6.5x55 swede/need loads for a ruger model77 Please help me choose a good combo!

[jonbearman]

I have a model 77 markII in 6.5x55 and I am hoping you can give me moderate loads as I dont care about the speed game. Please dont give me a comparison to any other caliber.I just want accuracy from 87 grainers to 140's.Does anyone know the factory twist rate and I should mention that it is a sporter weight,basically a pencil tube. I just want to shoot it for fun period. Thanks to all who answer.I have most IMR'S and hodgen to choose from,I dont have any vitivouri powders,I also have accurate arms powders and wc844(h335 equivalant) and blc2(lots of it) RL15 and 748.So here goes<help!

 

[jonbearman]

Re: 6.5x55 swede/need good loads for a ruger model77

can anybody help with my question?

 

[TonyR]

Since no one else has anything for you, I will share my experiences finding a working load for a friend's Ruger 77 in 308. I found that the magazine length drove the seating depth so I obtained samples of several 308 bullets and measured them. My goal was a bullet that would be seated with the boattail/shank junction above the donut area above the neck/shoulder junction of the case and be just off the lands. The Sierra 165gr GameKing met these criteria and several people on this form made powder load suggestions for that combination and configuration. I then shot a ladder starting low and working up. Good thing I did start low because we got good vertical and flattened primers withing the first couple of steps in the ladder. But what we ended up with will work very well for my friend's needs.

 

[kemen4]

Re: 6.5x55 swede/need loads for a ruger model77 Please help me choose a good co

Whilst I do not use any of your selection, I use powders at. & slower than 4350 for 120s -130s around 2750 & 140s c. 2600.The next spot on the ladder was about 150 - 180 fps faster but I wasn't in that much of a hurry.
Here's a link that may be more use to you
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/The+6.5x55+Swede?packedargs=pagenum%3D2

For plenty good info on here do a search for posts by 'Rhino' amongst others ....

 

[kcTbear]

If I remember correctly the Ruger was advertised as a 1:8.5 twist. Others I've corresponded with on other forums declare it's a 1:8. Regardless, you're good to go with bullet weights up to 160g.
My load book seems to have disappeared recently, but if I remember correctly RL-15 would be right for the lightest of rounds, 100g arena.
RL-22 was a favorite for the 140g Sierra.
I dabbled with the RL-17 with the 120 Swift A-frames and got pretty good results; referenced with Reloader's website for approx. weight bullet. The RL-17 won't fill the case, but won't need to either, to get good velocity and accuracy.
Can't say I've tried much Hogdon or AA or Winchester at all, but the fun is in the trying. One thing though the MKII Swede is a neat little rifle. I just got mine back from a visit to W.E. Birdsongs with their Black-T coating, now its ready for an all weather outing.
Good luck in your (re)search.

 

[TonyR]

What is the magazine length for the MkII 6.5X55? We had to stay under 2.900 inches with my friend's 308 MK II.

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend who had the same rifle that you do had good luck with 129 gr. Hornadys and IMR 4831. Interestingly enough he did what I would never recommend of do, made his barrel float by inserting a plastic shim ( a piece of credit card) between the front bedding flat and the stock. Maybe the bedding started out so bad that it couldn't make it worse. I don't have a clue.

 

[GSP7]

140s and 160s Hornadays- H4831, R22, and H4350 if you please

129 hornadays -H4350, IMR4350

I just got some IMR 7828 to try with my 140s

"made his barrel float by inserting a plastic shim ( a piece of credit card) between the front bedding flat and the stock"
I did the same thing with my Ruger m77 mkII .270 under the front and rear tang and it works great. some day I will use some epoxy to bed the darn thing. I found the ruger reciever was getting "bent" when screws were tightened, some thing needs to be relieved somewhere on the wood maybe the front barrel pad or under the receiver is tweeking it

 

[kcTbear]

TonyR, the Swedish Mauser is based on a long action. Hornady book reads that max O.A.L. is 3.150

 

[2506]

I have a number of M-96 Mauser rifles in 6.5X55. My most accurate target load comes from the 4th edition Sierra manual. 37.8 grs IMR 4895, I use CCI BR2 priemrs, Rem case, 140 Sierra Match King with an OAL of 3.050 which is as long as I can load it and it work through the Mauser magazine.

My hunting loads that are supper accurate are max loads for the M-96 that came from the loading technician a few years back at Accurate Arms.

140 gr Hornady spire pt or Sierra SP, 45 grs AA4350, Federal 210M primer, Rem case OAL 3.050 from my 29" barrel I get average 2850 fps.

120 gr Nosler ballistic tip, 46 grs AA4350, Fed 210M primer, Rem case, OAL 3.050 from my 29" barrel I get 3000 fps.

 

[jonbearman]

Just shot the 65.x55 yesterday and the load was 140 gr sierra's with 34.0 of aa2520. shot well under minute of angle off the bat.This is gonna make the nicest stock deer rifle for an old duffer like me to handle in the field.Love it so far.I will get back with more data in the near future. Jon

 

[cfvickers]

I have a steyr SBS Stainles mountain and the most accurate load I have found with it is 43.5 grains RL22 in all weather hot or cold with a Sierra game king or Berger VLD and a Fed gmm210 with the berger it works best for me at the lands, and the Sierral .050 off the lands. If it is a short barrel gun this may work well for you or at least a good starting point to tweak. This is well below max so there is no need to work up, most any action should handle this pressure well. I, of course, would not take resposibility if it was not a safe load, but book max is 46.6 I think, Velocity is around 2450