Varmint load advice - QL run maybe?

[Jarre]

Hello,

As a new member I would like to thank you all for having me onboard!

I' looking at a new varmint load for my 6.5x55 Swedish. Mainly used to take down red fox and badgers.
Currently I'm using a Sierra Varminter HP (#1700) 85gr backed up by 44gr Norma 202 in Norma cases.
It leaves the barrel at 990m/s (3248fps).

The problem with this is that the impact is very devastating when it comes to keeping the pelt.

Hopefully there is a box of Hornady V-Max, 95gr in my mailbox tomorrow.



Rifle: Tikka M658, 22" barrel
Brass: Norma
Primer: Remington 9 1/2, Federal 215, CCi 250
Powder: Norma 200
Norma 201
Norma 202
Norma 204
Norma MRP
Norma URP
Vihtavuori N160
(Yes, I'm very patriotic about powder. Not just to keep the Swedish powder manufactoring going, but also it's commonly available in my parts.)


So I could use some advice on a very mild load for both or one of these bullets.
Sierra Varminter HP, 85gr
Hornady V-Max, 95gr

BTW, I've enjoyed all the good discussions regarding 7mm RM. It's a much more common caliber in your parts of the world...

Have a nice day!
/Jarre

 

[truck driver]

Sorry I can't help you with the load info since I don't have QL but would like to extend a welcome aboard. I'm sure someone will be along to help you since there are quite a few members who shoot the 6.5X55 here.

 

[FOTIS]

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 95, Hornady V-MAX 22601
Useable Case Capaci: 55.692 grain H2O = 3.616 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.100 inch = 78.74 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 52225 psi, or 360 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 !

