Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5X55 Preliminary Tests 120 NBT

Of course it will. Otherwise no deer would have been killed with 357 M, 44 M & 30-30s.

I just 'demand' speed for trajectory--that's all.

Jerry

<grin> I will try Rl 17 IF I have to and I'll post results IF.




I have and use 7828 in my 270s...makes me wonder IF there's enuff capacity in the case ? Might have to check that out.

Thnx
Jerry


I really haven't been load developing very long for my 70 FTWT. I tried the 129s w/IMR 4831 and wasn't satisfied.

I will be testing the 120s w/IMR 4350 today -hopefully.


Thanks for the interest and INput -- guys.

I have some 120s loaded over some IMR-4350 as well. I will post the results when I get a chance.

Sell it and buy a 264 Win Mag.

It has crossed my mind!!

Knowing my propensity for 270s, 7 RMs, 300 WMs I doubt I'd have any problems finding satisfaction!


After reading about the 'virtues' of the 6.5 Swede/260 Rem/6.5 Creedmore... I thot I'd give one a try. Afterall if you can kill deer with a smaller case, less powder, and ESPECIALLY less recoil , I found a Win 70 FTWT. I've always loved the POST 64 FTWT - they actually are lighter.

I have hunted this Swede 2012-2015 with WW Factory 140 SP and killed several deer. They DO work, however the POOR trajectory just doesn't melt my butter, so.......

I have this new project and am making progress!

Jerry

I have a question or 2 for any of you.

Has anyone found a 6.5X55 OR 260 Rem load for...

120 gr bullet, IMR 4350 @ 49 grs----in a loading book/on line?

120 gr bullet, IMR 4831 @ 50 grs----in a loading book/on line?



[--I'm NOT counting Denton's pressure tested load in the Reloading Forum--Big Game Rifles--Good 6.5X55 loads--]

I have reasons for the questions. I'll tell why IF/AFTER there are any responses.

Jerry

I'm using 46.5 grs h4350 in a 22" barrel at 2950. That's noslers max too I believe.

You are over thinking this. Get some 4350...

D C -

I promise I'm not over thinking it. I have IMR 4350 & IMR 4831.

I am developing my load/s.

The questions still stand.

Jerry

Back in the day, I reformed brass from 6 Rem RP. Hint. For pure speed shoot a 6. But a 6.5 loaded well retains....with good bullets.

I like Lapua brass if bolt face and extractor correlate. My former SS Fwt ran WW - and maybe not by choice. Cannot recall.

Pick optimum powder for bullet weight. Then find your pressure with a kiss or as close to it. 70s have long throats so you may get a freebore but can still shoot DOA - deer of angle. Deer won't like you

65 -

The distance to lands in this 70 is , 2.715. I checked it yesterday. I 'think' I have some 160 gr bullets. If i do I'll see how long they'll seat off the lands.

These 120 NBT have long skinny noses but I don't think it's a long jump to lands. Even if it is that would allow more powder/less pressure.

I am making progress and have more things to try/test/check.

W/O telling all now, I will say I feel better about the Swede than I have so far.

Still looking for anyone that's found those loads from ANY published source.

Jerry

IIRC loads for a Swede are IME often 1.5 gr higher than a 260 but throats vary. Brass. Etc. I would post on 6mmbr.com as many swede shooters there as well. My old Noz manual seemed to have some good loads for the 120 BTs last I looked.

Jerry,

Yes to both questions:

Speer Loading Manual#11, page 153.
Rifle:Swede Mauser Model 94 w/ 18" Barrel(1-7.5 twist)

Maximum Load:

IMR 4831 50.0 grains @2820fps with 120gr Spitzer
IMR 4350 49.0 grains @2788fps with 120gr Spitzer

Just wanted to say that I used 120 grain Ballistic Tips in my 260 last year to take two nice big bodied southern whitetail bucks. The first weighed 180 pounds and was 180 yards away. Bang Flop. The second
bottomed out a 200 pound scale. Estimate him at about 230 pounds. He was 275 yards away. Dead right there as well. Both deer were high shoulder shots. Both broke the spine. The first one exited. Recovered the second under offside hide.

These were from Federal factory loads that my chrony said were doing about 2850fps. These shot under an inch at 100 yards and were about 2 inches at my 270 yard steel deer target.

I believe the 120 NBT is a perfect deer bullet at 260/6.5 swede/creedmoore velocity. Can email pix of the deer and the targets to anyone that wants to see them or help me post them here.

SD -
Thnx, I don't have Speer #11.

I have older books with 260 Rem & 6.5 Swede-NONE show those loads. My NEWEST manual is Nosler 7, they don't list these charges.

I've been on line Hogdon & Nosler- they don't show those 'charges'. "THEY" list LESS powder and velocities from @2900-3000. AGAIN I can't get near that speed w/their charges.

I have shot 50 IMR 4831 AND 49 IMR 4350--the primer pockets are STILL tight. Velocity with IMR 4350 is pretty decent. All this is 'because' of Denton's Pressure Tested loads. THANKS

Thnx Again, I'll post more as I get to shooting groups. I'm getting there.

Jerry

65 -

I double checked today. My 70's throat is 2.715 AS BEST as I could consistently measure. With a 3.000 COAL that is NOT a long jump to lands.

I barely seated a long bullet and THEN closed the bolt and let the riflings seat the bullet. I had a little doubt about doing it the other way...but today I confirmed it.

Jerry

DC -
Have you chronographed that at 2950 ?

I know about diff specs in bore, throat, & components, but I am not close to 2950 w/46.5 grs.

Jerry

jwall,

I doubt you are going to find reputable published loads at that level (except perhaps in older manuals, but notice the claimed velocity on the Speer #11 load) simply because it exceeds SAAMI guidelines for the 6.5x55 of 46,000 CUP/51,000 PSI.

Denton's pressure tested load shows 59.4 KPSI, which exceeds the SAAMI max by about 16.5%. That doesn't mean it's unsafe in your Winchester FWT, since that action should handle it just fine. If you want to use Denton's load in your rifle, by all means do so.

But finding that as a published load? Nope.

P.S. You may also wish to label any loaded ammo as "6.5x55 @ 60k PSI" so it's never mistakenly loaded in an older 93, 95, or 96 Mauser.

Azar -

Yes sir, I understand and agree.

It seems to me that BY NOW there would be loading data 'designated' for Modern Firearms. At the same time "Bubba" doesn't read or comprehend so the liability factor may weigh heavy !!

Thanks for the suggestion of labeling MY ammo. Good idea.


ALSO I haven't found similar loads for the 260 Rem either. It's easy to find velocity listed but the charges don't produce what's claimed FOR ME.
I have chased 260 loading data and ' I ' haven't found those charges.

Having had 243 and 6 mm R I know there is 1 grain 'working' difference with the 6 using that additional gr. the 6.5 and 260 are VERY similar to the 243/6mm comparison.

Thanks again

Jerry

I look at it like this: Having a larger capacity, the Swede loaded to modern pressure should be able to best the velocities obtained from a 260 Remington. A bunch of published data shows the 260 producing 2900 fps +/- with 120 grain bullets and 4350/4831 class powders.

Unless my rifle told me otherwise I wouldn't be afraid to load to the low 2900's in the Swede with similar powders and a 120.