6.5x55 loads
- Thread starter buckfever
- Start date
I always like to buy a box of each type of ammunition in the bullet weights that I am interested in for a particular cartridge, in order to get a sense of bullet types or weights the rifle may show a preference for. Then I will get those same bullets to try handloads with.
My three different 6.5's liked the Norma load with 140 gr Partitions and Hornady loads with 129 and 140 gr Interlocks. The one rifle did show a preference max load of IMR4350 and the 140 Barnes X in their No 1 manual (1" 5 shot groups at 200 yards).
The Howa's tend to be pretty accurate rifles out of the box, and fairly easy to work up loads for.
You should find the rifle a lot of fun to work with! Good luck!
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My three different 6.5's liked the Norma load with 140 gr Partitions and Hornady loads with 129 and 140 gr Interlocks. The one rifle did show a preference max load of IMR4350 and the 140 Barnes X in their No 1 manual (1" 5 shot groups at 200 yards).
The Howa's tend to be pretty accurate rifles out of the box, and fairly easy to work up loads for.
You should find the rifle a lot of fun to work with! Good luck!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,921
- 1,839
In my wife's Tikka the 120 gr Ballistic Tip with H 4350 is the go to deer load, I would bet money on IMR 4350 and IMR 4451 being as good.
We started her out with Trail Boss and some 140 gr Corelokt bullets, that load was excellent to learn with having a mild report and mild recoil. After that we went to the 120 gr Ballistic Tip with H 4895 at around 2700 fps, it was almost full power but still had mild recoil with fantastic accuracy. We have done some work with 140's but are trying to finalise a load with the 140 gr Partition or AccuBond for moose and bear. Looking at IMR 4955 for those, IMR 7828 ssc is another excellent powder for mid weight and heavy bullets.
We started her out with Trail Boss and some 140 gr Corelokt bullets, that load was excellent to learn with having a mild report and mild recoil. After that we went to the 120 gr Ballistic Tip with H 4895 at around 2700 fps, it was almost full power but still had mild recoil with fantastic accuracy. We have done some work with 140's but are trying to finalise a load with the 140 gr Partition or AccuBond for moose and bear. Looking at IMR 4955 for those, IMR 7828 ssc is another excellent powder for mid weight and heavy bullets.
Divernhunter
Handloader
- Apr 1, 2009
- 812
- 172
I have load data for Nosler PAR/BT/Bonded, Swift and Barnes if you are interested. Pm me with your email and I will scan them to you. I have a lot of data shot over my Chrono and target of the loads. Mine are shot from a Tikka T-3 Lite.
I have new Houge HOWA 6.5x55 purchased new in September 2016. I am having good luck with H4350 and Nosler 129 grain ABLR. I am getting less than 1/2" groups constantly with it. The more I shoot it the tighter the groups are getting. I tried RL19, RL22, IMR 4350, IMR 4064 but my rifle really likes H4350 the best. I didn't start getting really good groups until I cut 1/16th of an inch out of the tip of the barrel channel. That stopped the pressure on the barrel when using a sled or bipod. This is a light recoil load.
Load data;
44.5 gr H4350
129 gr Nosler ABLR
CCI #200
PPU brass
COAL 3.10
I don't have a chronograph so I don't know the muzzle velocity.
Load data;
44.5 gr H4350
129 gr Nosler ABLR
CCI #200
PPU brass
COAL 3.10
I don't have a chronograph so I don't know the muzzle velocity.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,452
- 6,377
Welcome aboard, hainleym. We're always pleased to meet new people willing to share their experience. Sounds as if you picked up a fine rifle and you know how to handle it well. That load should serve you well when you take the rifle hunting.
This QuickLoad projection should give you some idea of what your velocity might be.
This QuickLoad projection should give you some idea of what your velocity might be.
Code:
Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet : .264, 129, Nosler AccuBond LR 58943 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 51.801 grain H2O = 3.363 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.100 inch = 78.74 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4350
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-20.0 76 35.60 2203 1390 29031 8581 88.1 1.529
-18.0 78 36.49 2255 1456 30834 8863 89.3 1.504
-16.0 80 37.38 2307 1525 32744 9141 90.4 1.466
-14.0 82 38.27 2359 1594 34757 9413 91.5 1.430
-12.0 84 39.16 2412 1666 36867 9678 92.5 1.394
-10.0 86 40.05 2464 1739 39085 9936 93.5 1.355
-08.0 88 40.94 2516 1814 41431 10185 94.4 1.318
-06.0 90 41.83 2569 1890 43914 10425 95.3 1.281
-04.0 91 42.72 2621 1968 46540 10655 96.0 1.247
-02.0 93 43.61 2673 2047 49319 10874 96.8 1.213 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 95 44.50 2725 2127 52261 11082 97.4 1.181 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 97 45.39 2777 2209 55378 11278 98.0 1.150 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 99 46.28 2829 2292 58679 11460 98.5 1.119 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 101 47.17 2880 2376 62179 11629 98.9 1.090 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 103 48.06 2931 2461 65893 11784 99.3 1.062 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 105 48.95 2982 2548 69834 11923 99.6 1.034 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 95 44.50 2848 2324 61285 11020 99.9 1.100 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 95 44.50 2564 1883 43391 10647 91.2 1.285- Thread starter
- #10
35 Whelen
Handloader
- Dec 22, 2011
- 2,242
- 550
May even want to consider trying some RL26 powder, we can quite easily get over 2800fps with 140gr bullets? With no sign of high pressure on my cases out of a Tikka T3.
