We have been shooting the #26 in the 6.5x47, 6.5 Creed, and the 6.5x55, the powder gives lower pressures with speed, seems to have a very gentle pressure curve with no spikes. 26 seems to like specific primers, we use the fed 215 in the 6.5x55 and the 6.5x55.
Here is the load in a 24", 8T brux with .169 freebore on the reamer, Remington 700 long action. Tikka's have a lot of freebore, more than .169, so Tikka loads as you have seen will take a tad bit more powder.
6.5x55 with .169 FB, lapua brass
Fed 215
130g nosler accubond, 127g Barnes long range
51.5g is a safe working max load for this particular barrel and chamber
Accubond seated .005 off the lands, Barnes is jumping .050
3150 fps, very low SD
1/2"-3/4" with the Accubond and about 1/3" groups with the Barnes
Repeatable bug hole accuracy at 48.5g with both bullets at 2850 fps, primer edges are very round with out the slightest hint of pressure issues, we neck sized the cases at this point
143-147g ELD
2850 is the accuracy node that shoots 3/8" groups, 2900 is 3/4", safe working load
These loads are accurate and safe in this one particular barrel, work up to these in your barrel.
If you get on the 26 bandwagon, play with primer choices, you will see huge differences. The 6.5x47's we played with, we formed cases out of Lapua 22/250 cases so we could use hotter primers which helped a lot in group size.
Last edited by keith; 01/14/18.
