6.5x55 advice

[Crow]

I recently purchased a 6.5x55 with a 1:8" twist. I would like to load 120 gr. nosler ballistic tips for eastern whitetails and antelope (eventually) but the twist rate seems kind of fast for the lighter bullet. Anyone have any experience loading this bullet with a similar twist rate. What powders worked best for you? Thanks

 

[USSR]

Crow,

The 120gr bullet will be fine with the 1-8" twist, but why not use a 140gr bullet?
Reloader 22 is THE powder for the Swede.

Don

 

[GunTech]

120 is fine. You may have problems with light bullets like 95 grainers, but I shoot 107gn in my 260 with a 1:8 and it works just fine (i.e. 1/2 MOA or better)

 

[ftierson]

I have used a 6.5x55mm since I purchased my first one in 1964...

It is the finest cartridge on earth...

In modern rifles and loaded to the same pressure as the .260 Rem. and similar cartridges, you will be able to push a 140gr bullet out fast enough for anything that you want to do in North America...

In addition, as others have mentioned, 1/8 should be just fine with a 120gr bullet...

But why not use a 140?



Have fun...

Forrest

 

[Snapping Twig]

Mine is a 6.5 - 06, close enough. My twist is 1 in 9 and my bullet of choice is a 120g Nosler BT. I also use PT and 140g Nosler. Good twist rate!

 

[Win75]

I use IMR4350 and IMR4064 in my 6.5x55. Both give me good accuracy.

 

[ROCKSHUND]

In my M96, I'm sold on Reloder 22 myself, but I have always been fond of loading 160 grain Sierras...the 156 grain Normas that I shot when I first finished cleaning up the rifle convinced me.

For me, it's that little sectional density thing taken all the way home. "Taint very fast, but it's like a freight train...just keeps on comin' and comin'... Seems to work best with the irons for me too.

Cheers, FNR...

 

[azar]

For a 120g Nosler ballistic tip Nosler lists IMR 4350, H3450, and Reloader 19 as good powder choices. It lists AA3100 as "the most accurate powder tested with this load". I have no experience with that powder though, but I have used both IMR 4350 and Reloader 19 with 140g bullets. Both gave me good results, but I believe Reloader 19 metered better. I'm a bit more partial to it, although IMR 4350 is a classic powder for the 6.5x55 SE.

I personally haven't shot anything lighter than a 140g and just fired my first 160g (Sierra Pro-Hunter w/ Reloader 22) out of my rifle yesterday. It shot so well it was both awesome and disappointing at the same time. I had just found out earlier in the day that the bullet is no longer being produced (it's even gone from Sierras website). Too bad, as that is some of the tightest groups I've been able to achieve in reloading yet, although I am just getting the hang of it...