182 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                 105.0     57.9     3.76    3304    97.6    52124   14031   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 60                   95.2     51.3     3.32    3280    99.9    52225   12880   1.022  ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17                            94.3     50.8     3.29    3256    99.4    52225   12717   1.027  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  94.3     50.8     3.29    3256    99.4    52225   12717   1.027  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP                          105.0     56.3     3.64    3246    94.4    51505   13535   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365                       101.5     51.8     3.36    3239    99.9    52225   12286   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70                  101.3     55.4     3.59    3234    95.0    52225   13187   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16                 101.1     50.5     3.27    3231    98.7    52225   12521   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62                   97.9     52.7     3.41    3213    97.6    52225   12594   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       104.9     55.3     3.59    3201    90.3    52225   12904   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511                 95.7     52.3     3.39    3198    96.0    52225   12491   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 518                 99.6     52.8     3.42    3197    95.6    52225   12517   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      98.8     52.4     3.40    3196    96.0    52225   12472   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                           98.3     49.9     3.24    3190    97.7    52225   12230   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation          98.4     50.0     3.24    3189    97.7    52225   12226   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        93.2     50.6     3.28    3189    95.0    52225   12419   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      93.2     50.6     3.28    3189    95.0    52225   12419   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       98.1     50.3     3.26    3188    97.8    52225   12315   1.058  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                     95.4     50.0     3.24    3184    97.6    52225   12298   1.047  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                 103.2     53.0     3.43    3180    92.8    52225   12443   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 11                   91.6     48.6     3.15    3176    98.8    52225   11885   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209                        102.4     52.3     3.39    3175    92.5    52225   12331   1.025  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation         103.9     53.3     3.46    3172    92.8    52225   12345   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           103.3     50.8     3.29    3172    97.9    52225   12028   1.050  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                101.2     50.3     3.26    3170    99.2    52225   11551   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560                    105.0     55.1     3.57    3163    88.8    49223   13039   1.059  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213                        105.0     54.5     3.53    3161    89.7    51119   12600   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation          101.0     51.8     3.36    3156    92.5    52225   12097   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4                        101.0     51.8     3.36    3156    92.5    52225   12097   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                           97.8     51.8     3.36    3156    92.5    52225   12097   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3                          91.0     47.2     3.06    3151    99.4    52225   11603   1.062  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                       91.0     47.2     3.06    3151    99.4    52225   11603   1.062  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385                       103.6     53.8     3.49    3149    94.2    52225   12099   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                            90.8     45.9     2.97    3146    98.8    52225   11336   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation       105.0     54.5     3.53    3145    91.6    48532   12800   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15                       105.0     54.5     3.53    3145    91.6    48532   12800   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 105.0     54.5     3.53    3145    91.6    48532   12800   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903                       93.0     47.2     3.06    3145    99.3    52225   11518   1.061  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation        98.6     51.4     3.33    3142    94.7    52225   11905   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                        90.3     47.4     3.07    3139    97.3    52225   11707   1.052  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355                        92.8     46.6     3.02    3136    99.1    52225   11437   1.056  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   104.2     54.1     3.51    3135    89.7    52225   11963   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780             101.9     55.2     3.57    3128    92.5    52225   11792   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070                          97.5     49.5     3.21    3127    95.3    52225   11763   1.055  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                       90.5     45.4     2.94    3127   100.0    52225   10980   1.083  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT ~approximation        92.0     47.7     3.09    3126    95.4    52225   11391   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            98.1     50.1     3.25    3122    94.3    52225   11579   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                      100.0     50.2     3.25    3122    94.1    52225   11587   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                    105.0     57.3     3.71    3121    86.3    48104   12831   1.076  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2208                         91.0     45.3     2.94    3119    98.3    52225   11206   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon VARGET                      91.3     45.3     2.94    3119    98.3    52225   11206   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904                      101.4     51.3     3.33    3117    91.1    52225   11663   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064                            91.9     44.6     2.89    3115    98.5    52225   11086   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 50                   90.0     48.1     3.12    3113    95.7    52225   11454   1.047  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065                          96.1     48.3     3.13    3111    96.5    52225   11452   1.054  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT ~approximation        93.7     47.8     