Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 x 55 hunting loads...

I have a tikka T3 in 6.5 x 55 on the way.

I will start with 120g TTSX bulletts.
Then maybe the new LR accubonds.

What powder wouild you start with?
Where to find load data to match a modern rifle?

I'd sure consider the 130 Berger and H4350.

Dober

Great round, Nosler's data is pretty good and doesn't seem underloaded. I would start with IMR 4350, H 4350 and H 4831 Sc, If you want to try 140's or heavier I would add IMR 7828 ssc.

I have had my best accuracy with H4831. 130gr Accubonds and Sierra Game Kings

With 120 - 130 gr. bullets I've done well with H4350 and with 140 gr. bullets I use RL22.

Shooting a Tikka T-3 Hunter in 6.5x55 has been eye opening, it seems to like just about everything I've put through it so far.

My two choices would probably be Ramshot Hunter and one of the 4350's.

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5 Swede and I am shooting 125 gr Nos Part with
H4831 SC 52.0 gr at 2900 fps, and H4350 48.5 gr at 2890. Both shoot great.

Beware these are over published max and generate 59,000 PSI, basically what a 308 Win generates.

This is the best load I found for my Blaser R8 in 6.5x55:

140 grain Sierra Game King, BC .495, 51.0 grains of H4831SC, Lapua brass, Federal 210M primer, 3.000� OAL, 2790 fps

Be aware this load is above book max and is only known to be safe in my rifle; however, it's widely known that a lot of book data is low for 6.5x55 because of older actions. Use at your own risk and work up.

IMR 4350 in both of my Swedes and my 6.5x57. Both cartridges are loaded above one book and at max of another and like those loads.

Ditto, up to 48 with the R22 and 140s (always did best with between 47 and 48). Data on the Hogdon site works well for the 4350, but max is not always max.

This is on a Rem 700 action.

Also check here, in my experience Steve's data is great but his max is usually over what I've found to be max.

http://stevespages.com/page8a.htm

I have tried H414, H4831, IMR4831, and IMR4350. They all work well. I think the 6.5 Swede is the 30-06 of Europe as far as incinerating powder goes. Haven't found an inaccurate load yet. Especially in the Tikka T3.

Bullet?.. Hornady 129 gr. SP; Powder?.. Play with either of the 4831's, or RL-19 and see what your barrel prefers.

I've had excellent luck with H4831 CCI200 primers and the 130gr Nosler Accubonds. Inch with iron sights. I recommended this load so someone on another forum for his Tikka and his posted pic was a very small clover leaf.

155gr mega with lapua cases and H4831sc. Perfection in my ruger #1.

H4831sc in my Tikka Swede

Lapua brass Rem 9.5 primer

The Swede is not all that fussy in my experience so lots of different loads work. For me an outstanding combo has been 48-49grs of R22 and the 120gr Nos.BT in Lapua brass. In my Ruger M77 I get about 2850fps with great accuracy.

Well thanks for all the great info.
I do have some lapua brass ready to go.

For the T3 guys and 120 to 140g bulletts:
How far off the lands do you start your testing?
Or are you loading out to fit the mag?

48.0 grs RL-22 and a 140 Partition will put ya in good company with the 6.5 Swede.

Gunner

RE OAL, in a hunting rifle, start at magazine length. If you do not get satasfactory accuracty by varying powder charge, then you can worry about OAL.

since it is a Tikka action, use about any 260 Data, and work up a little from there...

if their's is made on an 06 sized action, with appropriate mag length, make sure the throat is reamed out to the action length..

on my 6.5 x 57, I had that done, and it makes all the difference in the world.. same as a 6mm Rem on a long action does..