Where to begin?

M

manitoba

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I want to start reloading a Winchester Model 70 Fwt in 6.5x55mm Swedish. I believe the rate of twist is 1:8.5 and the barrel is 22". If it matters, the Federal Blue box outperformed the Remington Core-Loct, but neither were great as factory loads.

I've collected:

Brass (Remington new and a variety of once-fired)
Primers (Federal Large Rifle, Federal Large Rifle Match)
IMR 4350 Powder
Hornady SST 140gr
Sierra Game King 140Gr
Norma 160Gr Round Nose (very old)

I'd eventually like to end up with a good consistent hunting round for use on whitetails. I think I would prefer a Barnes copper bullet as well. I'm willing to use whatever powder works, but don't really want to buy a pound of every possible type.

Any recommendations would be welcome. I've never reloaded for a rifle before, but I will have supervision from a competent reloader.

Thanks for any tips you can give me!
 
"...Model 70 Fwt in 6.5x55mm..." Nice. Only made briefly.
"...Barnes copper bullet..." Expensive and not really necessary. Nothing heavier than 130 grains either. Not a big deal though. A 130 will do, but they'll cost.
There are lots of good 6.5 hunting bullets available. The Hornady's or Sierra's will do nicely.
Start with a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. Then work up the load using data from your manual or Hodgdon's site. They give 41.0(2486 fps) to 45.0(2677 fps) of IMR4350 for a 140.
Then do this.
Beginning with the starting load given in your manual, load 5 rounds only(A mag load if your rifle holds less than 5). Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5(mag load) of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5(mag load) and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, sight in.
 
Thanks!

Thanks Sunray - sorry for the obviously beginner questions.

A follow up question, then. If I find, for example, that using the IMR4350 and a Hornady 140gr SST that 43 grains of powder gives me the best accuracy. Would the next step be to repeat the exercise with a different powder or a different bullet? Should I forget about controlling variables and just try it again with different powder and bullets?

Am I likely to get acceptable (which to me I suppose is 1.5MOA) accuracy from this exercise or will that take a bit more fine tuning?

Thanks again.
 
^^ what were you getting with commercial Federal loads for groups? You should be able to cut those in half if your shooting technique is solid. you can play with each and every component you want, but you really don't need to go to the premium bullets just for good accuracy. I shoot 3/8" groups with my .308 100ATR and 5/8" groups with my .30-06 100ATR. I use the same components for each, the only thing changing is the case length (of course) and the powder charge. I could play with them some more and buy 7 or 8 different powders, each devoted to a particular rifle or calibre, but I have chosen to simplify it and use one powder throughout, even if it is not the BEST powder for the rifle/cartridge combination. I still get acceptable results and mostly MOA groups, even from my old .303s. My SKS's, however are only fed milsurp stuff and they get 1"-2.5" groups, depending on the rifle.
Bear in mind that these are shot at a bench with a lead sled (with about 40lbs of weight on it) for a rest. That way I take as much of me as I can out of the equation and it lets the gun shoot itself. Once I have the 1MOA, then I know that it will be about 3MOA off hand.
 
Groups

Ok, I know this is the internet so I suppose I ought to lie. Maybe I'll tell the truth this time and lie about my reloads!

At about 80 meters, prone with no sandbags or anything I was getting just under 2" with the Federal and a bit worse with the Remington. I only shot 9 rounds 3x3 of each though and I'm far from great. This accuracy is OK for the hunting I do, but I would like to improve it with both a better load and a lot of practice. Hard to practice at $32 a box, though.
 
OP, if you are going to stick with the 140gr bullets (my favorite for the 6.5x55), try some RL-22 powder, it is most often recommended for the 140's.

As for accuracy, you really need to be shooting off a good, solid rest in order to know what you have.

Mark
 
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