129g Hornady SP w/ RL-22

[azar]

I'm interested in trying Reloder 22 with a 129 grain Hornady Interlock in my 6.5x55 SE. I usually like to reference 3 or more published loads before working one up. The only one I could find is Hornady #7 listing a max load of 45.4g. Lyman #49 has no data. Alliant now only publishes data for Speer bullets, but even an older 2003 edition didn't list a load for RL-22. Nosler doesn't list a load for RL-22 with their 130g Accubond and not many other people make a 129-130g bullet.

Anyone have any potential loads for RL-22 & a 129g Hornady SP in 6.5x55?

 

[azar]

Anyone?

 

[Ol` Joe]

I mentioned on another board I load slightly higher then the Hornady #7 and another poster mentioned going quite a bit higher, verifyng it is possible. I know no data was given but as you say it is rare and no one wants to (or should) give loads other then what is verifiable in a manual. I believe most manuals feel R19 is a better choice with this wight bullet in the Swede.

But.........................
This is old data from the Hodgdon #26
125-129gr bullets with 47.0g R22 @2787 fps starting, to 50.0gr R22 @ 2911 fps max.
No primer, or brass brand nor COL is given. I personally stop at 48gr in my rifle with 129gr SP Hornadies and concider that max.
You are on your own with this and I`m sure the pressures are over the SAAMI std for this cartridge. As you believe, I agree another referance would be prudent before using these load levels. I`d call or e-mail Alliant and ask their thoughts on using todays R22 at these levels. I`m sure even though they don`t list the bullet in their data they still have a good grasp on what will work.

 

[NCsmitty]

What rifle are you using.
I have some 129gr Hornady's loaded but untried at this point.
IIRC, I used 45, 46, and 47gr of Rel-22 for workup in my 98 Mauser in 6.5x55, w/ lapua cases.



NCsmitty

 

[azar]

As you believe, I agree another referance would be prudent before using these load levels. I`d call or e-mail Alliant and ask their thoughts on using todays R22 at these levels. I`m sure even though they don`t list the bullet in their data they still have a good grasp on what will work.

Contacting Alliant is a good idea. I guess I hadn't considered it because they don't publish anything except for their own components. I also completely understand people not wanting to publish loads over book max. I'm looking first for an official published load, but I'll take a personally developed load that seems reasonable.

What rifle are you using.

It's a modern mauser actioned CZ 550 American.

I appreciate everyone's input. I had actually independently figured 48.0g as a reasonable max. When Speer #13 was still the latest manual I used their load for RL-22 and 140g Speer HotCore. It was 48.0g as max and the old Alliant data (in the LoadBook USA for 6.5x55) listed 48.1g as Max for the same bullet. I didn't have any noticeable signs of overpressure, but I did decide it was a bit on the warm side for the 140g HotCor. However, I wouldn't expect 48.0g to be unreasonable for the 129g Hornady in my CZ.

Also, an older Alliant manual (2003 I believe) lists 48.0g of RL-19 as max. Usually the loads for RL-22 are a grain or so higher than RL-19 with it being a slower powder. So again, using 48.0g seems reasonable. It also passes my "reality check." Steve's Pages lists 50.0g as max for 125-129 grain bullet. That's my reality check. If I'm at or near Steve's published loads, I rethink things.