Ganderite. Thanks for this. Your comments speak to what I am experiencing.I have a 6.5x55 voere 98 action that is new to me. I had some mild loads that I had for my 96 swede. I know well that I should start at the very bottom and work up but these loads looked so mild.Any way, I tried them in the Voere 98 and the bolt was very stiff to lift. The bullet was 140 Hornady SST. Very disturbing.Pulled the rest and am starting at the bottom. Thanks
Help with starting load for 6.5x55!
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Ganderite. Thanks for this. Your comments speak to what I am experiencing.I have a 6.5x55 voere 98 action that is new to me. I had some mild loads that I had for my 96 swede. I know well that I should start at the very bottom and work up but these loads looked so mild.Any way, I tried them in the Voere 98 and the bolt was very stiff to lift. The bullet was 140 Hornady SST. Very disturbing.Pulled the rest and am starting at the bottom. Thanks
Good thread!.
Lots of sound, thoughtfull, experienced 6.5 lore here.
The 140 Amax is my favorite 6.5x55 bullet. Also, the Lapua 139 Scenar, but the Amax has the longest bearing surface/shank that I've seen in that weight class. It shoots very well seated to jump or to jam. Most M96's have too long a throat to jam any 140gr. and still hold firmly in the neck, or, mag feed.
Many M38's have shorter throats and jam/mag feed can be attained with long Amax.
The 4350's have shot well in my guns, H4350 being typically a wee bit slower than IMR. About a 1/2 grain worth at max loading. 45 grains is quite hot with the Amax's jammed, IME. Some won't handle that much powder, 44grs. is more like comfortable max.
My go to powder is R22.
The charge is reduced slightly when the weather is warm, .3 to .5 grains less is needed to stay on the accuracy node, and not let summertime pressures go too high. Most times, 47/48 R22 will shoot tight groups at comfortably warm pressure, and very good vels.
I start at 45 grains when working up for a new(old) rifle.
As Ganderite has noted, you should be carefull with initial loads. I once had a 1899 DWM stick its bolt first shot with a mild start load. Heavy 'carbon ring' fouling had constricted the bore, unbeknownst to me. Not funny, to be expanding a strong Lapua case's primer pocket in a '96 mauser. Another rifle, with a loose bore and oversized chamber chugs along nicely with a full 49gr. R22/140 Amax, with no sign of pressure, and low vels.. Yet another, it max's out at 46.5gr., with high vels.. Rifles, they do vary.
The hottest 6.5x55 ever fired by me was commercial Norma 139gr. factory ammo. I don't handload near that hot.
Some of my guns have many thousands of handloads fired, one is on it's third barrel now. None show any sign of stress or bolt set back.
As stated previously the '96 Swede is strong, but does not handle escaping gas well. Hence the caution.
Lots of sound, thoughtfull, experienced 6.5 lore here.
The 140 Amax is my favorite 6.5x55 bullet. Also, the Lapua 139 Scenar, but the Amax has the longest bearing surface/shank that I've seen in that weight class. It shoots very well seated to jump or to jam. Most M96's have too long a throat to jam any 140gr. and still hold firmly in the neck, or, mag feed.
Many M38's have shorter throats and jam/mag feed can be attained with long Amax.
The 4350's have shot well in my guns, H4350 being typically a wee bit slower than IMR. About a 1/2 grain worth at max loading. 45 grains is quite hot with the Amax's jammed, IME. Some won't handle that much powder, 44grs. is more like comfortable max.
My go to powder is R22.
The charge is reduced slightly when the weather is warm, .3 to .5 grains less is needed to stay on the accuracy node, and not let summertime pressures go too high. Most times, 47/48 R22 will shoot tight groups at comfortably warm pressure, and very good vels.
I start at 45 grains when working up for a new(old) rifle.
As Ganderite has noted, you should be carefull with initial loads. I once had a 1899 DWM stick its bolt first shot with a mild start load. Heavy 'carbon ring' fouling had constricted the bore, unbeknownst to me. Not funny, to be expanding a strong Lapua case's primer pocket in a '96 mauser. Another rifle, with a loose bore and oversized chamber chugs along nicely with a full 49gr. R22/140 Amax, with no sign of pressure, and low vels.. Yet another, it max's out at 46.5gr., with high vels.. Rifles, they do vary.
The hottest 6.5x55 ever fired by me was commercial Norma 139gr. factory ammo. I don't handload near that hot.
Some of my guns have many thousands of handloads fired, one is on it's third barrel now. None show any sign of stress or bolt set back.
As stated previously the '96 Swede is strong, but does not handle escaping gas well. Hence the caution.
What you guys are describing really looks like SEE. SEE often occurs at "start level" loads and below. I personally had such a bad experience. Often caused by a too far out of the case bullet seating, but it also can happen at the recommended OAL.
I know that not everyone can calculate load density, but it's a very accurate way to avoid SEE. Hot loads are much less devastating than SEE.
Usually increasing the powder load will take away those pressure signs.
Trade Ex use to have PPU brass while Hirsch Precision have Lapua virgin brass.
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My M96 really likes;
-Hornady 140 grain SP # 2630
-IMR 4895, 37.5 grains
-win large rifle primer
-3.030 OAL
-Neck sized with factory crimp
Averages about 2460 fps
This is with assorted brass, not prvi.
In my rifle, this is very accurate.
I tried RL22 & 4350 but my gun prefered 4895, I'm not sure why, but it does.
YMMV; IMR shows starting at 34.5g, maxes out at 37.8g (my accuracy fell off when maxed out).
-Hornady 140 grain SP # 2630
-IMR 4895, 37.5 grains
-win large rifle primer
-3.030 OAL
-Neck sized with factory crimp
Averages about 2460 fps
This is with assorted brass, not prvi.
In my rifle, this is very accurate.
I tried RL22 & 4350 but my gun prefered 4895, I'm not sure why, but it does.
YMMV; IMR shows starting at 34.5g, maxes out at 37.8g (my accuracy fell off when maxed out).
