your favorite 6.5 swede hand load

WHY
does it shoot good groupes
Is it comfortable to shoot
Does it penitrate and expand ok
does it kill your quarry.
I was taught if it ant broke why fix it.
Experiment by all means but I used to try all sorts of loads etc but older wiser stalker suggested spend your money on practice not messing with loads which may or may not work once you have a proven load
 
my current load works great on deer but for the sake of my quarry i want to go heavier. as i plan to drop moose,elk and bear and don't think the 140 sst will be the best choice.
 
If you trawl through the threads on the 6.5x55 you will find one or two loads for the 156gr and 160gr bullets in there. You will find them hard to find as the 6.5 is a very contentious round over here and there are many threads on it. It seems to be a love/hate thing.

I am in the love camp, as I presently own one but am due to part with it soon. I will have another though!
http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co....0gn-hornady-round-nose&highlight=160gn+bullet
http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co....et-drop-for-a-6.5-x-55&highlight=160gn+bullet

I am afraid i have only used the factory 156 Oryx and have not handloaded to any effect anything bigger than 140gn. My pet hand loads were for 129gr Hornady SST's and 100gr Sierra Varminters.

Best of luck. Don't be put off by people shouting at you for using such a small calibre, you will be surrounded by folks telling you to use a more suitable calibre. There are some good folks on here who use the 6.5 on red deer and elk (your moose) and the odd one or two of us who have used them on boar too. We know they work if placed correctly.

Good luck. Simon
 
45 grains H4350 Hornady 129 grain Interlock is lethal on Sika stags

John
 
Birdwatcher Good point only problem we do not have anything as big as elk over here so can now understand where your coming from.
can only suggest you may find a swedish hunter who shoots big stuff.
did not wish to offend :oops:
 
For large animals (moose) I use 47grs of Norma MRP powder for 6,5x55SM. This powder gives good accurcy and develop velocitys around 830-40m/s. in 60cm barrell. Bullets are Nosler PP, Woodleigh PP, Rhino Solid shank, Swift A-Frame,140grs. To take big game with 6,5x55 and so light bullet weight, you have to choose premium solid bullets. The other reason, is meat damaging. In Scandinavia hunters care much about meat. There is only a questinon of time how long moose will go after good shoot placement(lungs/heart region)..there is good SD in this cal.;)

Hornady SST, seams too crisp for moose, bear etc...
 
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I'm using 42 grains VV N160 with a Lapua Maga 155grains and OAL 76mm giving approx. 790 m/s

I have only shot roe deer and wild boar with them so far but they performed excellent, complete pass through with an exit about the size of a 50p piece and very little meat damage, several on our hunt use them for moose and have had great results also.

Here's a pic of a 5 shot group at 100 meters, 4 touching and 1 flyer!
lapua mega group.jpg
 
i would like to try some lapua hand loads trouble is for norma,lapua, or rws you can only find the brass and or the factory loads in Canada. at least thats all i have been able to find
 
The most valuable resource I have yet seen on the internet regarding 6.5mm bullets has to be this:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162814

It needs registration, but it's worth it!
Incidentally, I run a .260 rem with 140gr Sierra Gamekings and they've been great killers, even at moderate velocity.
I've not seen an elk or moose in person so can't judge whether I'd take a punt with this load.
From the test-link, the Nosler Partition 140gr is a good bet as are any of the +150gr Round Nose, provided you can get the velocity.

Envy your situation!

Regards,

Will
 
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I don't handload at the moment. My 6.5x55 is a modern one but has only 20 7/8" or 530mm of barrel.

I Shoot Norma 120gr BTs through it. They give about 0.5" at 100yds, which I consider very good, and about 2700fps at the muzzle.

I'm very interested to learn the velocities you're getting with your favourite loads, and particularly so if you tell me the test-barrel length.

Basically, I'm wondering whether I could reasonably handload to get a 120-130gr bullet going faster than my fave factory load, although obviously without similar accuracy this might be altogether pointless!
 
I don't handload at the moment. My 6.5x55 is a modern one but has only 20 7/8" or 530mm of barrel.I Shoot Norma 120gr BTs through it. They give about 0.5" at 100yds, which I consider very good, and about 2700fps at the muzzle.I'm very interested to learn the velocities you're getting with your favourite loads, and particularly so if you tell me the test-barrel length.Basically, I'm wondering whether I could reasonably handload to get a 120-130gr bullet going faster than my fave factory load, although obviously without similar accuracy this might be altogether pointless!
My 120 grain TSX are averaging 3000fps from a 24" shillen barell. I think the 140 grain were 2800 fps.
 
My mate is getting 2900 fps with hornady 129s from his 20 in barrel.
His load is over the book max though so I wont post it here.
He has no pressure signs though and has been using it for a few seasons now.
Try some VIT N160 and try working up a load to see.
 
I don't handload at the moment. My 6.5x55 is a modern one but has only 20 7/8" or 530mm of barrel.

I Shoot Norma 120gr BTs through it. They give about 0.5" at 100yds, which I consider very good, and about 2700fps at the muzzle.

