6.5x55 Military Swede rifle with 156.5gr FMJ

[blackthorn]

At the annual gun show a couple of weeks ago I picked up 200 -6.5x55 -FMJ (cupro-nickel?) projectiles. They weigh 156.5gr. I went through all of my many manuals and find very few that give load data for these heavier slugs. Most manuals stop at 140gr. I did find data for a 160gr jacketed slug in Lyman’s “Load Data Series” booklet from 2011. Within the number of powders listed I have IMR 4831, (load range 38.7gr 43gr) IMR 4831sc (load range 41.5 to 46gr) and Reloader 22 (load range 41.5 to 46gr). In my Hodgdon’s 1983 #24 manual I found data for a 156gr jacketed slug using H4831 47gr to 50.5gr. The Lyman information provides loads for a 160gr slug so am I OK if I use the starting load for my lighter slugs? Also, I was under the impression that regular IMR 4831 and IMR 4831sc were supposed to be (at least) close to the same powder, but it appears Lyman don’t think so. Any insight will be appreciated. Thanks.

[Dutchman]

Swedish m/94 projectiles will have a manufacturer's mark on the base of the bullet. These will be ok to load.

But DANISH 156 gr round nose military are notorious for having softer jacket material and will load up the bore extremely fast to the point that pressures will go through the roof. These Danish projectiles will NOT have a manufacturer's mark on the base of the bullet.

You are assuming what you purchased are Swedish aren't you? They may not be.

The images on the bottom are the bases of the m/94 bullets showing the maker's mark.

http://images14.fotki.com/v1628/photos/2/28344/3886627/021xb-vi.jpg

[blackthorn]

Dutchman; thank you for the information! I finally got out to my shop this afternoon. It appears that I do not have the good projectiles, as there are no marks on the bullet's base. Bummer!! Now what?? Are these unusable? Can I use them up in small amounts, interspersed with batches of commercial hunting bullets? Are special cleaning regimes required? So many questions, so little knowledge.

[Saltner]

In my Carl Gustaf loaded it with Sierra HPBT 155 grains, 41 grains of N160 Vihtavuori, free boring 2 mm With IMR 4831 you can safely use the same dose.

[Dutchman]

Dutchman; thank you for the information! I finally got out to my shop this afternoon. It appears that I do not have the good projectiles, as there are no marks on the bullet's base. Bummer!! Now what?? Are these unusable? Can I use them up in small amounts, interspersed with batches of commercial hunting bullets? Are special cleaning regimes required? So many questions, so little knowledge.

Scrap the whole batch. Write it off to lesson learned.

Dutch

[Joe504]

Dutch, I think the op means he bought just the j words. Not completed rounds. That's why he found no marks. Blackthorn, if you bought loaded rounds with no markings, pull the components, but I would not shoot them with out markings to reference what they are.

[blackthorn]

These are just FMJ bullets (slugs) (projectiles). When I look at the pictures you posted, the bottom few appear to be the base of a projectile --- right? There are no marks on the ones I got. While I would rather not, if I need to scrap them I won't lose a fortune and I can always throw them in the next melt session to reclaim the lead filling. Again, thanks for you help and patience.

[Dutchman]

These are just FMJ bullets (slugs) (projectiles). When I look at the pictures you posted, the bottom few appear to be the base of a projectile --- right?

Yes the base of the bullet itself.

[blackthorn]

O.K. lesson learned! Thanks.