New Rifle on the way. Need your input.

[SteelEye]

I am having a Tikka WTH 270 lefty rebarrelled to 6.5x55.  This will be my first centerfire rifle.  Most of my silhouette shooting will be at 200 yards as the ranges closest to me shoot at this fixed distance using 1/2 size swingers and 1/2 size animals.

I'd like to hear about load recommendations as I'm sure there are a few of you out there with similar configurations.  I'll be putting a T36 on top.

I haven't bought dies yet.  I'm leaning towards Redding and willing to shell out extra dollars for good quality dies.  I'm not wild about Remington brass or bullets.  Have not had reasonable results with 7TCU and 300 Whisper in the Contender.  Looking at Lapua brass and SMK.  

All ideas and suggestions greatly welcomed!

Thanks,
Burt

[eroyd]

I bought a Tikka WT synthetic in .308 (short action) for hunter class silhouette. Topped with a somewhat heavy B & L 6x24 on Tikka's steel bases it just made weight. (I had to remove the scope sunshade and swivel studs). I doubt a similar setup with wood stock on a long action would make weight.

[SteelEye]

The smith building the rifle knows the weight limitations.  The scope weights 17 ozs.  Don't know about the bases.  Hopefully, we can squeak in under the wire.

[dave imas]

shooting 6.5 x 55 in Sako TRG.  38gr N135 with 105gr bullet.  around 2725fps through factory barrel.  light recoil.
dave

[Steel killer]

Steel Eye
My shooting partner shoots 6.5X55 Wood Stocked Tika, he makes weight with a weaver t-36 and light scope mounts and bases. The lightest set up would be a custom alum rise screwed on with  the vertical split alum rings made by Busnell.  Lauppa brass is the way to go. Make sure that the Reamer you Smith uses will allow you to touch the lands (short throated) . I am setting up a Sako long action in 260 just so I can touch the lands with the shortest bullets 6.5 speer 95 gr TNT's and the 139 Lauppa the longest bullets I will shoot. I found the 260 easier to develop a good load far.
Good Luck
Steel Killer

[dave imas]

my apologies if you are an elite master shooter and already consistently scoring in the 90% range.  if you are not, you will be using too much magnification on your scope.  one of the most frequent self inflicted wounds of the less experienced silhouette shooters.  36x could very likely hinder your performance and make higher scores more difficult.  i haven't checked recently but i don't believe there are too many elite shooters using more than 24x.  could be wrong.  i used 24x for the longest time and now bounce between 6x and 14x.   i don't recommend 6x either.  i do that just because i am an idiot and like to mix things up every now and again.  your choice but you should see greater improvement sooner with a lower power scope.
dave imas

[Steel killer]

Dave my partner is a high master ,who shoot in the mid to high 30 in small bore. He shoots a 60X in small bore and T-36 bumped to 50.
I need one more leg in AAA in small bore and do well with a 36X,I often see bullet flight and the strike in small bore. My Smallbore partner started shooting 3 years ago, First year at winnsborrow he won AA shooting x36, and last year won AAA with a 36X. I am thinking of going back to 24X in high power only because the range I shoot at has  bank of chickens in the shade that can be real hard to see,the 36 does not gather enough light at 42MM, If we had a 9 1/2lb and 10 1/2 lb weight limits I would shoot a 10X40 with a 50mm obj. It takes time and pratice
to get used to 36X,and you have to shoot or dry fire to stay in tune.
It does not happen in just one range session, give your self 2 weeks of pratice and dry fireing. If you do you will notice a differance in your shooting.
Steel Killer

[dave imas]

i tried a 36x for 5 or 6 matches a few years ago.  too much work.  the last two years i have been tracking my scores while flip flopping back and forth between 6x and 24x.  my average seems to stay about the same regardless of the magnification but i work much less at the lower magnifications.  i seem to be settinging at about 14x.  i am not as worn out after shooting two 60 round matches in a morning.  also much less prone to cross firing at the lower levels.  
good luck to you and your partner.
dave