6.5x55 modern rifle reloading

I recently purchased a T3 Hunter and started researching load data. I can’t find any actual published data for modern firearms. I understand the liability with all the M96/94s out there but I don’t actually know what my expectations should be. I always err on the side of safety and work my way up but I don’t want to start 5-10 grains low if I don’t have to. Any actual experience would be helpful. I’m reading that 4350, R22, and R26 are all decent powders for the 140 grain bullets. I think I have a decent supply of Midway Amax blems to work with. I went to the trouble to put decent glass on the rifle so I’m looking for a dual purpose load. Target/hunting. Yes I know a wood stock T3 is not a bench rifle but I’m going to do the best I can with it.

I do have a reasonable amount of loading experience and understanding. Thanks again.

6.5 Creedmoor, 52.5 gr H20

.260 Rem, 53.5 gr H2O

6.5 X 55, 57.9 gr H20

Having said that, for .260 Rem and 140 gr bullet, I've safely loaded as heavy as 43.8 gr of H-4350. For 6.5 Creedmoor I've safely loaded as heavy as 43.0 gr of H-4350, and as heavy as 44.0 gr of IMR-4451.

If it were me, I'd get some IMR-4451, and begin at 43.0 gr, working up in .3 gr increments. I'd go and look for maximum for THAT chamber, going to compression. If I found pressure before I shot all I had loaded, I would stop, and pull the hotter loaded cases.

I started this thread on another forum that has a lot of 6.5X55 shooters.



Good 6.5x55 Loads

I see the 4451 is right between the 4350s on the burn rate chart. It took me a while to find data on it since my books are a few years old. Is the suggestion of 4451 because of availability or is it proving to be a better powder. The reason I ask is I have imr 4350 although I never mind trying new powders.


Scott thank you for the link. I’ll check it out.

Availability and good reports of temp stability, and low ES. Think I read here Hodgdon is trying to get us to migrate awat from H-4350 as it is made in Australia, and go to IMR-4451 as it is made in USA.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

I use that site almost daily. I plugged in your parameters, they've got a 6.5 X 55 and IMR-4451 maxed out at 43.0 gr. Keep in mind, they also say maximum charge for a 6.5 Creedmoor is 40.0 gr H-4350. And that just isn't so, all of us run it between 42.0 and 43.0. So I would go past 45.0 gr in your rifle, if it were me. Again in .3 gr steps. Start low, ease up. If you see pressure, stop, and pull apart the hotter charges.

Thanks for sharing this link Scott, there's a lot of useful info here. I'm putting together a 6.5X55 as soon as I receive my barrel and I'm looking for some modern action data.

45.5 of H4350 was good for 2710 FPS with 143 ELDX
using Lapua brass.

Barrel length?

22”

Noslers on line manual is pretty close to the other Modern data I;ve been able to find.

Several years back I had a T3 Hunter Swede and used the old One Load book to get started and then shopped the loads across several different manuals. Only my Hornady books were "soft" load wise, and the Sierra data particularly with the 120gr Sierra Pro Hunter wasvery successfull in RL19 under WLR'son game with sub moa groups. Got boringly good accuracy and just never felt the need to run any 140gr'ers. Also used Nosler 130gr AB's with Hornday 129gr data and got good results accuracy wise. Never ran the loads over a chrono though. Be sure to look at the Nosler on line manual IMO it seems to be the great average load data, or real close and then let the rifle tall you what it wants.
Ron

Thanks for all the info. I’m going to start with 140 Amax and Hornady HPBT match. Turns out I have more H4350 than IMR 4350. I looked for the 4451 today but they didn’t have it. Oddly the had H4350 in abundance. $$$$$$ though. $37.95/# I hope I don’t fall in love with the H then have to pay the price.

These are components I already own, if I’m not happy with it I will definitely come back to this thread as I generally trust the advice I get here. Thanks again guys.

I did get a chance to shoot with some factory ammo today, not at all impressed with the Fiocci ammo but it is super cheap so you get what you pay for. The new VX-6 HD is very nice glass. If I can make the rifle shoot then we can talk about tracking.

I load for the 6.5 Swede. Savage action with 24 inch barrel.

Hunting load
129 Hornady SST - 48gr RL19 -2800-2825 (CCI Benchrest primer)
140 Sierra Game King - 47.4 H4831SC - 2650ish CCI 200 LR Primer
143 Hornday ELDX -46.9 RL 22 CCI Benchrest primer (no chrono data)

Target loads
47gr H4831sc 140 SMK CCI Benchrest primer
2667 2688 2692 avg 2682 fps

47.5 H4831sc 140 SMK CCI Benchrest primer
2715 2690 2699 avg 2701 fps

47.5 H4831sc 140 SMK Winchester large rifle primer
2719 2734 2729 avg 2727 fps

47.8 H4831sc 140 SMK CCI Benchrest
2716 2728 2736 avg 2726 fps

47.5 H4831sc 140 Amax Winchester large rifle primer
2755 2747 avg 2751 fps

Interesting the Winchester primers netted you more speed than the cci in the same load. Thanks for the info, I finally have my table set back up and will start loading again tomorrow.

I have been a fan of the sweede for quite a while. 3 shots is not a big sample, but I like the ES of your A Max load at 7. If it groups tight, that is something to work with.

Dunno what the load was, but when I first started using a Swede umm in 2008 and wanted something "good enough for elk" in another caliber, sent me some pics of the Elk his wife had killed with a custom barreled Swede and 125gr Nozzler Partitions that were running at about 2950 fps MV's out of a 22" barrel, but don't remember the brass he was using, but probably was Lapua.

Lately I keep hearing about folks getting up to 100+ fps boost out of RL26 too, and will give that a try once I burn up the couple lbs on hand of RL19 & Rl22 first.

FWIW I've always used WLR's and felt like they were a little hotter, but again need to burn up the on hand stuff 1st before I go 'xperimenting for just another 50fps. East Texas hogs will make a great year round test medium.
Ron