38 Swede 140 grain SST Question

[Vacek]

I am loading some 6.5 X 55 using the Hornady 140 grain SST. I am using 38.4 grains of IMR 4350. Can anyone that has the Hornady Manual let me know what the suggested COL is. I seem to have misplaced my notes.

Thank you ahead of time.

 

[Shoney]

I do not have the Hornady data, but my literature shows a minimum of 3.000" OAL. I have also used 3.030". I finally used the longest length OAL that would fit and function in my magazine.

Your load of 38.4 grains of IMR 4350 is well below the suggested start load of 41.0 gr with max of 45.0 gr. With the older mauser action and a short barrel model, you can use 10% below the 45.0 which is 40.5 gr as max. I have no experience with longer military actions and barrels.

Alliant lists data for both modern commercial actions and military actions.

 

[Runningman]

My #7 Hornady Manual shows 2.905 COL as the suggested figure for the 140 SST in the 6.5x55.

 

[loadedround]

FWIW, the current Speer Mnual #14 shows a maximum OAL of 3.150" for a 140 gr bullet in the 6.5x55 Swede.

 

[NCsmitty]

As Shoney mentioned, your start load is less than recommended at www.hodgdon.com with 140gr bullets. And yes, the magazine is the limiting factor for oal.
The COAL varies 3.030-3.050 with 140gr bullets at the Hodgdon site.


NCsmitty

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I finally used the longest length OAL that would fit and function in my magazine.

The 6.5X55 Swede is one of those early smokeless cartridges developed to fire a long, heavy, round-nosed bullet. Military Swedes have long throats, and seating the bullet farther out generally produces better accuracy. In fact, you may note that some 6.5 bullets (the Remington bulk bullet is an example) come with two crimping cannelures. The lower one is usually the best to use in a military chamber.

So if it will feed through the magazine, it's probably a good load.

 

[Vacek]

I finally found my notes and the Hornady suggestion is a COL of 2.905. When I did that, the case lined up perfectly with the crimp. I am going with that. Thanks for all of the information.