6.5x55 tikka reloading questions

[Brians356]

I'm not a real high volume shooter but I will put several hundred rounds through my hunting rifles throughout the year. For me, that meant that the 260 would be looking at a new barrel in as little as 4-5 years. The Swede, on the other hand, won't need one until my grandson shoots it out some 30 years from now.

If you only shoot factory ammo, that makes sense, as the Swede ammo is loaded to much lower pressures than the 260 Rem.

So, you don't reload for your Swede?
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[Bbear]

Oh, I reload for it. The factory stuff I've shot was all Lapua factory with the 123 gr. I reload with IMR4350 and the 142 LRAB. THAT load prints a 4 shot group around .33" so far. Hits just a touch over 2800 fps.

 

[Brians356]

Oh, I reload for it. The factory stuff I've shot was all Lapua factory with the 123 gr. I reload with IMR4350 and the 142 LRAB. THAT load prints a 4 shot group around .33" so far. Hits just a touch over 2800 fps.

Ok, well, then my point is (perhaps obviously by now) that the 6.5x55 is not magically easier on barrels than the 260 Rem, when both are loaded to potential. And in fact, since the Swede has more internal capacity, it will be harder on barrels than 260 Rem when loaded to equivalent pressures.

Put another way, you could have gone with 260 Rem and simply loaded it down to the same pressure as the 6.5 Swede's conservative specs and seen the barrel last (using your estimate) three decades.
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[Brians356]

In case you missed it, another Swede thread:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/6-5x55-at-1000-yds.3917069/#post-36924502

 

[Hoosier]

i have a Savage 110 in 6.5x55 Swede. I haven't created a selection of loads for this cartridge. The best load so far is:
140 gr. Hornady BTHP, Lapua Brass, BR2 Primers, and 48.5 Grains of RL22. The rifle has a 28 Inch Criterion Barrel,
according to Quick Load the velocity is 2900fps. I am under the max pressure, but the reading is 52,347 PSI. I am confident I could approach 3000fps. However, I am not seeking max velocity, but consistent accuracy. I have just loaded twenty each of Sierra 142s and Lapua 139s. Hopefully I can test fire these loads soon.
Hoosier

 

[joe.grey]

Followed this thread and now own a 6.5x55 Tikka T3X Varmint. Bought some Norma 130 gr Diamond bullets and about to start finding a good load for it.