Fiinally getting around to loading for a new Howa in 6.5x55. I took a Lapua case and 130 accubond and barely seated in the case, then put it in the rifle to get an idea where the lands were. Took the round out and it only set the bullet back approximately .25" into the neck of the case. So, I'm working with a long throat. I tried this in the reloading section, but didn't get any help.
So my question is, where would you start with COAL? Thanks, JL
I'm in the SAME BOAT you are. I'll be watching for recommendations.
We have 1 place to start as a FALL BACK ON if we don't get good recommends. I've discovered that SOMEHOW the ammo makers have found a good compromise for a myriad of rifle makers.
My Rem 700 Classic in 6.5x55 shoots Nosler 125 gr Partitions with a COAL of 3.14" for best accuracy. This is about as far out as I can seat that bullet and still keep it in the case. I use 45.0 grains of IMR 4350 powder in Win cases and Fed 210 primers and get 2890 fps in my rifle with repeatable over several years 0.75 inch measured 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Nosler # 6 says max COAL is 3.15".
Think Weatherby. The bullet doesn`t always need to be out to the leade to get the best accuracy. The nodes can be found a ways back from it too. I start like the others with a bullet one caliber deep in the neck and work back from there looking for a sweet spot. Three Swedes later, all have gave very nice accuracy
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Get a Lee factory crimp die and seat it at whatever length you would like. Factory ammo is never seated anywhere the lands but most of the time, it shoots very well, I am told. And the reason is that factory ammo is crimped.
The Mayans had it right. If you�re going to predict the future, it�s best to aim far beyond your life expectancy, lest you wind up red-faced in a bunker overstocked with Spam and ammo.
.25" is dang near caliber deep. Load it up and see how it shoots.
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
Why mess around with a load that has the bullet barely retained in the neck? If you are going to carry the ammo hunting you may appreciate a robust cartridge that could be chambered a few times or even dropped without fear.
I would seat the bullet to have full neck contact (boat tail extended below neck junction) and fill the case up with H4831SC or RL22 until I found the right combination. Then possibly play with seat depth.
Both of my Swedes shoot tiny groups with tremendous jumps. One Sako85 Finnlight and a Tikka T3.
My COL with the 140 NBT is 3.1". I just picked that because the bullet had full neck contact and it was a nice easy to remember number. EVERY group in the 4831 load workup was .6" and I stopped at a charge that produced a .192" and happened to be firmly in a POI node.
The Howa 1500s in 6.5x55 are known to have a very deep/long throat and sometimes owners have found that shorter/lighter bullets have a lot of freebore which sometimes makes it difficult to find a consistantly accurate load for those bullets.
OTOH, Remington cut the chambers in their 700 Classic 6.5x55s shorter than average, so there are (or were) some brands of factory ammo that wouldn't chamber in them, IIRC, PMC was 1 that wouldn't chamber.
Despite the freebore found in Swedish military barrels, when using shorter/lighter bullets, I have had good success with the 129 grain Hornady SpirePoints, but generally shoot 140 grain bullets in my longer throated 6.5x55s. The 140 grain AMax and Partitions have been consistantly good shooters in the Swedish military barrels for me.
I loaded the accubonds last night to 3.15. I've also ordered some 140 amaxes to try in the rifle as well. I appreciate all of the insight and help. Thanks, JL
OTOH, Remington cut the chambers in their 700 Classic 6.5x55s shorter than average, so there are (or were) some factory ammo that wouldn't chamber in them, IIRC, PMC was 1 that wouldn't chamber.
Jeff
Same with the Winchester Mod 70 Classic CRF in 6.5x55. I have 2 Mod 70s in that round and the older push feed rifle has a really long throat but the newer CRF rifle has a much shorter throat. PMC ammo wouldn't chamber in that rifle either. I guess with the 6.5x55 it's important to know how the rifle is throated before loading for it.
I seat all my bullets to the base of the neck if the chamber/or bullet will allow it. I see no need to fret about bullet jump in the 6.5x55. That caliber had been shooting well for over 120yrs in alot of different guns.
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I seat all my bullets to the base of the neck if the chamber/or bullet will allow it. I see no need to fret about bullet jump in the 6.5x55. That caliber had been shooting well for over 120yrs in alot of different guns.
Wise and true words.
I have several Mil Swedes and never worry about the freebore. Accuracy with 120 and 140 Nosler BT's and R19 has been outstanding.
Swedes are chambered to accomodate 160 g roundnose bullets, which is why we see so much freebore with lighter spitzers.
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I am not a gunwriter, but am following your thread with interest. I have settled at about that same COAL using 140 gr SSTs. I tried to test the throat of my Howa 6.5x55 with a loose-fitting 160 gr RN. It seems to be too long for me to think about getting 140 gr bullets close to the lands. With neck-sized Lapau brass, 44.5 gr VV N160, 3.16" OAL, CCI-200 primers I am getting decent groups for my shooting ability (<0.9" for 5 shots at 100 yards) and adequate velocity (about 2550 fps). I have not done very well with 120 gr GMX. I look forward to hearing your results.
Over the decades I've loaded a lot of ammo without the bullet being a caliber deep in the neck--sometimes maybe only 2/3 of a caliber. Have never had the slightest problem.
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Not a writer - interesting thread. Have been shooting only 140 grain with 4831 in two Mil-based 6.5x55s for 40 years (140 gr seems optimum, with all shooting/hunting experience to date), have seated well into the neck and never worried about the gap - and yet they shoot so well. With these, I would not quibble much on OAL.
