6.55x55 loads

[tnelling]

i have loaded 6.5x55 swedish with 140gr Partition using IMR4320 for years and of course now the IMR4320 has been discontinued. i have stockpiled some but it is going to run out and i am looking for some recommendations on another powder - any thoughts?

 

[SJB358]

In mine, everything from H4895 to RL26 has shot really well. I'd likely pick something like a 4350 or 4831 sorta powder and not worry a bit about it.

 

[tnelling]

the IMR4350 was the way i was leaning so i will give that a try to keep things simple - how many grains have you found works the best ?

 

[SJB358]

the IMR4350 was the way i was leaning so i will give that a try to keep things simple - how many grains have you found works the best ?

I'll have to go check my load book, but most of the time I stuck right around Nosler's data for a few different bullets. I might have needed a little extra or less powder to attain book speeds, but that rifle has shot just about everything well.

Doesn't get too much easier than sticking with 4350 for it. It's going to get great speeds and it's usually pretty accurate of a powder.

 

[gerry]

Any powder in the IMR 4350 - IMR 7828 SSC range will work. When I get home tonight I can give you some exact loads. We run H 4350 in my wife's gun and it works with pretty much any bullet we have tried.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

With 130 grain bullets I have found that H4831 whilst really accurate is pretty slow. It maybe better with 140 class bullets. H4350 has been better and still is very accurate. The old Swede is a much underrated cartridge just quietly going about its business.

 

[lefty315]

My load so don’t use it but work up to what’s good in your gun. In my Ruger No 1 6.5x55 IMR 4350 gets me 2640 fps with a 140 Partition using 44 grains. 43.5 grains gives me the same velocity with the Ballistic tip or AccuBond. My gun is the international version with a short barrel so I’m sure a 22 inch barrel would produce better velocity than I can get….but this fella couldn’t tell it was a slower load

 

[DrMike]

A fine specimen. Yeah, he'd have difficulty arguing that the velocity was low!

 

[gerry]

Checked my records and in my wife's Tikka we used 45 gr of H 4350 with the 140 gr Partition with excellent results. Pretty sure it was around 2650 fps. Safe in our rifle but work up carefully for anyone trying it. Too bad IMR 4955 was discontinued because it was really good too. I have had a couple other 6.5x55's in the past and had excellent results with both IMR 4350 and 7828 SSC.

I would try any of the 4350's first and go from there.

 

[Blkram]

I used 43 gr of IMR-4350 w/ 140 gr Partitions for good accuracy (5 shot 1" groups @ 200 yards) . Velocity seemed pretty good in my rifles, but I didn't have a chrony back then so cannot verify actual velocity. Book (Nosler) stated that it should be 2780 fps. Book says the AccuBond should get same velocity.
Book also shows 52 gr of H1000 should get 2790 fps with same bullets...never got a chance to try this load.

 

[ElmerThud]

My load so don’t use it but work up to what’s good in your gun. In my Ruger No 1 6.5x55 IMR 4350 gets me 2640 fps with a 140 Partition using 44 grains. 43.5 grains gives me the same velocity with the Ballistic tip or AccuBond. My gun is the international version with a short barrel so I’m sure a 22 inch barrel would produce better velocity than I can get….but this fella couldn’t tell it was a slower loadView attachment 24327

Nice stutzen rifle you have there. I love them & have two... one an old 1936 Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5x54MSch the other a 1997 Steyr Mannlicher 'Classic' 6.5x55SE