6.5 x 55 Swede

[cavemanforester]

Any recommendations for loads and powder for 120 to 130 grain bullets in the swede? I have H4831, Ramshot Hunter, RL 15, H380, Acurate 4350, and Varget, among others. Thanks in advance. I mainly shoot Hornady and Noslerbullets. Thanks

 

[NCsmitty]

Not knowing what rifle you will be using, your best bets are H4831, Ramshot Hunter and the Accurate 4350. Varget is ok with the lighter bullets, but generally, slow powders work well in the Swede.
I use Rel-22 at max rated loads out of my stronger M98 compared to a M96 when using 140gr and heavier.



NCsmitty

 

[Kernel]

4350 has the ideal burn rate for use with 120-130 gr bullets.

 

[acee]

In my swedish mauser a CG 1902 I shoot 140gr most of the time with 40.9 grs of RL19 good load in my gun

 

[Brimic]

This isn't a direct answer, but I shoot mainly 140 or 142 gr bullets in the 6.5x55s.

140 gr SMK or remington PSP (these shoot remarkably well and are/were cheap when I bought them in bulk years ago.)
RL-22 42-46gr.
Federal 210
Lapua brass

 

[Rugg_Ed]

I had good luck with H380, H414 and IMR 4350 depending on the bullet weight. Seemed pretty forgiving with jacketed bullets it is a great cartridge to work with.

 

[snakeman]

You have a swede? No fair I want one!

 

[Slamfire]

IMR 4350 also works well with 140 grain bullets.

 

[lopezni]

check out E Arthur Brown, they recommend VihtaVuori. Which is what Lapua uses to make their ammo.

 

[cavemanforester]

the rifle is an M96 Mauseer sporterized by Kimber, barrel shortened to 22 inches and plastic stock. I've been shooting 140's, but my ultimate goal is to have trajectories similar to 3006 with reduced rcoil. The 140'sare a bit slow, even with 47 grains of h4831, which is a "max" load. I guess I'm just playing, the '06 is still my main hunting rifle.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Shooting 140s from a 6.5 Swede is like driving 190 gr bullets from a 308/`06. Drop to 120-130 gr and you`ll have the same SD and BC as a 165gr 30 cal and likely reach similar velocities to the 30 cal with these wgts.

 

[BsChoy]

140 grain bullets should use a slower powder like 4831 or even better Reloader 22. Lighter bullets should be good with 4350 of any make.

 

[sumpnz]

I've had pretty good success with Varget and IMR-4831. When I could still get 140gr Barnes XLC's I used RL-19.

I had a light load of 40.0gr IMR-4831 under either Rem or Speer 120gr bullets. Great for target shooting, easilly under an inch off sandbags, but probably a bit light for hunting.

My current hunting load is 140gr Hornday Spire Point over 38.5gr Varget. With a cold barrel that'll do 3/4" groups easilly. Once the barrel gets hot I get horrendous horizontal stringing, but I think that's more an issue of some stock warpage than anything else.

My rifle is a CZ-550.

 

[skidooman603]

Ive had great success with IMR 4064 loaded near max in my sporter 6.5's

 

[tommyintx]

IMR 4007 SSC

this is THE powder for 6.5x55!
i cannot stress enough how much the three i've loaded for love it
Original 6.5x55 Husquavarna,
Carl Gustav
and CZ 550 Manliccher 6.5...
all three LOVE 4007ssc