Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles factory 6.5x55 loads

so what factory loads have you 6.5 swede fans used and liked?

Ive used the Federal and Remington factory loads and was satisfied with both,I think I paid less for the Remington factory loads.I was able to buy some close out Norma rounds once and they shot well also.

Just picked up some Hornadys, haven't tried them yet. I have used Winchesters and PMC with good results. I like the 140 grainers.

I`ve shot Remington 140gr and PMC 140s and much prefered the Remington stuff. Especially the empty cases when it came to refill them.

The Federal 140 gr Power Shock in the blue box, shoot great in my Tikka. I have yet to slay anything with them, but wouldn't hesitate to do so...

I got some PMC stuff that blew a couple of primers it was so hot. I pulled the rest of the bullets. I bought it a a gun show and it was supposed to be new. Maybe someone reloaded it, but then again, I think I've heard of that before with PMC.

In any case, the brass wasn't even any good. I reloaded it once and it showed signs of casehead separatation. So, I would recommend Remington or Hornady. The Hornady stuff has always shot really well in my rifle.

I dont do factory ammo ever,I craft my own,Ive an old swede mauser thats been customized and with Reloader 19 and 156-160 gr. round nose bullets this rifle shoots groups as well as any rifle Ive ever owned,its just awesome................

I shot my first whitetail with PMC 139gr in my sporterized M38. I picked the PMC because they were listed at 2850fps on a ballistic chart I had. I later found out it was a typo and that they were loaded to 2550fps just like Win, Rem and Fed. I didn't tell the dead deer though!

i have a tikka T3 hunter[wood stock] it has a 1:8 twist....it shoots all the norma 156gr. loads to less than an inch and CPC loaded 140gr. partitions to just over an inch....i'm probably going to go to the 140gr. partition for all medium game with this rifle....conley will load the 140's to about 2850 fps.....but you had better not shoot them in any military surplus firearms.....just to be on the safe side....regards....bearit....

Maybe a bit off the subject here-
I remember one of Mule Deer's articles in I believe, Handloader, about the 6.5X55.
He said that the factory 6.5 Swede ammo(from US ammo. makers) was loaded to the power level of 'burrito gas.'

:Grin:

Sounds very deadly...

Booo what a party crasher.

Sorry!


I just remember chronographing some Winchester 140gr 6.5X55 loads out of my Winny M70 22".
2500fps at the muzzle!
Slooooowwwwwwwww....
:Grin:

CPC will load just about any 6.5 cal. bullet to 93 octane levels for the responsible shooter....bearit...

Whaling.......grin.

Just today found a box of hi-performance Federals in 129 gr that claim 2770 fps! Let's see how they actually shoot in my custom #3 stalking rifle with a twist designed for the lighter bullets. If they approxximate the same loads performance in .280 Rem, I'll be out looking for more of them.

1B

Hornady 140 gr sp.....Luv em!!!

I tried those and got the biggest deviation from advertised specs that I ever have encountered. The box says MV of 2600, and I got 2383 out a 23.5" Sauer 202. I easily got over 2600 loading 140 grain partitions within loadbook specs (and loadbooks are very conservative with the Swede).

I will NEVER polute the barrel of my swede with factory!!!
buy a .260 for that!!.
Dave

UKDAve,

Just curious about your "no pollute oath". Lots of US shooters also live by that code, but they have incredible access to hand loading supplies.

I ask out of ignorance... In the UK, can you also draw from and own that wide range of powders, brass, bullets, and reloading equipment?

Regards,
1B

1B
Handloading is no big deal over here, everything that we need can be purchased over the counter without any probs.We have on offer the same as you guys use we just pay more for it eg,$131 for 100 NOS paritions!!
Dave