6.5x55 load

[Shagg]

I found a good load for my Howa 6.5x55 swede. I've been experimenting for a while with very little luck until yesterday. I loaded some R-P neck sized brass with 43 grains of RL-22 behind a 129 grain Hornady SP. I shot a 100 yard five shot group that measured just a hair over an inch, which is really good for my limited skills. I'm not a benchrest shooter and my skills aren't even close so a one inch group is one that I'll take any day. Don't know if anyone else's rifle likes this load or not but it might work for someone.

 

[2ndtimer]

I also have a Howa in 6.5x55 and it has been a challenge to find a consistently accurate load, and frankly has disappointed me in the velocity it achieves. I have not been able to achieve 2800 fps even with 120 gr bullets. It shoots patterns with any bullet lighter than 120 grains, and not real consistent even with the 120's.
The 129 gr Hornady and 140 gr Hornady SP's have been the best I have tried, and have not been able to achieve 2650 with the 129 and the max the 140 has reached is barely 2500. Best accuracy has been achieved only with very anemic loads with the 129 gr bullet, like 41.5 gr of IMR-4350 for around 2430 fps.
My best 140 gr loads are right around 2500 fps, which isn't too bad, but I can't say I was impressed with the doe that was hit with one in Montana this fall. My shot placement was poor, my fault, but hitting it a foot too far back left no evidence that it was hit at all. No blood trail, we were lucky to find her a mile or so away in the bottom of a canyon and she needed a finishing shot to put her down.
Surprisingly in reviewing my load data, I had as much luck with IMR-4064 as the slower powders, both for accuracy and velocity. I may have to revisit the 6.5x55 with Varget and IMR-4064 to see if maybe they might provide the accuracy and consistency that has so far eluded my Howa.

 

[Kachok]

^!?!? Have you tried RL 19? 48.5gr makes mine shoot flatter then a 270 Win, have not run through the chrono but groups nice and tight 2 whole inches higher at 100 then factor 2550. Hits deer like a lighting bolt too.
RL22 is normally a 140gr powder, works REALLY well with my Serrias and SSTs, 46.5gr is full power and the sweet spot in my experience. Cloverleafs are common with the SGKs and expected with the SSTs.
If you are just looking for pinpoint accuracy try mixing the RL19 with a 129gr SST, with a mild 45.5gr charge mine shoots one ragged hole. Low 2600fps range, enough for hunting but does not hit as hard as my other loads.
My Tikka has a long throat not sure if the Howa is the same, but I have found it helps to seat them quite a bit longer then factory.

 

[4season]

I second the 129 SST over RL19. Although to be fair my gun is a 260 rather than the 6.5x55. I also use RL19 on 140 SST's and 155 Laupa soft points as well. The 129's will group under 3/4 inch at 100 and I have shot the 140's at 300 yards for a 4 inch group. The 155's I loaded for bear and have only shot a couple of groups but it is a 1-1.5 inch at 100 yards.

 

[Kachok]

Yeah RL19 works well in all the mid ranged 6.5s with 120-130gr from what I understand, it it THE powder for 120-130 6.5x55 that is for sure. I just advised a guy on another forum to try that or Hunter in his 260 since he is trying to work up a 120gr Ballistic Tip load. Good ol 4350 still makes it's presence know as well but it won't top some of the newer powders in my rifle, still not shabby though 2902fps with groups just under an inch, I'll drop a deer with that any day (and have)

 

[2ndtimer]

I tried a few RE-19 loads when I first got my Howa years ago. While I did get decent (for my rifle, at least) velocity, I didn't get good groups with it. I tried it with 100 and 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 120 gr Speer Spitzers and nothing really grouped well. I am going to try again with the 120's with IMR-4064, Varget, and Reloder 17 to see if they do any better. I would really like to find a decent load with the 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip around 2700 fps or better. I am sure it would perform better on deer than that 140 gr Hornady.

 

[Float Pilot]

6.5x55mm Winchester MODEL 70 FEATHERWEIGHT LOADS
22 inch barrel


Federal factory 140gr Soft Point:
= 2,375 fps, 0.50 inch group.

