Sako Blade 120gn 6.5x55 Data ??
- Thread starter RS99
- Start date
The Vihtavuori ‘6.5x55 Swedish Mauser’ data for the Barnes 120 grn TSX would be a guide.
Bullets of similar basic construction, same weight & appearance can produce different pressures but no heavier than the starting load for the Barnes 120 grn TSX is a reasonable place to commence from especially bearing in mind that the Vihtavuori loads for the ‘6.5x55 Swedish Mauser’ are relatively conservative anyway (the Vihtavuori loads for the ‘6.5x55 SE / Skan being higher pressure).
Bullets of similar basic construction, same weight & appearance can produce different pressures but no heavier than the starting load for the Barnes 120 grn TSX is a reasonable place to commence from especially bearing in mind that the Vihtavuori loads for the ‘6.5x55 Swedish Mauser’ are relatively conservative anyway (the Vihtavuori loads for the ‘6.5x55 SE / Skan being higher pressure).
RS99
Well-Known Member
Thank you sir
Rutland lad
Well-Known Member
Good luck. I couldn’t get these to work in my 6.5x55. Spent a lot of time and money before admitting defeat and trying Fox Classic Hunter in 123 grain. Used them ever since.
I hope you do better than me.
I hope you do better than me.
RS99
Well-Known Member
I have found the 6.5x55 a bit of a bitch to load for. I had to give up with a blaser rifle, the two sako 85 I have played with haven't been that straightforward either.
The 6.5CM has been the exact opposite, throw some powder into a case, ram a bullet in, shoot it. Repeat x5 and you have an inch group.
RS99
Well-Known Member
I've been looking at it. They list N560, Sako don't list N560, there is always quite a difference in VV data and everyone else's data.
Rutland lad
Well-Known Member
I think from what I know now that the 6.5x55 is ‘length critical’ on the actual bullet. Others who know much more than me might correct me, but I’ve tried 100/120 grain Barnes and 118 grain Peregrine and I’ve just wasted time/money/effort. Gone just a bit bigger and all was easy.
Sako6.5x55
Well-Known Member
I’ve got 2 Sako 85’s in 6.5x55, one of them started it’s life as a .270win and has now been re-barrelled using custom reamer and has 1/10” less free bore so won’t take the same length cartridge as the original factory rifle. I load for the custom barrel and have tweaked OAL to suit both rifles and they both shoot sub 1/2 MOA. I’ve been shooting the factory 6.5x55 rifle for over 15 years and it’s had in excess of 5,000 rounds through it and I’ve loaded everything Hornady from 95gn V-max (which sit nowhere near the lands) to 140gn ELD-M, and never had an issue. It’s shot 140gn A-max 1.5MOA at 880yds and 129gn SP’s 1MOA at 500 yds. I’ve tried Berger match, Berger hunting, Sierra and Lapau bullets with less than average success. I’ve used Lovex S070 powder since the Acc 4350 became unavailable in the UK. Both rifles shoot Sako 120gn Blade non toxic sub 1MOA, the reason for 2 - 6.5x55’s is so I don’t have to change set up when using different ammunition.
Sako list N160 & N555 which you say you have, plus 2 other Vihtavuori powders. Bullet manufacturers won’t be testing every powder.
As regards differences between Vihtavuori & “everyone else’s data” - few manuals agree exactly with each other for a given powder & precisely the same bullet.
As regards the Sako N160 data for the 120 grn Blade & the Vihtavuori data for the 120 grn Barnes TSX - there’s considerable overlap of suggested charge weight.
In any event Border has supplied the Sako data from the Sako website.
Similar threads
