6.5x55 t3 sporter

blackbeard

blackbeard

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I want to try h4831sc to start, i have 140 smk or 140 vld to start with.the gun has a 20" barrel, should i maybe use h4350 instead? my big question is where to start with my loads?i have 4 different manuals and their loads for either 4350 or 4831 are so drastically different from one to the other.
Modern Loading:140 gr bullet
h4831sc 44gr-47gr
h4350 42gr-45gr

Speers # 14:140 gr bullet
h4831sc 41gr-43gr
h4350 38gr-40gr
I am going to use this rifle primarily for paper and steel out to 1000yds.which of these manuals do i use?modern loading is quite a bit hotter than speers,they are both listed for modern commercial actions.
I am leaning towards using Modern Loading data,is this a wise choice?
 
Between myself, and two friends, we have a T-3 Sporter, a T-3 Super Varmint, and a T-3 Varmint,all in 6.5x55, and all three rifles shoot sub 1/2moa with the 142gr SMK ahead of R-22.
 
Wow, the Speer manual is actually below my load for my M96 Swede. I'm putting 45gr of H4831SC under 140gr BTHP and shooting as good as 1/2" @ 100yds (usually closer to 3/4" but that's me, not the gun). I tried from 41gr to 47gr and 45gr proved the most accurate. Was kind of surprised since most of the time the most accurate load is closer to the starting value. I guess it would be if I was using the Lee manual.

The two most common powders for 6.5x55mm are H4831/H4831SC and Reloader 22. Both are great and well proven.
Personally I would start at the lower of the two sources and work up.
Load data is developed in different labs in different rifles with different barrels and different chambers. Min and max loads are sometimes all over the place like in this case.

*edit*
The Hodgdon website says 42.5-47.0gr of H4831.
 
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If you start at 44gr of H4831 and accuracy decreases as you go up, you know what to do.
The Swede Mausers tend to prefer hotter loads from my reading so that may be why mine likes 45gr.
 
Can't go wrong with any of those powders. Best velocity and grouping out of any of my tests was with 51.4gr H1000 (51.5gr max). My best ES and SD came from H4350. RL22 works great too, I've burned 4lbs of that through my Tikka T3 Varmint since April.

SL
 
neal said:
What is the twist on the t3? I have had good luck with 140gn smk over 43.5gn on imr4350 in my faster twist 6.5x55's
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one twist in 8 inches.

They will stabilize everything from 90 grain to 160 grain without a hiccup.

Fantastic rifles at excellent prices.

I load 140 grn SSTs over 47 grains of H4831 over CCI 250 primers. Groups are all under 1 inch at 100 m
 
Son's T3 getting tipping with 160gr but 156gr fine into same hole. RE#22 best followed by IMR 4350........Harold
 
mbogo3 said:
Son's T3 getting tipping with 160gr but 156gr fine into same hole. RE#22 best followed by IMR 4350........Harold
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That just goes to show you. No matter how close they keep the tolerances, each rifle is different.

Mine will shoot even the very long 160 grain VLD bullets very well. Not for long though I only have one of those bullets left.
 
I use 42gr of either IMR 4350 or N-204 so perhaps is i increased this a little it would take out the wobble? No matter they kill everything they hit. Harold
 
stubblejumper said:
Between myself, and two friends, we have a T-3 Sporter, a T-3 Super Varmint, and a T-3 Varmint,all in 6.5x55, and all three rifles shoot sub 1/2moa with the 142gr SMK ahead of R-22.
Click to expand...

I also use RL22 in all my 6.5s (tikka light, tikka HB varmint, m38 and M96), all tack drivers with 140gr bullets and the right load.
 
Just loaded up a bunch for a shooting partners 6.5x55 T3 Varmint. Using 140gr GK's (hunting load) we worked up from 46gr H4831 by 0.2gr all the way to 47.8 and never hit pressure. All 10 loads landed within 2" at 200 yards so we are calling it good. The second node was hit up at the max so that's were it will stay for hunting. The rifle shoots 140gr SST and 139gr Scenars with H4350 into honest sub MOA groups all day, but we ran out.
 
I use Norma MRP in my 6.5x55 Remington "Classic" It peaks at right around 49 grains, for 2850+ fps.

This rifle is on it's third barrel, so you can guess how much I like the Swede.

I hunt with 125 or 140 Partitions, but use a different powder for the 125.
Like to try the 127 NAB LR as soon as I can get some.

Regards, Dave.
 
blackbeard said:
would try other powders, but i have 4pds of 4350 and 4831 on hand
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Look it up on the powder manufacturers site: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp When confronted with discrepancy, rely on the manufacturer of the powder to have the greatest interest vested into the use of their product rather than a third party.

I find H4350 to be an ideal speed in my T3 Varmint: Mine has the 24" barrel and a muzzle brake chambered for the same round. I found H4831 to be a bit too slow burning in my rifle while accuracy either way is good. It isn't fussy, but the rifle has a couple pet loads I've found so far.
 
just loaded up some 140 smk tonite.42g-45g of h4350 and 45g-48g of h4831. 5rds in .5 steps. will see how they shoot on the weekend. i used the hogdon online load data
 
Well - In response to your original question - I have several Swedes (including Tikkas) and H4350 consistently outshot any other powder. I use the Lee manual, mid range load. The Swede is a relatively low pressure round, and you're using a modern action, so you can judge your load strategy accordingly.
 
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