Hunting load for 6.5X55 Swede

[lilabner]

I'm getting a new Tikka in 6.5 and would like to develop a safe hunting load that will do 2700 fps with the 140 gr. bullet out of a 22 1/2 inch barrel. Norma sells a hotter load than that but I want to roll my own. Anybody worked up such a load? I am a coward when it comes to pressure and will work up to your load very carefully as should anyone.

[Don Fischer]

Do you have a cronograph? If not, just work up the most accurate load you can and tell everyone it's doing 2700fps, it probally will. If you do have a cronograph, what are you going to do if your most accurate loads are at 2600fps or maybe 2800 fps? We do worry to much about velocity any more I think.

[lilabner]

Don:
No chronograph. Just access to 100 and 200 yard ranges, which l try to use to determine bullet drop and get to approximate velocity through the back door. I then use that approximate velocity to construct drop tables. I'd like a load comparable in bullet drop to my 180 gr. loading for the '06, which I have used often and which I have confidence in for shots on game out to 300 yards.  Drop should be nearly identical in the 6.5 with comparable muzzle velocity. Guess I should have said I'd like a load that will drop about 8 1/2  inches at 300 yards with a 200 yard zero since that my goal. I'm not smitten by muzzle velocity - exterior ballistics are more important to me.

[TNrifleman]

My 6.5x55 hunting rifles (Winchester 70, Remington 700) both like the 140 grain Nosler Partition over a charge of Reloder 19 powder.The Nosler Number 5 Manual has some exellent loads for the Swede. 

[lilabner]

Thanks for the information. I've googled around and find that Reloder has published a recipe for 46 gr. RL 19 and one for 48 gr. RL 22 with 140 gr. Speer bullet, Norma brass and CCI primers. Are those the loadings Nosler published?