120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip: 46.5gr RL-19, Lapua, CCI BR-2, 3.085 col
= 2,560 fps and a 1.0 inch group

120gr Sierra Match King: 46.0 gr RL-19, Lapua, BR-2, 3.085 col
= 2,508 fps and a 0.50 inch group.

120gr Hornady A-Max, 48.8gr IMR-4831, ww,ww, 2.964 col
= 2,925 fps and a 0.75 inch group Lee Crimp. High Pressure

129gr Hornady SST, 47.3gr IMR-4831, WW, WW Stand, 2.942 col
=2,808 fps and a 1.5 inch group. no crimp. Cratered primers

140gr Rem Accu-Tip, 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.970 col
= 2,640 fps and a 1.0 inch group

140gr Nosler Partition, 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.950 col
= 2,569 fps and a 1.5 inch group

140gr Hornady Soft oint , 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.850 col
= 2,575 fps and a 2.0 inch group

140gr Hornady SST. 46.5 gr RL-19, Lapua, CCI-200, 3.090 COL
= 2,570 fps and a 1.0 inch group

140gr Hornady SST, 44.5 gr H-4350, Lapua, CCI-200, 3.090 col
= 2,608 fps and a 1.5 inch group

140gr Hornady SST, 44.5gr H-100V, Lapua, CCI-200 3.090 col
=2,669 fps and a 0.50 inch group.

140gr Sierra Game King, 44.5gr H-100V, WW, WW, 2.930col
= 2,675 fps and a 0.55 inch group Lee factory Crimp, no pressure signs

140gr Hornady Soft Point, 44.5gr H-100V, ww, ww, 2.945 col
=2,680 fps and a 2.5 inch group. Lee Crimp. Some pressure signs

140gr Hornady R. N. 44.5gr H-100V, WW, WW 2.975 col
=2,620 fps and a HUGE Group, lee Crimp

140gr Hornady SST, 46.5gr IMR-4831, ww,ww, 2.995 col
=2,700 fps and a 0.75 inch group, primer flow

160gr Hornady Round Nose: 45.0 gr RL-22, PMC, Rem 9.5, 3.100 col
= 2,288 fps and a 1.5 inch group

 

[Kachok]

I tried a few RE-19 loads when I first got my Howa years ago. While I did get decent (for my rifle, at least) velocity, I didn't get good groups with it. I tried it with 100 and 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 120 gr Speer Spitzers and nothing really grouped well. I am going to try again with the 120's with IMR-4064, Varget, and Reloder 17 to see if they do any better. I would really like to find a decent load with the 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip around 2700 fps or better. I am sure it would perform better on deer than that 140 gr Hornady.

That is just bizarre, never seen a Sweed that did not like RL19 or full house loads of 4350, what was your max charge of RL19? I get my best grouping at full bore 48.5gr 3.095" but most, manuals won't list that. have you tried H4350 as well? Slightly slower burning, maxes out a 120 around 3k leaving you plenty of room to work with. Hunter, 760, and the nearly imposable to find AA3100 would be my next choice if I were in you shoes. How far off the lands are you seating? I think your rifle had a 1:9" twist I don't know how much my 140gr data will help.
120gr Ballistic Tips are a fantastic performer on deer, just like the 130gr 270, you could never tell the difference between the two, don't be afraid to give them a little speed, shot them up close with that 120 and it has always held together even at my speeds, chunks of the front of the bullet are almost always found in the far side rib cage but they have always given me an exit wound so I am happy with that. Kills are very quick, no tracking with that load yet, meat damage can be excessive so keep it either in the neck or behind the shoulder.

 

[Shagg]

I will set up my chrony when I get a chance but I'm thinking the velocity will be pretty slow.

2ndtimer, mine too has not delivered on velocity very well so far.

Kachok, My Howa also has a long throat, so much so that I can't even get close to the lands. Even with Berger VLDs.

