Advice for loading 7x57 & 6.5x55

[hawkeyesatx]

I agree with Claudio. I’ve been loading for the 7x57 almost as long. I have found 160 gr to be an outstanding bullet weight for the cartridge. The exception being Africa with larger, tougher animals inside 200 yards. There I use 175 gr A-Frames.

Hopefully, here in the near future I will be able to go elk hunting.
My first choice of rifle is the M70 7x57, and using 162 gr SST'S, I know it will be up to the task of anchoring one without any problems.
I sure do love a rifle that has mild recoil, and is extra deadly when I do my part of putting the bullet in the vitals.
If I ever get a chance of going to Africa, I know I can take that rifle, and hand loaded ammo, and do quite well on the plains game too.


Hawk

 

[sgt_zim]

@hawkeyesatx - bad news on the Sierra front, amigo. I just checked, the biggest 264 they make is a 150 SMK. Their biggest hunting bullet is 140 gr.

 

[Rimshot]

My Winchester M70 PF has a 1 in 10" rifling twist. I also forgot to mention that I have Hornady 162 gr SST's that I can load in the 7x57.

In my CG 6,5x55- I'm hoping Sierra still makes a Spitzer bullet in the 156 gr area, because I know the old Swedish Mausers have a 1 in 8.6" barrel twist.


Hawk

The Sierra 6.5mm 160's were great bullets but they've been discontinued a long time. I still have a small stash, it's a shame because they were much higher BC than the others.

The Woodleigh 160s seem good but I could never get them to shoot for me.
The Norma, Lapua, and Hornady 155-160gr offerings are accurate and for shorter distances should be fantastic.
For longer range the Hornady 143 ELD-X can't be beat for accuracy, 1/2 MOA in several of my 6.5s, but it is fragile so I wouldn't use it on anything larger than deer.
Nosler is introducing a 150gr Accubond Long Range that should be interesting, but probably soft like the ELD-X. 1:8.6" twist might be marginal for stability though. The standard 140 Accubond is really good.

 

[mdwest]

I use IMR 4064 with 160 & 175 gr A-Frames and 145 & 160 gr Speer spritzers. 4064 works well on all bullet weights.

Yep.

I used IMR 4064 and have loaded both 139gr Hornady Interlocks as well as Barnes 150gr TTSX in my 7x57 with very good success...

 

[wswolf]

I have just begun working with the 7x57 in a Model 70 of recent manufacture. Due to the current shortage of components only 150 gn Sierras and 145 gn Barnes LRX have been tried so far. Have not had good groups with the Sierras but the Barnes have been outstanding. I suspect the Sierras may do better once a favorable overall length had been found.

Have only used StaBALL 6.5 powder so far since the Hodgdon manual gave it by far the highest velocity.

Since the 7x57 case has slightly greater capacity than the 7-08, (51.4 grains of water vs 47.8 grains) I have been using 7-08 loading data. My method has been to check all loads with a chronograph and not exceed published velocities for the 7-08. My reasoning is that, with its greater capacity, the 7x57 should have lower pressure than the 7-08 given the same powder, bullet and velocity.

Velocity, and therefore pressure, can vary with the length of the chamber leade which varies a great deal from one 7x57 rifle to the next. The use of a chronograph and comparing its readings with pressure-tested data is, in my opinion, a reliable way to reach safe maximum loads. Whether you have an ancient rifle and use 7x57 data or have a modern rifle and wish to use 7-08 data to achieve the highest practical velocity.

Cheers and be careful,
Walt

 

[WAB]

I have just begun working with the 7x57 in a Model 70 of recent manufacture. Due to the current shortage of components only 150 gn Sierras and 145 gn Barnes LRX have been tried so far. Have not had good groups with the Sierras but the Barnes have been outstanding. I suspect the Sierras may do better once a favorable overall length had been found.

Have only used StaBALL 6.5 powder so far since the Hodgdon manual gave it by far the highest velocity.

Since the 7x57 case has slightly greater capacity than the 7-08, (51.4 grains of water vs 47.8 grains) I have been using 7-08 loading data. My method has been to check all loads with a chronograph and not exceed published velocities for the 7-08. My reasoning is that, with its greater capacity, the 7x57 should have lower pressure than the 7-08 given the same powder, bullet and velocity.

Velocity, and therefore pressure, can vary with the length of the chamber leade which varies a great deal from one 7x57 rifle to the next. The use of a chronograph and comparing its readings with pressure-tested data is, in my opinion, a reliable way to reach safe maximum loads. Whether you have an ancient rifle and use 7x57 data or have a modern rifle and wish to use 7-08 data to achieve the highest practical velocity.