3.10    3107    96.5    52225   11214   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                     105.0     58.7     3.80    3106    91.9    48791   12334   1.062  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4451 Enduron                    93.4     47.4     3.07    3106    94.8    52225   11365   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150                     97.9     47.4     3.07    3103    99.8    52225   10817   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907                       94.9     47.8     3.10    3101    94.3    52225   11434   1.049  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7                          94.9     47.8     3.10    3101    94.3    52225   11434   1.049  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                        91.9     47.8     3.10    3101    94.3    52225   11425   1.049  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4955 Enduron                   104.8     52.4     3.39    3101    90.3    52225   11573   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N135                     94.1     43.8     2.84    3088   100.0    52225   10054   1.057  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4166 Enduron                    92.4     45.4     2.94    3084    95.0    52225   11050   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S361                       100.3     54.9     3.55    3072    90.0    52225   11309   1.048  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23                 105.0     52.7     3.42    3065    97.1    43899   12250   1.120
Rottweil R905                      105.0     53.5     3.47    3064    88.1    46884   12055   1.086  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                      105.0     53.9     3.49    3061    94.8    47754   11782   1.107  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2700                       91.9     49.2     3.19    3050    94.0    52225   10782   1.052  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP15                        105.0     53.3     3.46    3046    89.6    44359   12353   1.115
Winchester WXR                     105.0     53.3     3.46    3046    89.6    44359   12353   1.115
Hodgdon H4831                      105.0     52.4     3.39    3018    87.5    46728   11467   1.085
SNPE Vectan SP 12                  105.0     57.5     3.73    3015    87.0    44286   12331   1.111
PB Clermont PCL 517                105.0     57.5     3.73    3008    86.7    44043   12300   1.114
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation       105.0     55.0     3.56    2995    84.4    45962   11551   1.094
Vihtavuori N165                    105.0     53.3     3.46    2995    91.3    45630   11237   1.105
Vihtavuori N160                    105.0     51.7     3.35    2991    89.1    47036   11003   1.089  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                           105.0     52.4     3.39    2991    86.1    43110   11948   1.122
ADI AP 2214                        105.0     56.0     3.63    2971    85.9    44353   11700   1.109
Alliant Reloder-25                 105.0     53.6     3.47    2962    91.9    40095   12278   1.165
Lovex S071                         105.0     51.0     3.30    2862    91.5    39066   11044   1.218
IMR 7977 Enduron                   105.0     53.3     3.46    2862    77.9    45673    9964   1.109
Bofors RP30                        105.0     53.9     3.49    2829    83.0    35843   11640   1.233
Norma MRP 2                        105.0     53.9     3.49    2829    83.0    35843   11640   1.233
ADI AR 2217                        105.0     53.3     3.46    2777    81.2    37097   10710   1.209
Hodgdon H1000                      105.0     53.3     3.46    2777    81.2    37097   10710   1.209
Vihtavuori N570                    105.0     56.8     3.68    2764    72.9    34986   11429   1.249
ADI AR 2225                        105.0     54.2     3.51    2678    81.0    32170   10946   1.286
Hodgdon Retumbo                    105.0     54.2     3.51    2678    81.0    32170   10946   1.286
Lovex D100                         105.0     58.0     3.76    2669    70.0    36641    9511   1.232
Alliant Reloder-33                 105.0     58.5     3.79    2662    70.8    32615   10787   1.292
Vihtavuori N170                    105.0     53.3     3.46    2627    73.2    32975    9684   1.291
Vihtavuori 24N41                   105.0     57.4     3.72    2613    65.2    34288    9474   1.266
ReloadSwiss RS 80                  105.0     58.5     3.79    2594    69.1    31089   10381   1.319
ADI AR 2218                        105.0     57.4     3.72    2571    63.3    32164    9696   1.299
Norma 217                          105.0     53.1     3.44    2544    76.1    27437   10469   1.391
Hodgdon H870                       105.0     55.7     3.61    2512    68.7    28112    9889   1.378
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 105.0     57.0     3.69    2422    59.2    26254    9133   1.435
Hodgdon 50BMG                      105.0     54.7     3.55    2417    57.0    27945    8450   1.383
Alliant Reloder-50                 105.0     58.3     3.78    2410    62.9    25215    9586   1.444
Somchem 12.7-0                     105.0     55.7     3.61    2407    57.8    29202    7956   1.364
Hodgdon US 869                     105.0     57.4     3.72    2404    60.1    27679    8474   1.394
SNPE Vectan SP 13                  105.0     55.1     3.57    2345    63.5    24982    8419   1.454
Accurate 8700                      105.0     56.3     3.64    2295    59.8    24891    7925   1.456
PB Clermont PCL 513/520/9520       105.0     55.1     3.57    2278    59.9    23675    7957   1.488
Vihtavuori 20N29                   105.0     58.0     3.76    2252    56.8    23530    7879   1.492
NC A3502 ,test only                105.0     52.7     3.42    2150    41.1    23600    5860   1.492
TLP A 502(RH) ,test only           105.0     52.7     3.42    2119    43.9    21871    6108   1.538
ADI AS 25 BP                       105.0     18.2     1.18    2041   100.0    37156    3523   1.285
IMR TrailBoss                      105.0     18.2     1.18    2041   100.0    37156    3523   1.285
V1734 7-multiperf ,test only       105.0     52.7     3.42    1542    20.4    12784    2866   1.942

 

[mjcmichigan]

I was wondering if a solid would be better. Head or shoulder with a stout bullet. Even a 22winmag would be easy on the pelt.


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[Jarre]

@FOTIS: Thank you very much!

@mjcmichigan: I've excluded solids just to avoid a "hide-and-seek game" with a fox or badger stuck in a burrow. When it comes to more suitable calibers I'm stuck with 6.5x55 because of the gun regulations in Sweden.
22LR isn't enough and 7mm RM or 9.3x62 are way overkill in my opinion.

/Jarre

 

[truck driver]

Since you want to save the pelts how about using a stouter bullet that won't expand as much and less explosive. The other option is to down load the cartridge with the bullet of choice so it doesn't expand as fast.

 

[mjcmichigan]

I'm thinking light bullet so there is no exit vs heavier


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[mjcmichigan]

Here's a data point, coyote 35-45#, lung shots with 40gn VMax, drops every time, no exit wound.
Fox is smaller...maybe the 36gn varmint gernade


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