Reccomended 6.5x55 loads

triton

triton

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Looking for two loads to try. In the market for a tikka t3 in 6.5x55. Looking for info on two loads (please). Rifle will be used for both deer and moose out to 300 yards. Powder will be RL-22. Bullets will be:

Nosler 120 gr ballistic tip (deer)

Nosler 140 gr partition (moose)

What loads would you reccomend to be hot/safe/accurate in that rifle. I do realize they all have a sweet spot. Just wondered what you think. Thanks.

Dave.
 
I have always had great accuracy and sucess with the 140 partition in front of 44 grains of IMR 4350. Standard CCI 200 primer. Velocity is about 2600 in my 24 inch barrell. Have a good look at the Hornady 140 grain interlock as well. Very well constructed bullet. Never recovered one of either from many head of game mostly deer.

I have used RL 22 for the 6.5x55 quite a bit, but frankly my accuracy was always better with 4350 while the velocity was better with RL 22. Sometimes MUCH better velocity, but it does not count for much in my mind if I sacrifice accuracy. Your rifle may be very different.
 
My older Tikka ( M65 ) works really well with any 140 gr. bullet and H1000 powder, but I have yet to chronograph the load.
As suggested IMR 4350 is a very good choice.
 
triton said:
Looking for two loads to try. In the market for a tikka t3 in 6.5x55. Looking for info on two loads (please). Rifle will be used for both deer and moose out to 300 yards. Powder will be RL-22. Bullets will be:

Nosler 120 gr ballistic tip (deer)

Nosler 140 gr partition (moose)

What loads would you reccomend to be hot/safe/accurate in that rifle. I do realize they all have a sweet spot. Just wondered what you think. Thanks.

Dave.
Click to expand...


I have the same rifle and I use 47.0 grains of H4831. Very accurate and around 2750fps with the 140 grain SST Interlocks I use.

This load is over max in the manual, which lists lower pressure loads for the milsurp Swede and Krag rifles chambered in 6.5x55.

I don't reccomend this load to anyone, just stating that I use it in my Tikka T3 and like it a lot.
 
I find 45-46gr of RE22 under a 140gr Hornady SP (dont have the COL handy but I think its 77mm) to be very accurate out of my T3, giving a little over 2500fps with 46gr.

I have also used V N560 which gives great accuracy with 129gr SP's and 47-48gr of propellant, giving 2730fps with 48gr.

CCI200's in both. Some guys use mag primers with RE22, treat it as an extra grain of powder.

Both of those loads are still under book max using SAAMI 51kpsi data. You will also find that published laod data for the 6.5x55 is all over the place and inconsistent ITO max loads ( and thats SAAMI spec data, not those thta clealry state that they are modern or high pressure SKAN loads).
 
120 BT's have shot excellently with a stout charge of 4350 in my rifles. R22 has not worked so well with the lighter bullets, IMO.

140's however, R22 is my 'go to' powder. I start at 45 grains and often find a sweet spot near 48 grains.
The temp. sensetivity of this powder is a bit of a PITA, for that issue I have two loads ... the summer load contains 1/2 grain less powder than winter, and a switch from mag primer to standard LR.
 
shredder0 said:
I have always had great accuracy and sucess with the 140 partition in front of 44 grains of IMR 4350. Standard CCI 200 primer. Velocity is about 2600 in my 24 inch barrell. Have a good look at the Hornady 140 grain interlock as well. Very well constructed bullet. Never recovered one of either from many head of game mostly deer.

I have used RL 22 for the 6.5x55 quite a bit, but frankly my accuracy was always better with 4350 while the velocity was better with RL 22. Sometimes MUCH better velocity, but it does not count for much in my mind if I sacrifice accuracy. Your rifle may be very different.
Click to expand...

+1 I use IMR 4350 44gr with 140gr interlocks. Sub moa out of my tikka t3.
 
vviking said:
140's however, R22 is my 'go to' powder. I start at 45 grains and often find a sweet spot near 48 grains.
Click to expand...

Ive experienced the same and I shoot an old Tikka M 65 and Winchester brass. went up to 48.5 and stuck to 48 since it didnt' shoot any better.

Ive never worried too much about temp sensitivity since I shoot this load from mid october-mid november and it seems consistent in those temps. If you sight in when its warmer or vice versa you will notice a difference. If you are worried about this Try working up a load with H4831 which will be less sensitive.
 
I use 42 grains of BL-C(2) under 129gr ssts for a nice light load that is accurate as hell out of my m96 :)
 
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