Just picked up a nice little Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 in a trade. I probably won't bother getting into reloading it until after hunting season now but was curious if anyone is loading this cartridge in modern firearms and is loading to higher pressures than all the load data using the old outdated SAAMI standard that's good for use in the 200 year old questionable rifles? I'd like to stay in the 120gr to 140gr range and I like Barnes TTSX but don't like to use them if I can't keep the velocities up as they need a higher velocity to function properly which can become an issue if you get further shots. Using the load data off Barnes website you have just enough velocity with their 120gr TTSX at max load at 500 yards to function properly, which is fine with me but this is assuming you can actually get the velocity they list with that load. I'm sure someone will say to rechamber to 6.5-06 or 6.5-284 but why spend all that money when, by my logic anyways, if the rifle will handle those cartridges then it should handle the same pressures in the current chambering, no? Anyways, was just curious if anyone is running their modern rifles chambered in 6.5x55 at higher pressures or everyone's just using the old outdated SAAMI spec. If you are loading to higher pressures what kind of velocities are you getting with what bullet weights? Anyone using the TTSX at higher pressures, again what kind of velocities?
Loading 6.5x55 to higher pressures in modern rifles?
- Thread starter russm86
- Start date
I loaded my Rem 700 6.5X55 and my BSA 6.5X55 the same as I load any other cartridge in a modern action. I work up loads until I start to see pressure signs and then quit. You don't need to baby your Tikka............Both rifles have very long throats, so bullets are seated out and not encroaching on powder space at all.......as Ganderite says I am getting around 2900 or a bit more with 140s. I have used RL22 and IMR 7828 with 139-140s
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Some manuals even list two sets of data, one for older firearms, and one for modern firearms. I load to higher velocities than the manuals list for my Tikka and Sako rifles, although I do not load to as high of velocities as many people do. I am driving 140gr bullets to around 2800fps with 24 " barrels, and 129gr bullets to 2750fps out of a 20" barrel.In both cases, accuracy is excellent as is case life.
I have heard of some companys listing "modern firearms only" load data and apparently HSM actually sells such a line of loaded ammo even but have not yet seen either myself. I actually have quickoad but wasn't sure what kind of pressures people were working up to so wasn't sure if I should override the default PSI in quickoad by just an extra 10% (55k instead of the 51k) or go higher like closer to the 60k to 65k of newer cartridges which seems to be the general consensus and makes sense since the rifle is really what has to hold up to the pressures at the end of the day even if the brass fails that's typically minor to a catastrophic rifle failure. I will punch the new pressures into quickoad and see what kinds of velocitys I can expect with the 120gr Barnes, I'd be happy in the 2900fps ball park which should put me right around the 2000fps mark at 500yards which is typically my max distance on game and the minimum recommended impact velocity of the barnes.
AFAIK the two different sets of load data found in some manuals isn't necessarily for older rifles but is specifically because of the Krag rifles which have weaker actions. Many M96 Swedes have been converted to various 60,000+ psi cartridges without missing a beat. Many old-timers I've talked to load M96 and M38 Swedes past the "modern rifle" data and find the accuracy improves when they do.
I run 140 Sierra Game Kings and 140 Match Kings with 46.5 grains of RL22. No pressure signs, and it's a bit over the max in the Sierra manual. I tried the HSM ammo last year with dismal results in my rifle. It was fast, but was giving me shot gun pattern accuracy. My rifle HATES Berger VLDs. I wasted hundreds of dollars on powder and bullets trying to get VLDs to shoot. Took me only 50 bullets, and an afternoon to get the Sierras shooting MOA and less.
My Tikka likes 49gr of R-22 behind the 142gr Matchking. My Sako likes 50gr of R-22 behind the 129gr Accubond LR.
Hmmmm, good thing my 500 pack of 140 grain SMKs came in the mail. I'm going to take my Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5X55 to the Rob Furlong Marksmanship Academy in Oct. I'll work up a bit and see if I can find another node.
My T-3 Varmint Stainless shoots 46 through 49gr of R-22 very well. My Sako Bavarian Carbine shoots 47 through 50 gr of R-22 very well. I purposely seek out loads that are that stable, and I avoid loads where the accuracy changes significantly with small changes to the powder charge.
I have two Husqvarna 6.5x55's one M96 1944 and a M38 1943. I wonder where they would fall as far as strength. As I understand it, the Swedes used the same formulation for the steel throughout the entire run, but the Husky's had stronger hardening than the older rifles.
