Optimum powder for 6.5 swede, cast and jacketed projos?

[Tristan]

Any feedback from the experienced hands regarding the optimum powder(s) for the 6.5 swede, in a Swede rifle (military) using both 140 gr. Jacketed and the cast 'cruise missle'?

From my meager experience previously, the slower powders did better as far as accuracy, and the loading guides at my disposal show a velocity advantage as well.

What's your experience been?

TIA for the feedback.

- Tristan

[462]

Tristan,
For jacketed, IMR 4895 and 168 grainers have produced excellent results, from my '44 and '53 versions. They haven't seen many boolits (other guns have higher priorities), but the RCBS 30-180-SP and 2400 may be a winner.

Edit: Misread, the above info is for the K-31. The '01 Swede prefers IMR 4350 for jacketed and IMR 4227 for cast.

[geargnasher]

Your milage may vary greatly, but I use H-414 for Sierra 150 grain round nose as well as the Oldfeller Cruise Missile.

Gear

[Bret4207]

RL-22 for 140 jacketed. Hands down, the absolute best powder.

[NuJudge]

I've been using WCC 860 (really slow Ball/Spherical/globular for the .50 cal) with 140gr JSP bullets. Excellent groups, and burns really clean.

[spqrzilla]

I don't think that there is an "optimum" powder for 6.5x55mm, mine seems to do well with quite a wide range of powders. Its one of the fun things about this caliber.

[Dutchman]

I've had outstanding accuracy with IMR4831. I've bought a pound of Rx22 but haven't roadtested it yet. I expect similar results as the 6.5x55 just seems to like slow powders. I actually got excellent accuracy with the Sierra 85 gr hollow point, the 120 gr Sierra Match King and the 160 gr Hornady round nose.

For cast either Unique, 700X or 2400 have been good for me so far.

Dutch

[higgins]

I've gotten very good results with IMR4895 and jacketed 85, 100, and 140 grain bullets in moderate loads; no experience with cast in 6.5x55. I think 4895 (IMR or H) is a very versatile powder. Since I'm not trying to load for max velocity for hunting or long range shooting they are usable with a variety of light and mid-weight bullet weights in just about any of the milsurp calibers and others I load.

[zomby woof]

Varget and RL22 for 140 "J"
I'm having good luck with 4198 and 140 lyman cast

[Maineboy]

RL22 works well with all the 140 and 160 grain jacketed bullets I've reloaded. I haven't tried with the cruise missle though, I've only used a variety of faster burning powders with cast boolits in my Swedes.

[Buckshot]

I've been using WCC 860 (really slow Ball/Spherical/globular for the .50 cal) with 140gr JSP bullets. Excellent groups, and burns really clean.

................I'll second this. In a M38 Swede with Hornady 140gr p-sp slugs a full caseload 60.0 grs (WC872, lot# 49450) clocked at 2770 fps and was exceedingly accurate. The bullets were seated to touch the lands.

Another is WC872, lot# 49450 using Rem 140 Core-Lokt's 51 to 60grs clocked 2100-2495 FPS. The slower velocity is due to the 140gr Rem bullet being a '2 diameter' slug. Essentially a bore rider jacketed bullet. It misses kissing the lands by a good half inch!

.............Buckshot

[Larry Gibson]

In my M38 I use H4831SC under the Hornady 140 SP at 2750 fps for hunting deer/bear/pigs/elk, etc. I use the Sierra 100 gr HP over Varget at 3200 fps for varmints. The Nosler 120 BT and the Sierra 120 SP over Varget at 2900 fps are excellent combo loads for varmints/antelop and smaller deer.

With 266455 I use Unique for an excellent 1400 fps load. I use AA4350 and Original Buffer under the 266455 and the 3rd GB 130 gr bullets for decent 2100 fps loads.

Larry Gibson

[Tony65x55]

I've been getting great results from 47 gr of IMR-4831 under a 140 j-bullet for many years. Accurate in most guns. You can use 45 gr of IMR-4350 to get to the same velocities. A real winner that shoots well in almost every 6.5x55 I've tried is 48 gr IMR-4831 under the 129 gr Hornady.

[Lloyd Smale]

4350 or 414 would be a good starting place.

[jonk]

WC 852, H414, ACCUR 4350, and H4981 have all done well for me.

Just for giggles, but of no real use- I have a ton of pull down solenite from old carcano cases that it really likes too- the Carcano case was filled with it, to the neck, so I just transfer the same weight charge (34 gr) to the swede with some dacron filler. Very nice.

That long barrel seems to like slow powders.

[azcruiser]

in my 6.5x55 cast loads 10 gr trail boss works well my reg load for 140 vlds bergers I use Varget

[BD]

All of the swedes I have known have performed just fine using 140 grain condoms with either of the 4831's, WC 852f or RL22. I shot the best group of my life with 49 grains of WC852f under a 120 grain Nosler BT. One of the best attributes of the round is that you can come up with a usable load using any powder between Unique and WC872. When I'm down to my last primer I know I'll be able to come up with something out of the barn that would take a deer.

I haven't played with the cruise missile, or the high velocity buffered loads, but a guy can have a lot of fun with 10 to 14 grains of Unique pushing the 140 grain Jumptrap bullet. With a pistol scope in one of those half baked B Square mounts 10 grains will keep the jumptrap boolit inside an inch @ 100 out of my 1916 CG. Very quiet with almost no recoil.
BD

[azcruiser]

like the trailboss because 10 gr fills up most of the case no need for stuffing