Homeloading 6.5x55

[Yokel Matt 918]

This caliber is becoming a bit of an obsession with me at the moment I finally picked up a 6.5 at the weekend... the custom job i was hankering for is going to have to sit on the back burner for a while so i've gone for a cz 550 in walnut. Although I can find them on the net readily enough, I can't source any quick, light, frangible cartidges for use on fox. I'm also going to want to load a good deer all-rounder. I've heard that the cal shoots better with slower burning powders but don't have a fooking clue which one to use, let alone primers, brass, heads etc. I'm not expecting to shoot sub moa (although it would be nice ) but just want consistant loads if i'm going to be adjusting my scope in the field

 

I'm looking for a sensible sausage bullet for fox.. i guess between 100 and 120 grains, with a ballistic tip / v-max type bullet head thats not so hot that it will cook the barrel (or blow me up )

 

For all-round deer i'm thinking a 140gr soft point of some sort.

 

If anyone who homeloads has a recipe for this or can point me in the right direction that would be great.

 

Thanks

[garyw 0]

This caliber is becoming a bit of an obsession with me at the moment I finally picked up a 6.5 at the weekend... the custom job i was hankering for is going to have to sit on the back burner for a while so i've gone for a cz 550 in walnut. Although I can find them on the net readily enough, I can't source any quick, light, frangible cartidges for use on fox. I'm also going to want to load a good deer all-rounder. I've heard that the cal shoots better with slower burning powders but don't have a fooking clue which one to use, let alone primers, brass, heads etc. I'm not expecting to shoot sub moa (although it would be nice ) but just want consistant loads if i'm going to be adjusting my scope in the field

 

I'm looking for a sensible sausage bullet for fox.. i guess between 100 and 120 grains, with a ballistic tip / v-max type bullet head thats not so hot that it will cook the barrel (or blow me up )

 

For all-round deer i'm thinking a 140gr soft point of some sort.

 

If anyone who homeloads has a recipe for this or can point me in the right direction that would be great.

 

Thanks

go to reloaders nest.com there will be hundreds of loads for your swede,and yes slow to medium powders will work best,bullets are a differant kettle of fish though,start off with reloaders nest.

[dicehorn 38]

This caliber is becoming a bit of an obsession with me at the moment I finally picked up a 6.5 at the weekend... the custom job i was hankering for is going to have to sit on the back burner for a while so i've gone for a cz 550 in walnut. Although I can find them on the net readily enough, I can't source any quick, light, frangible cartidges for use on fox. I'm also going to want to load a good deer all-rounder. I've heard that the cal shoots better with slower burning powders but don't have a fooking clue which one to use, let alone primers, brass, heads etc. I'm not expecting to shoot sub moa (although it would be nice ) but just want consistant loads if i'm going to be adjusting my scope in the field

 

I'm looking for a sensible sausage bullet for fox.. i guess between 100 and 120 grains, with a ballistic tip / v-max type bullet head thats not so hot that it will cook the barrel (or blow me up )

 

For all-round deer i'm thinking a 140gr soft point of some sort.

 

If anyone who homeloads has a recipe for this or can point me in the right direction that would be great.

 

Thanks

 

Hi Local

 

I home load for my 6.5x55 in Blaser and also load 6.5x55 for two shooting chums both have Styrs. Two of us have other rifles for fox control, the other chap uses his 6.5 with 120 gn on foxes out to 250 yards with no problem.

 

The recipes

 

All use 120 nosler BT (shoot between us 100 + deer a year (roe, fallow and red) never had any problem with this bullet - max exit hole never more than 2 inches)

 

Vihtavuori N160 - all are using 44 grains ( suggest you start off at say 42.5 grains) giving us a shade under 2700 fps

 

Federal 210 Champion Primers - we were using Federal 210 GM but there is hardly any left in the shops.

 

Lapau cases

 

All 3 of us are shooting about 20 thou off the lands. If you do not have a comparitor to measure the ogive, you won't be too far out if the COL is on 3.000 inches

 

My Blaser will easily group 1/2 " at 100 yds and I'm an old codger!

 

In my (biased ) opinion the 6.5 and the 308 are the best calibres for our 5 deer species and this is due to the fact they are both not fast bullets so the noslers don't explode on impact like some other deer calibres that reach speeds in excess of 3000 fps.

 

Good luck to you if you go with this recipe - I tried many bullet and powder combinations till I settled on the above.

 

Peter

 

.......................

Theoben FAC S Type 52 foot lbs MTC Viper 6-24 x 56

Anschutz 1415 .22 rim S & B 8 x 56

Blaser R93 Luxus 22/250 NXS Nightforce 12-42 x 56

Blaser R93 Off Road 6.5 x 55 Swarovski 6-24 x 50

[Yokel Matt 918]

Fooking Brilliant! I appreciate the replies lads. I'll try that recipe Dicehorn

[dwighet 1]

local..I dont reload but i have the same cz as yourself and i use factory federal powershock 140gn soft points for the deer and am getting 1/2 inch groups(easy)

[Yokel Matt 918]

local..I dont reload but i have the same cz as yourself and i use factory federal powershock 140gn soft points for the deer and am getting 1/2 inch groups(easy)

 

Nice one, i'll get a box in the mean time and give them a whirl. Cheers for the reply.

