6.5 velocity pipe dream?

[lampafox]

hi guys ive been enjoying using the 95 grain vmax out of my blaser r8 swede. I was wondering if you think it possible to load some 140 ssts up to over 3000fps in the standard 23" barrel? im excited at the prospect and will work up etc but before starting I was wondering if its possible or would I just be pissing in the wind? thanks for looking

 

[pmarauder]

What is the twist rate on that one??

 

[wboggs]

You cannot get 3000 from a 140gr in a 6.5x55 with anywhere near normal pressures. Drop down to the 120's to get in the 3000 range.

 

[lampafox]

the twist is 1 in 8 I think. ah damn, I was looking forward to really pushing a 140 along at silly speeds. purely just for sake of doing it and trying it out.

 

[Jnewman]

The 6.5x55 is a great cartridge but don't think you will get to 3000 with a 140 grain bullet but I think you will find that shooting a 140 with the 1-8 twist that you have will equal good results . Remember that speed is not everything

 

[stinkitup]

With a modern action you should go close but also with 23 barrel it's harder. I am expecting my AI swede to do it but it also has a 30" hanging of the end.

 

[lampafox]

thanks for the replies guys, not to worry. if it snot possible then its not possible it was just something that came to me and I thought it had to be worth a try. just as an aside I don't suppose if anyone has quickload etc they would be able to tell me what I might expect from 47.5 through 50.5 grains (in .5 grain increments) of n160 in lap brass with cci200 primer and 140 sst? if anymore info is required im only too happy to reply. thanks for taking the time to look

 

[wwbrown]

I have done 3,100 fps easily with a 139 g Scenar with a 30" 6.5x55 AI hanging off a Stiller predator action.

 

[Ltdshooter]

In a 6.5x55 GWI, I'm getting and average velocity of 2960 fps with the Berger 140 VLD (.007 off the lands) using H4831SC. Using a 26" 1-8.4 Oby barrel (tight bore) on a Pierce LA. This load is not close to max so given the right setup the velocity you are wondering about is obtainable. However velocity is not the key to success. Find the accuracy nodes in your rifle and go from there. Mine just happened to be at 2960 with this bullet.

 

[Raptor]

I hit close to 3100fps with my 6.5x284 with the 140s using RL22 but the brass was toast after one firing. I shoot the 139s in my 6.5x55 in the low 2900s and its very accurate there. No need to push them much faster you really don't gain a lot.

 

[lampafox]

thanks guys, it certainly looks as though I will be pissing in the wind then. not to worry ill just keep it normal for now. once this barrels gone(wont be for a long time) im planning on switching it to the 6.5x65 to be a bit different.

 

[stinkitup]

I found those 140 sst's to be a very accurate bullet in my old swede as well. But they are prob only doing about 2600. Inch 3 shot groups at 200 meters was good enough for the old girl.

 

[lampafox]

ive got the 95 grainers into 6 shots at .3 of an inch and would like the sst to group in a similar fashion. if the weather holds out im hoping to strike gold tomorrow with the 47 grains of n160 load but I really like the idea of being able to push them harder while still keeping them accurate enough for my purpose. ive no idea what sort of velocity that will give but theres plenty of case space left if its needed ;D

 

[WyleWD]

Around here N160 is very hard to find....... so never tried it to compare to........ N560. Have used in with the 140gr Sierra Gameking. Very good accuracy and speed.

But, I'm afraid that 23" barrel is going to be your limitation. :WD

 

[lampafox]

it could worth a look if I don't get the desired results with the n160. being in the uk the viht stuff is fairly easy to get hold of. however h4895 is like rocking horse poo..........its just not there

 

[ebb]

I've run way over 3000 with a 30 inch 6.5-284 using V165 but it had to be in the 60s temp wise. I wanted to try the Vitivori 5 series powders my friend loaded a big bore and got lotsa speed and lower pressure. But the Vitivori powders are gone around here, when I'm out of v165 I guess I'm back to H4831 or H4350.

 

[bcott]

Blaser R8 6.5x55SE barrel has a 1:8.66" twist. I purchased one in Jan 2013 and that is what mine has. Also the actual barrel length from bolt face to muzzle is 22". Carl L.

 

[lampafox]

ok thanks carl, good to know as i had read somewhere that they were 1/10 and didn't think that sounded quite right. as an aside, the 47 grain loads didn't work even with changing the seating depth from 10thou from the lands all the way back to being seated in the crimping groove on the bullet. have now loaded up 47.3 grains of n160 in .3 grain increments up to 48.8 hopefully one of these will just click and start grouping properly. I was half tempted to load them higher but don't want to go through the process of pulling rounds apart unless I really need to. as a matter of interest has anybody else "needed" to use such a high amount of n160 to get a group together? not actually in the pursuit of velocity now just getting a load that shoots. thanks guys

 

[bcott]

lampafox; You might also take a look at w.blaserbuds.com It is the "unofficial" Blaser web site. Good info there, as well as here. Carl L.

 

[grottyyachty]

I have a 264 Win Mag in a Zastava M70, basically a Mauser Action, made in Serbia, it has a 24" very light barrel and I shoot the 100 grain Nosler BT in it with 70 grains of AR2213SC also known as H4831 and chronographed it at 3620, at 4.5 metres from the muzzle. I have not played with other bullets yet, as I know it is a barrel burner and I can hit 10 out of 10 clays on the mound behind the 200 metre range (the mound is 235 yards away from the shooting bench). I have the rifle sighted 1.2" high at 100 metres for a 200 metres zero. I am going to use this rifle as my deer rifle when hiking and the 100 grainer should do the job. It takes about 50 rounds to work up a load and the testing etc, so on a barrel that has a life of about 800 rounds I don't want to waste too much of the barrel working up loads. I just checked the ADI reloading manual (ADI make a lot of the Hodgdon powders here in Australia) and the best the 264 Win Mag can do with a 140 grain pill is 3065 fps. When I was testing the loads in the 264 my mate Wayne was testing his 6.5X55 in a Sako 85 with a 22" barrel and he was getting 3300 with the 85 grain pills using AR2208 (Varget).