Awsome 6.5x55 load

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kachok

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2010
Messages
4,429
Location
Palestine TX
After playing with several bullets and powders I finally found a load that will shoot a lagit one hole group at 100yd, so I thought I would share with the Sweed fans here. 45.5gr of RL19 pushing a 129gr SST kick started with a Rem Primer and loaded to 3.098" this is a modern action load though it is well short of a max load, absolutely no pressure signs. I shot that out of my Tikka T3 Stainless. This should make for the perfect deer load.
 

Attachments

  • group.jpg
    group.jpg
    41.8 KB · Views: 158
that should indeed make a perfect deer round.my swede wont shoot like that yet but ive not worked up many loads for it. the ones i do have kill deer just fine.
 
I forgot to mention that was (heavily used) PPU brass, and it is moving at about 2650fps, not record setting speed but plenty enough for hunting without a doubt. I cannot wait to try it with fresh Lapua brass. Next project is to get some 140gr VLDs to one hole for me :)
 
Believe it or not, the only load we have been able to get our 6.5 Swede 96 to shoot that well, after trying tons of handloads, was the factory Privi 140gr SP's. I picked up 10 boxes for the daughter to use on hogs simply due to the price, and the first time we shot them I had to go to the target to see that I didn't miss the second and third shots. (which in all honesty, I thought I had)

Then the grandson shot three and the daughter shot three, and the combined group was still less than 1". For three shooters, and 9 rounds, that to me proved that factory stuff for sure.

What you have going there is an awesome load for sure. I just wished I could have hit something like that when trying to develop a load. The closest I got was just under 1" at 100 using the 140gr Hornady A-Max loaded to 2550fps. It was/is a great hunting load and dropped everything we put it on in their tracks. It never blew up, or destroyed much more meat, than any other type bullet would. I can only attribute this to the lower velocities.

The thing was, zeroed at 1" high at 100, it would hit 2" to the right and 1" low at 200, then at 300 it would be about 6" low and around 4-6 o'clock on the target, showing it was spinning in larger and larger circles. Thing was even when put on a hog out to 400yds you could still plaster them in their tracks. We never shot a deer over 50yds with them but with the hogs, we never let them get out of an open pasture with out sending something after them.

Good luck with your load, I would surely keep that one.
 
Mine shoots Prvi 139gr SP great too, not one hole but under an inch, took a deer with it too. Great value for $13 a box for sure. I love the 6.5x55 it is hard to find a load that does not shoot at leased reasonably well.
 
Just got home and put my calipers on it, .346" outside diameter at the widest point, subtract the .264 caliber and the bullets all hit within .082" of each other making that just slightly better then a 1/12th MOA load, almost as good as I shot with that freaky accurate Savage. Not bad for a cheap 6lbs rifle, a $150 scope, heavily used PPU brass, and bulk hunting bullets :D
 
Good to know, great group you have there! I'm sure that a big part of that is the Tikka! I had always seen that with the heavier bullets, that RL22 was the "go-to" powder?.?.

Those deer don't stand a chance! Enjoy...
 
The 6.5x55 Mauser is a great cartridge with J-word, but with cast boolits, it is one of the most frustrating cartridges I have ever seen.
 
Well of course it gave you fits with cast bullets because no high speed rifle cartrage likes cast. You gatta get below 2000fps for bare lead to have a chance.
 
Thanks for your input about cast boolit shooting.

For decades I have shot hard cast gas checked boolits in all of my CF rifles, accurately. The 6.5x55 is the only cartridge that gives a problem and not only for me, but also for the majority of those who shoot cast in it. It is the only cartridge I cannot get above 1700 fps without accuracy going south and includes when they are paper patched.
 
I love my Sweed but would never load bare lead in it, too tight a twist and too high speed, cast bullets like larger calibers, lower speeds and looser twist rates, hence the hardcast crowd loves pistol cartrages, 444s and 45-70s not 243s and 270s.
 
I relinquish the field to your much superior knowledge on the subject of cast boolit shooting, for it is readily apparent you know all there is to know.
 
In my Win Featherweight Swede I also noticed that it is most accurate if I drop my load down 100-150 fps from max. So, while it can run with a 260, it can't & stay accurate. I also noticed that this rifle is more accurate than my heavy barrel Savage 308, which is frustrating in a good way..
 
I relinquish the field to your much superior knowledge on the subject of cast boolit shooting, for it is readily apparent you know all there is to know.
LOL NO, I just know the properties of bare lead and in what calibers cast bullets have worked well for me. I am far from an expert on the subject, heck I have not loaded a cast bullet in over 3 years.
 
In my Win Featherweight Swede I also noticed that it is most accurate if I drop my load down 100-150 fps from max. So, while it can run with a 260, it can't & stay accurate. I also noticed that this rifle is more accurate than my heavy barrel Savage 308, which is frustrating in a good way..
Some of my max (or very near max) loads have shot pretty well, not one hole groups but sub MOA for sure, both 120 Ballistic Tips and 140gr SSTs liked the higher speeds and both put deer down like they were hit by a Mack truck.
 
Hard to find correct J-word bullets for my M-38 Swede. Most all are .264" diameter and my M-38 slugs at .2685".

Swede11.jpg
 
Kachok I have been reading your adventures and I am a fan of the 6.5 too.

I have a modern action Steyr in 6.5X54 and have been working up loads for it.

When you finally find the load that rings your barrel perfectly it is a great feeling. I believe that an accurate rifle with a predictable load is the way to go. The 6.5, well placed, is all out of proportion in effectiveness to the apparent size of the round.

I have a fairly slow 140 grain load from Float Pilot that is better than me in an old Swedish M38. RL22 for that. And I thought the RL 19 might work great for my 6.5X54. I have a bunch loaded and ready to go from 125's to 130's. I also got a bunch of 159 Oryx loaded up too.

That group is really special!! I have a deer tag for this December and am looking to use my 6.5.

Keep us posted on your adventures!
 
I am not familiar with modern action 6.5x54 ballistics, how fast can you push 140s in the Sweed's little brother? Does it zig zag and take out multiple deer like the Kennedy magic bullet? Bad joke I know LOL
 
Nice to see you back!

I'm glad you have found a stick powder that works well for you. I know your fond of spherical.

I too just came across some SST's. They must shoot great..almost always out of stock. Unfortunately I have not tried them yet.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top