Author Topic: 6.5 x 55 swede loads and differnet powder choices??? (Read 2175 times)

hankster76 · « **on:** August 04, 2008, 04:41:57 AM »

I just got a 6.5 x 55 swede barrel. Shooting different hand loads with bullets ranging from 120 to 140. All my loads were with RL22. I shot it today and couldn't get anything better than 3 to 4 inches @ 100yds. If anyone is having success with this barrel? What would be another good poder choice besides RL 22??

Please help me out on the loads you are using. Thanks

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2008, 02:17:16 PM »

I have had success with the 6.5x55 using WMR and H4831 with 140-grain bullets. My brother loaded me a bunch of 120-grain C-L with AA4895 and they proved to be accurate. The same brother has been shooting a number of different 6.5 cases and it does not seemed to be a difficult cartridge to load for. Admittedly I have had one for a number of years, and but I have only loaded for it for a short time. My brother kept me supplied with his reloads.

I would think the RL-22 would be a good powder in the 6.5X55. How does the rifle shot otherwise?

hankster76 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2008, 04:34:29 PM »

This is the first time I have ever shot it and these are the first loads. I am nervous however because the loads I shot were some pretty common and popular loads. I think my next step is to find a few factory loads and try to set a standard to compare to.

nomosendero · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2008, 05:00:32 PM »

H4350 sure works in my Wife's 6.5X55 with the 130ACC.

2ndtimer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2008, 05:03:39 PM »

A very mild yet accurate load in my Howa 1500 6.5x55 was Hornady 129 gr SP, 42.5 gr of IMR-4350, CCI-200 primers, and any case you choose. (I got similar results with the same load in Lapua, Remington and Winchester brass) It is very mild, pressure wise, and chronographed around 2450 fps in my 22" barrel Howa. I also had some solid results with IMR-4064 and the 129 gr and 140 gr Hornady bullets. My Howa has a definite preference for the bullets above 120 gr. It can't shoot the light bullets accurately at all. The Speer 140 gr Hot Cor also has performed okay. Hope this helps.
Unlike Nomosendero, I had no luck with the Nosler 130 gr Accubonds, much to my disappointment. (I am a die hard Nosler fan)

Sweetwater · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2008, 06:11:51 PM »

RL-22 with some 156gr milsurp bullets made very touching groups first time out with my Ruger 77MKII. Check guard screws and all? It's always been an easy one to load develop.

Years ago, in the late '50's, I had an old Husqvarna Sniper Rifle and Dad loaded a bunch of IMR4350 and IMR4831, and a few with IMR4320. I was reviewing our family notebook recently and that stuck in my mind. No notes about any of them being poor loads.

I picked up the RL-22 to have a slower powder that would 'throw' accurately and it was priced several dollars lower than the competition. Not sure I can get totally away from IMR4350, but I am weaning myself away from most of the stick powders. Guess I'm getting lazier as I mature. LOL!

Regards,
Sweetwater

hankster76 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2008, 02:21:48 AM »

Thanks guys for all the advise, That was another concern of mine, what is the most accurate and efficent was of attaching the factory foreend to the encore barrels. When I got home to clean the gun I noticed the forend screws were pretty tight. Any tips or tricks on these foreends?

Maybe that is my issue...

Brithunter · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2008, 02:51:11 AM »

Quote from: hankster76 on August 04, 2008, 04:41:57 AM

I just got a 6.5 x 55 swede barrel. Shooting different hand loads with bullets ranging from 120 to 140. All my loads were with RL22. I shot it today and couldn't get anything better than 3 to 4 inches @ 100yds. If anyone is having success with this barrel? What would be another good poder choice besides RL 22??

Please help me out on the loads you are using. Thanks

Well I seem to see a lot of questions like this. You Handi/Encore shooters sure must be dedicated

As for the loads I use a lot of Reloader 19 in mine although IMR 4350 with the 120 grain Speer was a very good load in the Sporterised Swedish Mauser the Obendorf M96 Slide Bolt prefers 140 grain bullets. I have yet to find a load in either rifle that shoots that badly, if they shoot 2" groups they are doing real bad.

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2008, 07:54:36 PM »

Try some Varget and 100gr Ballistic Tips...my CZ loves 'em and the whitetail hate 'em. A side note... My buddy last year got an Encore .25-06 barrel and had real accuracy problems. When he got around 25-30 rds. through it, all his groups magically shrunk, shrunk alot.

jim

james · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2008, 02:00:51 AM »

I've had good luck with Varget in my 6.5 x 55 Encore barrel with bullets in the 100 -120 gr wts.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #10 on:** August 06, 2008, 04:08:52 PM »

Thanks to all who posted. I have a 96 swede that I need to work with. Have only run 40 rounds thru her. Got some good ideas now. DP

Brithunter · « **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2008, 08:49:26 PM »

Ahhhh the Swedish Mauser barrels shoot a wide range of bullet weights very well. I have tried bullets from 77 grains to 160 grains which makes a mockery of the bulllet jump and those who insist that the bullet must be close to the rifling. The Speer 120 grain bullet is a good performer on paper and on deer, I found the 100 grain Balistic Tip to be too fragile for anything other than varmints, an excellent fox round but not suitable for deer even our small deer such as Muntjac.

I have never tried any American made ammo in the 6.5 but have used Privi Partisen (headstamp NNY) in Century Arms boxes and Norma in 77 grain SP and Jagdmatch FMJ, the Soft point shot well the 77 grain Round Nose FMJ not so well. The Hornady 160 grain RN bullets shoots very well indeed.

