6.5x55 w/ VV N560, wow!

[F224]

I was working up some loads to use at Hollands Long Range Shooting School in April.

With Berger 130gr VLD's, new Lapua brass, Federal 210M primers and a below book of VV N560 of 50.0gr,50.2gr listed max) I managed to shoot several .400 and smaller groups at 100 yards in my R93 semi-weight with a 22.5' barrel.

They ran at a consistent 2900fps, 50fps faster than VV's 26' test barrel with an SD of under 20fps.

Not bad for an old Scando cartridge.

 

[Obtunded]

I was working up some loads to use at Hollands Long Range Shooting School in April.

With Berger 130gr VLD's, new Lapua brass, Federal 210M primers and a below book of VV N560 of 50.0gr,50.2gr listed max) I managed to shoot several .400 and smaller groups at 100 yards in my R93 semi-weight with a 22.5' barrel.

They ran at a consistent 2900fps, 50fps faster than VV's 26' test barrel with an SD of under 20fps.

Not bad for an old Scando cartridge.

For some reason, it seems that the Swede never really caught-on with you yanks. I tellin' ya, that old blonde gal has many tricks up her sleeve! It is still a scary-accurate cartridge in 1000 yard competition, and with Lapua brass and a modern firearm, it is capable of pressures well beyond what are generally recommended for a 100-year-old rifle.

N560 is a fantastic powder, and its stellar performance is what prevented me from giving up on a 6X47 Lapua. 560 took a 1MOA group down to a .1MOA group. I was set to dismiss the 6X47 as a cruel joke until I found N560! What a difference!

Cheers,

Ian,from the great white Canadian North!)

 

[F224]

I am seeing a lot of knowledgeable and serious riflemen 'discover' the Swede in this country for biggame, varmints and target work. Hard to keep a good girl down...

 

[USSR]

I've been loading the 139-142gr bullets in front of N160 for years now for 1,000 yard F Class competition. No problem reaching 2950fps with my 6.5x55 chambered 28' Obermeyer. Being that N160 is a single-base powder, it is easier on the throat than N560.

Don

 

[DukeDuke]

What load do I start, to work up to 2950?

Thanks!

 

[pbot]

With Berger 130gr VLD's, new Lapua brass, Federal 210M primers and a below book of VV N560 of 50.0gr,50.2gr listed max)

Could you please tell me the source for this load? I contacted Berger but they only provided me with load data for N160. I have some N560 that I'd like to try.

Thanks!

 

[Bucolic Buffalo]

I know this is an old post, but I am excited to try this powder in my .260 Remington (Sako Finnlight). So far Varget and 4350 only yield 1.25-1.50 groups at 100 and my other Sako's are considerably better than this. That was using Barnes 120 & 130gr TSX bullets. Thanks

 

[Shynloco]

[/QUOTE]
For some reason, it seems that the Swede never really caught-on with you yanks. [/quote]

Not sure I can agree with that comment. I along with several of my shooting buddies all own 6.5X55's, plus about a week or so ago, a member was asking for advice on a new build he was considering and asked for comments whether he should build a 260 or a 6.5X55 Swede. Several folks chimed in with a resounding vote for the 6.5X55 Swede. I just had my gunsmith put a Benchrest stock on my Swede and she shoots better than ever (and even better than I expected) and actually surprised me at 100 yds with consistently putting together 5-shots groups at 100 yds that measure in the 2's and 3's using Lapua brass, 205's, and Varget pushing Sierra 142's. But now my curiosity is aroused about trying VVN560 to see how it works with the 142's that my rig likes the best, even better than the Bergers other have listed, all of which I have preciously tested. So thx for that info as now the task becomes finding someone who has it in stock as neither Brunos or Powder Valley have it right now and PV won't take backorders.

Alex

 

[2644ever]

You'd better start to hoard all the n560 you can purchase as Vihtavuori stops selling powders to the general public around next Spring...
Otherwise, for the Swede and the .260 with heavy bullets, this powder is the very best along with Norma's MRP.

 

[Ltdshooter]

You'd better start to hoard all the n560 you can purchase as Vihtavuori stops selling powders to the general public around next Spring...
Otherwise, for the Swede and the .260 with heavy bullets, this powder is the very best along with Norma's MRP.

So where is that news coming from? I'd be interested to know the source and reasoning behind it....

 

[Shynloco]

You'd better start to hoard all the n560 you can purchase as Vihtavuori stops selling powders to the general public around next Spring...

Not trying to be argumentative, but I too would love to know where this story about VihtaVouri comes from this time. Over the past few years and periodically, tales of plants closures, no more powder forthcoming, etc, etc, has found it's way to various shooting blog around the Internet. Thus far, each "story" has been inaccurate and untrue. So for everyone's edification, I'd love to hear the source as the Webmaster thus far has been successful in debunking each story which has been factually inaccurate. Such inaccuracies, contributes to the shortages of VV powders and the hoarders go ape and make shooting life miserable for users of VV powders.

 

[2644ever]

I'll be glad to provide a link:

http://www.tirmaillyforum.com/mildot/viewtopic.php?t=169129&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75

Read the third post by HALO, the guy's name is Alain F. Gheerbrant, he's a ballistician and he's extremely well connected with NOBELSPORT and Eurenco who happen to own Vihtavuori...
The frogs have planned the V V plant closure for June 2014, because of a huge loss in the last five years...
Already, BGM, the frog importer for those powders, has seen the writing on the wall: when the frogs release bad news, they are usually true 102% of the time... So BGM simply cease to store V V powders and is currently importing Swiss NitroChemie powders.
Just face it, guys, the days of availability of V V powders in USA are numbered.

 

[KAIFS]

its a bummer regarding VV, however... its not the only game out there. As the one whom owns and shoots 95% of 6.5x55 - RL19, RL22, 4831 (both IMR and H) and number of other powders can be worked up with great success.
Took 3 doe this rifle season with my hunting load out of Remington 700 Classic with:
129gr SST Hornady, 48gr RL-19, 215M, Lapua 1x fired FL sized,3.000 OAL

it was a 1/2 MOA at 200m off the sand bags in load development stage. While VV is a fine powder, in my military and target swedes based on a M96 action/receiver - RL22 is just the right burning speed and a cheaper option too.... bit Faster powders for the the modern/custom rigs, or at least for me.

 

[2644ever]

Good news for V V shooters: Nammo from Norway will buy the V V company from the Frog conglomerate Eurenco, thus preventing its closure. That was a close call...

 

[Laurie]

Good news for V V shooters: Nammo from Norway will buy the V V company from the Frog conglomerate Eurenco, thus preventing its closure. That was a close call...

Yes, but will all 26 powders be available when production resumes under new ownership? The word I hear is that it is unlikely. Nammo will almost certainly look at all Viht's sales figures and margins by product very closely before they start making any more.