Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Favorite Powder For 6.5 X55 129-140 Bullets?

Ramshot powders are supplimented with strontium 90 and naquida. They shoot faster than anything else, plus they take your trash cans to the road when you're not looking. It's good stuff.

So, Mule Deer is a Knight now?

Assuming you're talking about modern rifles, and looking for a combo of good accuracy and high velocity, then here are my first choices:
140+ grains: H4831SC, IMR4831, Rel. 19
120-129 grains: H4350 or any of the 4350s, Rel. 19
90-95 grains: XMR4064, H4895

The above powders perform great in my Tikkas and #1A. However, I plan to try some of the Ramshot powders this year since they have worked fine in other cartridges for me.

MT DD - YES, and I should have stated that in my OP.

I have a Win 70 FTWT @ '90 model in 6.5X55. Also there is a plethora of info on loading for OLDER rifles.

Thank You for bring this to my attention.

Jerry

I shoot my 6.5x55 quite often and like the following powders.

95-100gr bullets -IMR4064
120gr - Rel 19
129gr - Rel 22 or Winchester WXR [Grafs had some REALLY cheap and it is a different lot of Rel-22]

I would look to WXR of Rel-22 for any bullet heavier than 120, but I have never loaded anything over 129grs. The Hornady SP wokes so good, I don't see a need for anything heavier.

back when I shot the Swede and H4350 is what it perk along with 140 Sierra HP's.

Dober

My 6.5x55 works well with IMR 4350 and RL19 with 125 and 140 grain NPs.

Well, if limiting yourself to one powder, and one powder only I'd have to go with RL-22 as well. Temp. sensitivity and all. It's been the most consistently accurate powder I've found in my rifle. And I've tested it from 129g to 160g.

Ramshot Magnum would be another good choice. As would Ramshot Hunter and one of the 4350's. I've not used 7828 much in the 6.5x55 but it's one I'd give a try if you already have a stock of it on hand.

Azar - I WOULD LIKE to not add more lbs of MORE kinds of powder.

I have several diff powders now. Among them are IMR 4350 & I4831
& I7828.

From the Hodgdon site, w 120, 129, & 140 bullets I4350 & I4831 give the highest vel. 2900, 2800, 2700 respectively. And that is LIMITED to 46000 psi.

Sooo I may already be in the ball park. I'm looking for the FAVORITE powder from you guys who've been shooting the 6.5X55 long enough to have PICKED the powder you like best.

Thanks; Merry Christmas; Happy New Year
Jerry

According to the A-Square manual, RL22 IS MRP.

5sDad - Thanks for the verification. For a few years I lived close to Red Stick, La (Baton Rouge). There was a LARGE s g store that handled GUNS & LOADING components, N.A. Guns which stood for Norkauer (sp ?) Assoc. They stocked some Norma powders. At the time I didn't have the extra money to use N powders.

Other than that I've never had Norma powders readily available, so I haven't used any.

It's great to know that Rl 22 is MRP.

I'm equally excited to know that Rl 17 is CLOSE to H 205. Understanding the burn rate relationship of 17 to 22 makes sense.
H 205 fell EXACTLY between IMR 4350 & IMR 4831. (for my applications) And MRP is/was slower burning than IMR 4831.

This makes for some interesting loading possibilities.
Thanks Again
Jerry

Used to use surplus H4831 with 129gr. When that was gone I tried RE19 and RE22 with 120 to 140gr and stuck with RE22.

CORRECTION ! CORRECTION !

I just noticed Hodgdon's pressure is listed as C U P. Not PSI.

If you want to know the correlation between PSI & CUP, our EINSTEIN (SERIOUSLY,not mocking) Denton has the mathematical forumla. on 'shootingsoftware.com'. I googled psi vs cup and brought it up. He has 6 pages and IN THERE is a formula. He has a great treatise on this subject.

I found what I needed.

Thanks Denton

Vihtavori N560, WXR, and Reloader 22. I have enough of these on hand, to last longer than I will live. But I would like to try the Ramshot powder.

Has anyone tried Retumbo in 6.5x55 with 140 grain bullets? I have some left from my 30-378 and 300 RUM days.

IMR-4350 has ALWAYS worked in all of my Swedes....haven't tried the H-4350 in the Swedes yet, but its all I realistically need in my Creedmoors.
good luck,
johnny

jwall,

If you already have a good stock of IMR 4350, 4831, and 7828 you have the range of powders you need (although you could also use 4064 if going for a lightweight 85-100g load). IMR 4350 was the first powder I ever tried in my 6.5x55 and it worked great with a 140g Hornady SP. I've never used IMR 4831 and only dabbled with 7828 SSC in the 6.5x55. But there is enough data out there with the "old standby" powders to get you what you want.

But, my answer to your original question about my favorite powder in the 6.5x55 is still Reloder 22.

Good luck!

Thanks Azar - Yes, I'm stocked well with the old standbys. Before these newer powders came along I found loads that delivered the Accuracy & Vel. I wanted SOOO I haven't felt the need to change.

NOW I have a new caliber to me. 6.5X55 and wanted to know from you guys EXPERIENCED w/it what your preferences are.

As of now, Rl 22 has the majority recommendations as for number. Other good powders are mentioned so I already have a couple of good powders to begin.

Also since Rl 22 is CLOSE or the SAME as MRP I have ideas for possible applications in some other calibers I have. Therefore I might very well use it elsewhere as well.

Thanks Again,
I'm still listening:

Jerry

+1 H4831sc with 140
Works well in my model 70

Use IMR 4064 and the charge weight of your rifle's choice.

jwall,

I recently picked up a New Haven Model 70 Classic Featherweight in 6.5x55, accordingly my experience with this cartridge is limited but I'll offer what has been working for me.

I shoot 130's and 140's with H4831sc. It certainly works well, but I'm still dialing it in.