Cheers and be careful,
Walt

I believe we have the same rifle. Long throat and fast twist? If so you will like the results with longer bullets better.

 

[wswolf]

Model 70 Lightweight Super grade with 1:9" twist. I will try some 160 grain bullets when I find them.

 

[Shootist43]

Hawkeyesatx, sorry for the late reply. I've been up to my cabin where I have no Internet and spotty cell phone service. First off don't believe that BS about a 1896 Swedish Mauser being a weak action. They are as stout as any modern action. Do yourself a favor and go to Nathan Foster's Knowledge Base and look up the old 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser. Better yet just click on the attached link. https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/6.5x55.html

Following his suggestions for a properly loaded round I use 46.5 Gr. of H4350 with a 140 gr. Nosler Partition. I've also worked up a very accurate load for Woodleigh's 160 Gr PP. Factory Norma with their 156 Gr. Oryx is a very good round as well.

Send me a PM with your phone number and a good time to call.

 

[bruce moulds]

those 162s in 7mm would be getting a bit marginal in a 10 twist.
those old m96 6.5s have always proven to shoot 85 and 100 gn bullets with great accuracy.
the twist is not a problem there.
bruce.

 

[Sand Rat]

In the 7x57 it’s the 156 gr Norma Oryx behind a published load of H4350 and the 140 gr partition with RL 22 in the Swede. Those are about all I use anymore for big hogs and white tails. John Barsness has wrote about using the 156 gr Oryx on moose so should do fine on elk.

 

[ChrisG]

If you are going with a guide for elk, I would check with them. Last time I went, I brought my 6.5x55 as a backup to my .300 win mag. The guide told me he wasn't really comfortable with a 6.5x55 on elk as he had seen too many hunters show up with the "magic" 6.5 Creedmoor and wound elk (even cows) with shots that he said he might've recovered with a larger gun. He recommended a minimum of a .270. I would bring the 7x57.

Now I love my 6.5x55. It is possibly my favorite rifle, and I am certain I could have brought down an elk with it. But I will always defer to my guide, who has significantly more experience than I do. So unless my .300 fell down a canyon, the swede stayed in camp.

7x57 is a great all rounder for American big game.

 

[Frederik]

My son's 6.5 x 55 Carl Gustav has been customised with a good wooden stock and barrel cut down to 23" and I added a silencer on it.

Work great with 140gr bullets but I am amazed at the 160gr Hornady interlocks running a tad over 2400fps. I have yet to recover a bullet from an animal and yes most of them has been headshots but from what I have seen on the exits the bullet keep together.
N560 works great on both the 140gr and 160gr bullets with the N560 filling the case on the 140gr bullets and giving a speed of 2700fps.

 

[sgt_zim]

If you are going with a guide for elk, I would check with them. Last time I went, I brought my 6.5x55 as a backup to my .300 win mag. The guide told me he wasn't really comfortable with a 6.5x55 on elk as he had seen too many hunters show up with the "magic" 6.5 Creedmoor and wound elk (even cows) with shots that he said he might've recovered with a larger gun. He recommended a minimum of a .270. I would bring the 7x57.

Now I love my 6.5x55. It is possibly my favorite rifle, and I am certain I could have brought down an elk with it. But I will always defer to my guide, who has significantly more experience than I do. So unless my .300 fell down a canyon, the swede stayed in camp.

7x57 is a great all rounder for American big game.

If I were a guide, I'd be nervous about somebody showing up with a 6.5 manbun, too.

6.5x55 shooters for the most part are an entirely different class of shooters/hunters.

 

[ChrisG]

If I were a guide, I'd be nervous about somebody showing up with a 6.5 manbun, too.

6.5x55 shooters for the most part are an entirely different class of shooters/hunters.

I wholeheartedly agree. The funny thing is, one of the other guys in camp heard me tell the guide I had a 6.5x55 as backup and he perked up with "Is that like a 6.5 creedmoor?!" to which I replied "No, the creedmoor only shares the Swede's bore size. They are two very different cartridges". What I should have said was "...they are two very different mentalities".

I've never met a hunter who shot the 6.5 Swede that I didnt like. I have met a lot of guys shooting a 6.5CM that just rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[sgt_zim]

My son's 6.5 x 55 Carl Gustav has been customised with a good wooden stock and barrel cut down to 23" and I added a silencer on it.

