6.5x55 load data needed please

[robtattoo]

I'm loading for 2 different 6.5 Swedes, both built on modern Savage actions & I'm really struggling to find any definitive load data.
I'll be shooting 140gn Accubonds from my hunting gun (20" barrel 1:8) with PPU brass
Berger hybrid 140s from my bench gun (30" barrel, also 1:8) with Lapua brass

I'm finding varying & conflicting data all over. Max loads that vary by up to 4gn with the same powder & bullet combinations.
I honestly can't even find many answers on which powders to start with!
On hand, I have IMR4895, 4198 & 4064 plus a ton of Varget. It doesn't bother me to have to buy different powder if needed & so far I'm finding that IMR4350 & RL22 seem to be popular.

Can anyone give me a couple of min/max loads please?
By PM if you're not comfortable posting data.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hard Head]

I went out shooting today, the Howa really impressed me, shot 7 different loads, the last 4 were the most promising. 50.0 of IMR behind 140 AMAX averaged 2764with a 5/8 " 3 shot group, 50.5 IMR 7828 was 2770 with a 3/4" 3 shot group,51.0IMR shot 2793 with a 3 shot vertical stringer 1"and 51.5 IMR 7828 was 2870 with a 3 shot group of 5/8",all groups were with 2 shots touching and me pulling the last in each group except the stringer that was vertical,that one has me puzzled as it was the lost SD of 2.5 with a extreme spread of 5 fps!! Leaving for 2 weeks in Washington state San Juan Islands were I grew up, Pete

 

[RT2506]

The reason that you see so much difference in the Swede data is because most of it is limited to 46000 CUP for the old small ring Mauser and Krag actions. As you know your Savage action will handle MUCH MORE pressure. I have found that the 4350s give me great accuracy with high velocity. With your short barrel gun you may not see much difference between any of the powders you mentioned. With your long barrel gun 4350s, 4831s, RL22 will shine. With modern actions and going to higher pressures you will most likely need to treat it like a wildcat and work up SLOWLY watching for pressure signs and watching the velocity you are getting with the load. If you are hunting deer don't overlook the 120 ballistic tip or 130 accubond for the short barrel gun. They are great killers. I have a bunch of the small ring Mauser military Swede rifles and one that has been sported. I left the 29" barrel on it and with max loads of AA4350 from the Accurate manual which are under 46000 CUP I get 3000 fps with 120 gr bullets and 2850 fps with 140 gr bullets and they shoot bug holes at 100 yards. Good luck.

 

[catch 22]

I have been loading 6.5×55 for a long time, my hunting load is a 125gr Nosler Partition over H4350 or RL17, powder weight is over max published data and runs just over 3000fps. Rifle is a stainless Ruger #1, my M38 I only load to 2600-2700fps

 

[Hard Head]

Thanks I was thinking of putting a 26 to 28" tube on but not sure if I really need to,2870 with 140's out of a 22" barrel is not too bad, will try the Swift Sirocco when I come back from the west coast, shot a lot of deer with the .270 30 years ago in Eastern Montana with a 130 out of 22" tubes the Sweed should be even more devastating. Pete

 

[FALAK]

For my Tikka T3 sporter in 6.5x55 (1:8 twist, modern action obviously), I found the following combo gives me 0.2-0.3 MOA and is not finicky:

1x Norma brass
Fed GM210M primer
Sierra matching King 142 grain bullets
H4831SC @ 47.6 gr

I jump it 0.015 to land

Tried several other powders and bullets; this load is more versatile than others

 

[barefooter56]

I'm loading for 2 different 6.5 Swedes, both built on modern Savage actions & I'm really struggling to find any definitive load data.
I'll be shooting 140gn Accubonds from my hunting gun (20" barrel 1:8) with PPU brass
Berger hybrid 140s from my bench gun (30" barrel, also 1:8) with Lapua brass

I'm finding varying & conflicting data all over. Max loads that vary by up to 4gn with the same powder & bullet combinations.
I honestly can't even find many answers on which powders to start with!
On hand, I have IMR4895, 4198 & 4064 plus a ton of Varget. It doesn't bother me to have to buy different powder if needed & so far I'm finding that IMR4350 & RL22 seem to be popular.

Can anyone give me a couple of min/max loads please?
By PM if you're not comfortable posting data.

Thanks in advance.

robtattoo,
For the BERGER 140 HYBRID :
IMR4895 = 35.0 START , 37.2 MAX
IMR4064 = 35.0 START , 37.1 MAX
IMR4350 = 38.5 START , 41.1 MAX
RELOADER22 = 43.5 START , 46.4 MAX
No loads for IMR 4198 or VARGET listed. These loads are ALL BASED ON A MAGAZINE LENGTH LOADED ROUND. Please find your seating depth accuracy node using the lowest powder charge listed for the bullet/powder/cartridge combination you are testing and then work the load up from there checking your accuracy and for pressure signs as you increase your load. If you have any more questions please contact us here or at [email protected].

 

[robtattoo]

Just an update for anyone else looking for modern Swede loads...
I ran my OCW test this week on both rifles with very definite results on the long barreled gun & not so conclusive results for the lightweight.
Here are the targets, the first is the longer gun shooting Berger Hybrid 140s.

Next 2 are the lightweight gun shooting 140gn Nosler Accubonds...

I'm seeing one obvious node on the first target, around 49gn.
The second & third targets are a little more difficult to read & I think I'm seeing 2 different nodes at 46.5 & 49.5

All loads were IMR7828ssc & seating depth was .015 from the lands with both bullet combinations.

Can you guys see anything that I'm not?

 

[Hard Head]

I have been shooting my Howa, A Max 140's with 51.5 7828 switched to Fed 215's get 4.0 e- spread, Lapua brass , 130 Swift Sirocco's 52.0 7828,Fed 215's and a E-spread of 6.22. My groups run from 3/8's to 1/2 one day, the next it's 1.0 to 1.25 groups. This is out of a 22" barrel, velocity runs 2880 for the first load,2970 for the second. I had been using Lee Collet dies, ordered a Redding Body die, I wish I had a friend to use there Super Duper seating die to see if that is the problem, or use a run out gauge to check the loads. The Sirocco likes the loaded length of 3.048 and the A max likes 3.148. Maybe I should try 215 BR 's, used CCI 250's and had extreme spreads of 50-75fps,thats why I tried the fed's. Pete

 

[6mm06guy]

I'm working on my how a 1500 stainless now, I will try to post my findings as soon as I can. I'm using ppu brass, 140 amax , 140 nosler bt, 140 smk, with re22 and mot 4350. So far the amax and re22 show promise. I'm going to run everything over the crony soon. Pm me and maybe we can talk about the data I have.

 

[cblackwell]

tagging in

 

[wbm]

7828 seems a bit slow for a 20" barrel. I think I would move up to burn rates like H4350, RL17 or even IMR 4831. Lapua has some load data for modern actions.

Products - Lapua

 

[robtattoo]

Well, since that last test I'm settled on a load for the long gun.
The 20"er I'm still struggling with. I shot some spectacular, 1-hole groups with 100gn Amax over 45gn of Varget, but no matter the powder (7828, 4064, 4895, Varget & RL19) I simply can't get 140gn Accubonds to group at all. I'm about 99% convinced it's a bearing surface length issue, not a weight problem so I've just had delivered 100 Berger VLD 140s. I'll give these a try & report back....after I buy & fireform more brass.