Remington 6.5mm 140gr (6.5x55SE) load data?

[azar]

I picked up some cheap Remington 6.5mm 140g bullets from Midway USA. I figured for the cost, they would make a good target round. However, in the three load books that I have none of them has any listed data for this bullet. I can't seem to find any site on the web that has it and www.remington.com doesn't list any contact information where I could request a starting load.

I have IMR 4350, Hogdon 4895, and Reloader 19 for available powders. Does anyone have any starting and max loads for any of these powders for use with the Remington bullet that they'd like to share?

Thanks.

 

[BsChoy]

You should be able to slowly work up a load using the info for any other 140 grain bullet. Just watch for pressure. My books say Reloder 19 and IMR4350 are probably going to work the best. But get a couple good reloading manuals too.

 

[Lupara]

I would recommend a slower powder like RL 22. Don't expect top accuracy using Remington bullets, but 44 ... 46 grs should work pretty well. Work your load up and find out what your rifle likes best. If you are shooting the bullets from a Swede: You won't be able to seat the bullets as far out as to the lands. Quite often, the Swede likes shorter rounds, about 3.030" to 3.050".

 

[BillC22]

These guys are giving you good advise. Any load for a 140 gr bullet will work fine as long as you work it up and watch for pressure signs. I don't anticipate you will see any until you get close to max loads in the manuals as the Rem 140 gr CL bullet are a "tapered" (actual term is double caliber if I remember correctly) bullet that is made to shoot in the 264 Win Mag. I found this out when I was trying to fire-form some wildcat 6.5 JDJ cases in my Contender and couldn't get the pressures high enough to pop the shoulders out. Stumped me for a while, but I finally did some measuring on this bullet and figured it out.
Contrary to some bad accuracy experiences with these bullets, my little Kimber sporterized M96 shoots these bullets into about
3/4" @ 100 yds. I shoot a close to max load of AA 4350 with no signs of pressure at all. Hope this helps you out.

 

[NateG]

You might want to try IMR 4895 if you've got some lying around. I can't remember the loads off the top of my head, so I'm not going to guess. However, in my Swedish target rifle with aperature sights, the better loads shot under an inch for ten shots with 140 gr. sierra match kings. The velocity wasn't stellar, however. I think I only got up to about 2500 fps before I got to the listed maximum. And the most accurate load was more like 2400 fps. It's nothing so impressive as to make you run to the store and buy 8# of the stuff, but if you already have the powder, it's worth a shot.

Ooops... you list H4895. I think they're pretty close, so it might be worth trying, but I've never used H4895, so I don't know where to start.

 

[cracked butt]

I bought a 500 rd box of these a few years ago- they shoot pretty good in my M96s. I would suggest RL-22 for a powder.

 

[azar]

Thanks

Thanks guys.

I figured I could always work up a load myself, but I thought I'd see if anyone had any specific loads for it. Being new to reloading (2 months) I figured it was the safer bet, but I've been shooting for enough of my life that I should be able to recognize warning signs.

As for powders, I listed all that I have available to me currently. I can get new powder locally for $18 for 1 lb, so it's not a big deal to do so. I was planning on getting Reloader 22 eventually anyway, as it seems to be a nice powder for the 160 gr rounds.

I currently have the Speer Reloading Manual #13 and The Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition along with the LoadBook USA for 6.5x55SE. Are there any other "must have" load books that you'd recommend? Lyman 48th Edition?

Thanks again.