6.5x55 - 140 Grain Reload Velocity?

[bruce moulds]

and don't forget the latte drinking CBH.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

and don't forget the latte drinking CBH.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
Yeh I could see Chris sitting around a campfire drinking a latte or sipping an ice cold chardy NOT.
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

bob,
when he drinks latte or chardy, he sticks his little finger in the air like an aristocrat.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

bob,
when he drinks latte or chardy, he sticks his little finger in the air like an aristocrat.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
At least he does it with class. You have had coffee with him so you would know. I've yet to have that privilege .
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

i don't think he does ballet.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

bob,
when he drinks latte or chardy, he sticks his little finger in the air like an aristocrat.
bruce.

@bruce moulds
At least he does it with class. You have had coffee with him so you would know. I've yet to have that privilege .
Bob

 

[leslie hetrick]

my cz 550 in 6.5x55 loves N-560 and 120-140 gr flatbased bullets with speeds of 3000+ for the 120,s and 140,s at 2900 fps with a 24" barrel. lower rifle is the american cz 550.

 

[Red Devil]

Am in the process of disassembling PPU ball ammo w/ my Ruger African 6.5x55mm to harvest the brass for reloading.

Have tentatively decided on IMR 4831/CCI 200, as that is what the .270 Win gets, and 140 gr. Speer Grand Slam bullets as I got a pile of'em for ~ $0.21/pop the last rebate go-round.

Found this interesting on hodgdonreloading.com when researching load data:

140 GR. SPR SP

Case
Winchester

Primer
Winchester LR, Large Rifle

	Manufacturer	Powder		Bullet Diam.	C.O.L		Grs.	Vel. (ft/s)	Pressure		Grs.	Vel. (ft/s)	Pressure
	Starting Load		Maximum Loads
	IMR	IMR 4831	Out of Stock	0.264"	3.030"		43.0	2,507	39,100 CUP		46.3	2,700	45,400 CUP

�


Plan to load it to < .30-06 M2 pressure (50K CUP/60K PSI), by starting at 46.0 gr. for ~ 2670 fps, and then slowly up to ~ 48.0 gr./2800 fps from there.

QuickLOAD says w/ a 3.10" COAL, 46 gr. will make 2800 fps.

Red

 

[Frederik]

I'm very happy with my Carl Gustav throwing 140gr S&B bullet at 2750fps out of the 23" barrel that is plenty enough for me for my needs. Use it for longer range hunting out to 300 meters and target shooting up to 500 meters.
The 160gr I shoot a tad over 2500fps that is Hornady 160gr round nose Interlock.
I keep its use max around 200 meters for hunting but have it gon gs at 400 meters with it.

 

[Desperatezulu]

QuickLOAD says w/ a 3.10" COAL, 46 gr. will make 2800 fps.

QL also says you'll be north of Pmax in the red zone.

Obviously your call if you want to play there - if you really want to chase velocity with 140grainers in the 6.5 Swede, track down some RL-26. In theory, 2900f/s is achievable, depending on your specific set-up and is under Pmax. (the node is at 2850 f/s at 50500 psi)

If you're happy to operate at 57500 psi (as per your QL load above) then there is an accuracy node at 2950f/s with RL-26.

 

[Joker12]

Hi All,

So I have a Ruger M77 in 6.5x55 that I have been reloading for for some time. It is my one of my favorite rifles and I will never get rid of it. Great old classic caliber.

I have shot it quite a bit but even using really slow powders like RL22, I can't seem to get a 140 grain bullet over 2550fps without getting ejector slot marks in the base of my brass. Yet I see people online constantly stating that they are "easily" getting 2,800-2,900fps from a 24" barrel. I feel like they have no idea what pressure signs look like, their chronograph is wrong or they are downright making it up unless they know something I don't know. Now granted, I am shooting from a 22" barrel but that won't account for 300-400 fps. It may not be possible in a standard length barrel and these people either have an original military rifle with a 28" barrel or are running the ragged edge of pressure or both.

Keep in mind that I also am not going to beat the heck out of my gun to get that kind of speed. If it isn't possible then I guess I will have to stick with the best I can get. I would just like it to shoot a little flatter and have a little better expansion probability at 250-300 yards.

I also will not try "worked up" loads. I only start with data published by a reputable source that is pressure tested. I want to be able to hand my rifles down to my kids and shooting unknowns is not the best way to make a rifle last.

Any insight would be appreciatSmall differences

Try using Norma brass. the 2775 fps was out of a 24" barrel.

I too have a 6.5x55 Ruger77. Mine is the 24" barrel version and have been hand loading for it for a few years now. The published data for that cartridge is all over the map as you may have noticed. In mine I get sub MOA groups using the 140gr Hornady interlock and R22 at 2700fps with no signs of pressure. Its a great hunting load. There are many things that can account for velocity differences in similar rifles. Small differences in chamber size, some barrels are tighter than others, the list is long. I accept all pressure tested and published data as correct in the rifle or test barrel that they used, under the same conditions that they fired it in but your individual rifle may be different. If you see signs of high pressure in your rifle then you are wise to listen to them but also know that other rifles may handle more. There is nothing wrong with doing careful load development and still being safe.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I recently bought a used Ruger M77 MkII in 6.5x55 with a 22 inch barrel. One day, Midway USA had Winchester StaBall 6.5 powder in stock for "normal" price and I bought 8 lbs of it. I was able to get a very good load in the 2700-2750 fps (SD 6.1, ES 11) with Hornady 140 gr SST. However, I was seeing some flat primers.

