6.5x55 suggestions? Now results!

[Pathfinder]

Well finally got out to try a few of the bullets I had on hand! Results were pretty good IMO and maybe its just the match barrel, but this bugger is a shooter! Temterature was 10 deg C, 4mph tailwind, Humidity of 65% (shooting partner bought a Kestrel, probably one of the coolest gadgets ever)

First load I found luck with for the 140 AMAX was:
45gr IMR 4831
CCI BR2 primer
Lapua case
COAL: 3.020"
Avg Vel: 2785 fps
Spread: 22 fps
Shot consistently .75moa at 200yds and had one .5 group that day

High node for the 140 AMAX was:
48gr IMR 4831
CCI BR2 Primer
Lapua case
COAL: 3.020"
Avg Vel: 3010 fps
Spread: 25fps
Shot consistent .5moa at 200yds and one .3!! (big accomplishment for me lol)

The 139gr Lapua scenars actually liked to only be pushed at a higher velocity in my experience with them that day. Maybe I was getting tired or impatient but the best group I shot with them was at the same High compressed load:
48gr IMR 4831
CCI BR2 Primer
Lapua case
COAL: 2.975"
Avg vel: 3005 fps
spread 19 fps
Shot .5moa, would have had a 2" 500yd group today, but a pesky flyer screwed that up and opened her up to 5"
Guess the man upstairs throws them our way to keep us modest at times haha.

Oh well, I'm hoping to receive my Redding bushing neck die and bushings to attempt to make more consistent ammo rather than using my Lee collett die and I'm also thinking about lengthening the seating depth of the Scenar load and try that out as well. One day hoping to try some Bergers but that time will come.

I also tried some Reloader 22 today and the nodes seemed to shadow those of the IMR 4831 but by .5gr higher (kind of figured as they are both fairly close in burn rate with RL22 being slower). No chrony today to compare velocities but next time I will post that data once I have some hard numbers. Will also try to track down the targets and get some photos up or the "proof nazis" will flame me I bet!
Either way I believe this rifle is a great shooter and as soon as the guy behind it can get in some more trigger time and practice it will truly show its potential

Did I mention I love this cartridge?! Too fun, no wonder all the guys with "magnumitis" hate it so much

What lenght of barrel ? 3000 fps is fast for the swede ! - edit never mind I see 30" now..and that makes sense.

 

[kmartel]

Very good results there kmartel, and it's still early days in your load development.

140 Amax likes a light jam(.010"/.015"),in my various M38 barreled mil. Swedes. A couple like to kiss, none do better with jump. The difference on target is not all that much though ..... it's a forgiving bullet.
That bullet does have a longer shank, so it can seat securely in the neck and still bump the long-throated mil-spec. lands.

139 Scenars does better for me with a .020"/.030" jump, in both the 6.5x55's and the 6.5/06.

Think I'm going to play with the seating depth of the amax's first then come back to the scenars . Need a bulk order of them soon I'm guessing. They seem much more consistent than the amax's but for the price I am driven to find a load for the amax's also! They're pretty affordable
Any experience with bergers in this cartridge? Would be interested in trying them as well one day...

 

[vviking]

The Amax seems more sensitive to runout than the others. Those mystery "fliers" stopped happening when T.I.R. is kept under two thou..

Have tried the Berger 140 VLD's, they have relatively short shanks, so very long jump is neccessary in deep throated barrels .... mediocre accuracy resulted.
In my short throat 6.5/06, they could jam ok, but that particular barrel prefers the Scenars.
They seem touchy to me, undoubtedly excellent in some barrels ..... but not mine.