Though I have not had a chance to mess with it yet, I am guessing 2900 is possible out of this gun. Probably 3k With Your 129grs bullets. Your Howa is a nice rifle, can you give us a weight of it all scoped up and ready to go hunting??
Though I have not had a chance to mess with it yet, I am guessing 2900 is possible out of this gun. Probably 3k With Your 129grs bullets. Your Howa is a nice rifle, can you give us a weight of it all scoped up and ready to go hunting??
Thank you for the Welcomes. Now I have questions. Hodgdon reloading site lists 45.5 as the max load for 129 gr bullets. I noticed on the Quick Load data that 45.39 grains is listed as !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!. Is the pressure listing for the 6.5x55 QL data for the old military actions or for modern actions? If it is for the old actions, what is the pressure limit for modern actions? 62K psi? The reason I ask is that there are a lot of loads being shared that far exceed max listed load for this caliber. They are being justified because of the modern actions. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Mike
Thank you
Mike
hainleym":5z9yw4l2 said:
I think most of us are loading for modern rifles like Model 70's, Ruger's, Tikka's and the mix. The data for 6.5x55 from Hodgdon is around 50K I believe. When I work up loads for my rifle, I actually set the limit for the cartridge at 60K and work to keep my loads in that range.
Great question though, it is always worth asking about that sorta stuff. The Swede has the space to run pretty well without firewalling it too much. Powders like RL26 and others get some incredible performance as well. It does have quite alot of taper to the case compared to the 260 Rem and 6.5 CM. My loads are basically about what they run the 260 Rem for PSI. I know if I stick with book loads for the 260 Rem and hit it's speeds I am not usually going to run into trouble.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,452
- 6,377
You've received good advice from SJB358. The pressure limit appears to have been set in deference to older model Mausers. Be cautious about hot-rodding, but that advice goes for any rifle. Brass does begin to yield to pressure by 75,000 to 80,000 psi. You don't gain all that much velocity when you begin to push pressures much beyond 65,000 psi. You can always move up to a magnum cartridge with more powder (and less efficiency) or screw on a longer tube if you need more velocity.
DrMike":3jegldnp said:
Exactly, I have never found much gain from pushing beyond the 60K mark with most of them. I am not scared of 65K, but weird stuff does begin to happen, but by and large, things seem to be really nice when they aren't put to the floor. I have been guilty of it a few times and the new double base powders are scary cause they will keep gaining speed and not show you the PSI signs till you are well over where you should be.
Thank you all for the answers to my questions. I have a couple of loads that look like they are running around the 60K psi level. I am getting 1/3" groups with one and a little under 1/2" with the other. I am going to go back down to the 44.5 grain load. I have some shoulder damage and the sharper recoil increases the pain in my shoulder. I will return to the lower recoil and just as effective loads, the reason I bought the Swede in the first place.
Happy reloading
Mike
Happy reloading
Mike
Paul Barnard
Beginner
- Oct 12, 2004
- 190
- 8
hainleym":1tb0xcsw said:
I just bought that same rifle but haven't shot it yet. Your results so far are certainly encouraging. Someone ran this QL for me using RL-17.
Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 47.584 grain H2O = 3.090 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.146% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-11.5 84 38.63 2604 1958 38927 9277 99.1 1.404
-10.3 85 39.13 2637 2007 40378 9369 99.4 1.380
-09.2 86 39.63 2669 2056 41884 9454 99.6 1.357
-08.0 87 40.13 2701 2105 43450 9533 99.7 1.334
-06.9 88 40.63 2732 2155 45076 9605 99.9 1.312
-05.7 89 41.13 2764 2205 46764 9671 100.0 1.290
-04.6 90 41.63 2795 2256 48519 9730 100.0 1.268
-03.4 92 42.13 2827 2306 50344 9783 100.0 1.247
-02.3 93 42.63 2858 2357 52242 9834 100.0 1.227
-01.1 94 43.13 2888 2408 54215 9884 100.0 1.207 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 95 43.63 2919 2460 56267 9933 100.0 1.187 ! Near Maximum !
+01.1 96 44.13 2950 2511 58404 9981 100.0 1.168 ! Near Maximum !
+02.3 97 44.63 2980 2563 60627 10029 100.0 1.149 ! Near Maximum !
+03.4 98 45.13 3010 2615 62943 10075 100.0 1.130 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.6 99 45.63 3040 2668 65349 10121 100.0 1.112 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.7 100 46.13 3070 2720 67868 10165 100.0 1.095 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Paul Barnard
Beginner
- Oct 12, 2004
- 190
- 8
I meant to ask you Hainley, what length are you loading that ABLR to?
