Bergers in a 6.5x55

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sundance1972

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I know they're recommended for a 1:8 twist or faster (my m38 Husky is 1:9), but has anyone had any sucess with the 130 or 140's in a 6.5x55?

Still trying to find the best OAL, but the first few loads i've tried with the 130's and IMR 4831 haven't been too bad, best so far is about 3/4" 3-shots at 100 yards. Nothing to get overly excited about yet, but not bad for a 70+ year old rifle.

Also would like to hear what powders you found to be the best for consistency and velocity.
 
sundance1972 said:
I know they're recommended for a 1:8 twist or faster (my m38 Husky is 1:9
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I thought Swedish Mauser barrels all had a twist a tad quicker than 8" (1-7.8 or something like that). I know you can shoot 160 gr. bullets no problem.

As far as having succes with 130's and 140's ? Yes....that is the main diet for most 6.5x55's I use RL-22 myself as do many others. H-4831, IMR-4831, H-4350, IMR-4350, H1000 and IMR-7828 would also work (and a few others).
 
My Winchester Model 70 Featherweight has a twist of one in 7.87 inches.
Sorry, I've never used Berger bullets but have tried most others in weights from 100 to 160 grs with success.

My rifle likes 48 grs of H380 with the 100 gr Hornady Spire point, 49 grs of H4831 with the 120 gr Speer Spitzer, 47 grs of H4831 with the 140 gr Nosler Partition and 44.5 grs H4831 with the 160 gr Hornady round nose.
 
Thanks, Pathfinder! Guess I screwed up the first time I measured the twist. Just rechecked with a cleaning rod and tight patch (4times) and you are right, it's just under 1:8, at least as far as I can tell.

Once I find the best OAL, I will start playing around with the powder charges and maybe try a few others. I have RL22, RL25, IMR 4350 and IMR 4895 to play with.
 
sundance1972 said:
Thanks, Pathfinder! Guess I screwed up the first time I measured the twist. Just rechecked with a cleaning rod and tight patch (4times) and you are right, it's just under 1:8, at least as far as I can tell.

Once I find the best OAL, I will start playing around with the powder charges and maybe try a few others. I have RL22, RL25, IMR 4350 and IMR 4895 to play with.
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no problem, I think you will be pleased with RL-22 and 140's. What kind of brass ?
 
Have about 150 Winchester brass and am using CCI 200 primers.
Gonna try some loads with Fed 215 Magnum Match primers and RL 22 pretty soon, just picked up another pound last week. Worked well with 140 gr Accubonds in the 6.5, (although the velocities were quite a bit lower than the IMR 4831) but at $40 per 50 after taxes, the Accubonds are a little pricey for punching paper.
 
Concur with Pathfinder. :D

Have played with just one box of berger 140 vld's in a few mil. M38 barrels, found them to be fussy'er than scenar/ MK/ amax, so did not persue.
The need to keep some bullet shank in the neck, and also be close to the lands, has me favouring first amax, then scenar, then MK in load developement. The amax is most likely to offer the jamb/jump option and still stay seated in the neck, and fit in the mag..

Those M38 barrels from Tradeex are real sleepers, have bought and measured six, the throat length's vary by up to 50 thou., bores from .264.5" to .265.5", but the 3 so far installed and tuned are tackdrivers. Averaging consistent .5moa, the best one often puts 5 into the high .3's on calm days. Thats as good as I can hold with 10X. The sons somewhat worn '42 husqvarna only holds 5/8's moa + or so, on a good day.(so he's all pissed at dad, 'cause his targets have some paper 'tween the holes).:slap:

30+ years of 6.5x55 addiction have brought me to the following go to load:
All in M96 actioned sporters;
Lapua brass. annealed every 5th firing.
Lee collet necksize. Expanded to 2 thou. neck tension via lyman 'M' die.
Redding BR seater, to -2 thou. indicated R.O.
CCI BR2
Amax 140gr. (then scenar, then MK)
Alliant R22 (start @45gr.) ... N.B.; 47.5 to 48 seems the sweet spot. Carefull in the summer heat though.
Seated .025" off, & then out in .005" steps till optimum.
2675 fps. +- avg. from 23.5" m38 barrel.

This cartridge shines ever brighter the farther out you go, we clang steel to 1000yds., no problem.
You picked a winner sundance.:rockOn:
 
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Thanks for the info, viking. I found the Amax to be very accurate with RL22 also.
Another bullet I've been playing with is the 130 gr Matrix RBT. The first 3 i put on paper went into about 1/2" at 100. Going to try some 140's as well.
 
sundance1972 said:
Thanks for the info, viking. I found the Amax to be very accurate with RL22 also.
Another bullet I've been playing with is the 130 gr Matrix RBT. The first 3 i put on paper went into about 1/2" at 100. Going to try some 140's as well.
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Ive recently acquired some 130 gr. Matrix bullets (forget if I bought the RBT's). I was going to use them in a 6.5-06 (being assembled) but now that you mention how accurate they are Ill have to try them in my 6.5x55 right away :)

Did you use RL-22 for the 130's ?
 
