Quickload info for 6.5x55 & 7.5x54

**P Flados** · 01-16-2024, 09:34 PM

I got a PM asking for some info. I could not find a good way to post the results in a PM so I am providing the results in this thread.

These tables are set up with requested bullets and AOL and everything else is left at default QL settings. These tables are intended to help select optimum powders and then work up loads.

The pressures shown are close the max pressures listed in QL. If using in conjunction with a chrono, working up to the max shown is reasonable provided that velocities do not exceed projections. If not using a chrono, stopping short of the max shown is recommended.

The powders I selected for inclusion are mostly ones marked by Hodgdon or Shooters World. Some were by request, others just looked good to me.

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Speer SP 1441
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

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 !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate MAGPRO                     97.3     50.2     3.25    2731    93.9    48225   11823   1.325  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      97.7     51.6     3.34    2714    98.1    48225   11128   1.316  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      88.8     44.5     2.88    2677    99.2    48225   10555   1.332  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      83.7     42.9     2.78    2670    98.7    48225   10522   1.335  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       87.8     42.6     2.76    2658    99.9    48225   10179   1.363  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon LVR                         85.8     41.6     2.70    2653    99.7    48225   10093   1.336  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 *T                   104.0     49.9     3.23    2652    95.2    45639   11041   1.342
IMR 4831                            92.6     43.0     2.79    2645    99.9    48225    9956   1.352  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                       97.0     47.0     3.05    2644    99.2    48225   10263   1.365  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game                    79.4     41.0     2.66    2634   100.0    48225    9625   1.339  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            78.6     38.1     2.47    2624   100.0    48225    9561   1.349  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            88.5     42.7     2.77    2617    98.2    48225    9893   1.333  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                            81.4     38.8     2.52    2607   100.0    48225    9235   1.331  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo                    104.0     50.7     3.29    2603    96.9    39978   11566   1.430

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady ELD-M 26331
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

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 !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate MAGPRO                     98.4     49.2     3.19    2722    93.6    48225   11496   1.325  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      98.7     50.6     3.28    2703    97.9    48225   10822   1.317  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      89.8     43.6     2.83    2668    99.1    48225   10284   1.334  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      84.6     42.1     2.73    2661    98.5    48225   10244   1.337  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       88.9     41.8     2.71    2650    99.9    48225    9924   1.364  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon LVR                         86.8     40.8     2.64    2645    99.6    48225    9833   1.338  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                       98.2     46.2     2.99    2637    99.1    48225    9998   1.366  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            93.7     42.2     2.73    2637    99.9    48225    9706   1.353  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game                    80.3     40.2     2.60    2626   100.0    48225    9385   1.341  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            79.5     37.4     2.42    2615   100.0    48225    9322   1.352  ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World SW4350               88.7     41.2     2.67    2608    98.6    48225    9699   1.356  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 *T                   104.0     48.4     3.13    2607    94.3    44072   10594   1.367
IMR 4350                            89.4     41.8     2.71    2607    98.0    48225    9621   1.336  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo                    104.0     49.2     3.19    2556    96.0    38537   11114   1.456

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

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 !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Accurate MAGPRO                     99.2     48.6     3.15    2715    93.4    48225   11302   1.325  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      99.4     49.9     3.23    2694    97.7    48225   10642   1.316  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      90.5     43.1     2.79    2662    99.0    48225   10126   1.334  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      85.3     41.6     2.69    2654    98.4    48225   10081   1.337  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       89.6     41.3     2.67    2644    99.8    48225    9777   1.364  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon LVR                         87.4     40.3     2.61    2638    99.5    48225    9683   1.338  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                       98.9     45.6     2.95    2630    99.0    48225    9844   1.365  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            94.4     41.7     2.70    2630    99.8    48225    9561   1.353  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game                    80.9     39.7     2.57    2620   100.0    48225    9248   1.341  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            80.1     36.9     2.39    2609   100.0    48225    9184   1.352  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            90.1     41.3     2.67    2599    97.9    48225    9461   1.337  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2                       76.7     38.5     2.50    2598   100.0    48225    8979   1.357  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                            82.9     37.6     2.43    2591   100.0    48225    8864   1.334  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 *T                   104.0     47.4     3.07    2576    93.6    43079   10321   1.382
Hodgdon Retumbo                    104.0     48.2     3.12    2525    95.4    37625   10835   1.474

Code:

Cartridge          : 7.5 x 54 mm MAS French
Bullet             : .308, 135, Hornady FTX 3027
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.793 inch = 70.94 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.5 inch = 520.7 mm