I backed off the powder a bit and switched to 143 gr ELD-X bullets. Still playing with the seating depth but getting close to a very good load with 2625 to 2650 fps.

 

[Shootist43]

375 Ruger Fan, as long as the bolt isn't sticky, I wouldn't worry about seeing "some" flat primers. Your loads and 22" barrel getting 2700 to 2750 FPS is actually loaded a little hotter than my loads for a 24" barrel getting 2775 FPS.

 

[Red Devil]

QL also says you'll be north of Pmax in the red zone.

Obviously your call if you want to play there - if you really want to chase velocity with 140grainers in the 6.5 Swede, track down some RL-26. In theory, 2900f/s is achievable, depending on your specific set-up and is under Pmax. (the node is at 2850 f/s at 50500 psi)

If you're happy to operate at 57500 psi (as per your QL load above) then there is an accuracy node at 2950f/s with RL-26.

The 6.5x55mm - can be safely loaded to pressures equal to that of the .30-06/M2 - 60K psi.

So, 57.5K is only in the "Pmax - Red Zone" for the anemic SAAMI cartridge spec..

As for powder - no need to use a Dbl. base powder, especially RL-26, as IMR 4831 is plenty slow enough to provide both excellent load density and velocity, along with far less throat erosion than RL-26.

All one must do is embarrass the 6.5 CM.

8>)




Red

 

[Fredsteyn]

With 140gr Gamekings I get 2650fps out of a 20" barrel. Can push it up to 2700, but its my sons hunting rifle and no need for that.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

375 Ruger Fan, as long as the bolt isn't sticky, I wouldn't worry about seeing "some" flat primers. Your loads and 22" barrel getting 2700 to 2750 FPS is actually loaded a little hotter than my loads for a 24" barrel getting 2775 FPS.

Art, a buddy of mine that reloads quite a bit basically told me to ignore flat primers IF I have good velocity data and not running at excessively high velocity. He said some gun/cartridge combos just produce flatter looking primers. I had no bolt cycling problems and no extraction issues.

Having said that, I finalized a little lighter load today and quite happy with the 143 gr ELD-X bullets.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Flat primers can be an indicator of high pressure, I have had primers so flat they looked like they’d been smashed with a hammer with factory S& B 140gr ammo in a 6.5 Creedmoor. Bolt lift & extraction were normal, flat primers are not always a sign of dangerous pressure. I know a lot don’t like the Creedmoor, but it’s my 6.5X55 in a readily available package. Nothing more.

 

[Frederik]

Did somebody say something about the NeedMore!!!!

Yes, Flat primers is not alway an indication my 375 H&H flattens the primers always even with slow loads that just the way it works. I check for pressure when speed goes above maximums.
Sticky bolts usually happen way past maximum pressure.

What I love about the 6.5x55 is that you can load heavier because hitting an animal with that long160gr bullet is impressive.
The Needmores needs a new barrel with correct barrel twist to accomodate the heavier bullets.
And really if you are not going to shoot out to 1000 yards all the time what is 100FPS difference between the needmore and the x 55

When I finally get the 7x57 home there will be a huge competion between me and my son him with his 6.5x55 and me the 7x57 going to be good fun.

 

[shark_za]

Creedmoor rifles usually have the tight twists needed for long bullets, its the shorter case that robs them of capacity seating the heavy bullets in shorter leads.
I would bash 6.5CM but its so close to my beloved 6.5x55SE that it would be self-flagellation.
In the bushveld you dont need velocity and thats why I love the 156gr Orxy but happily shoot tough 140's like the Rhino or Swift A-Frame at 2600-2700fps. This allows game like Kudu and Wildebeest to be taken reliably.

 

[Desperatezulu]

The 6.5x55mm - can be safely loaded to pressures equal to that of the .30-06/M2 - 60K psi.

So, 57.5K is only in the "Pmax - Red Zone" for the anemic SAAMI cartridge spec..

As for powder - no need to use a Dbl. base powder, especially RL-26, as IMR 4831 is plenty slow enough to provide both excellent load density and velocity, along with far less throat erosion than RE-26.

If 140 gr. at 2800 fps isn't enough? Then there are other cartridges that are.

8>)




Red

You brought up the 2800 f/s in your post - my response was in line with your speed wishes and how it might be achieved at lower pressure. Not advocating more speed in the Swede.

My comments around pressure are in line with what the sports ammunition bodies list as max - again I offer no guidance or advice in exceeding them, save that you are and it might be fair to any unsuspecting newbie reloaders that could be reading here to caution them.

Unqualified statements like "can be safely loaded to pressure equal to......60K psi" are a little risky IMO.

Otherwise it's your gun, thumbs and eyes