[dwighet 1]

local..I dont reload but i have the same cz as yourself and i use factory federal powershock 140gn soft points for the deer and am getting 1/2 inch groups(easy)

 

Nice one, i'll get a box in the mean time and give them a whirl. Cheers for the reply.

not a problem. Goodluck with the CZ..If it shoots like mine you will be a happy man.I`m sure it will.

[landrover 6]

local have a look here http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp hope this helps

[SNAP SHOT 194]

i used the 129 grain sst by hornady when i had the weapon, loaded with N160, fed 210 primers, lapua brass, shooting under 1/2 inch at 100 yards and an excellent deer bullet,

start at 36g then try 38.5, 41g 43.6g max load, mine liked 41g of n160.

i could shoot across the border to my mates house to reload so it was never so bad just hope it become legal here soon.............

[dicehorn 38]

i used the 129 grain sst by hornady when i had the weapon, loaded with N160, fed 210 primers, lapua brass, shooting under 1/2 inch at 100 yards and an excellent deer bullet,

start at 36g then try 38.5, 41g 43.6g max load, mine liked 41g of n160.

i could shoot across the border to my mates house to reload so it was never so bad just hope it become legal here soon.............

 

Hi Snap shot - not wishing to steal someones thread, but regarding the 129 SST, do you know how far back from the lands the heads were seated or the COL was. I have been playing about with these SST using N160 up to 47 g which at that weight has produced 1" at 100 yds with no signs of pressure. However I think I need to pick someones brains regarding seating depth

 

Peter

[SNAP SHOT 194]

i used the 129 grain sst by hornady when i had the weapon, loaded with N160, fed 210 primers, lapua brass, shooting under 1/2 inch at 100 yards and an excellent deer bullet,

start at 36g then try 38.5, 41g 43.6g max load, mine liked 41g of n160.

i could shoot across the border to my mates house to reload so it was never so bad just hope it become legal here soon.............

 

Hi Snap shot - not wishing to steal someones thread, but regarding the 129 SST, do you know how far back from the lands the heads were seated or the COL was. I have been playing about with these SST using N160 up to 47 g which at that weight has produced 1" at 100 yds with no signs of pressure. However I think I need to pick someones brains regarding seating depth

 

Peter

 

i just used hornady's C.O.L. for the bullet it was 3.035"

My shooting buddie had his the same but he got better results.

i've seen deer taken at over 300 yards with these bullets, they are excellent. trial and error for each different weapon regardless if the make is the same.

good luck with them.......

[dicehorn 38]

i used the 129 grain sst by hornady when i had the weapon, loaded with N160, fed 210 primers, lapua brass, shooting under 1/2 inch at 100 yards and an excellent deer bullet,

start at 36g then try 38.5, 41g 43.6g max load, mine liked 41g of n160.

i could shoot across the border to my mates house to reload so it was never so bad just hope it become legal here soon.............

 

Hi Snap shot - not wishing to steal someones thread, but regarding the 129 SST, do you know how far back from the lands the heads were seated or the COL was. I have been playing about with these SST using N160 up to 47 g which at that weight has produced 1" at 100 yds with no signs of pressure. However I think I need to pick someones brains regarding seating depth

 

Peter

 

i just used hornady's C.O.L. for the bullet it was 3.035"

My shooting buddie had his the same but he got better results.

i've seen deer taken at over 300 yards with these bullets, they are excellent. trial and error for each different weapon regardless if the make is the same.

good luck with them.......

 

Thanks for that. Well today using the 129 SST and 46.5 of N160 managed a group of 5 at .612 at 100 yds using my friends 6.5 Styr but was surprised it shot so well bearing in mind the bullet is seated 320 thou off the lands which on COL is 2.974

 

Peter

Edited May 9, 2008 by dicehorn

[SNAP SHOT 194]

i used the 129 grain sst by hornady when i had the weapon, loaded with N160, fed 210 primers, lapua brass, shooting under 1/2 inch at 100 yards and an excellent deer bullet,

start at 36g then try 38.5, 41g 43.6g max load, mine liked 41g of n160.

i could shoot across the border to my mates house to reload so it was never so bad just hope it become legal here soon.............

 

Hi Snap shot - not wishing to steal someones thread, but regarding the 129 SST, do you know how far back from the lands the heads were seated or the COL was. I have been playing about with these SST using N160 up to 47 g which at that weight has produced 1" at 100 yds with no signs of pressure. However I think I need to pick someones brains regarding seating depth

 

Peter

 

i just used hornady's C.O.L. for the bullet it was 3.035"

My shooting buddie had his the same but he got better results.

i've seen deer taken at over 300 yards with these bullets, they are excellent. trial and error for each different weapon regardless if the make is the same.

good luck with them.......

 

Thanks for that. Well today using the 129 SST and 46.5 of N160 managed a group of 5 at .612 at 100 yds using my friends 6.5 Styr but was surprised it shot so well bearing in mind the bullet is seated 320 thou off the lands which on COL is 2.974

 

Peter

it all depends on the weapon in question, some like bullets to be touching the lands, others like a jump to the lands. trial and error,

i'd try his col in your rifle and work from there.