I just purchased a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 X 55 and want to load the 130 gr. Swift Sirocco. Does anyone have load data for that caliber/bullet combination? Thanks!
The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!
See the 6.5x55 thread in the big game section. I have not used the Sirocco but for other 129-130 grain bullets 51.5 of R26 is starting to look like one of those universal loads that seem to work in a number of rifles. Proceed slowly as the Sirocco is a long bearing surface high copper content jacket bullet that can elevate pressure over more conventional bullets. I understand they can be picky on the seating depth acting some what like a VLD with either hard on the lands or off to way off working better. In other words don't write them off too soon if that is what you want to shoot. Good luck.
MRP, R22, 7828 and several others all work well in the Swede hard to find a bad combo with most rifles.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
Now that more tested data is out from Berger and Barnes my R26 may still be too hot. I will see how long the primer pockets last and adjust accordingly.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
I loaded some 130 gr. Sirocco's last week and headed to the range. I used Nosler load data for the 130 gr. Accubond, but after talking with the folks at Swift I found that I needed to reduce my max loads by 2 grains. I used 42.5 grains IMR 4350 and 45.4 grains of RL 19 as max loads according to Swift and seated the bullets to .030 off the lands for a total OAL of 3.072. I went up in .5 grain increments until reaching the published max. I was shocked when I hit the max load of IMR 4350 because they were all nearly in the same hole, a .085 group. The RL 19 load produced a group that was about .75 inch.
I've loaded up some more at published max of 4350 and RL 19. I want to make sure the 4350 load wasn't a fluke. The guy shooting next to me had a 038 AR with a muzzle brake on it and it would nearly knock my hat off every time he fired one off. I finally had to wait until he finished his 30 round mag before shooting the RL19 loads. The attached pics are of the final loads. The last one is my CZ 527 .223 that I was sighting in a new scope.
I hope to be able to chronograph those loads as well. It was a little too cloudy and I was afraid I wouldn't get good readings.
The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!
Congratulations that one target is the kind I would carry in my wallet until the paper fell apart when I was a kid. The shmoe with the break may have done you a favor as the added barrel cooling time could have improved the group.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
As you have seen not a good idea to arbitrarily use data from other sources on Swift bullets as they are unique.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli