[viking499]

I am getting ready to start reloading for 2 of my rifles. One is a new 6.5x55 and the other is a 243. After looking at bullets (picked Hornady bullets, if you have other choices, let me know), rifles I am going to shoot them in and some other items, I decided on the following........

6.5x55 -Tikka T3 stainless - wanting loads for the hornady 129 grain sst or sp bullets

243 - Winchester 70 or Tikka T3 - loads for the Hornady 65 grain v-max or 70 grain sp

Going to use the swede for deer hunting and the 243 for varmits. The bullets I selected are some that I came across worth the money.

Does anyone have some good loads for these bullets. Or maybe loads for similar grain bullets from a different manufacturer?

[Doug b]

You might start with IMR4064 or Hodgdons Varget.

[NCsmitty]

Do you have any load manuals and equipment? Any experience reloading? If so, what powders do you have available? I'm just trying to establish your level of expertise.

NCsmitty

[rcmodel]

I was gonna say, if you shoot Hornady bullets, you might want to get a Hornady reloading manual.

rcmodel

[NCsmitty]

Here's a link to Hodgden's powder site. Your Tikka will handle maximum loads with ease. They show the 129gr. Hornady loads.

NCsmitty

[viking499]

I have the latest version Hornady and Speer manual. Used to reload for my 7 mag years(15) ago. Marriage and kids put that on the back burner. Getting back into it again. Have a good old RCBS press and all needed accessories.

I have brass and bullets, but still need to get primers and powder. Just trying to find some loads that work good for the rifles I am going to shoot. Have a few choices in powders from looking at the books. Just wondering if anyone had some that just really "stand out".

With the prices of everyting today, I am trying to keep the experimenting down as much as possible.

[steve4102]

The 6.5x55 does very well with powders in the R-22 burn range. As a matter of fact R-22 is a very popular powder for the Swede.

[NCsmitty]

It looks like your back on track viking499. Unfortunately, there's no magic load and you'll need to do some work ups for the best loads. Study the manuals and try to pick a couple powders that will work ok in both calibers. Doug b's recommendation's are good. IMR4350, H4350, Reloader19 are all medium slow burning powders and are great in both cartridges. Good luck!

NCsmitty

[Poper]

For what it's worth, I have had excellent results with 38.8 gn IMR4350 with Hornady 129gn bullets in a CZ550 American in 6.5x55 and 41.0 gn Hodgdon' Varget using Hornady 65 gn V-max bullets in a Savage M12BVSS in .243 Win.

As always, YMMV! :)

I hope this is helpful.

Poper

[NCsmitty]

Poper, are you sure of the data that you showed for the 129gr in the 6.5x55? The Hodgden site lists 42gr. of IMR4350 as the starting load @ 2584fps and 46gr.as maximum @ 2793fps.
I was just wondering about the discrepancy.

NCsmitty