The 96s and 38s are precisely what the "older military action" load data are for. These are not what are to be considered as modern actions like 700 Rem, Tikka, Sako, BSA, Win mod 70, Brno/CZ and the like are what is considered to be modern actions in 6.5X55.
Swedish steel used in the M-96 and M-38 rifles is some of the best steel available. Possibly better than some of the fine German steels. Yes they have been chambered in many cartridges that develop higher pressure such as the 30-06 and 270 and work quite well. However the problem is if you ever have a case fail the older 96 & 38 actions DO NOT handle escaping gas very well. The 98 mauser and most newer commercial actions handle a failed case better by diverting the escaping gas down into the magazine rather than out the back of the bolt. Really pushing pressures could cost you an eye.
All signatory countries to CIP must not manufacture or publish 6.5X55SE data that is in excess of official data. This is in deference to older '96 actions.
As mentioned, modern actions and the brass itself is capable of higher pressures.
Regards,
Peter
As mentioned, modern actions and the brass itself is capable of higher pressures.
Regards,
Peter
I was under the impression that this was more geared to the older Krag rifles in 6.5x55, that the 96's were proofed at quite high pressures and that as rokoro said, it's more about the gas escaping on failure, but that many people don't know about krags, so they assume the low load data is for the swedes.
Pressures
C.I.P.
The following are the working and proof pressures for European cartages and weapons from the web site of;
" COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE PERMANENTE
POUR L'EPREUVE DES ARMES A FEU PORTATIVES"
Name Date Rev Country TDCC Annexe M Pt max Pk Pe Ee
PT max = maximum average pressure (bar)
PTc max = maximum average pressure "conformal" (bar)
PK = 1,15 Pmax = maximum statistical individual pressure (bar)
PE = 1,25 Pmax = mean proof pressure (bar)
M = location of the pressure take (mm)
EE = proof kinetic energy (Joule)
Notice: For conformal or tangential transducers the location (M) is that defined by the manufacturer.
1 bar = 100 kPa = 14.5037738 psi
6.5x55
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=2&cartridge_type_id=1
6,5 x 55 SE 1984-06-14 2013-05-22 Sweden FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 3800 4370 4750 3395
.270
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=6&cartridge_type_id=1
270 Win. 1984-06-14 2002-05-15 United states FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 4300 4945 5375 3840
.30-06
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=7&cartridge_type_id=1
30-06 Spring. 1984-06-14 2008-09-23 United states FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 4050 4658 5060 4335
Cartridge = Maximum average pressure (bar) = Mean Proof Pressure (bar)
6.5x55 = 3800 = 4750 = 68,892.9 psi
.270 = 4300 = 5375 = 77,957.8 psi
.30-06 = 4050 = 5060 = 73,890.9 psi
C.I.P.
The following are the working and proof pressures for European cartages and weapons from the web site of;
" COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE PERMANENTE
POUR L'EPREUVE DES ARMES A FEU PORTATIVES"
Name Date Rev Country TDCC Annexe M Pt max Pk Pe Ee
PT max = maximum average pressure (bar)
PTc max = maximum average pressure "conformal" (bar)
PK = 1,15 Pmax = maximum statistical individual pressure (bar)
PE = 1,25 Pmax = mean proof pressure (bar)
M = location of the pressure take (mm)
EE = proof kinetic energy (Joule)
Notice: For conformal or tangential transducers the location (M) is that defined by the manufacturer.
1 bar = 100 kPa = 14.5037738 psi
6.5x55
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=2&cartridge_type_id=1
6,5 x 55 SE 1984-06-14 2013-05-22 Sweden FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 3800 4370 4750 3395
.270
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=6&cartridge_type_id=1
270 Win. 1984-06-14 2002-05-15 United states FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 4300 4945 5375 3840
.30-06
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public?page=7&cartridge_type_id=1
30-06 Spring. 1984-06-14 2008-09-23 United states FR EN DE FR EN DE 25 4050 4658 5060 4335
Cartridge = Maximum average pressure (bar) = Mean Proof Pressure (bar)
6.5x55 = 3800 = 4750 = 68,892.9 psi
.270 = 4300 = 5375 = 77,957.8 psi
.30-06 = 4050 = 5060 = 73,890.9 psi
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