Good hunting load for 6.5x55?

[srawl]

I found a lot of long range data but the only a few for hunting.

I will likely be using hornady 123-140gr bullets because they are, from what I have read, and correct me if I am wrong, the cheapest of the good bullets.

The load I have found that I am excited to try is 45.5gr RL19 w/ 129gr SST @ 3.098 OAL

However, I am not able to find those bullets ANYWHERE at the moment...

I will be using it in an M96 Mauser for mostly deer and hogs.

Also is there a way to buy less than 50 or 100 bullets at a time while working up a load?

Thanks

 

[gamestalker]

Speer 140 Gr. Spitzer # 1442 Hot Core. These are very good and top notch hunting bullet, and they are inexpensive compared to the Hornady, accurate, and can be pushed at maximum velocities if desired. FYI, I have killed countless deer and other big game with the Hot Core for the better part of 30 yrs., hands down my favorite hunting bullet.

RL19, RL22, IMR-7828, IMR-4831, IMR-4350, are all very good powders for this application. Plenty of others to pick from also, take a look over at Hodgdon reloading pages. If you can find 7828,it provides a very good density,/ case fill, so I would go with that. The SSC or standard cut are both the same powder, both use the exact same data, but as I said, plenty to pick from.

GS

 

[srawl]

I appreciate it.

I was hoping to get a few more.

 

[Sunray]

Never seen boxes of less than 100 for any rifle calibre. A 129 might be a bit light for hogs. Do nicely for deer, but use 140's for bigger beasties like Bullwinkle.

 

[Coltdriver]

I used 140 grain partitions in a 6.5X54. The 160 grain bullet is the basis for the 6.5X55 legend.

You can get a maximum point blank range of 275 yards with a 140 going just over 2700 fps. Thats from Chuck Hawks website.

I was able to load my 140s better than 2700 fps so mine was really shooting flat. You can run out of steam at distance with the lighter loads but the 160 grainers will sail right thru and there are designs with very soft lead to insure expansion at low speed.

The 160 has a bit more arc but it is very accurate over that arc. You just have to know what it is so I never used them to hunt with.

 

[Captcurt]

Great Cartridge.

I am on the same page as Gamestalker. The Speer bullets have always performed well for me and I have used them in 243, 6.5X55, 270, 280, 30-06 and 300 WSM. The military mauser that the cartridge was designed for is a 2 lug lockup and is(theoretically), not as strong as the more modern bolt guns. Start with the lowest loads in your manual. All of the powders listed by Gamestalker will work fine.

Speer Grandslams are the only bullets that I can think of that come 50 to a box. They are expensive and are really not needed for the Swede. Hit like a ton of bricks in a 300 WSM though.

 

[jbj]

Sinclair has small batches of rifle bullets. I bought some .308 130gr ttsx in batches of 10 or 12 when I wanted to try them out (not as cheap per bullet though)

 

[GooseGestapo]

My "example of ONE" with the 129gr Hornady's FB-Spt "Interlok" wasn't "happy".
I got a failure to expand from it from my .260 on a 400+yd shot. Deer was found next day after coyotes had ravaged it. From tissue left, the lung shot was a pass through, with little evident expansion. (Chrono'd 2,700fps m/v).

I've had very good performance from the 120gr Remington version of the Hornady SST (blems from MidwayUSA at under 200yds) and the 120 and 140gr Speer. I haven't recovered a 140gr Speer from a deer I've shot with them but expansion is excellent and penetration is, well, typically complete! Any angle on a ~150lb deer.
I have recovered a 120gr HotCore. It penetrated ~30" of deer and was lodged against the hide in the far ham of a deer shot just behind the shoulder and bullet penetrated/fractured pelvis...weighs 108.5gr.
Besides, the Speer's are more accurate than the Hornady's (in my rifle) and last I checked, Midway, Grafs, and MidSouth have them in stock. Prices are about the same.

The bullet I wish to try is the 140gr GameKing. Maybe, just maybe they'll shoot accurately from my 1/10" rifling. Flat base Hornady's do, but mediocre compared to the Speers. Even the 160gr discontinued Sierra RN shoots under 1"...but 140gr SST's wouldn't always hit the 2'x3' target stand at 100yds... And 129gr SST's (might be the best thing since sliced bread in your 6.5x55) will shoot 5+in groups...

 

[azar]

Bullets that have shot well in my 6.5x55 (modern action, CZ 550 American).

Sub-MOA accuracy
160g Sierra SMP (Discontinued)
140g Speer HotCor
129g Hornady SP

Good accuracy (1.0" - 1.3")
140g Hornady SP
140g Sierra BT
129g Hornady SST

Poor accuracy
140g Remington CoreLokt (Double caliber, double cannelure): 1.8" - 5.5" @ 100 yards

Some of the bullets were more finicky than others. The Speer HotCor, for instance, shot 2-3" groups until I found the sweet spot COAL it wanted. Swapping different brands of primers with the Speer load caused the groups to open up again. Others shot well with little fuss (160g Sierra SMP, 140g Hornady SP, 129g Hornady SP).

Of all the bullets listed, I've only used the 140g and 129g Hornady SP's to take mule deer. I'd use either again without hesitation. I'd like to give the 140g Speer a try next year, if I can draw a tag.

With an M96 I'd likely start with a heavier, longer bullet as they typically have a long throat and 1:7.8" twist.

If shots will be 200 yards or less:
155g Lapua Mega
160g Hornady RN

If 200+ yard shots will be likely:
140g Hornady SP
140g Speer HotCor
129g Hornady SP

Good luck on finding your load.

 

[gamestalker]

"Never seen boxes of less than 100 for any rifle caliber"

Speer Grand Slam - 50 count - Back when they first came out they came in this neat little tinted plastic box, very similar to how Mini Mag 22 LR ammo is packaged.

Nosler Ballistic Tips - 50 count- First time I bought these I thought I was getting a great deal until I realized I just spent $12 for 50 bullets, when I could have bought 100 Speer BTSP's for $8 or $9.

Nosler Ballistic Silver Tip - 50 count

Barnes - I think all Barnes are 50 count, the .277" .284", and .308" have been 50 count so far.

And I'm sure there are a few others that are packaged and sold in 50 count boxes, or less.

GS

 

[srawl]

I just picked up some 7828... simply because that is the only one of the listed I could find...

And as luck would have it, my manuals dont have 7828 for the 6.5x55, but they do for the 260 rem.

Correct me if im wrong but I believe I will try out these starter loads for my Mauser:

129gr SST w/ 38gr 7828 with my oal based on what my case length guage says it should be in my rifle.

140gr A Max w/ 37gr 7828.

What do you think?