Does this seem hot for caliber?

[Hammer101st]

6.5x55Ai 150gr Smk

I did all the measuring and visual case inspectins i could think of and every thing seems fine.
I want to use 4831sc since i have 2 kegs and dont want to use up 2 most favorite powders. I dont think ill get the speed before pressureing out with H4831sc.

I had a couple guys tell me these speeds were to hot but then i had another guy show me he was gettin 2950 to 3000 with the 150grn and 4831sc i didnt get inspect his brass he could of been junkin it for all know. Im fine with 2850fps but i want use 4831 since i have so much of it.

What do you guys think?

 

[charlie b]

What rifle are you shooting it in? Not sure I'd push it much in an original surplus.

 

[Hammer101st]

What rifle are you shooting it in? Not sure I'd push it much in an original surplus.

Its in a trued savage action

 

[charlie b]

Then I'd just consider bolt lift, primer and dia at the .200 line to see if it is approaching pressure limits. Maybe run a GRT or Quickload simulation on it.

 

[Hammer101st]

Measuring at the 200 line is the only safety I have don't have grt or quick load

 

[swd]

How long is the barrel? Those speeds tend to be hard on the brass. Primer pockets open up fast even with Lapua. I shot a lot of RL23 in the X55AI. I also had 150SMK’s blow up around 2950. Nice cartridge in theory but even Lapua brass is a bit soft in my experience.

 

[Hammer101st]

How long is the barrel? Those speeds tend to be hard on the brass. Primer pockets open up fast even with Lapua. I shot a lot of RL23 in the X55AI. I also had 150SMK’s blow up around 2950. Nice cartridge in theory but even Lapua brass is a bit soft in my experience.

I think the barrel finished out at 29inch's. Yea im happy with 2850fps i just dont want to use up all my RL23 or 7828ssc thems my 2 fav's. I have 2 kegs of h4831 that i dont use in anything else. Im gonna start in on that powder see were it takes me.

 

[swd]

I think you’ll do fine at 2850 with H4831

 

[CF Junkie]

I don't have a 6.5mm x55AI but Quickload shows that it has a PMax of only 55,114 psi.
That low PMax surprised me.
My 6.5mm CM PMax is 63,091 psi.
Be very careful trying to get that last bit of velocity out of that cartridge.
In my experience, flirting with PMax actually degrades accuracy and increases wear on the primer pockets in the brass. There is no reason to fixate on velocity and take the risks involved.
QuickLOAD shows that for a 6.5mmx55AI with a 29 inch barrel and a cartridge OAL of 3.100, H4831SC with a 150 gr SMK gets that load to OVER PMax at only 2838 fps.
I would be very careful about loading that close to PMax. If your chamber is not long enough to get the OAL way out past 3.100 you won't be able to get to 2850 without going well over PMax.

 

[Hammer101st]

I don't have a 6.5mm x55AI but Quickload shows that it has a PMax of only 55,114 psi.
That low PMax surprised me.
My 6.5mm CM PMax is 63,091 psi.
Be very careful trying to get that last bit of velocity out of that cartridge.
In my experience, flirting with PMax actually degrades accuracy and increases wear on the primer pockets in the brass. There is no reason to fixate on velocity and take the risks involved.
QuickLOAD shows that for a 6.5mmx55AI with a 29 inch barrel and a cartridge OAL of 3.100, H4831SC with a 150 gr SMK gets that load to OVER PMax at only 2838 fps.
I would be very careful about loading that close to PMax. If your chamber is not long enough to get the OAL way out past 3.100 you won't be able to get to 2850 without going well over PMax.

Yes thank you i have my x55AI on a modern action the 55,000 psi max is for the old mauser actions.

 

[dhagerty40]

instead of just giving you little pieces, here is a chart using a 29" barrel, using the defaults in Quickload, COAL of 3.150" and a powder temp at 70 degrees, it does show you will not hit 2850 fps before hitting Pmax.

 

[swd]

Yes thank you i have my x55AI on a modern action the 55,000 psi max is for the old mauser actions.

The problem is the brass doesn’t handle pressure all that well. Watch your primer pockets..

 

[Hammer101st]

The problem is the brass doesn’t handle pressure all that well. Watch your primer pockets..

I know when i loaded some fire form loads up last night in virgin lapua swede brass the primer pockets were so dam tight i could barely get primers in the pockets they need a little loosening i had to bust out the old Remington primers because they were allways a little softer.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

which loads were the most accurate or had the best groups so far?

 

[Hammer101st]

which loads were the most accurate or had the best groups so far?

I havn't really shot for accurate shots yet ive been more or so just exploring speeds trying to establish pressure and fire forming case on the days the warm weather decides to show. Will get more serious when the seasons break