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 !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Winchester 748                      91.1     47.1     3.05    2829    97.3    48225    9415   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game                    98.7     50.5     3.27    2826    94.3    48225    9633   1.021  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                      101.8     47.8     3.10    2823    98.9    48225    9431   1.063  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            97.9     47.0     3.05    2823    94.8    48225    9667   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495                       95.9     45.1     2.92    2821    99.9    48225    9154   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520                       94.0     47.6     3.09    2812    98.0    48225    9283   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Match Rifle          96.2     47.6     3.09    2812    98.0    48225    9283   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Wild Boar                   93.3     47.9     3.10    2793    94.6    48225    9328   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                           100.2     47.4     3.07    2789    94.3    48225    9178   1.020  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2460                       89.3     46.1     2.99    2765    97.3    48225    8910   1.055  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon LVR                        104.0     50.0     3.24    2754    90.1    44889    9477   1.054
Shooters World AR Plus              87.9     45.2     2.93    2753    97.2    48225    8749   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2230                       88.8     46.2     2.99    2748    95.6    48225    8797   1.047  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2015                       91.2     41.9     2.72    2746   100.0    48225    8232   1.054  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC *C                      92.5     47.9     3.10    2742    91.1    48225    8987   1.039  ! Near Maximum !

Code:

Cartridge          : 7.5 x 54 mm MAS French
Bullet             : .308, 150, Sierra HPBT MatchK 2190
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.958 inch = 75.13 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.5 inch = 520.7 mm

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 !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Winchester 760                      99.9     52.3     3.39    2720    90.9    48225   10242   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon LVR                        102.4     50.7     3.29    2718    93.7    48225   10072   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game                    95.0     50.1     3.25    2717    96.2    48225    9904   1.070  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748                      87.4     46.6     3.02    2708    98.5    48225    9567   1.076  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            94.0     46.6     3.02    2707    96.5    48225    9890   1.084  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2                       90.0     48.6     3.15    2704    97.7    48225    9792   1.085  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                       97.4     47.2     3.06    2696    99.7    48225    9490   1.117  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520                       90.2     47.1     3.05    2690    99.1    48225    9401   1.097  ! Near Maximum !
Shooters World Match Rifle          92.3     47.1     3.05    2690    99.1    48225    9401   1.097  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495                       91.7     44.4     2.88    2688   100.0    48225    9118   1.123  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                      104.0     51.5     3.34    2685    93.8    45232   10172   1.113
IMR 4320                            96.6     47.1     3.05    2682    96.2    48225    9440   1.068  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Wild Boar                   89.8     47.5     3.08    2681    96.3    48225    9565   1.081  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     104.0     53.2     3.45    2675    91.0    45747   10127   1.093
Shooters World Precision            95.6     46.1     2.99    2665    97.8    48225    9306   1.095  ! Near Maximum !

**P Flados** · 01-20-2024, 01:28 AM

Here are a couple of tables that provide details on specific combinations.

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady ELD-M 26331
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 4831


CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
-04.8   89    40.00   2512    1961   41453   9358     99.2    1.453
-04.3   89    40.20   2523    1979   42030   9394     99.3    1.443
-03.8   90    40.40   2535    1997   42615   9429     99.4    1.434
-03.3   90    40.60   2546    2015   43207   9463     99.4    1.424
-02.9   91    40.80   2557    2033   43807   9496     99.5    1.415
-02.4   91    41.00   2569    2051   44415   9529     99.6    1.406
-01.9   91    41.20   2580    2070   45031   9561     99.6    1.397
-01.4   92    41.40   2592    2088   45656   9592     99.7    1.388
-01.0   92    41.60   2603    2106   46288   9622     99.8    1.379
-00.5   93    41.80   2614    2125   46929   9651     99.8    1.370  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   93    42.00   2626    2143   47578   9680     99.8    1.362  ! Near Maximum !
+00.5   94    42.20   2637    2162   48237   9708     99.9    1.353  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   94    42.40   2648    2180   48903   9734     99.9    1.344  ! Near Maximum !
+01.4   95    42.60   2660    2199   49579   9761     99.9    1.336  ! Near Maximum !

