Realistic velocity with a modern 6.5X55

bearhunter said:
I'm using H4831 New Manufacture. I bought a large quantity of it 10 years ago and it will likely last to the end of my shooting days.

I haven't experienced the same issues with pressures that NC did. I am using Lapua brass though. I have reloaded each of my cases at least half a dozen times. They still look great and form easily. That may be because of the high quality brass.

I looked into my personal load manual and found my velocities registered on the Chrony at 2780fps average with a 40 fps spread.

Now, this is no big deal over NC's findings. Just the difference between two rifles or two Chronys.

Half inch groups are the norm, not the exception. The T3 is one of the few rifles I have owned that shoots like this straight from the box. As mentioned above, this rifle isn't fussy either. It shoots good bullets well.

I also would like to give a lot of the credit for tight groups to the excellent optics made by IOR VALDADA.

Good glass that can be trusted all the time, every time is a real blessing.

Combine that with a good shooting rifle and all is well, as long as I do my part.
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I am curious about the term "New Manufacture" you used relative to H4831? What weight of the powder are you using to obtain 2780fps? If you are curious, my chronograph is an RCBS. My experience with Tikka T3 is the same as yours: Half inch groups are typical (unless per chance you find a load it doesn't like) with handloads... The only factory I load I've tried, groups over an inch. I have a Zeiss Conquest on my T3, and I've never heard of IOR VALDADA but will soon read about it... and wow, does it give Schmidt and Bender a run for "the money"? I'm afraid that is out of my price league.

I was surprised to find what I did with the H4831SC compared to the H4350: The latter burns a bit faster, so is a bit lighter charge. It'd be interesting to have pressure testing equipment to see what their respective pressures are. It would make sense that the 4350 load that should show pressure signs as it is 1.5gr over max listed, while 4831 load is only 1.0gr over max. Have to find some IMR 4831 to try.
 
I have not pushed my T3 in 6.5x55 very hard as I get very good accuracy with fairly mild loads - fairly mild meaning that usually between midway to max SAAMI spec loads (data intended for Krag actions IOW) have worked very well. Powders have been N560, RE22, RE19.

I really battled with RE19 using Hornady 129gr SP's. I eventually seated them short (74.3mm to the top of the cannelure) and they shoot extremely well now.
 
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If you go to the vihtavuori reloading page they list data for the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser/SKAN which is modern load data for a solid gun and good brass. I use lapua brass in my t3 6.5x55 and got 2800fps with 140's pretty easy.

h ttp://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/5/98
 
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