6.5 x 55 Swede Loads needed

I just got a new Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5 x 55. The groups suck from factory ammo then I was told that the U.S. Factory ammo is loaded down and made with 30-06 as a parent case and not a genuine 6.5x55 Swede case. I've heard our reloading manuals are loaded down as well because they are afraid of old guns using loads that maximize the Swede's performance.

Does anyone have any input and load data on this? I would really appreciate it because I hear this is a great shooting rifle and especially because of it being a Tikka.

Thanks,

Bob

I just got a new Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5 x 55. The groups suck from factory ammo then I was told that the U.S. Factory ammo is loaded down and made with 30-06 as a parent case and not a genuine 6.5x55 Swede case. I've heard our reloading manuals are loaded down as well because they are afraid of old guns using loads that maximize the Swede's performance.

Does anyone have any input and load data on this? I would really appreciate it because I hear this is a great shooting rifle and especially because of it being a Tikka.

Thanks,

Bob

I tend to doubt the .30-06' brass being used as a parent cartridge by the commercial houses?
My Lyman #43 shows info in the following bullet weights,
87
120
129
140
and 160 grain.
I don't have a great deal of experience with the load, other than I found it to be astoundingly accurate with mild recoil and blast. The 6.5's have a good reputation for killing critters usually considered too large for the caliber to handle. But that may be due to the quality of the shooters that are using them too?

Hi, Minnesota 1 -

I have a Pac-Nor varmint-barreled Savage that's amazingly accurate. The two loads that I've found shoot the best in it both use Lapua brass and WLR primers with 142 grain Sierra Match Kings. The consensus of several different boards seems to be that Lapua is, hands down, the best brass available for the 6.5 x 55


Load No. 1 is 41.0 grains of IMR 4064, with an overall length of 3.160". This load is 1 grain ABOVE the max listed in my copy of Sierra's Manual.


No. 2 is 48.8 grains of Alliant Reloder 22 at 3.184" This loads is 4 or 5 grains ABOVE the max listed in Sierra's Manual.

Of course, I'd recommend reducing these loads by 10% and then working up watching for pressure signs along the way.

HTH,

Two of my favorite bullets are the Hornady 129gr Spire Point and the 120gr Nosler BT. Both are generally loaded with slightly over max published loads of RL-19 (work up on your own with caution!!). SAMMI spec pressures are held low for this cartridge because of the military Mauser 96 or 38 actions. In a strong modern rifle, you can generally go up a good bit to around 50-55Kpsi. On the other hand, this is such an efficent cartridge at moderate velocities, you really don't need to for most applications.

Lyman 48th edition lists Sierra's 140 gr HPBT at 2370 ft when pushed by 36.5 grains of IMR-4895. 3.050 OAL Fed 210 primers. They list this as potentially most accurate with that bullet. However, this isn't listed as anywhere near the fastest with that bullet, in fact it is the slowest listed, they go all the way to 2576fps, for RX22.
I believe that American companies list loads safe in the various military imports and SAAMI holds pressure to 46,000 CUP.
You might try to find Norma or vitavori sp? data, almost certainly a contemporary Tikka could stand higher pressures.

Minnesota1,
I'm sending you a e-mail, I've got 75 rounds of factory, 6.5x55mm for sale if interested.
My e-mail is [email protected]

I have a 6.5x55 built on a Sako with a Douglas barrel. Here is my load ( NO B.S. ) 500 meters 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inch groups all day long.
R-22 powder ( 47 Grains )
Lapua Brass ( trimmed to 2.150 in. )
Lapua 108 gr. Scenar Bullet
Federal 210 Primer
O/A Length 3.065 in.
GOOD LUCK
Dan

This does not exceed the max from the Lyman # 46 (which was using a 94 Carbine, just like me), but I have no idea whether they've further wussified the load standards since then and your gun might not handle what mine does, so do your research into modern data and start low and work up before trying any load.

From a 94 carbine's 17.8" barrel, I found that a Remington 140-gr PSP over 42.0 gr of IMR 4320 (firm crimp with a Lee FCD), gave me 2545 fps with an ES of 32.00 and a SD of 12.33. It was also 1.5" accurate at 100 yards from iron sights out of the old 1901 Carl Gustav Stadt Mauser. That'll do, particularly with these cheap bullets.

