Lighter load for 6.5 x 55?

[huntsman]

All you handloaders out there:

I need to work up a load for my 6.5 x 55 Swede that will reduce recoil to use for my daughters when they target practice, but that will be potent enough on medium whitetails out to about 150 yards. I would like to use the 120-grain Rem core-lokt bullet. Studying the ballistics charts for this round and related calibers (.264), it appears that pushing the 120gr at about 2500 fps muzzle velocity will achieve what I want.

Does anyone have a recommendation for grains/type of powder that would achieve about this fps figure? These rounds will be used in a rifle with a 21.5" barrel. I'm not sure what the twist figure is on this barrel, but it is a Kimber-customized M98 with either a plated or stainless barrel.

[John Traveler]

Huntsman,

Your idea is a good one, and I heartily endorse it

The 120 grain bullets give noticeably less recoil kick than the standard military size 140 grains.

Recoil will be somewhat like the .243 Winchester using 120 grain bullets.  Moderate, and comfortable shooting for youngsters.

Any of the medium to slow rifle propellants give good velocity in this cartridge ( IMR 3031, I|MR 4046, IMR 4895, and others).

For your carbine-length 6.5x55, I would use reloading manual starting load data and work up from there.  emphasis on accuracy, and not maximum velocity.

Your twist rate should be fine for most everything from light-bullet varmit loads to the full-power military bullets in that carbine-length barrel.  I shoot the M38 Swedish Mauser with fast military-twist and it stabilizes just fine with 120-160 grain bullets.

Good luck shooting AND hunting!

HTH
John

[todbartell]

Try H4895 powder.  It is awesome for downloading a little.  I'd try 34 or 35 grains with that 120 gr. Cor Lokt for 2500 fps or so.  Hodgdon shows a max of 39 grains for 2812 fps in a 24" barrel with the 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip.  A 120 gr. @ 2500 fps would be potent medicine inside 150 yards, and recoil would be quite low, good for a new shooter.  Good luck.