6.5x55 Powder

[nrar15]

What would be a good powder for 6.5x55? Will be used in modern actions 24-30" barrels 140gr SMK's was thinking of going with H4831.
THANKS
Bob

[savageboy]

I use both IMR and H4831 and H4831SC. I also got a deal on a jug of Accurate Arms XRM4350. It shoots good too. My Sweede likes about any 140gr. bullet I have ever put down the tube. Speer, Horn A-Max, Sierra, etc.

[Stu]

Mine likes rel 17 behind 140 vld's or 142 smk's

[dcloco]

I use H4831 or H4831SC. Planning to try RL17.

Stu - what kind of velocity are you getting with the 142 gr SMK's?

(note, mine is a 6.5x55 AI on a modern action)

[davemuzz]

Modern action (Savage) RL-22 and Berger VLD 140gr. 48 or 49 grains of powder (yes, this is over the recommended max so you must work up to it and use at your own risk. However, I have shot several hundred rounds and have gotton zero pressure issues from my Swede.) Over my chronograph I get 2724fps using 48gr., and 2811fps using 49gr. The Berger's give me .5" groups at 100 yards.

I don't have the powder charge (again RL-22) for shooting the Barnes triple X 120 grain bullets, but they simply shoot one ragged hole at 100 yards. Yeah.....when I shoot these I swear I miss the entire target after the third shot.

FWIW

Dave

[nrar15]

Picked up a couple pounds of H4831SC anyone have a good starting load for 140SMK's will be used in my 23" savage to start.
THANKS
Bob

[Apache]

+1 on RL-17

Haven't used it in the 6.5x55 parent case but the wildcats I've built from that brass sure like it. Case capacity seems optimal for it.

[Stu]

I use H4831 or H4831SC. Planning to try RL17.

Stu - what kind of velocity are you getting with the 142 gr SMK's?

(note, mine is a 6.5x55 AI on a modern action)

I'm getting 2850 fps with 44.5 gr. of rel 17. It's a straight 6.5x55, Mcgowen 8.5 twist, 26" on a 110 action. So an ackley may do better.
I loaded up to 47 gr. when i was working up this load, and never had trouble with pressure. But the velocity planed out and got erratic with anything above roughly 46.5 to 47, and accuracy fell off also. 44.5 was the sweet spot in this gun. THIS IS ALL WELL ABOVE PUBLISHED MAX SO WORK UP WITH CAUTION. ;D

[pa_wdchuckhuntr]

I'm just in the infancy of reloading for my new swede build (less than 150 rnds) but thus far H4831, H4350 & Reloader 22 have shot the best. I've tried Hybrid 100V and IMR 4831 as well with sub par results. There's some Reloader 19 on the shelf begging to be shot but I haven't got there yet.
I've exceeded published max loads by 2 grains on all my loads and have had no pressure signs. H4831 is shooting good around 48grs, H4350 around 44grs and Rx 22 in the 49-50grs range. All loading has been done with 142 SMK's.

[nrar15]

Thanks for the info will start to load for my 23' Shieln barrel waiting on my 30" Brux for Devin and my action fron Fred and will start loading for it. :D
Bob

[Stu]

I have edited my post above. I had posted the recipe that i had worked up for rl19 by mistake when i originally posted it. I had them wrote down side by side and looked at the wrong figures. Sorry. :-[ 44.5 gr. rl17 is my load for 140 vld's and 142 smk's.

[nrar15]

Would 4831sc use the same data as 4831? Need to get some ammo loaded for my Savages.
THANKS
Bob

[sinman]

Better start loading for the 30" Brux, the chips start flying from it tomorrow.

[pa_wdchuckhuntr]

Would 4831sc use the same data as 4831?

Yes

[nrar15]

Devin sounds great my action came back from SSS Thursday and is getting lonely sitting here will be great with that 30" hanging on it.
Bob

[okie2]

6.5X55 loads
Nosler's most accurate loads are with 140 grainers at .490 BC
IMR 4350
H-1000
RL 22

[nrar15]

I've got some 140 smk's loaded with H4831sc that I hope to try this weekend. Want to start the break in and get some brass fire formed then try some neck sizing never done it. Have a Lee colet die to start with may buy a bushing die later. I'm not a bench rest shooter most of my shooting will be prone at 300-600 yards.
Bob

[wbm]

I've shot the 6.5x55 in four different rifles. M96, M38, Shilen barreled Savage, and currently a CZ550. In all of these rifles I started with Reloader 22....this is considered to be the "go to" powder for the Swede. However, I never achieved the accuracy with that powder that I thought the Swede could shoot. The best groups with each of these rifles came with Varget, IMR4350, H4350 and finally, and the very best of all, Alliant Reloader 17. In the CZ550 R-17 and the 130 Berger VLD are a great combination.

A word of caution about the Reloader 17: Alliant's published data for Reloader 17 lists 38.5g for a 140g bullet in a commercial action. From my experience and several others this is way off the mark. That load with a 140g Sierra Match King results in a muzzle velocity of 2200-2300fps. Your rifle may be different but i'll bet you find that you can load 44-45g of R-17 without any problems. Give the following a careful read and you will seel what I mean. My reloading results are essentially the same as his.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?74630-Preliminary-test-results-with-Reloader-17-updated-11-17

[JeepsAndGuns]

By far the best groups I have ever gotten have been with H100V. I had never heard of this powder untill a friend told me about it and worked me up a load in quickload.
I have used H4831, RL22, and IMR4350. RL22 has been the worst preformer of the powders I have tried, H4831 did ok, IMR4350 did really good, but burned so dirty I could only get 10 accurate shots before my accuracy droped big time from the powder residue.
So far my best group has been 5 shots at 300 yards at right about 7/8in. Using H100V and berger 140gr HPBT target long range.
Savage action with a 28in 1in dia douglas premimum air guaged barrel, 1-8 twist.