Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Accuracy loads for 6.5x55 with 140gr bullets?

Okay, you guys got me doubting my shooting skills now! I'll have to pay more attention to that.

Last night I managed to get 52gr of Retumbo under a 140gr Speer pill. The powder came halfway up the neck and the bullets seated about even with the bottom of the neck. Was able to make pressure too with the once-fired cases showing 2-3 "tenths" CHE. At least now I know Retumbo isn't necessarily too slow. It certainly changed something! They printed about 10 inches lower and 4 inches right of my H4350 load. Unfortunately, it didn't group any better, about 4 inches at 200 for three shots. Something's goofy, and I hope it's the shooter. Will try the same load again tonight with a different shooting technique (holding the rifle in my hands instead of resting on the sandbags). It may be bouncing off the bags.

10 inches lower, check your MV then.. probably lower pressure..
indicating too slow of a powder..

if you desire that slow of powder, I've had the best accuracy with H 1000...

think you'd be getting better groups with RL 19...

myself.. I use powders in the 4064, RL 15, Varget, H380, BLC2 burn range with 140 grain bullets..

Seafire,

That's the plan if I can't get better results with a different shooting form. I have Varget, Re15, and a little 4064 (I think) on hand to try. It's not that I particularly want to use a real slow powder, I'm just looking for accuracy. Velocity and powder choice are secondary, always.

I also noticed that the outside neck of the cases fired with Retumbo have a distinct spot where the soot line moves forward toward the mouth, goes about 60 degrees around the mouth, then back down toward the shoulder, sort-of like a square wave. Soot on the neck doesn't surprise me given the slow powder, but the "square wave" pattern makes me wonder if the chamber is out of round, or something.

I will probably find out eventually what I'm doing wrong. Then it will be like the commercials that say "I could have had a V8!" while slapping my forehead.

Bags far apart might help steady a little if you get good contact, but having the front bag further rearward often seems to give the least 'inconsistency' due to bag giving issues w/varying pressure on forearm - IME.

EVERY 6.5x55 I shot/owned has typically done 1" at worst at 100...at 200, you should be getting 2-3", if not half, w/a gun shooting well, you, your loads, and conditions.

Here is some data sent by Berger that was generated via Quick Load for 24" barrel:

6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser
Bullet Powder Start Load Approximate Start Velocity Max Load Approximate Max Velocity Fill Ratio
140 Grain H4831 SC 44.0 2494 47.1 2700 95.2%
140 Grain IMR 4350 38.5 2575 41.1 2675 86.7%
140 Grain NORMA MRP 44.0 2563 47.2 2775 95.4%
140 Grain Ramshot Magnum 47.5 2543 50.8 2755 99.1%
140 Grain VIHT N160 41.5 2429 44.6 2621 93.2%
140 Grain WW WXR 43.5 2531 46.6 2733 94.7%
140 Grain RE 22 43.5 2544 46.4 2736 95.8%
140 Grain AA XMR 3100 42.5 2504 46.1 2661 96.3%
140 Grain NORMA 204 40.5 2489 43.2 2665 88.3%
140 Grain VIHT N165 44.0 2499 46.8 2657 96.5%
140 Grain IMR 4895 35.0 2522 37.2 2644 78.4%
140 Grain IMR 4064 35.0 2475 37.1 2593 78.1%
140 Grain RE 19 40.5 2408 45.0 2669 92.7%
140 Grain H4350 41.5 2503 43.5 2620 88.7%


Please cross check with other sources to be sure that no typos got in here. I could not get the nice formatting from the original to carry into this post.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and data. I shot another 3-inch group at 200 yards tonight with the Retumbo loads. That's good enough for deer at 200, but I want better. I'm about ready to try my first epoxy action bedding job.

Big Red, I haven't had time to get into loading for my 6.5X55

but some months back I had a thread about the Best Powder for the 6.5 X 55. RL 22 had the MOST recommends. Far and away more than any other powder.

The comments gave RL 22 the best accuracy & vel. You might want to consider it.

Good Luck
Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I will.

Well,I ran up 50 grains of Ramshot Magnum and 46 grains of RL22 with my 140NP's....and so far, RL22 is a winner,but not by much,both loads under 1". With Magnum powder it was beginning to open as the barrel got a little warm.No pressure signs,now to work on seating depth and maybe a Ladder test....
and Thanks JB..it's a good start!
Also while at the range I had worked a load of "Hunter" for my 6.5 Creedmoor with 123Amax and 125 NP's!!! That was a winner!
Both bullets,.5-.75 and same POI!! Just what I wanted!

Another slow burner that works with 140's in the swede is H1000. Try 51-52 gr, shoots exceptionally well in my Tikka and my heavy barrel custom.

Thanks blue.

I went out with the Ruger again. This time I started with a cold barrel and only shot 3 rounds. At 200 yards the first two were less than an inch apart, but the third went out an inch or more. I'm starting to think the thing likes to shoot only a couple rounds and hates being warm at all. I'm wondering if the barrel would respond to cryogenic treatment. OTOH, it doesn't take more than one shot to put game down so I'll prolly just leave it and go hunting.

Three inch group at 200 yards, that is 1.5 moa, heck I would have no problem with that kind of accuracy shooting well pass that distance. I would give some though that maybe your scope is behind the problem? You could hit a grapefruit with that kind of accuracy and that is all the accuracy you need to bring home the venison.

Here in Scandinavia, the 6.5 x 55 is as common as dirt. It is used in a LOT of long range competitions.

I do not know what powders you can easily get, but here Vihtavuori N150 or N165 or N550 are often used for long range competition. N550 is perhaps the most common at my local 600 m range, and Lapua's data will give you 2882 fps with 140gr bullets -- and usually fine accuracy.

You can download the complete Vihtavuori Reloading Guide (2012) edition HERE,

Worthwhile downloading it for a reference. Free too!

John

Thanks Marlin for the chart (list)

I have an observation for 6.5 X 55 loaders.

This chart was supplied by Berger it IS NOT mine.

I noted the higher vels with >>

I noted the lower vels with <<

As I told Big Redhead, some months ago I had a thread about "favorite (best) powder for the Swede". Rl 22 was the favorite.

In that thread and here some recommend 4895, 4064 etc. They are faster burning powders and give LESS vel.

Even in a limited or smaller capacity case SLOWER BURNING powders yield HIGHER vel.

Just an observation trying to help.

I've always thought that to be an odd idiosyncrasy with RL 22. It will vary like the elevation on a roller coaster ride but it will provide rock solid reliable accuracy once dialed in. Never have understood that.