Tikka 6.5x55

[rmarshall]

Gerry, I know your wife has one, tell me about it, looking at one right now, I guess since it's tikka it's light, accurate and such! What bullets, powders etc, velocity I could expect with 120-140's. thanks all

 

[rjm158]

I'm not Gerry but I have one too. I have always been a fan of the cartridge, or all 6.5's for that matter, and bought one prior to the cessation of importation of the caliber. Tikka might have started importing them again, I'm not sure.

Mine is a stellar performer and I killed a medium-large 7 point (broken brow tine) at 230 yards using 100 BT's several years ago.

I have several 6.5x55's and can tell you it's easy to load for.

My wife uses a .260 because it doesn't kick the snot out of her but has ample power to kill whitetails and anything else she is likely to hunt. I load 120 BT's over Varget, I think about 34 grains but don't quote me on that. The Swede will give very similar performance.

If the price is right, the gun is in good shape, it fits her or you can make it fit, I'd buy it and never look back.

Just my .02.

Ron
Ron

 

[rmarshall]

thanks Ron, got to love hunting those Missouri whitetails! I have hunted them several times in the great state of Missouri and love it!!!

 

[DrMike]

Get the 6.5X55. An excellent cartridge that has proved itself for many years in moose hunts in Scandinavian countries. Put an appropriate bullet where it belongs and the animals will expire without drama or fanfare. Available in a Tikka? All the better. Great cartridge; great rifle.

 

[SJB358]

I have had mine for months now and haven't loaded the first round for it. It is hopeful though with all of you guys reporting excellent accuracy. Plan on loading Dylann up some reduced loads for it. Might even try out the 142 ABLR since mine has a 1 and 7.and change twist on it. Figure those at around 2300 or so should be negligible in recoil and test out the low end expansion a little on our skinny deer...

 

[gerry]

Gerry, I know your wife has one, tell me about it, looking at one right now, I guess since it's tikka it's light, accurate and such! What bullets, powders etc, velocity I could expect with 120-140's. thanks all

You are correct it is light and very accurate, best trigger I have ever had the pleasure of squeezing too. I loaded a 120 gr Ballistic Tip with H 4895 for a low recoil load when she first started using the gun. Since then she has gone to more full power loads using the 140 gr Partition and 140 gr SST for practice. With 43 gr of H 4350 I chronographed the Partition at 2584 fps on Saturday so at the muzzle it should be right around 2600 fps. That was the load she carried last winter for elk and for spring bear. I'm going to try 43.5 and 44 gr as well just to get a bit more speed since she has no problems with the recoil. Have some 120 gr Ballistic Tips loaded with H 4350 to try next time as well in case we draw antlerless mule deer or ewe bighorn sheep.

My past work with a Ruger 6.5x55 showed the round was capable of getting 2750 fps with 140's comfortably with powders like IMR 7828 ssc and other slow burning powders. With 120's it is capable of getting 2900-3000 fps and 140's 2700-2800 fps safely. Haven't done much with 130's in the 6.5x55 but can't see why 2800 fps + wouldn't be possible. Current lots of H 4831 sc have been disappointing so far when it comes to speed although the accuracy was good. Powders like RL 22, Magnum, IMR 4350 and all the new powders out like RL 23, RL 26, IMR 4451 and IMR 7977 would be good to look at. There are so many good bullets out there it is hard to actually pick a bad one, what are you planning on hunting with it?

For Maria's gun if we can keep the same level of accuracy with slightly more H 4350 and get 2650-2700 fps with 140's I'll be happy, don't mind leaving 100 fps on the table and keep recoil down a bit.

Hope that helps, don't hesitate to ask for more info that's what we are here for....

 

[SJB358]

Great data Gerry. I'm planning to play around some with H4895 with the 123's right now. Our deer are small and don't require a lot of killing. Even a 123 around 2300 would blow through them easily I think. Plus they should be soft enough to open up well.

Need to get on this. Keep putting that rifle off for the boomers.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Yeah mine pushes 130's @ 2880 or so I haven't played much with it I will eventually.

Me too Scotty!!!

 

[gerry]

Yes it is time to finally get out and shoot that thing Scotty :lol: That would be a great starting load for her and can't see why that wouldn't work on a deer. It would be interesting to see how the 120 gr Ballistic Tip and 123 gr SST would compare at 2300 fps, that fast twist on your M 70 would certainly help open them up quick too you would think.

 

[SJB358]

I think so Gerry. I've got some 120 BTs as well. Maybe I'll try them both. Shots will be short so max launch speed isn't needed.

I'll do a few of them later!

 

[rmarshall]

Thanks all for the comments, and a special thanks to Gerry! hope you all keep us posted on results with 120 and 123 weights.

 

[gerry]

I'll make sure to post up something when we shoot the gun again which should be sometime in the next week or so.

