Loading Speer TNT 90grHP in a 6.5x55

[mbogo3]

Any shortcuts as to what powder works best? Picked up a 400 lot yesterday and figured they would make a good varmint bullet.

 

[mimile]

mbogo3,
I tried IMR 4064 and 4350. IMR 4064 was more accurate with 45 grains. Not chronied but should be around 3150 fps.

 

[mbogo3]

Ok ...I don't have IMR 4064 but RE15 should be close burning rate wise. I read IMR 4895 is good with light bullets in the 6.5x55.

 

[Ganderite]

yOU WANT A FASTER POWDER, rather than a slow one.

RL15 is an excellent powder and should do well with those light bullets.

If you get some 140 or 156gr bullets for deer or moose, something slower like RL22, 4350 or 4831 would be best.

 

[mbogo3]

For 140gr Partitions I run RE#22 exclusively on deer ,bear ,elk +moose.The 156-160gr 42 gr of either N-204 or IMR 4350..............just got the 90gr HP's bulk cheap for pesting purposes. Thanx

 

[bearhunter]

If those bullets are the bulk 90 grain HPFB bullets offered with the 6.5x55 crates of wood tipped bullets, along with replacement #44 powder and a selection of .264 bullets, depending on the rifle you're going to shoot them in, they may prove to be disappointing, accuracy wise.

Many milsurp rifles have way to much generous freebore to shoot them well.

Out of a modern Tikka T3, they will shoot as well as can be expected of bullets produced before the Juenkie Gauge was used to keep jacket thickness consistency predictable.

Anything with a burn rate in the IMR3031 burn rate range will do well.

As Ganderite mentions, RL15 should be fine.

 

[Brutus]

Interesting. Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away, Norma sold an 85 grain soft point in 6.5 Swede.

 

[mbogo3]

Modern BA's with 1-8 twist..............nothing out they were cheap.

 

[bearhunter]

Modern BA's with 1-8 twist..............nothing out they were cheap.

Those TNTs will shoot well out of such a rifle as long as the throat diameters are tight

 

[B-N]

I've shot them in my Creed, IMR8208 XBR and 2000MR. I was able to get groups at 1 MOA with 2000MR , just under 3500 FPS, well within Speers published load data. Speers load data for the swede will get you close to those velocities. Should make short work of a coyote, guessing it won't be fur friendly.

 

[mbogo3]

They are worth nothing this year anyways unless a guy skins and freezes them until they rebound.I'm thinking crows and the like.

 

[Archer Sam]

I have a box of Norma 77 gn soft point 6.5 bullets I picked up at a show. Haven't shot them yet.

 

[mbogo3]

yOU WANT A FASTER POWDER, rather than a slow one.

RL15 is an excellent powder and should do well with those light bullets.

If you get some 140 or 156gr bullets for deer or moose, something slower like RL22, 4350 or 4831 would be best.

Also have some Win 760

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

I'll have to check but I think their is a load in the vihtavouri manual? They did list a load for a 85 gr. sierra HP, using N150 44.5 to 46.8 grains.

 

[mbogo3]

SPEER data 90gr TNT HP for strong commercial actions RE#15 Fed brass/Fed 210 primer/40.1gr -2965fps........MAX 47.2gr-3409fps
H414 Rem brass/CCI 250/50gr-3278fps............MAX 52gr-3401fps