6.5x55mm, sacrificing 150-200fps for significant group savings?

Fox

Fox

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I had a load for my 6.5 that gave me 2450fps, the group size was sitting around 2 MOA, which is not great but the velocity is not horrible.

I was playing around with it yesterday at the range, PPU brass, which is thicker and tends to run slower but solid, and 5 round groups from 38.5-41.5gr. I found the sweet spot, 40.5gr of IMR4831 gave me a 0.86in 5 shot group at 100 yards, very nice.

This knocks my maximum point blank range on deer down by 20 yards but still gives me 1000ft lbs of energy out to 400 yards with a velocity that will still open up that ELD-X bullet efficiently.

What do you guys think? Not a screamer but runs right around the same velocity as factory PPU in my rifle and what a heck of a group.
 
Hiwatt said:
Hi Fox. I found IMR 4320 and RL 15 very good in my 6.5x55. 4831 is on the slow side isn't it?
Good luck with it.
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4831 is suppose to be one of the best for 6.5x55mm as it is a very large case for the bullet diameter. I assume you mean 4350, not 4320. I was tossing around 4350 and 4831 but was encouraged on here to go with 4831 as the case is similar to a magnum case. I was also told that 4831 was easier on the barrels, I plan to shoot this a lot.
 
Loads that are not accurate are pointless, unless all that matters is that it's accurate enough not to hit the chronograph.
 
dead meat said:
My 6.5x55 groups best just under max load, usually 2 to 2.5 grs under. Loosing 20 yards on your max point blank range is insignificant, imo.
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Ya, I notice with the PPU brass a mark on the head at 41.5gr, not an extractor groove mark but some shine and a bit stiffer bolt. At 40.5gr it feels beautiful and no pressure signs.

The part I find crazy is that the fps spread for my 5 shot group was around 60fps, with groups down to 12fps spread my group was no where near this tight, barrel harmonics I guess, it just likes this load.

I think my question was almost rhetorical, ha ha, if it were 500fps and 0.86-1in variation then maybe but with 200fps and over an inch difference in group I think I am moving down the ladder.
 
Has been my experience that a single 5 round group is not so much to be making decisions, but definitely better than a single 3 round group? Can you repeat that, say two more times - that is, two more 5 round groups that size? A lot of words typed about ES and SD, but in the end, it is enough holes in the target that count.
 
Well - The 6.5 is a bit of a barrel burner, so your light loads are doing both you and the gun a favour... 4350 and 4831 are perfect for the 6.5, whereas RL15 and 4320 are faster powders, better suited to 30 cal (308, 303, etc.)
 
Potashminer said:
Has been my experience that a single 5 round group is not so much to be making decisions, but definitely better than a single 3 round group? Can you repeat that, say two more times - that is, two more 5 round groups that size? A lot of words typed about ES and SD, but in the end, it is enough holes in the target that count.
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I had shot this load before a couple other times, at that point I was searching for more velocity but that load has grouped well the other times too.
 
Fox, what rifle are you shooting.

Its been my experience that a load that shoots well in a Swede milsurp won't shoot well in commercial rifles.

If you're loading for a milsurp, then your slower load is just fine for hunting purposes. There isn't a Deer on the planet that will notice the velocity difference, as long as you do your part and put the bullet into the vitals.

If you're shooting a commercial rifle, such as a Tikka or Remington, then you may just find another "sweet spot" up around 2800fps.

I use IMR7828, over CCI250 primers under 140 gr SSTs in my Tikkat. I wouldn't dare to use that load in a milsurp.
 
bearhunter said:
Fox, what rifle are you shooting.

Its been my experience that a load that shoots well in a Swede milsurp won't shoot well in commercial rifles.

If you're loading for a milsurp, then your slower load is just fine for hunting purposes. There isn't a Deer on the planet that will notice the velocity difference, as long as you do your part and put the bullet into the vitals.

If you're shooting a commercial rifle, such as a Tikka or Remington, then you may just find another "sweet spot" up around 2800fps.

I use IMR7828, over CCI250 primers under 140 gr SSTs in my Tikkat. I wouldn't dare to use that load in a milsurp.
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M38 Mauser

I was shooting higher velocity, pushed it to 43gr but there was a stiff bolt and marks on the head, just not good.

There was never a plan to hot rod the rifle, just get a good group and reasonable velocity.

The part that is astounding to me, based on the BC of the bullet, there is almost no velocity loss with the 143gr bullet, holding energy like crazy and still giving me that 400 yard deer rifle I was working on.
 
Most of the old military calibres can be made more accurate by losing some speed, because most militaries developed the service load by taking the most accurate load and pushing the velocity up. The logic was that by pushing the round a bit harder they made the bullet slightly less stable, and more effective in two legged targets, while holding reasonable accuracy. You'll see the same in 8mm and in 303. I don't know anyone who's tried it in x54r, but I'd bet you get the same results.
 
My rifle is a Tikka t3, haven't done much with milsurps except factory ammo and not much of that. Using Re22 and H4350 with 139 gr Lapua and 140 gr Hornady, both give excellent accuracy.
 
Myself.........129gr-140gr with either powder RE#22 was best and 42gr of IMR 4350/N-204 with the 156gr SAKO or 160gr Hornady bullet when you want to drill a moose lengthways and still eat up to the bullet hole.
 
No I meant 4320 and RL 15. I chronoed loads at > 2850 with Hornady 129gr pills. I know the books lean toward slower powders but that's the fun of experimenting. I had a Remington classic and now have a tikka in 6.5x55. Other than the case length it will do anything the Creedmoor does. Not bad for an 1894ish cartridge. I would have tried Varget too if I'd had any at the time. As for being a barrel burner I can't agree. Look at a 270 win with 130gr bullets. The 6.5 x300 weatherby is just foolishness because of being so overbore. Your M38 twist could be a lot slower than current rifles and would like long bullets. Hornady used to make a 160gr roundnose and might still do.
 
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The 1-7.25"/ 38 twist does fine with 129-160gr bullets.When the Swedes changed from the heavier 156-160gr bullet to the 140gr Torpedo bullet they changed the sights [stamped with a "T" ]not the barrels.
 
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