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2008, 09:06:10 PM »

Hi

I also have a 96. I tried Norma 156gr, Remington 140gr, S&B 139gr and 140gr Highlands. None of these
bought ammunition grouped in my rifle.

I now reload everything to 76mm OAL. From the 120gr to 160gr. I use Remington cases for practice
and Norma and Lapua for hunting. With Norma cases and a length of 76mm the rifle will shoot about
1 inch groups with all of these weights. 2700fps for 120 and 125gr. 2550fps for the 140gr. 2350 to 2460 for the 160gr.
I have not tried anything lighter than 120gr.

Cheers
Sweet

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2008, 02:49:35 PM »

Quote from: hankster76 on August 04, 2008, 04:41:57 AM

I just got a 6.5 x 55 swede barrel. Shooting different hand loads with bullets ranging from 120 to 140. All my loads were with RL22. I shot it today and couldn't get anything better than 3 to 4 inches @ 100yds. If anyone is having success with this barrel? What would be another good poder choice besides RL 22??

First of all what is the twist of your Encore barrel? Some commercial 9-10" twist barrels have stability problems with 140 gr SPBTs if not driven fast enough. That brings up the second problem, RL22 is too slow burning for the 6.5x55 and your probably not burning the powder efficiently nor getting enough velocity. Thry 140 gr FB bullets and RL19 or H4831SC. The Hornady 140 SP over H4831SC...work up to 49 gr. If you are using a SPBT try working up to that also or up to 49 gr RL19. Velocity will be 2700+ fps. Varget is a very good powder for use with 100-120 gr bullets. I use 44.2 gr under either the Sierra 120 SP or the Nosler 120 BT. The faster twist milsurp Swedes won't shoot the Hornay 100 SP very good much over 2900 fps but with the 100 gr Sierra HP 3200+ fps is obtainable with 47 gr of Varget. Work up to those loads as the specs on your barrel are probably tighter than on mine.

Larry Gibson

hankster76 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2008, 04:01:42 AM »

Thanks for all the help. Larry that was a great post thanks for the info I will be loading tonight and shooting tomorrow. I will update everyone on the progress thanks again. I Really like this 6.5 rig and I really want to work. Thanks again!!!!

hankster76 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:59:18 PM »

UPDATE! I did all the forend work! laoded 9 different loads and went to the range today.Exact same results. Best group was about 4 inches. My only idea now it to try a different scioe. At what point do I know I have a bad barrel?

james · « **Reply #16 on:** August 10, 2008, 05:58:11 PM »

My Encore 24" sporter weight 6.5 x 55 was also tempermental when I first started shooting it. The things I learned that got my groups down to 1 inch or less were:
1. Make sure the stock bolt is tight.
2. Put spacers made from a shot gun hull under the barrel.
3. Put the front sand bag at the back of the forearm near the hinge pin.
4. I quit using a sand bag under the stock and use my fist under the pistol grip.
5. Cleaned the barrel with J& B bore past a couple of times to smooth out rough spots.
The barrel may have needed breaking in which may have helped too.
Either the barrel has improved or my shooting techniques but the accuracy has definitely gotten better. A mild load my daughter used for deer and antelope last year was a Hornady 120 gr in front of 39 gr. of Varget and an oal of 3.010. I used Norma and Privi cases and CCI primers. They chonied at 2650 fps. She was shooting 4" groups off a bench at 300 yds before we went hunting. We sighted it in at about 250 yards and she took a buck and doe at less than 150 yards. She hit the buck near the spine and he dropped in his tracks. I was missing with my Rem. .308 (running and off hand shots) and used her gun to take my antelope buck at 385 yards. With a rest, I put the cross hairs at the top of his back and couldn't have made a more perfect shot. Since my girl now claims the Encore, I have ordered a 25" stainless McGowan barrel in 6.5 x 55 to screw on a Savage action.
Don't give up yet. I'll bet you can solve the problem if you keep working on it. It took me about a year and about 100 rounds before I was happy with mine.

Brithunter · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:10:07 AM »

Whilst I have never had anything to do with Encores I cannot help there but the 6.5x55 Swedish is something I do use

Now on Sunday I took one of mine to the range with me and it seems that i have no 140 grain bulelts left

so had ot use what I have in the cupboard

which is Hornady 129 grain Spire Points, trouble is this particular rifle has never shown much in the way of grouping with bullets under 140 grains. next blow, or what i thougth was a blow, was thta I am nearly out of Reloader 19 powder (sure I got another tub

) so I used Reloader 15 instead, taking a load from hodgdons #26 manual a couple fo grains below the max listed load and tried them at the range. The sights were little out but after walking it to the centre I shot a 10 round group which basically tore out an elongated hole

.

The wind was horrid testerday so I am wondering if that might have contributed to the horizontal spread some however it's the best that this rifle has ever shot with a lighter bullet and the only real thing I changed was the powder. Instead of going slower with the burn rate I went slightly faster and hey it worked. COL was 3.005" and you can be sure I will trying this load again soon

so don't give up quite yet.

hankster76 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2008, 02:24:13 AM »

After exhausting all of my other options I changed my scope and shot a couple of the RL 19 loads over again. Turns out my new Nikon Buckmaster would not hold a point of impact. I put a cheap 3-9 Bushnell and my 44grn load shot about 5/8". Thanks for everyones help I think I'm going to like this little 6.5 after all.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2008, 06:29:56 PM »

Looks like you got it figured!! Happy Shooting!!!

Love them 6.5's!

Regards, Sweetwater