Finally found some 160 grain 6.5mm bullets
- Thread starter MarkFenn
- Start date
I have some 160gr horn RN bullets but I really like the 155gr lapua mega bullet. I load them to 2500fps in my ruger #1 6.5x55. Very good bullet, .75" groups and I won't use this gun past 200 yards at the most. Use it for stand hunting and walking trails, not a lot of long shots.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
This talk of 6.5x55 makes me happy. The weather is finally starting to cool down a little here and I have lost my reloading notebook somehow in moving. Today and tomorrow are load development days for my Tikka 6.5x55. I have 129 and 140gr sst's (shot deer with both) and 140gr partitions and core lokts (shot deer with both)... and about 6 other bullets for 6.5.
A core lokt at 6.5x55 velocities works great. The 129 SST's are a little frangible but a very quick kill, the 140 SST I hit low lung so I can't blame it on the bullet but it was still a 1 shot kill, and the 140 partition just worked.
I did my 45-70 last weekend. Settled on 48gr of 3031 behind one of Ben's 480gr flat nosed gas checked hard cast. I want to get a deer, bear or moose with it this year as I've never shot anything bigger than a hare with it.
A core lokt at 6.5x55 velocities works great. The 129 SST's are a little frangible but a very quick kill, the 140 SST I hit low lung so I can't blame it on the bullet but it was still a 1 shot kill, and the 140 partition just worked.
I did my 45-70 last weekend. Settled on 48gr of 3031 behind one of Ben's 480gr flat nosed gas checked hard cast. I want to get a deer, bear or moose with it this year as I've never shot anything bigger than a hare with it.
Old classic loads in old classic cartridges.
6.5x55 with 160gr RN
7x57 with 175gr RN
303 British with 215gr RN
300 H&H with 220gr RN
30/06 with 180 gr RN
257 Roberts with 117gr RN
35 Rem with 200gr RN
.... etc, etc.
See a pattern here?
6.5x55 with 160gr RN
7x57 with 175gr RN
303 British with 215gr RN
300 H&H with 220gr RN
30/06 with 180 gr RN
257 Roberts with 117gr RN
35 Rem with 200gr RN
.... etc, etc.
See a pattern here?
SWEDE 6.5X55 Loads
I have a Voere mauser sporter in this caliber, loads I have found accurate.
H4831-46grs 140Grain Nos Partition or 140gr Sierra HPBT Match.
H4831-45grs 160Grain Sierra BTSP.
The 140gr sighted 2.5" high @ 100m is approx 1.5 to2" low at 200M.
With the same scope setting the 160 is 1" low @ 100M and 6" low@200M, that would be your limit without compensating for the 160gr.
Bill
I have a Voere mauser sporter in this caliber, loads I have found accurate.
H4831-46grs 140Grain Nos Partition or 140gr Sierra HPBT Match.
H4831-45grs 160Grain Sierra BTSP.
The 140gr sighted 2.5" high @ 100m is approx 1.5 to2" low at 200M.
With the same scope setting the 160 is 1" low @ 100M and 6" low@200M, that would be your limit without compensating for the 160gr.
Bill
I get 2530fps with 46gr RE22 under a 140gr Hornady from a 22.7" Tikka - 2800plus for 2 more grains of powder is incredible.
Tommorrow I am testing 120gr TTSX with RE22 and CCI250 primers. I get the feeling that Barnes max load of 46gr RE22 is very mild but we will see what the chrony says during work-up!
I do like the strong 6.5x55 core we have on CGN - always good info!
Dont forget these esteemed old players:
9,3x62 with 286gr
.375 H&H with 300gr
8x57/8x60 with 220gr
Do love the metrics and classics!
Tommorrow I am testing 120gr TTSX with RE22 and CCI250 primers. I get the feeling that Barnes max load of 46gr RE22 is very mild but we will see what the chrony says during work-up!
I do like the strong 6.5x55 core we have on CGN - always good info!
Dont forget these esteemed old players:
9,3x62 with 286gr
.375 H&H with 300gr
8x57/8x60 with 220gr
Do love the metrics and classics!
Kayaker; Several things may be at play here.
For one thing, my barrel is a couple of inches longer than your Tikka.
Secondly, my 6.5 x 55 is on it's third barrel, Shilen AG match sporter weight.
Thirdly, my chamber is close to SAAMI minimum spec, and My rifle has a fairly short throat for a 6.5x55.
I guess what I am saying is that you may not reach the same velocity in your Tikka with 2 more grains of powder.
It might take 3 more, or perhaps you may run into pressure signs before you reach the 2830 I am getting.
Regards, Dave.
- Location
- Golden Lake
The Lyman Reloading Handbook #47 lists a MAX load of 49 grs of H380 with a 120 gr bullet for 2890 fps.
I have read in a "Handloading Digest" where a guy used this load BUT in my Model 70 Winchester Featherweight I found that even 45 grs was too hot. I settled on 44.2 grs of H380 with the 120 gr bullet.
My best all around load for 120 gr bullets is 49 grs of H4831.
My favourite loads for 140 gr bullets is 47 grs of H4831 or 50.5 grs H1000.
Barrel is about 23 1/2". I don't own a chrony, so have no numbers. Based on trajectory numbers out to 200yds I estimated the velocity at ~2700-2750fps. Definitely not as hot as yours is running.
Yeah, technology has moved on and people have figured out that spitzer bullets are better for about 99% of shooters and situations.
+1, there are a lot of 'nutz who appreciate how great of a cartridge the 6.5x55 is. I have 4 rifles chambered in it and my 12 year old son will be carrying one for his first season of big game this fall.
Mark
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