Pathfinder said:
Ive recently acquired some 130 gr. Matrix bullets (forget if I bought the RBT's). I was going to use them in a 6.5-06 (being assembled) but now that you mention how accurate they are Ill have to try them in my 6.5x55 right away :)

Did you use RL-22 for the 130's ?
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Not yet. The first couple loads were with 4831 and 4895. The starting load with 4895 was pretty good also, about 3/4" for 3@100.
The few loads I have run over the chrony have shown that IMR 4831 is about 75-100fps faster than RL22 with the 140 grain bullets but haven't checked the 130's yet. Hoping to do a lot more tests this coming week-end, work and weather permitting.
 
sundance1972 said:
Not yet. The first couple loads were with 4831 and 4895. The starting load with 4895 was pretty good also, about 3/4" for 3@100.
The few loads I have run over the chrony have shown that IMR 4831 is about 75-100fps faster than RL22 with the 140 grain bullets but haven't checked the 130's yet. Hoping to do a lot more tests this coming week-end, work and weather permitting.
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Ive only used imr-4831 in 270 win and 338 WM . I already get 2800 fps with 140's and RL-22 so I never felt the need to look elsewhere but now that you mention it Ill give a shot when I get more of it in stock.
 
You may find the 130s work with H4350. Don't forget to test jump and jam with the bergers. Really depends on how the chamber leade angle was cut, but the old adage of jamming Bergers may prove different in your barrel.

So far the 130s perform very well in my 260 AI 1-8 (close case capacity to the swede) with H4350. H4831 proved to be a bit finicky in my barrel with the 140s. The barrel settled down better with H4350 and provided a wider node to work with. Never know until you give it a try. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks Gent's, good info ^^^

Re: Swede mil. barrels

Long time back (1990'ish), there was lapua match ammo avail. cheap. Man did that stuff shoot!, like .3-4moa for 5 shots, over and over, in good but not new Swede barrels.
Pulled the 2nd last round down to measure, and it spec'd 144gr hpbt at .2654" dia., with a shank bearing surface of .530", and seated only .135" into the case neck. Then got to slugging a bunch of swede grooves and found most of the fresher ones measuring around .266". A bingo moment, that extra thou and a half bullet dia. cut typical group sizes in half.

Wish there was a fatter high B.C. match bullet out there for 6.5's.
 
vviking said:
Pulled the 2nd last round down to measure, and it spec'd 144gr hpbt at .2654" dia., with a shank bearing surface of .530
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Its funny you mention that. I had some unidentified bullets which I guessed were norma - 140 gr. nickel coloured with a yellow plastic tip . These had a bigger diameter than a Sierra Gameking (im guessing as I didnt' measure). After firing both bullets in the same case with the same powder loads, the brass looked normal in the unknown bullet but there was a lot of soot down the side of the case when shooting the Sierra....there was a lot less pressure. i didnt' get a readout from the Sierra but the other bullet started at 2800 FPS .
 
Pathfinder said:
Its funny you mention that. I had some unidentified bullets which I guessed were norma - 140 gr. nickel coloured with a yellow plastic tip . These had a bigger diameter than a Sierra Gameking (im guessing as I didnt' measure). After firing both bullets in the same case with the same powder loads, the brass looked normal in the unknown bullet but there was a lot of soot down the side of the case when shooting the Sierra....there was a lot less pressure. i didnt' get a readout from the Sierra but the other bullet started at 2800 FPS .
Click to expand...

Interesting ...

The only 140gr. loads I've ever chrono'd over 2750fps., were norma factory @2775, and they were some HOT. May well have been fatter bullets too, never measured. Handloads with .264ish" pills always show worrysome pressure signs by 2700 or so. Makes sense, if the loose fit and resultant blowby are considered. There is no seal 'tween bullet and bore.

Have also recovered many various brand fired 6.5 bullets, undamaged, from deep powder snow, and close examination shows no bullet contact in the barrel grooves. They don't 'bump up' at the heel much either, the odd one showing a tiny narrow contact midway between the lands. Heat discolouration is present on the untouched parts of the shank.

Contrast all the above with the .264" bored 6.5/06, It'll go well over 3000fps. before expanding lapua primer pockets.(in an FN '98) And with only 3.5grs. more R22 in that larger /06 case too.

BTW sundance, my 6.5/06 had faded off by 1000 rounds. Still hunting accurate, but no longer a bugholer.

Dug out that old lapua match round, it's a fmj, not h.p.:redface:. 3.120" oal., 1.30" long bullet, copper coloured with red sealer.
 
Thanks for all the help and suggestions so far. Gonna have to order more bullets to try them all!
Speaking of 6.5-06, I just looked at one on the week-end and am thinking of making an offer on it. Custom built on an Interarms Mark X action, brand new barrel (be damned if I can remember the maker right now though) in a beautiful handmade laminate stock. Could probably get it for about $500. The only thing holding me back is how to explain to the wife why I NEED another rifle!!!
 
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