Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL-17 loads for 6.5x55

I really like RL-17 in my 6.5-284, 48.8 gr. pushing 140 VLD's at 3,000 fps with low S.D's.

I'm working on a new project, a 6.5x55 Shilen/FN, and note that mostly slow powders are recommended. My best group, so far, is with the 139 gr. Scenar and Vv N-560. The .260 shooters, from what I've read, like RL-17.

Has anyone used RL-17 in the 6.5x55? That round isn't much different than the .260. I would appreciate loads for 130's and 140's, as I don't see published 6.5x55 data for modern actions using RL-17.

DF

What was your max with RL-17 and other 140 gr bullets in the 6.5-284 . My recent rebarreled 6.5-284 is reamed for the Lapua brass.
and seems to take more powder to equal old chamber.

RL 17 seems to burn a little faster than H4350 in my experience. 48 grs of RL 17 was max in my 6.5 X 284 with most 140 gr bullets and with the 140 gr A Max it,s max was 47 gr.

I had someone run a quickload on the 6.5x55 at 65k psi once. QL predicted that the slower burners, like your 560, would generate the highest velocity with both 130's and 140's. RL22 and IMR7828 were both predicted to run well, too. If I remember correctly, the 4350ish powders(inc RL17) were about 100 fps slower.

48.8 gr. was at an accuracy node. 50 gr. was around 3,100 fps, but too much pressure and accuracy way down. It went from less than 1/2" to 1.5" with stiff bolt opening. My Vv N-165 load topped out at 2,950 fps. RL-17 stretches the velocity without hurting accuracy. This load will put 5 bullets into 2" at 400 yds.

DF

Vv N-560 and RL-22, so far, have been top 6.5x55 powders for 140's. Haven't tried 7828.

RL-17 is faster burning than Vv N-165 and it outperforms the slower burning powder in the 6.5-284.

I checked RL-17 load data for the .260 and 41. gr. pushes a 140 gr. bullet at 2,645 fps. The 6.5x55 has 6%-7% more case capacity than the .260. The 6.5-284 has 28% more case capacity than the .260. (68.3 gr. H2O vs. 53.5 gr.). These relationships are not linear. If I added 28% to the 41 gr. .260 load, it would be 51 gr. which is way too hot for the 6.5-284. If I add 6% to the 41 gr. .260 load, that would be 43.4 gr., which I think may be too much for the 6.5x55.

I think I could start with the max .260 load of 41 gr., use my chrono and work up slowly.

RL-17, although faster burning than powders these rounds historically like, is a progressive burner and behaves differently. If it's a champ in the 6.5-284, and .260, seems it would be a performer in the 6.5x55. I already have good 6.5x55 loads with RL-22 and N-560. But, I would like to see what RL-17 could do in this round, based on my experience with the 6.5-284.

DF

DF,

I tried it when it first came out, I bought a couple of pounds and tried it in a batch of cartridges...it did fine in the Swede and 260s, but nothing that I would go out and buy tons more of...

about anything shoots well in the 6.5 x 55 unless it is highly worn out and then it will still do wonders with the right powder...

there was no data at the time when it first came out, but I called an spoke with Ben Amonette at Alliant there in Radford, and he told me they were informing folks to just use IMR or Hodgdon's 4350 data.. work up of course...

so I did so and worked a little beyond max loads ( working up of course)..

I admit, the two powders I reach for in the Swede in my Ruger or Model 70 is RL 15 or IMR 4064

For the military Mauser, I use RL 7 and SR 4759....

RL-15 and 4064 for what weight bullets?

DF

actually for 140s and down... 40 grains of either with a 140-142 grain bullet will give me 2800 fps...

120 grainers give me about 2950 fps

100 grainers I can run at 3350 fps...

90 gr TNT's run at about 3450 fps...

85 grain HP Sierra's are right at 3500 fps...

Rifle are Ruger 77 Mk2 and Model 70 Long Action.. both throated out to take the 160 grainers...

data is either from load manuals for the 6.5 x 55 or from using 260 data and working up...

most common bullets for hunting with them are the 140s...usually 140 grain Corelokts as I got a 1000 for like $75 bucks before prices went up long ago... on the same internet buy, I also bought 500 6mm 100 grain Corelokts for $50....

also had about 800 Nosler bullets consisting of 100 grain Ballistic Tips, 100 grain Partitions and 105 grain RN Partitions from the Shooter's Pro Shop on an overrun for a European Manufacturer...

just got in a 1000 new 100 grain A Maxes in 6.5 also...

Toys toys toys...

Sounds like you're good for bullets, at least for a while...

I was just thinking about how different the loads for .260 and 6.5x55 seem to be. And, are those two rounds really that different...?

I'm hoping to find out.

DF

handloaded they are pretty interchangeable in my experience..

especially in an modern action....

I do know that a Remington 6.5 x 55 case and a Winchester 7/08 case necked down to 260, both of them hold exactly the same amount of H 380 filled to the brim....

Pathfinder on Gunboards.com did some good work with the 6.5x55 and RL-17.

DF

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...t-results-with-Reloader-17-updated-11-17

I just got back from my range. I had some target 140 gr. VLD's that I put together with progressive loads of RL-17. I ran the chrony, starting with 41.5 gr, which is the published max RL-17, .260 load with 140's.

Velocity was 2,460 fps.

As I went thru the series, velocity increases were linear, nothing quirky, as cautioned by Pathfinder.

The last three loads:
44.2 gr. 2,674 fps.
44.4 gr. 2,703 fps.
44.6 gr. 2,735 fps.

I'm using a long COAL of 3.15", which gives more powder room. I feel I could move on up, as there were no signs of excessive pressure. I may try the 139 gr. Scenar, the most accurate of all bullets tried in this gun, so far.

The RL-17 loads all grouped around .7"-.8", which is about what this gun has done with 140 gr. VLD's historically. There seemed to be no "accuracy nodes", per se.

I'm deciding if I want to pursue RL-17 or go back to Vv N-560, which is my best performing 6.5x55 powder, so far.

DF