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 4831

CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
-04.8   91    40.00   2534    1997   42912   9304     99.3    1.429
-04.3   91    40.20   2546    2015   43520   9338     99.4    1.419
-03.8   92    40.40   2558    2033   44136   9371     99.5    1.410
-03.3   92    40.60   2569    2052   44760   9404     99.6    1.401
-02.9   92    40.80   2581    2071   45393   9435     99.6    1.392
-02.4   93    41.00   2592    2089   46035   9466     99.7    1.383
-01.9   93    41.20   2604    2108   46685   9496     99.7    1.374
-01.4   94    41.40   2615    2126   47344   9525     99.8    1.365  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   94    41.60   2627    2145   48012   9553     99.8    1.356  ! Near Maximum !
-00.5   95    41.80   2638    2164   48690   9581     99.9    1.347  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   95    42.00   2650    2183   49376   9607     99.9    1.338  ! Near Maximum !

**challenger_i** · 01-24-2024, 02:26 PM

Tag

**P Flados** · 04-05-2024, 09:43 AM

In response to a PM, here are some QL tables that show the differences expected based on two different COALs.

Code:

Cartridge          : 6.5 x 55 Swedish
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : IMR 4831

CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.030 inch = 76.96 mm

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
-04.7   93    41.00   2599    2099   46487   9447     99.7    1.376
-03.5   95    41.50   2628    2146   48154   9519     99.8    1.354  ! Near Maximum !
-02.3   96    42.00   2656    2193   49878   9585     99.9    1.332  ! Near Maximum !
-01.2   97    42.50   2685    2241   51663   9647    100.0    1.311  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   98    43.00   2713    2289   53511   9702    100.0    1.290  ! Near Maximum !
+01.2   99    43.50   2742    2336   55423   9754    100.0    1.270  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.940 inch = 74.68 mm

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
-04.7   96    41.00   2629    2149   48712   9354     99.8    1.347  ! Near Maximum !
-03.5   97    41.50   2658    2197   50501   9419     99.9    1.325  ! Near Maximum !
-02.3   98    42.00   2687    2245   52356   9479    100.0    1.304  ! Near Maximum !
-01.2   99    42.50   2716    2294   54277   9534    100.0    1.282  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  101    43.00   2745    2342   56269   9584    100.0    1.262  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.2  102    43.50   2774    2391   58333   9633    100.0    1.241  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

**P Flados** · 04-08-2024, 02:01 PM

Note that the max charges in my previous post seem a good bit less than expected if you take a look at Hodgdon data. Lets compare more "apples to apples" by using the same bullet and same powder.

The Hodgon data looks to be for bullet: .264, 140, Speer SP 1441 and the powder was H4831 instead of IMR4831.

At the Hodgdon COAL of 3.03", seating depth is 0.335. When this is loaded in QL with 47 gr of H4831, the default QL case capacity gives a 100.3% fill. These inputs result in a predicted 2695 fps at 50682 psi for a 24" gun. The pressure is just under the SAAMI MAP of 51000 psi.

Note that the Hodgdon result is 2586 fps at 45700 cup. Again, just under the SAAMI MAP which is 46000 cup.

Both results are around 300 below the SAAMI limit when using the correct units. So the QL pressure prediction is probably not that far off the test data for the load with the Speer bullet. QL is off a bit more for velocity, it is close to 110 fps higher. Still this is not a terrible match.

Now lets change over to the powder used in previous runs, IMR 4831. The fill went up, to 101.7%. The result also went up, to 2867 fps at 63520 psi. The difference between the IMR and H versions of 4831 was a lot bigger than I expected.

Another surprise for me with this effort was finding the SAAMI Map to be only 51000 psi where QL has a max allowed of 55114 psi. Then I noted that QL references the CIP standard instead of SAAMI which kind of make sense for this european round.

**Larry Gibson** · 04-08-2024, 03:01 PM

A couple of my standard 6.5x55 Jacketed hunting loads as used in my Carl Gustav M96 (w/standard 24.7" barrel) with the pressures being measured via the Oehler M43 PBL.

129 gr Hornady SP in Winchester 65.x55 cases, WLR primers. OAL at 3.044" with 47 gr of IMR 4350: 2810 fps at 54,000 psi

140 Hornady SP in Winchester 65.x55 cases, WLR primers. OAL at 3.112" with 49 gr H4831SC

BP	Bronze Point	IMR	Improved Military Rifle	PTD	Pointed
BR	Bench Rest	M	Magnum	RN	Round Nose
BT	Boat Tail	PL	Power-Lokt	SP	Soft Point
C	Compressed Charge	PR	Primer	SPCL	Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP	Hollow Point	PSPCL	Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"	C.O.L.	Cartridge Overall Length
PSP	Pointed Soft Point	Spz	Spitzer Point	SBT	Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN	Lead Round Nose	LWC	Lead Wad Cutter	LSWC	Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC	Gas Check

Thread: Quickload info for 6.5x55 & 7.5x54

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Quickload info for 6.5x55 & 7.5x54

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