 

[FOTIS]

Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet : .264, 120, Nosler BalTip 26120
Useable Case Capaci: 53.905 grain H2O = 3.500 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 56000 psi, or 386 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 105 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

181 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26 102.2 54.6 3.54 3067 99.8 56000 13914 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 102.7 53.3 3.45 3031 98.2 56000 13757 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 60 92.9 48.4 3.14 3018 100.0 56000 12413 1.091 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70 99.1 52.5 3.40 3014 98.6 56000 13363 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 104.3 52.9 3.43 3010 94.8 56000 13752 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 104.7 55.3 3.58 2997 93.0 56000 13740 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 104.6 52.5 3.40 2995 96.9 56000 13385 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 104.6 52.5 3.40 2995 96.9 56000 13385 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 104.6 52.5 3.40 2995 96.9 56000 13385 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17 91.9 47.9 3.10 2994 100.0 56000 12330 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 91.9 47.9 3.10 2994 100.0 56000 12330 1.098 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 102.7 52.4 3.40 2992 95.2 56000 13333 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 103.5 52.0 3.37 2976 95.0 56000 13156 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 104.4 56.5 3.66 2972 97.4 56000 12895 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 98.4 48.6 3.15 2965 100.0 56000 11801 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62 95.2 49.6 3.21 2961 99.6 56000 12439 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511 93.3 49.4 3.20 2954 98.9 56000 12511 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 96.4 49.5 3.21 2953 98.9 56000 12494 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 100.3 49.6 3.21 2950 96.6 56000 12606 1.092 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 100.8 50.1 3.25 2949 96.7 56000 12683 1.100 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 91.0 47.8 3.10 2947 98.2 56000 12477 1.109 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 91.0 47.8 3.10 2947 98.2 56000 12477 1.109 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 101.6 50.5 3.27 2943 96.7 56000 12591 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 95.9 47.1 3.05 2938 99.7 56000 12079 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 95.9 47.1 3.05 2938 99.7 56000 12076 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 93.1 47.2 3.06 2935 99.6 56000 12185 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 95.3 47.4 3.07 2935 99.7 56000 12107 1.131 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 105.0 51.8 3.36 2935 94.4 54798 12812 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 105.0 55.7 3.61 2925 94.6 51825 13311 1.130 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 98.7 49.0 3.18 2925 96.4 56000 12332 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 98.7 49.0 3.18 2925 96.4 56000 12332 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 95.6 49.0 3.18 2925 96.4 56000 12332 1.101 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23 105.0 51.0 3.31 2923 99.9 51779 12359 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 100.7 47.9 3.10 2921 99.8 56000 11850 1.122 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 105.0 51.6 3.34 2920 95.7 51869 13092 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP15 105.0 51.6 3.34 2920 95.7 51869 13092 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 105.0 55.7 3.61 2919 94.3 51528 13299 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 102.1 51.3 3.32 2918 94.3 56000 12359 1.097 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 101.1 50.8 3.29 2916 97.6 56000 12233 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 104.7 52.0 3.37 2912 98.9 56000 12062 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 98.5 47.4 3.07 2907 100.0 56000 11203 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 96.3 48.6 3.15 2906 98.0 56000 12011 1.114 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 99.6 52.2 3.38 2904 96.5 56000 12056 1.104 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 99.3 48.7 3.15 2892 95.3 56000 11950 1.104 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 95.4 46.9 3.04 2891 98.3 56000 11822 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 97.9 47.6 3.09 2890 97.6 56000 11730 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 96.1 47.5 3.08 2889 97.7 56000 11714 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT ~approximation 90.3 45.2 2.93 2888 98.5 56000 11459 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 90.7 44.6 2.89 2885 100.0 56000 11156 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 105.0 50.7 3.29 2881 93.8 53855 12206 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 90.7 44.1 2.86 2880 100.0 56000 11130 1.126 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 105.0 50.7 3.29 2877 93.3 49869 12849 1.149
Lovex S065 94.1 45.8 2.96 2872 99.1 56000 11435 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 105.0 54.2 3.51 2872 93.6 51192 12674 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 105.0 53.2 3.45 2870 91.3 52531 12485 1.126 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907 93.0 45.4 2.94 2870 97.7 56000 11555 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 93.0 45.4 2.94 2870 97.7 56000 11555 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 90.1 45.4 2.94 2869 97.7 56000 11547 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT ~approximation 91.9 45.3 2.94 2867 99.1 56000 11211 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064 90.1 42.3 2.74 2862 99.9 56000 10871 1.111 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S361 98.4 52.1 3.37 2858 94.4 56000 11668 1.115 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 105.0 51.6 3.34 2857 96.7 53278 11773 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 105.0 51.9 3.36 2856 98.0 46635 12940 1.189
Vihtavuori N160 105.0 50.0 3.24 2844 94.7 54108 11610 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150 95.7 44.9 2.91 2843 100.0 56000 10468 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2700 90.2 46.8 3.03 2824 97.5 56000 10920 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N135 91.8 41.4 2.68 2807 100.0 56000 9668 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP30 105.0 52.2 3.38 2749 91.3 42143 12746 1.257

 

[FOTIS]

Mine I loaded to 62K psi