Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5x55 and 140gr+ loads and powder recommendations

This is a continuation of a previous thread I started. I was in a search for a good elk bullet. This site has some powder/load info for smaller grain bullets and my previous thread was starting to see some great load info being posted.

I research the heck out of forums and m hoping all your awesome info will help other searchers.

What I'm hoping is to figure out is the right powder and successful loads for heavier grained 6.5mm bullets.

I am specifically looking at 140gr partitions and 155gr lapua mega.

Other larger grain 6.5x55 loads would be great to see info on too

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

The two best powders I have found so far for the heavier bullets are IMR 7828 ssc and H 4350. In years past I also tried IMR 4350 with excellent success. Those powders have worked well for bullets from 120 gr - 160 gr. I'm sure there are other great powders but those are the ones that have worked well for me.

Norma MRP, very clean and consistent

I've had luck with RL 22 and 140 grain bullets.

Thanks folks. Would you use those powders over multiple bullet weights. Specifically the nl 140gr and 155 mega or 156gr oryx?

Yes, all the powders mentioned so far will work well with the bullet weights you are looking at and even lighter than 140's.

I like H4831 in my 140 gr loads.

I've shot 139 - 143 gr bullets with H4350, H4831, RE22, RE23 and Ramshot Magnum in a new Tikka 6.5x55. This particular rifle prefers H4350 to the other powders...

i have use MRP with 3 different 140's and the 142ABLR

Here are some other loads from my previous thread where I was trying to dial in an appropriate 6.5x55 bullet for elk.
As I went through this I started to realize why I am so confused on what powder to get for 140 Partitions and 155 mega or 156 Oryx

Here are the loads:


140 gr Partition at 2780 fps powered by RL-22 (user: gunner500)

52 gr H1000 will get you just about 2800 fps also with a a 140 gr. Partition (user: wyoming260)

Im using Norma MRP 51grn. and rem 9 1/2 primers with Lapua brass. 3.150oal in the same set up as you. Tikka T3X 6.5x55. its pushing Moly'd 140 partitions and
AB/ABLR at 2920fps (user: magnum44270)

H4831 and the 130gr AB (user: antelope_sniper)

Half inch, 155 Mega over 46.5 H-4831 (surplus powder I bought in the ‘60’s) at around 2,500 FPS. I understand this old powder may be a tad slower than current
production H-4831. It smells like new powder, no dust. It performs very well. (user: Dirtfarmer)

I shot quarter and 1/3 MOA groups with 139 Scenar over 47.2 MRP at around 2,650 FPS. 45 gr RL-17 was almost as accurate, still sub MOA, and
faster at 2,749. (user: Dirtfarmer)

I'm running the 142 gr Nosler LR Accubond in my Swede and in my 264 WM. In the Swede ( a Model 70 w/ a Pac-nor 22" barrel) I'm using 45.5 g IMR4350 for
2810 fps. Groups are .3-.33 5 shots. (user: Bbear)

Just skip everything else and go straight to RL 22.

Can someone help clear up my confusion regarding powders, please and thank you:
- In simplest terms, depending on barrell/bullet, a heavier the bullet and a faster burning the powder will result in higher pressures.
- So when I hear about slow burning powders, is the goal to have a complete burn of all the powder just before the bullet leaves the barrel?

In regards to my needs: I would like to sling both a 140gr and a 155/156gr bullet at a higher rate of speed (hoping for 2600+ft/s).

1) Due to the greater weight of the 155gr bullet, would it require a slower burning powder than the 140gr in order to avoid high pressures?
2) If I used a 'faster' powder for the 140gr, could I use that same powder for the 155gr and still expect to get decent velocities without going past max pressures.

Again, I'll really like to see these bullets leaving barrel at 2600+ft/s in order to minimize drop out to 200yds.


Appreciate all your assistance and patience. I am definitely a newbie and want to ensure that I get this right...

Cheers.

H4831sc........H4350.........VVN560.....oh yea.......RE22 !

The Swede is a classic !

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/6.5x55.html

This is correct but with the Swede a 140 is considered heavy for the caliber so slow to real slow powders work well for this range of bullets. I am using R26, R22. & MRP with good results but will even try some AA8700 with the 160s just to use it up. Old data shows it can get 2600 fps with modern pressures but still very low pressure for 8700.

Thank you answering my question!

160s at 2600 sounds interesting ....


So short and sweet, in what application would you use:
R26:
R22:
MRP:

I am hoping your asnwers will help me understand a person's powder choice when there are some many options....appreciate the schooling!

Dapesche,

There is not an answer to that question and the reason why is because every gun is different and will respond different. In one rifle RL22 might be your best powder but in another rifle it might be MRP.

I would recommend you pick 2 powders and compare or if you want to pick only one powder I would get RL22 .
While there are generally a number of best powders for an application the only way to know which one is best in your rifle is to try them. One nice thing about the Swede is they tend to shoot well with just about anything IME.

Trystan

I tagged "Good loads for the 6.5X55 swede" for you to take a look if you want



Trystan

This pretty much sums up the options. Thank you.
I have a tikka 6.5x55 so I am curious to have your opinion.
Would like to see a NP 140gr moving faster than 2700ft/s from the muzzle and hopefully see a 155/156gr bullet moving at 2500-2600ft/s from the muzzle.
Which powder best accomplishes that in our tikka without having to worry about blowing it up....

I've gotten better than 2700 from a 22 inch Ruger with a 140 from a few powders. IMR 4350, H4350, IMR 4831 and RL19 mainly.

All of the above will work well. R26 would probably give the most velocity and is the most stable so I would start there. MRP was designed for the Swede and R22 is just a different iteration of MRP slightly faster in some lots and more variable.