6.5x55 BulletFest 2K7 !

[7x57]

I am a one load kind of guy, I find something that works for me and I stick with it. I believe that one should become intimate with a single load through constant use.......  However, it's good to shake things up now and then.     With that in mind here are my results from 6.5x55 bulletfest 2K7.  

 I'm shooting a sporterized Carl Gustaf Mauser, 1916 vintage  24'' barrel, target crown, wood stocked.
  IMR 4350 is used throughout,   Winchester brass new,    CCI 200 primers, bullets seated to max length as per manuals.
Weather: Dead calm, 14C-23C, clear, sunny....over last 2 mornings. Today was windy 10km in face.
Range: 108 yards, Rests: Grain bags with front sand bag over truck hood. Four shot groups.
I don't own a chrony so use your manuals to estimate velocities.

Hornady 129 grain Sp  Start load: 41                     Max load: 45                                  Most accurate:44   1/2 inch

Hornady 140 gr SP     Start load: 40.5                      Max load:43.5                                  Most Accurate: 43    1 inch

Speer 140 gr Sp Hot-Cor Start load: 40.5                      Max load:43.5                                   Most accurate:43   2.2 inches

Speer 140 gr Sp Grandslam  Start load: 40.5                      Max load:43.5                                   Most accurate: 42.5 1.1 inches

Nosler 140gr Sp Partition  Start load: 40.5                      Max load:43.5                                   Most accurate:43  .8 of inch

Nosler 120gr Sp Bal Tip   Start load: 42                     Max load: 46                                  Most accurate: 45    1.6 inches

Winchester 140gr Sp PPoint  Start load: 40.5                     Max load: 43.5                                  Most accurate:41  1.7 inches

Hornady 160gr RN      Start load: 40                     Max load: 42.5                                  Most accurate:41.5  1.3inches

The 129's and 140's all hit in the same spot with very little horizontal spread. The 120's flew everywhere. The 160's were about 6 inches below the other bullets but right in line with them.

Yes this is a lot of shooting...Has anyone seen my wife around?
I wanted to see what shot best in my beater rifle for Goat,deer, bear,Elk this season.
 I like a load that penetrates so I will do a follow up post on my crude results.

[PeterCartwright]

I also have a Gustaf Swede of '16 vintage.  Mine started as a '94 carbine.  I found a source for new, surplus 29" barrels a few years ago.  Had a smith swap out my shorty barrel for the new one and then cut and crown it at 22".  I'd already stocked it (Fajen laminated job).  The little rifle wears a used Loopy M8 (4X) and, not surprisingly, loves the Hornady 160 gr. bullet.  This rifle will put three of those into about an inch @ 100 yards pushed by an appropriate dose of IMR 4831.

I've taken a couple deer with this load-both with traditional lung shots at ranges under 75 yards.  I had some initial concerns about whether that load would upset enough to take deer cleanly with only ribcage shots.  I needn't have worried.  Works great without any excessive bloodshot meat problems.  Of course, I'm rather certain that bullet/load would do the same thing to elk, moose, black bear etc. within its range limitations.  My guess is that it would likely leave exit holes on stern to sterm shots on deer, if a guy was into that sort of thing.  But since I'd rather leave the stuff behind the diaphram, behind the diaphram until I'm ready for knife work, I'll let someone else do that research  .

I know the 140 gr. bullets are more versatile, but since I don't need the extra reach, and because my old fast twist barrel likes them,....and just because, I use the 160's.

[7x57]

Well the 160's don't produce the best groups.... and don't fly as well as the 140's, but they are still my pick because of the way they bore through whatever is in their way.

Congrats on the Swede, they sure do seem to shoot with the best rifles we can make now!!