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Posted By: Tennessee 6.5x55 Reloader 19 Results. - 03/18/11
I could not find any great data for RL19 in the Swede so I took the some 260 Rem data from the Hornady manual and started at their max load and worked up. With those first few charges accuracy was good but velocity was un-impressive.

When I hit 50gr things got interesting, no pressure issues though. A 130gr Berger hitting the 2900s!

Sako 85 Finnlight 22"
Lapua case
CCI BR2 primer
Reloader 19
Berger 130gr HVLD
COL 3.13 (long throat)

50gr 2901 @10ft SD9, 5 shots= .626"
50.5gr 2935 @10ft SD8, 4 shots= .731"

50gr group
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Tennessee, R19 is my go to powder. My Swede is a Ruger 77 and my rifle would not handle your load. That doesn't necessarily mean your load is to hot, but I'd suggest you see how many loads you can get before your brass gives out. If primer pockets give out before five or six loadings, I'd back off some. Likely you already know that; but wow, that's some great looking group!
I was a little nervous with those top loads because I was in uncharted water with that powder.

I think the small bearing surface on the Berger, long throat and long COL is what made the hefty charge possible.

Looks like you way ahead of me. You're probably right. Go kill stuff. Good luck.
Great group. I stayed at 48.5 in my Tikka T3 but it was because of accuracy the firearm handled 49 grn OK. Like that RL-19 in a 6.5x55. Try a 120 grn. Barnes TTSX and watch the the deer go down. Very good combination for me. Buckfever1
Originally Posted by Tennessee
I could not find any great data for RL19 in the Swede so I took the some 260 Rem data from the Hornady manual and started at their max load and worked up. With those first few charges accuracy was good but velocity was un-impressive.

When I hit 50gr things got interesting, no pressure issues though. A 130gr Berger hitting the 2900s!

Sako 85 Finnlight 22"
Lapua case
CCI BR2 primer
Reloader 19
Berger 130gr HVLD
COL 3.13 (long throat)

50gr 2901 @10ft SD9, 5 shots= .626"
50.5gr 2935 @10ft SD8, 4 shots= .731"

50gr group
[Linked Image]



6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser
Nosler 6th Edition (2007) Manual Pg 228
130gr Accubond
RL 19 Starting 43.5 grs, Vel. 2506
Most accurate 45.5 grs, Vel. 2642
Max 47.5 grs, Vel 2775

Heres a link that also has RL 19 for the swedish mauser http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=120

I put this up here for a reason, on this forum I have noticed that some handloaders seem inclined to put up loading data that with a little research proves out that they are a definate overload. While they may be safe in YOUR RIFLE or APPLICATION, they could very well get somebody hurt extremely bad or killed.

My rule of thumb is if I cant find a manual in the last 20 years,( And I buy each new manual as they come out, 14 as of now over 25 yrs) that has that combo listed, or a known source on the web that has that combo listed, then I will not put out the particulars of that load. While I may get away with a 1 or 2 grain overload for awhile someone else may not. So please do not publish unproven loads. Handloading is a great hobby, but as with everything else in the shooting sports SAFETY FIRST.

Just my 2 cents

Swifty
Swifty, your source for load data is for a Swedish Mauser, not a modern action.

Sako 85 is a modern action.

Apples to oranges.
Originally Posted by kyreloader
Swifty, your source for load data is for a Swedish Mauser, not a modern action.

Sako 85 is a modern action.

Apples to oranges.


The "Swede", the 6.5 Swedish, the 6.5 Swedish Mauser. Same damn cartrige. No Apples to Oranges. Same damn thing. My data isnt wrong. Remember shooting cornstalks and yotes at 400 to 500 with an old iron sighted Swedish Mauser 6.5 X 55 circa mid 80s.
Or is there a 6.5 X 55 Sako round, thats called the Swede made in the last year or two that I dont know about?

Swifty

Here is an article from Guns&Ammo telling why reloading data is modest for the 6.5 Swede. Here is an excerp,

"If there is a drawback to the 6.5x55, it's the fact that the first military rifles�the Swedish 93 Mauser in Sweden and the Norwegian Krag�were not necessarily strong actions. Consequently, chamber pressures established for the civilian market were set at a very modest level. This had nothing to do with the case design, which is as strong as most modern cartridges, but the strength of the original actions. The military rifles that flooded the U.S. market from Sweden after WWII were a newer Model 96 Mauser, which was considerably stronger than what the 6.5x55 was originally designed for."

Read more: http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/the-65x55-swede#ixzz1H0UVvmIL

That article at the top has a load listed for 130g AB at 2900+.

Hodgdon has all of their load data max at 45,000 CUP, but modern actions can take more pressure than that. Lapua 6.5x55 brass is rated at 55,000 CUP.

No reason to think that a "modern" Sako 85 action cant do 2900 fps with 130g bullets.
I`d be leery about starting at 260 Rem max loads in your 6,5x55.

The 260 runs 60K psi SAAMI max and is only about 4gr max water weight smaller in capacity from the 6.5x55 depending on brand. I`ve measured both cartridges personally.
Noslers #6 lists 47gr of R19 with a 130gr bullet for the 260, and 47.5gr for the Swede with same wt bullets. Their 6.5x55 data is listed as for "modern" actions and is probably 55k psi range which would be CIP max piezo for the Swede.
Speer has noted in their older manuals they load the 6.5x55 to 50K CUP and not the 46k CUP/51K psi SAAMI std and intend it for modern actions. Their -Speers- newest #15 claims they run it to 58K psi, and stops at 46gr of R19 in the 6.5x55 with 120gr bullets.
I have no idea how much pressure your 50gr & 50.5gr R19-130gr bullet loads produce but, you`re definitely past the 260s 60K psi IMO. The loads are probably safe in your rifle as you haven`t seen trouble yet but,I agree with Swifty52, you are pushing the Swede pretty hard
Sirs, there is a difference between a much older WW11 action and a new comercial action. Some of the powder companies even quote it that way ,Allient. Every gun is a little different. As far as killing power the mid range loads probably are just as good as the max. loads. The only difference to me is the flatter trajectory. By the way nobody is right or wrong here, thats why we reload so we can do it our way. Buckfever`
Originally Posted by Tennessee
When I hit 50gr things got interesting, no pressure issues though. A 130gr Berger hitting the 2900s!


That's what I had going with H1000 at 50 grains and a 120 pill. Over 2900 FPS with zero pressure signs. I have a mental thing about compressed loads so I didn't keep that load. 52 grains of H1000 is max in my book.

I had flattened primers at 2750 FPS with RL22. Crazy.

Because of accuracy and the fact that 45 Grains of RL22 was not compressed I backed off a grain and stayed with it.
I'm using 46.0 grs of H4350 with the Hornady 129gr interlock Spt. in my CZ550. I clocked them at 2800 avg fps in my chrony.

Accurate and works very well on WT deer. I was going a 1/2 gr higher, but the accuracy was better with the 46 gr load.

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