|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697 |
I've got a 6.5x55 SE and a box of 129 grain Hornady soft points for which I'd like to develop a load.
What have been your favorite powders in this application?
I currently have Reloder 19, Reloder 22, IMR 4350, IMR 7828 SSC, and Ramshot Magnum. Of those I figure RL-19 and IMR 4350 would be best suited. I was also thinking of picking up either H4350 or XMR-4350 to play with, but that might have to wait until after Christmas.
What powder would be your first pick for this combo?
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
I like 7828 in my 6.5 because it works well with bullets from 120 to 160 grains in weight. RL 19 is my second choice and it works very well with the 120 - 140 weights. Can't go wrong with either for the 129.
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
IMR 4350 would be the way I'd go first. The lil experience I have with the Swede I used H4350.
Best of luck to ya
Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 874
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 874 |
RL-19, 120gr. RL-22 140 gr. ...... Buckfever
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,854 Likes: 16
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,854 Likes: 16 |
In load testing my 6.5 T3 I found RE22 & H4831sc worked best with nearly all bullets...seems the Swede likes 'em slow....Varget actually surprised me with the Nosler 120 BT...but still ended up using H4831sc w/120s..of your inventory..I'd suggest RE22 & 7828ssc...hard not to get the 6.5x55 to shoot...
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,762
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,762 |
I must confess, I was born at a very early age. --Groucho Marx
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when they deserve it. --Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437 |
My 6.5x55s really like RL19 with a 125 grain NP. I don't see why it wouldn't work well with a 129.
μολὼν λαβέ
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965 |
My 6.5x55s really like RL19 with a 125 grain NP. I don't see why it wouldn't work well with a 129. RL19 does work well with the 129 Hornady: If 'ol Joe is recommending RL22, I'm sure it works well too. H4831sc is another good powder for the 129 Hdy.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,116 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,116 Likes: 2 |
There is no lack of good alternatives for the 129 in the 6.5x55. The one I'm using at present is H4350 for 2950 FPS in a modern action.
Be not weary in well doing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697 |
All, please feel free to mention any powder not in my inventory. I'm nearly out of IMR 4350 and getting low on RL-22. I'd like to try either IMR 4831 or H4831SC and the other 4350's. So don't worry about keeping to recommendations to which powders I have on hand.
Thanks for the feedback.
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,342
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,342 |
Ol military swede I shoot loves RL-19 and Norma 156 gr RN as it packs em into lil 1 hole clusters and 1 of the most accurate rifles Ive ever owned...................
broken bones broken heart stripped down an torn apart a lil rust but Im still runnin countin miles countin tears twisted roads and shiftin gears year after year its all or nothin Im not home and Im not lost just holdin on 2 what I got...God and Guns
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,533
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,533 |
I've gotten good accuracy with IMR4064, CCI200 primers and Lapua brass with the Hornady 129. This is in a Kimber 96.
Just down the road from The City of Lost Souls in the Land of the Blind. Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,697 |
I picked up some H4350 after Christmas. I think I'll start with that, then try RL-19, then RL-22.
It's a bit hard to find any loading data for RL-22 and the Hornady 129g SP. I usually like to check 3 or more sources before working up a load, but the only one I found was Hornady #7 listing 45.4g as max.
Anyone have any RL-22 and 129g Hornady loads?
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,503
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,503 |
The 129 Gr. Hornady SP is my favorite 6.5x55 bullet. The best powders with that bullet,in my experience, are IMR-4831, H4831 and RL-19. 4350 is also a very worthwhile thing to try; but in my Kimber sporterized Mod. 96, the 4831's and RL-19 gave me a slight edge in accuracy. Let your rifle make the choice. Getting into the heavy end of the spectrum bullets, like 160 grs., is where I had my best results with stuff like RL-22 and IMR-7828. For bullets about 140 grs., try any of the above mentioned powders.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,762
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,762 |
I picked up some H4350 after Christmas. I think I'll start with that, then try RL-19, then RL-22.
It's a bit hard to find any loading data for RL-22 and the Hornady 129g SP. I usually like to check 3 or more sources before working up a load, but the only one I found was Hornady #7 listing 45.4g as max.
Anyone have any RL-22 and 129g Hornady loads? The Hornady #7 stops at 45.4gr of R22 with their 129 gr. I go a bit higher....
I must confess, I was born at a very early age. --Groucho Marx
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when they deserve it. --Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965 |
I picked up some H4350 after Christmas. I think I'll start with that, then try RL-19, then RL-22.
It's a bit hard to find any loading data for RL-22 and the Hornady 129g SP. I usually like to check 3 or more sources before working up a load, but the only one I found was Hornady #7 listing 45.4g as max.
Anyone have any RL-22 and 129g Hornady loads? The Hornady #7 stops at 45.4gr of R22 with their 129 gr. I go a bit higher.... I go a fair bit higher than that with a 140.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,091 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,091 Likes: 2 |
I have been messing with some 130 gr Accubonds in my Swede.I have shot the 140 gr Sierra Game King for years,but wanted a lighter bullet, yet longer to try to better match the twist and reduce the jump. The 4350 did not work out for me this week, I retried the H4831 and it still does the trick. 3/4 " groups. I plan to try 4895 when the weather breaks again, but doubt it wil do as well. Also,my swedee just doens't seem to like anything that I push past 2800fps
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,841 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,841 Likes: 5 |
I'm surprised no one mentioned RL 17 with the 129 grain Hornady in this thread.. seems like that would be an ideal combo in this case...
I haven't tried it yet, but that only means I need to get out and do it.
RL 17 has been pretty darn accurate in the other cases I have tried it in.
I only wish Hornady still made the 129 and 140 grain bullets available in the RN configuration still...
that would be my bullet of choice then.
of course if that was the case, my load choice would be 30 grains of RL 7 and the 129 RN... that is all I need at wood's rifle ranges..
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 653
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 653 |
[quote=Seafire]I only wish Hornady still made the 129 and 140 grain bullets available in the RN configuration still.../quote]
+1. Scored a couple of boxes of both a few months back. It's been a while since these were around.
Best Regards
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,167 Likes: 16
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,167 Likes: 16 |
I have had excellent luck with H4350 in that bullet weight class, but it's pretty tough to develop a load that won't shoot in the 6.5x55. Another good one if you want to go really obscure is Norma 204.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
587 members (10gaugeman, 12344mag, 10Glocks, 1234, 06hunter59, 17CalFan, 67 invisible),
2,103
guests, and
1,254
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,775
Posts18,495,739
Members73,977
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|