I'm very interested to learn the velocities you're getting with your favourite loads, and particularly so if you tell me the test-barrel length.

Basically, I'm wondering whether I could reasonably handload to get a 120-130gr bullet going faster than my fave factory load, although obviously without similar accuracy this might be altogether pointless!

Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet : .264, 129, Hornady SST InterLock 26202
Useable Case Capaci: 52.836 grain H2O = 3.431 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.150 inch = 80.01 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 48225 psi, or 332 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 105 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
19 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-25 104.9 50.8 3.29 2722 98.3 48225 14294 1.146 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 97.3 49.4 3.20 2717 96.3 48225 14452 1.155 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 98.6 49.1 3.18 2695 92.1 48225 14287 1.152 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 101.8 53.1 3.44 2694 93.0 48225 14303 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 102.0 53.0 3.44 2693 93.2 48225 14281 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 102.2 53.1 3.44 2693 93.0 48225 14291 1.144 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 99.4 51.4 3.33 2686 90.2 48225 14293 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 98.9 48.7 3.15 2685 94.7 48225 13980 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 98.9 48.7 3.15 2685 94.7 48225 13980 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 101.5 48.9 3.17 2683 94.5 48225 13973 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 97.3 48.7 3.15 2681 92.6 48225 13897 1.143 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 102.8 48.7 3.15 2681 92.6 48225 13897 1.143 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 92.7 44.9 2.91 2670 100.0 48225 12649 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 98.0 48.3 3.13 2667 92.4 48225 13678 1.142 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 102.3 51.7 3.35 2656 92.4 48225 13629 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 100.0 48.3 3.13 2650 92.2 48225 13432 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 90.7 45.6 2.96 2648 97.3 48225 13088 1.162 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 94.6 45.8 2.97 2645 94.4 48225 13119 1.147 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder19 95.0 46.3 3.00 2643 94.6 48225 13189 1.155 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 95.8 46.6 3.02 2638 94.5 48225 13101 1.155 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 90.1 43.4 2.81 2636 98.7 48225 12719 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 90.1 43.4 2.81 2636 98.7 48225 12716 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 93.9 43.7 2.83 2634 98.8 48225 12816 1.190 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT 101.3 50.3 3.26 2629 89.6 48225 13224 1.146 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 105.0 51.1 3.31 2626 91.8 43919 14142 1.208
IMR 4831 94.7 44.1 2.86 2622 98.9 48225 12521 1.179 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 93.0 45.3 2.94 2622 94.3 48225 12821 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 93.0 45.3 2.94 2622 94.3 48225 12821 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 90.1 45.3 2.94 2622 94.3 48225 12821 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 100.4 47.5 3.08 2617 91.8 48225 12842 1.151 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 96.6 47.5 3.08 2617 91.8 48225 12842 1.151 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 95.9 43.7 2.83 2616 99.8 48225 11962 1.166 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 104.8 48.3 3.13 2616 97.4 48225 12767 1.192 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 95.4 47.0 3.04 2616 95.7 48225 12808 1.178 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 94.4 48.5 3.14 2609 94.4 48225 12628 1.158 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 100.8 48.6 3.15 2607 95.3 48225 12522 1.163 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 105.0 53.9 3.49 2594 83.5 42451 14493 1.222
Rottweil R904 93.6 44.9 2.91 2592 93.0 48225 12395 1.158 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 100.1 46.7 3.03 2580 92.9 48225 12206 1.160 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 105.0 50.6 3.28 2573 90.6 44298 13152 1.189
Somchem S361 92.8 48.2 3.12 2564 92.0 48225 12123 1.170 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 105.0 51.4 3.33 2505 92.0 38640 13711 1.276
Lovex D100 105.0 55.0 3.57 2476 78.8 43931 11896 1.211
Vihtavuori 24N41 105.0 54.5 3.53 2435 74.8 40739 12101 1.247
Vihtavuori N170 105.0 50.6 3.28 2429 81.9 40305 11965 1.280
ADI AR 2218 105.0 54.5 3.53 2426 76.4 38346 13176 1.280
Hodgdon H870 105.0 52.8 3.42 2368 80.3 33993 12836 1.361
Alliant Reloder-50 105.0 55.3 3.58 2300 75.1 31066 12738 1.423
Hodgdon 50BMG 105.0 51.9 3.36 2255 66.1 33332 10921 1.375
Hodgdon US 869 105.0 54.5 3.53 2250 69.8 33016 11000 1.383
SNPE Vectan SP 13 105.0 52.3 3.39 2201 74.1 30053 10920 1.429
PB Clermont PCL 513/520/9520 105.0 52.3 3.39 2139 70.4 28370 10428 1.482
Vihtavuori 20N29 105.0 55.0 3.57 2132 67.9 28276 10542 1.479
Accurate 8700 105.0 52.4 3.39 2106 69.5 27862 10163 1.488
NC A3502 ,test only 105.0 50.0 3.24 1991 48.1 27471 7711 1.499
TLP A 502(RH) ,test only 105.0 50.0 3.24 1967 52.1 25609 8171 1.544
 
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