6.5x55AI range report

[TOObuilder]

I posted a pic of my winter project awhile back in the 'Pride and Joy' pic thread but had not even fired it yet. I have been shooting it some and it has not disappointed me. My fire form loads were shooting so well I hated to even try the formed brass. At first I was a bit disappointed in groups but realized I may have been pushing it a bit too hard so I backed off a bit and found this load of 120gr NBT's just touching the lands, CCI BR2's, 48.5gr H4831sc in Lapua fire formed cases. These loads were running right at 2975 fps. I did push it up to 3150 fps but the groups fell apart.

So far I am happy with the rig. I finally received the Sightron 8-32x56 and am very pleased with clarity and tracking. This was my first wildcat I had to fire form for and was a bit nervous about it but fire forming was straight forward and plenty accurate even for the pd town and pigeons. TB

 

[Thorbird]

beautiful rig. That cartridge is on my list to try.

 

[2506]

Nice looking rifle. What is your barrel length? I have a model 96 Swedish Mauser 6.5X55 that I sported but left the 29' barrel on it. It really loves the 120 ballistic tips also. I get average 3000 fps with 46 grs Accurate Arms 4350 and ragged hole 5 shot groups at 100 yards then the barrel starts to heat up and groups open up a might. It really shoots with 140 Sierra Gamekings with 45 grs AA4350 also.

 

[TOObuilder]

It is a 30', eight twist McGowen. I need to try some 140gr bullets and see how they do also. TB

 

[Magical_Merlin]

Where did you get that beautiful stock?

 

[TOObuilder]

Joel Russo did the inlet, shaping, and pad install. I did the bedding and finished it. Joel does very nice work.

 

[Bobthenailer]

Very nice rig and excellent groups!! I also have a 6.5x55 A.I. and found that fire forming with 85grn varminter bullets grouped excellent, my final loads are with 123grn match kings on top of 46.5grns of 4831 with BR2 primers all stuffed in speer brass. sub 1/4' groups are the norm, I built this on a military Swede M96 action & E.R. Shaw bull barrel...

 

[LHSmith]

I have a swede AI project in the works, the chambering was done with 35 degree AI reamer.
What did you guys do for a sizer?

 

[Bobthenailer]

I chose the 40 degree chambering and purchased Redding dies. My decision was on availability of dies, with out having custom ones made saved me money to buy brass, bullets, ect...