Looking for more velocity from my 6.5X55

My best luck was with H4831and reloder 22.

I did a fair bit if research on it and found numerous sources, including John Barsness of Handloader who explained in a modern action it was safe to use 260 rem loads.
 
Alex, the "modern" Lapua loads are for the "6,5X55 Skan" and should not be used in the older '94/96/38 Mausers. Not because the action can't stand it, but rather because it can't handle a case failure at that pressure level.
BTW, 6.5X55 Skan and the CIP 6.5X55 SE are the same - same.
 
martinbns said:
My best luck was with H4831and reloder 22.

I did a fair bit if research on it and found numerous sources, including John Barsness of Handloader who explained in a modern action it was safe to use 260 rem loads.
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Why would I want to use way smaller .260 Rem charges in my new Tikka?
 
bearhunter said:
Ganderite, I am presently in the process of putting together a long range rifle on a Remington 700 action, with a Jewel 2oz trigger. It has a fluted, straight 1 1/4 in diameter stainless 30 in barrel installed with a 1-8 twist rate and 6.5x55 chamber. It's a Gaillard barrel that I picked up from him a few years ago.

Just out of curiosity, what loading range are you using with RL22??? I've only played with it slightly in my T3 but there hasn't been enough difference between it and H4831 in the shorter T3 barrel to make me want to switch. Accuracy was similar. I only have a couple of pounds of RL22 on hand at this point, but will try to search out more. Also, what twist rate did your barrel have??? A similar Model 70 I have with a sporting contour barrel and in 6.5-06 has a 1-9 1/4 twist in an unknown maker's barrel and it will just stabilize the Hornady 140 grain bullets at around 2800 fps. A few hundred fps slower and groups start to open dramatically at 300 yards. It shoots the lighter 90-129 grain bullets well at all ranges.

Any information you feel inclined to share will be appreciated.
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My 6.5x55 TR rifle was a 30" Hart barrel on a Savage single shot action (CIL 950T). It used 48 gr of RL22 under the Sierra 142 (2900 fps) or 50 hgr RL25 (3050 fps).

The long shank of a 6.5 bullet makes for big pressure differences between barrels. This data came from a barrel that was at the end of its life.

I re-barreled with a 260 Rem Improved, and found I got very similar case capacity and load results with Winchester 260 brass.
 
deerfarmer said:
Had some range time today with the same loads I chrony'd during winter. 129gr IB w/ 50gr of RL19 and CCI 200 primer - I was getting 2720 fps @ -6C ... today at +8 they were at 2815fps.

I also chrony'd loads I had made with H4350, 95gr VMAX w/ 47gr of H4350 were running 2820fps @ -8 ... today at +8 2850fps.

Probably old news, just thought I'd share for discussion sake,
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Are you happy with these velocities or are you going to try and get some more out of it? FS
 
Fassteel said:
Are you happy with these velocities or are you going to try and get some more out of it? FS
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I'm never totally happy but I'm quite satisfied with them :) The kind of accuracy I'm getting out of the 129gr IB load makes up for a lot. I was able to get more velocity with H4350 but accuracy dropped off,
 
From whatever shooting I've done with that cartridge, I've always had the best luck with H4831SC, in terms of accuracy and velocity. It is temperature insensitive and it takes increases in charge predictably. It is also in the burning range in between Reloder 19 and 22, which is where you want to be. You should be able to work up from 47 grains to 50+ grains easily with modern brass and a strong modern rifle like your Tikka.

I've never tried Viht N160 in this cartridge, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the ultimate powder for bullets above 120 grains in the 6.5x55.
 
p-17 said:
From whatever shooting I've done with that cartridge, I've always had the best luck with H4831SC, in terms of accuracy and velocity. It is temperature insensitive and it takes increases in charge predictably. It is also in the burning range in between Reloder 19 and 22, which is where you want to be. You should be able to work up from 47 grains to 50+ grains easily with modern brass and a strong modern rifle like your Tikka.

I've never tried Viht N160 in this cartridge, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the ultimate powder for bullets above 120 grains in the 6.5x55.
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6.5x55mm (posts on here) has spoke highly of N160 also. I've never came across any but I would certainly like to give it a try.
 
I use N160 in my 260rem and its the best powder I found for it. It's definitely worth a try.
With the velocities I get, I have no reason to go to double base powders.
 
N560 is one of my all-time favourite powders. It has a burning rate within a hair of Reloder 22, but in my .300 Winchester Magnum and .30-06 rifles, it gives better velocity and accuracy with 165+ grain bullets. In fact, it seems to blow the other powders away.

I wouldn't hesitate to try it in 6.5x55, especially with 140-grain bullets. However, the OP is talking about 129-grain bullets, and N160 is a bit faster, in the burning range of Reloder 19 and IMR 4831. Unlike N560, the N160 has no nitroglycerine (i.e., it is single-based). This means, all things being equal, it will be a bit more predictable in its pressure increases with increased charges and may be a bit more accurate over the long term.

For example, N540 and N150 are very similar in burning rates, and N540 apparently gives legendary velocities in .308. However, the Canadian team chose N150 for 1,000-yard Palma loads because of its incredible consistency over time and in all conditions.

This is a long way of saying that I would expect both N560 and N160 to be outstanding in a 6.5x55 hunting rifle, and I wouldn't be surprised if N160 turned out to be the best overall powder for a 129-grain bullet.
 
deerfarmer said:
Sorry - my bad!

I really like the sound of this powder reading your posts folks -- thanks for enlightening me. I've only known and worked with the standard fair kind of stuff , hogdon IMR, Alliant...
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Good luck finding any. When you do, buy up several cans. Norma powders in Canada are really hit and miss. Mostly because they are 20+% more expensive and there are domestic brands that cover the same burn rates.
 
bearhunter said:
Good luck finding any. When you do, buy up several cans. Norma powders in Canada are really hit and miss. Mostly because they are 20+% more expensive and there are domestic brands that cover the same burn rates.
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N160 and N560 are not Norma powders from Sweden. They are Vihtavuori powders from Finland.

If you want Norma powders, you can basically buy Alliant Reloder powders because (with the exception of Reloder 17), they are made at the same Bofors plant in Sweden. Many have argued that MRP is similar, if not identical, to Re 22; and N204 is similar, if not identical, to Re 19, etc.
 
p-17 said:
N160 and N560 are not Norma powders from Sweden. They are Vihtavuori powders from Finland.

If you want Norma powders, you can basically buy Alliant Reloder powders because (with the exception of Reloder 17), they are made at the same Bofors plant in Sweden. Many have argued that MRP is similar, if not identical, to Re 22; and N204 is similar, if not identical, to Re 19, etc.
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My bad, you're absolutely right.

Same thing though, hard to find on a regular basis.

That is good information by the way. I have a similar chart showing those same comparisons.
 
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