and back down. But I can't see any difference between my minimum and maximum loads. No flat primers, no extractor impressions, no stiff bolt, nothing out of the ordinary. Some of those loads should be max and maybe a little more (it's hard to find modern data for the swed). So what do I do now? Get a chrono? Today's session didn't really tell me much :( :confused:
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Hmm... Interesting, sounds like you know what to look for, and are being cautious enough. What was the temperature like when you were shooting? This can make a fair difference. But other than that, you sound OK if your brass is as described, and I'd continue to load slightly higher. That is IF you are after more velocity, if one or more of these loads is accurate, stick with it and you know you're on the safe side pressure wise :) If you don't need the extra 50-100fps, no sense stressing the components over it :)
 
get a chrony

if you're seeing more than 2900 fps with 130 TSX's in a sporter 6.5x55, time to back off a hair


btw I use 43.0 grs H4350 w/ 130 tsx in my custom 260 Rem @ 2840 fps (23" tube). & I used to use 46 grs. H4831/47 grs RL22 w/ 140 gr. in my old 260 fpr 2650 fps.
​
 
decide what do you want to do with this load? Is it for hunting or paper punching. For punching paper you want the very best groups. For hunting you want the best groups with high velocity. My personal feelings for a big game loads are to shoot 1.5 MOA. with the highest velocity without any pressure sign. Thats what I do. Start loading and shooting and get a chrony.
 
For the model 70, with the 6.5X55, you likely won't see pressure sign unless you exceed published SAMI max loads. The published loads are designed for the Carl Gustavs out there.
Note, I am NOT suggesting you exceed max loads.
 
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Pressure signs on the brass don't show until you start to exceed 65,000PSI and primers are rarely a good indication of pressure.
A chrony is equally important as the load data when working up loads. That's how you measure your pressure. If you use the same components as the manual, you can compare your velocity to published velocity......gives you a good idea of where you are at pressure-wise.
 
6.5

I read an interesting article in one of the gun rags that dispelled the value of the traditional "given signs" of pressure eg stiff bolt lift, flattened primers. what "I" got out of it in a very basic sense was that the pressure was closely related to velocity, which made a lot of sense to my wittle brain, so as todbartel stated above get a chrony and check against the velocity that the book says you should get with a pressure of ????. the article also stressed that following primer choice was critical and gave an example of a load that used win primers and another brand(can't remember) and that all other things being equal including the gun, that the win primers increased pressure by 3000 or 5000(alziemers is settin' in)psi over the other ones. Flame on boys:D
cueball
 
Yeah, Cueball I know which article you're talking about, I have the magazine and I've read several time. That's my only option, buy myself a new toy!:D
 
Well, I've reloaded the same loads and I have a Chrony on the way. I'll report the numbers after the next session.
 
Pressure is related to velocity, but some powders give better velocity than others, and at lower pressure. And correct me if I am wrong, not all rifles can safely reach a specific velocity. For example, even if XXgr of powder should give you ###X fps, you may not be able to reach that velocity without the classic signs of pressure: ie - flattened primers, stiff bolt etc.
 
1899 you are correct but I'm not going in totally blind. I know approximately what I should be getting with the powders I chose. My problem is that there is not a lot of modern pressure loads for the 6.5X55 so my loads are educated guess from milder loads, loads from gun writers, loads from posters and bumped up .260 Rem. To top it off, I'm using a bullet (Barne's TSX)that also has no tested data. Guesstimated loads plus a grain or two more of powder as advised by Barnes when using the TSX and I end up scratching my head. Hopefully the Chrony will let me know if I'm at least in the same ballpark that I should be.
 
bcsteve said:
1899 you are correct but I'm not going in totally blind. I know approximately what I should be getting with the powders I chose. My problem is that there is not a lot of modern pressure loads for the 6.5X55 so my loads are educated guess from milder loads, loads from gun writers, loads from posters and bumped up .260 Rem. To top it off, I'm using a bullet (Barne's TSX)that also has no tested data. Guesstimated loads plus a grain or two more of powder as advised by Barnes when using the TSX and I end up scratching my head. Hopefully the Chrony will let me know if I'm at least in the same ballpark that I should be.
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Look forward to your findings as well :)
 
bcsteve: what I meant was don't give up on the "traditional signs" of pressure if you get a chrony. Have you looked at the Norma, Lapua and Vit. Vouri web sites? They should have some good info on modern pressure loads.

My Barnes #1 lists, with 130gr X:
IMR 4831 48.0gr - 2886fps
H414 45.0gr - 2981fps
IMR 4350 46.0gr - 2953fps
Win 760 45.0gr - 2901fps

It doesn't say barrel length, but this would indicate you should be able to get around 2900fps with little problem, especially since you are using the TSX
 
Gotcha 1899, a combination of methods is better than only one. I should be able to find an answer between pressure signs, load data, chrono speeds and computer program estimated pressure. Ammo is loaded, just waiting for the Chrony, ordered it from the states, who knows when it'll get here!
 
Got my Chrony today, a Beta Master ( or Master Beta for the dirty minded:p ). I hate to admit it but I got it from the States and it was much cheaper than the lowest price I could find around here. I'm hoping the weather will cooperate and I'll be able to chrono those loads on Monday or Tuesday when I get back from the Kamloop gunshow. I'll let you guys know the results soon.
 
bcsteve said:
Got my Chrony today, a Beta Master ( or Master Beta for the dirty minded:p ). I hate to admit it but I got it from the States and it was much cheaper than the lowest price I could find around here. I'm hoping the weather will cooperate and I'll be able to chrono those loads on Monday or Tuesday when I get back from the Kamloop gunshow. I'll let you guys know the results soon.
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Good good and I bought my chrony from the US too, still made here though, so it's all good :) Look forward to the data :)
 
6.5

I also have a FWT Classic 6.5X55and have previously owner a Remington 700, 38 Swede, and a custom 98 in 6.5X55.

My old standby load has been 48 grains Reloader 22 under a 140 Hornady or Nosler Partition. This has worked well in every rifle and brass lasts forever if only used in one rifle. This loads usually runs about 2750 fps. Your 50 grain load should really be popping along. I use Norma brass.

There is a manual for Reloader powers from the manufacturer that list pressure data for the Swede.

As the others have stated you really need a Chrony to KNOW what you are getting for speed and this is still the best indication of pressure that I have found.

Regards,

Outdoors
 
Get a micrometer (a $20 investment). Measure the base expansion (measure just past the extractor groove. This part of the cartridge is not usually supported by the chamber). If it's grown by more than about .0005, then back it off.
 
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