6.5x55 Reloads

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Iceman9184

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Fort St. John, BC
Looking to start reloading for a new 6.5 Swede I bought, with the intention of long range shooting and possibly hunting.

My last 6.5 Swede was a Tikka T3 Varmint that was used solely for long distance shooting. It did very well with some Bergers VLD Target 140gr. projectiles. Shot fairly well with Hornady 129gr. SSTs but definitely preferred a match bullet.

New rifle I picked up is a Tikka T3x Lite, has a sporter barrel that's 2" less than the Varmint. I was looking at 2 projectiles that I think will fit my needs, Hornady's 143gr ELD-x and Noslers LR Accubond. I wont be hunting long range but would like a bullet that can shoot long range and still harvest animals within 300 yards, am I asking too much?

I currently have H4350, RL 22 and RL 15 on hand. What bullet should I look at and if need be what powder should I try to go with it? Thanks!
 
I'm still tuning mine, but should be complete soon; as soon as the weather co-operates here in NB. I'll post full details as a reference for you for sure.

I'll also be doing some testing with the Hornady 140gr SSTs and the Nosler 140gr Accubonds in the near future, so I'll post those results as well. Hopefully I remember, lol, but feel free to pm me anytime and I'll pass on everything I know, or have tested with my 6.5x55.

Cheers!
 
My Varmint really liked 129gr SSTs. Really liked the Bergers too but I want to try those ELDx hunters. I appreciate the data man! I'll be curious about those Noslers, my Sakos just love them.
 
There are hundreds of shooters using Lapua Scenars and this is often the most accurate bullet in 6.5 calibre cartridges. Of the many shooters who have tried them, a very small number did not have positive results and the 142 grain Sierra MK is an almost exact copy. Having said that, trying in your rifle is the only was to know for sure. H4831 is popular as is Reloader 22, VihtaVuori N165.
 
Iceman9184 said:
Claims he reached out to 1400 yards using a 139gr. Scenar and 44 odd grains of H4350
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, that's a 58 MOA drop........assuming 2700fps at barrel and a 200yd zero.

FWIW I'm working up loads now for my T3x and 140 gr Accubonds have not been spectacular with RL22. OK but not what I want for hunting (went from min through max in 0.5 grain increments)

Best so far has been Hornady 160's (RN) and H4831 - these pencils are going to be a great hunting load at 200ish IMHO

Factory 140 SST's are very good.
I've got 140 SST's bullets to work a load up as well as 143 ELD-X.
Used H4350 for the SST (waiting for the snow to get off the range road to shoot the ones I have ready) and same for ELD-X.

Just got 100 of the new High BC Sierra's for long range but they are for 1:7.5 or faster and my barrel is 1:8. Sierra says they 'might' stabilize - will see.
https://sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1755/264-dia-65mm-150-gr-HPBT
 
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I use 44 grains of IMR 4350 with a hornaday 140 grain flat base spitzer. It kills everything and shoots very well in my Swedish mauser.
 
I have hunted and customized lots of'96 Mausers and shot deer with a 6.5x55 O/U as well as the 6.5x54MS
my 6.5 AI was a wicked shooter with 140 Match Kings but I also shot out to 1K with a ' 98 action with a 6.5x55 barrel and Scenars
fantastic bullets!
Cat
 
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Awesome stuff! Thanks guys for all the awesome feed back. I'll make sure to post some of my data when I get the chance.

One last question, is there a significant difference in velocity when 6.5 Swede is fired from a 22" barrel to a 24" barrel? Is 22" enough?
 
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