I've been experimenting with length, powders, bullet weights, and different powder weights and anything else I can think of to get an accurate load. The problem is there are just too many combinations, but I'm confident I'll stumble on to the right one eventually. (I hope)

 

[Kachok]

Tried Serrias yet? They seem to be a little less sensitive to jump then any other bullet I have tried, not sure how well 140 SGKs will work with a 1:9 though, I would think they would stabilize, but I always have used a 1:8" twist.
Serrias are my desperation move, when all else fails I break out the green box, they are the ONLY bullet that will shoot well out of my 7mm-08 and they are the best shooters in all but two of my rifles, and even those two shoot them really well.
BTW not touching your lands with the VLD is not to worry, try with a more conventional bullet at max length, if you still don't touch call Howa I think there is something wrong with your rifle. Only fix for excessively long throats is to load them over max and drop feed them, done that a time or two

 

[2ndtimer]

That is just bizarre, never seen a Sweed that did not like RL19 or full house loads of 4350, what was your max charge of RL19

My max load of RE-19 was 49.0 gr with both the Nosler 120 B-Tip and Speer 120 SP
I get my best grouping at full bore 48.5gr 3.095" but most, manuals won't list that. have you tried H4350 as well?
I haven't tried H-4350, but I have run IMR-4350 up to 47.0 gr with the Speer 120 SP Slightly slower burning, maxes out a 120 around 3k leaving you plenty of room to work with. Hunter, 760, and the nearly imposable to find AA3100 would be my next choice if I were in you shoes. I have settled on Accurate Data 86 for my "go to" powder for the 129 Hornady and 140 Hornady, which is very close to Accurate 3100. It has provided the closest thing to consistent loads but still fall well short of expected velocity, and while accuracy is adequate, it is certainly not a tack driver averageing around 1.5" for 3 shots at 100 yards off the bench
How far off the lands are you seating? My Howa also has the very long throat which might help explain the velocity/accuracy issues. I load to 3.15 OAL, and don't think I am anywhere near the lands. My rifle does appear to prefer the heavier bullets, even though it may have only a 1 in 9" twist. I think the later models have the more common 1 in 8" twist
I think your rifle had a 1:9" twist I don't know how much my 140gr data will help.
120gr Ballistic Tips are a fantastic performer on deer, just like the 130gr 270, you could never tell the difference between the two, don't be afraid to give them a little speed, shot them up close with that 120 and it has always held together even at my speeds, chunks of the front of the bullet are almost always found in the far side rib cage but they have always given me an exit wound so I am happy with that. Kills are very quick, no tracking with that load yet, meat damage can be excessive so keep it either in the neck or behind the shoulder.

see above for responses.

 

[2ndtimer]

I appreciate your replies, Kachok. My Howa has frustrated me for years, but for some reason, I can't give up on it. I still love the concept of the 6.5x55. What I probably should do is sell it, and order a Savage Trophy Hunter XL in .260 Rem. and try that. I have tried some Sierra 140 gr BTGK bullets, but they didn't group as well as the Hornady or Speer flat base bullets. And Float Pilot, I will try not to hate you for the velocities and groups you are getting from your Model 70 Featherweight.

 

[Kachok]

If you can find a Tikka 6.5x55 everyone I know who owns one of them loves them to death, most people like their CZs too, only thing not to like if you want to nit pick is it is also 1:9" twist which is blasphemy to a Sweed fanatic. Friend of mine just bought a Sako 85 waiting on me to make him some TTSX loads so he can hunt condor country, like a Tikka with bling
If you did have to start over with another 6.5mm cartridge give the Creedmore a good looking at, matches the 260 down the line with slightly smaller powder charges and already has a 30 degree improved shoulder to cut down on case stretching. I like the Creedmore, if I were to ever to add another 6.5mm to the safe that would be it, probably in a Savage or T/C rifle that is unless Tikka decides to chamber it in which case that is a no brainer, finest shooting rifle I have ever owned.

 

[targetback]

I have one that is a Win feather unfired and a ruger that I use, I will look up some of loads. I like 6.5's I'll get back on this .

 

[Shagg]

I checked the velocity of my load and with a five shot group I came up with 2147 fps average. Not real speedy but if that bullet will work at that speed that's all I need. Accuracy is more important than speed for me.

2ndtimer, My Howa has a 1:8" barrel twist. It is 2 1/2 years old.