Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5x55 SE 127gr. Barnes LRX Powders & Velocities

Hi all,

I've been looking into a firearms and ballistics for a few years now and I've arrived here:

I've messed around with GRT (Gordon's Reloading Tool) and am curious if anyone has got a 6.5mm 127gr. Barnes LRX that breaks 3000fps from a 6.5x55 Swede?

22" barrel, ~49gr. Ramshot Hunter or alternatives, Just shy of 65,000psi peak pressure, ***modern action.

Is this feasible? I know I could go 270 WIN, but I don't want to if you know what I mean.

If anyone has any experience involving a 22" barrel, the 6.5x55SE, and the 127gr. Barnes LRX, I'd really appreciate some validation of concept and powder recommendations before I financially go chasing the dream.

Many thanks,

Northern

I'm not sure you can get 3K FPS with that combo. I'm using 47.5 grains of RL19 and a 130 Accubond and getting 2775 FPS out of a Barrett Fieldcraft with a 24" barrel. Mybe someone else wll chime in that uses the LRX.

Here's an old thread with RL23 and 129 grain Interlocks in a 23.6" barrel..... not apples to apples: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...nd-the-129-grain-hornady-sp#Post11728982

Here's an old thread with IMR4955 and 129 grain Interlocks in a 23.6" barrel..... again not apples to apples and IMR4955 no longer made: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...cs/11887033/6-5x55-imr-4955#Post11887033

An interesting QL result with RL26: https://forum.nosler.com/threads/6-5x55-rl-26-with-hornady-143-eldx.39532/

Perhaps N555 or N560 could get you there too.... I think these are two great overlooked powders.

I think bottom line is that with a 22" barrel you are in "PROCEED WITH CAUTION TERRITORY".

Here's Barnes online data site. https://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/


Take a look at .260 Rem and 6.5 CM with the 127gr LRX ..... Some good data..... not apples to apples for Swede but can give you some additional insight. Superformance and StaBall 6.5 could be two other powders.

Be nice if someone can provide some QL info up to 65K psi.

Again, you are in "PROCEED WITH CAUTION TERRITORY".

You are right mentioning N560, and probably N555 too.
Though not being the same cartridge, I have a lot of experience with the 6.5X57R which has virtually the same case capacity and the same old style cut chamber with a long freebore as both were meant, initially, to shoot long round nosed bullets.
And with N560 I easily get 2,950 fps in my 24" barrel. I worked my load up to 3,000 but finally settled down on 2,950 which gave me a slightly better accuracy.

The thread using the RL23 combination makes for interesting reading in terms of velocity but it unfortunately doesn’t say anything about accuracy. Good luck with your quest, I will be interested to see how this progresses. Great cartridge the old Swede.

I have a 6.5x55 on a Savage action. It's a 24" Criterion barrel. I did minimal load work up with the 127 lrx and ended up with 48.2 H4831. It was going right about 2930. It shoots bug holes so I didn't mess with it anymore. Could probably go up a bit more since primers look good with easy extraction. Never felt it was too hot.

You might get close to 3000 fps with Reloder 16.

The combination below produced 2907 fps over a 10-shot average. No pressure signs on the brass or primers.

Tikka T3 Lite Stainless 22.38" bbl
Barnes 127 gr LRX
Lapua brass trimmed to 2.157"
Fed 210 primers
3.050" coal
0.120" off lands
0.0020" neck tension
44.7 gr H4350
2907 fps 10-shot avg

The default burn rate for H4350 in QuickLoad had this combination running at 2766 fps, so I was a bit freaked out initially. But like I said, no pressure signs. Accuracy, ES and SD weren't great. The best groups with this rifle, bullet and powder can be found in the low 2800's.

With my max safe load of Rel 26, Barnes 127gr LRX I get 2913 fps from the 22.4" bbl of my Tikka stainless 6.5x55. Since this is such an accurate load I haven't tried other powders. Not the slighest sign of over pressure with this load. Also using this same Rel 26 & the Barnes 127gr LRX I easily get 3039fps from the 22" bbl. of my Savage stainless 260 Rem. using 2 grs less powder than I use in the 6.5x55. Strange , but true.

Hey folks,

Thought I would add my info from today at the range.


I got 3006 fps today from my 6.5 x 55 and H4350. Rifle is a Sako 85. Lapua and Nosler brass and a CCI primer. Temperature was around 60 degrees F. Bullet seated .105” of the lands. I had some inconsistent minor pressure signs and didn’t go past this. The Nosler brass had some light extractor marks but the Lapua was fine.
Here are the velocities and I will caution you to start lower.

45.0 grains 2831
45.5 grains 2887
46.0 grains 2923
46.5 grains 2967
47.0 grains 3006

This was a 3 round average. Something to note my cold bore shots since I started working with Barnes are 40 fps slower. After the first round follow up shots seem to be consistent.

The group started opening up at 46. I was 3/4” with 45.0 grains and 1.5” at 46 grains.

Again, every rifle is different and approach with caution. I have a Sako and tikka varmint and they don’t handle pressure the same. start much lower, use new, good brass and work up. I wouldn’t trust this charge with any other brass and won’t be repeating with Nosler brass. I have used Nosler a lot for my Swedes but this is well past the limit. The Lapua brass seems much stronger. This experiment was just to see what is possible and I will be working around 45 grains with the LRX.

I am going to do some ladder testing next with H4831 SC. My goal is 3k with no pressure signs and better accuracy. I am pretty sure this is achievable.