Gotta love the 6.5 Swede . . .

Especially for 6.5x55 rifles, it helps to know how long the throat is. The new Speer manual has 2 seperate sections for 6.5x55. One for modern actions and one for older military rifles. There is a significant difference in power levels.

Have used Win brass, Rl-22 and Hornady 129 and 140 gn interlocks with very good results in a Win Featherweight. The Win owned has a very long throat, and does best with the bullets seated out there.

If I can, I will shoot factory ammunition over a screen to determine if my loads are going faster or slower.

My load below shot well in my M700 Classic, only a little better after I glassbedded the rifle, and gave no pressure indications, and is a little faster than factory ball.


M700 22" Barrel

140 gr Hornday Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350
R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"

2 Feb 2008 T = 52 °F

Ave Vel = 2512
Std Dev = 27
ES = 72
High = 2547
Low = 2475
N = 5


143 gr Swedish Ball 1986 headstamp

2 Feb 2008 T = 54 °F

Ave Vel = 2470
Std Dev = 18
ES = 48
High = 2491
Low = 2443
N = 5

Gents,
I have been shooting the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge for over 20 years and its my hands down favorite.
I own and shoot a host of other cartridges from 17 Remington to 458 Win Mag. I have more than a few 30 cal, 270 and 7mm rifles, a 358 Norma Mag (another swede), and a 375 H&H. I like them all, but I tend to reach for the 6.5 Swede more then any other. I doesnt kick much, shoot flat and the long, skinny bullets penetrate like a javelin.
Some of you have compared it to a 6.5x06. I have a beautiful 6.5x06 built on a custom Springfield 03 action and the metal and stock are stunning. It has a 25 inch Douglas super match barrel and it out distances the swede in angle of trajectory, but only by 100 yards.

My 6.5x55 is my ugliest rifle. It started life as a Turkish mauser ( large ring outside dimension and threaded for a small ring mauser 8x57 barrel, which equates to a really thick receiver ring. It had the flange at the front of the receiver turned off and the action squared, lugs lapped and a small ring Swedish Mauser barrel installed. The barrel was cut from 24" to 22", recrowned and the intermediate barrel step turned down to make for a smooth medium weight barrel. Twist is 1:7.5. Pretty tight and perfect for 140gr bullets. The barreled action sits in a epoxy/micro-ballon bed, in a Brown precision fiberglass stock, and the works are touched off by a Timney premium trigger.
Scope is a Leupold 3x9x42ish, VXIII. Nothin fancy. It is scarred from stem to stern and is darn ugly, but it shoots!!!
Since the throat is set up for military rounds and the round is shorter than a 270, you can seat the bullets to the depth of the throat and leave the balance for powder.
I have two loads that shine it this rifle.
First one is a 140gr (Nosler Partition, Sierra Game King, Remington Coreloc't, Etc., they all seem to group well) over 48gr of IMR 7828 or RE 21. Velocity runs around 2750fps. These loads hover at .5"-1" clover-leafers and is my standard deer round. Velocities aren't screaming, bullets mushroom perfectly and they don't tear up meat, shoots as flat a pancake to 250yds, and at 300 I put the crosshair on the backbone. Took that load and ugly rifle to Africa and used it for most stuff up to 550 lb critters.
Second one developed is a 120gr Ballistic tip over 48 grains of H414. velocity runs at 3,000 FPS and a one holer. Great long range antelope round and not half bad for coyotes. I have killed a few of deer, hogs, and coyotes with that combo. its a tad thin jacketed for hogs, so you have to ensure a clean lung shot. If you're worried use the 140gr and reset your scope a few clicks.
Neither of these loads are suitable for older M96 Swedish Mauser Infantry rifles. If you drop to 42-44 grains of either powder/bullet combo you should be ok.
These loads are MAX. Start with the M96 load and work up, checking for signs of pressure.... flattened primers, etc.
I hope you enjoy your Swede as much as I do. keep your powder dry and happy shooting.

Hey, great post - welcome to the forum!