Work great with 140gr bullets but I am amazed at the 160gr Hornady interlocks running a tad over 2400fps. I have yet to recover a bullet from an animal and yes most of them has been headshots but from what I have seen on the exits the bullet keep together.
N560 works great on both the 140gr and 160gr bullets with the N560 filling the case on the 140gr bullets and giving a speed of 2700fps.

Most cup-and-cores work pretty well at modest impact velocities like you're getting out of a 160 gr Hornady.

 

[shootist~]

Horse manure. The 6.5 Creedmoor is just another 6.5 pushing the same bullets at the same if not faster speeds.

Last I looked I had three Swedes and two 6.5 Creedmoors. What does that make me? Even my PH has a Creedmoor.

Btw, my 24" Tikka Creedmoor pushes a 155 Lapua at 2,630.

 

[sgt_zim]

Horse manure. The 6.5 Creedmoor is just another 6.5 pushing the same bullets at the same if not faster speeds.

Last I looked I had three Swedes and two 6.5 Creedmoors. What does that make me? Even my PH has a Creedmoor.

Btw, my 24" Tikka Creedmoor pushes a 155 Lapua at 2,630.

I asserted "for the most part," ChrisG merely agreed, and I still stand by that. Most of the dudes on this forum would likely fall in the exception group, not the "for the most part" group.

 

[ChrisG]

Horse manure. The 6.5 Creedmoor is just another 6.5 pushing the same bullets at the same if not faster speeds.

Last I looked I had three Swedes and two 6.5 Creedmoors. What does that make me? Even my PH has a Creedmoor.

Btw, my 24" Tikka Creedmoor pushes a 155 Lapua at 2,630.

The cartridge itself isnt the issue. I am sure it kills just like every other 6.5 has for the past 130 years. It is the ridiculous "brand-new-amazing-super-long-range-sniper-kills-everything-with-one-shot-at-23,856-yards" ridiculousness that is attributed to it by so much misinformation and propoganda.

I had one guy at the range (I was shooting a .375 Ruger at the time) tell me that he bet his 6.5 creedmoor hits harder at 500 yards than my "big magnum" would because 6.5 creedmoor bullets lose "almost no speed" when traveling through the air. All while insinuating a .375s bullets have the aerodynamics of a rotten morel. I simply told him "I don't shoot animals at 500 yards." Then went back to shooting. The 6.5CM bandwagon is under the impression that 6.5mm bullets were invented with the creedmoor. That's just ignorance I suppose, but I stand by what I said. I've never met a guy who hunts with/shoots a 6.5x55 that I didn't get along with.

And I was mostly agreeing with the latter half of @sgt_zim 's quote:

...6.5x55 shooters for the most part are an entirely different class of shooters/hunters.

I think that holds true, on average, regarding their ethics and the type of shooting that they tend to do.

Anyway, I don't want to deviate too far from where the original OP was going. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[ChrisG]

Btw, my 24" Tikka Creedmoor pushes a 155 Lapua at 2,630.

Also, what load data is that? Vihtivouri list the 156 grain lapua mega out of a 25.5 inch barrel max (62,000psi) at just a hair over 2,500fps. Just curious, I've never seen a creedmoor data that will push so heavy a bullet from such a short barrel.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Also, what load data is that? Vihtivouri list the 156 grain lapua mega out of a 25.5 inch barrel max (62,000psi) at just a hair over 2,500fps. Just curious, I've never seen a creedmoor data that will push so heavy a bullet from such a short barrel.

I was just going to ask the same thing! You beat me to it!

It confuses me how these blowhards that shoot 6.5 CM spout BS about how they can hit a deers eye at 1200 yds, and drop it with one shot. These nimrods obviously don't follow what energy there bullet have at said distances, and go by standards like 1200 ft-lbs on target for deer, 1500 ft-lbs for elk. There's a reason you follow such guidelines. BECAUSE THEY WORK!
With that being mentioned, you can hunt deer out to 400 yds, maybe, and I mean maybe, out to 450 yds. While hunting elk, expect 300 - 350 yds max. Anyone shooting such a magnificent animal is doing nothing but injuring them, and leaving them to die a long, miserable death.
The closer you are, the better terminal performance you get.
I have to admit, there's nothing that a 6.5 CM has done that a 6.5x55 already hasn't, if not a little better, especially with heavier bullets.
From what I understand now, if one hand loads a 6.5x55 up to 55k psi, it outshines a Creedmoor by quite a bit.


Hawk