Follow up to 6.5x55 SE data, shot my rifle and loads today.

[koger]

Well I have been waiting for a month to shoot the rifle/loads. It is on a Savage long action that I trued the action up, 1/4"surface ground recoil lug, Kreiger/CBI barrel, 26" varmint taper. Sits in a boyds tactidal that I put steel pillars in and bedded with steel bed. I went thru the factory trgigger, stoned and changed spring, #1 3/4 no creep. 20 MOA picatinny rail, Millet steel windage adjustable rings, Vortex Viper 6x20x44 with BDC reticle. I cleaned the bullet with acetone before tumbling in HBN. Took 4 shots to zero at 100yds. Wind was gusting up to 25 mph but would lay for a minute ever now and then so it took me 5 minutes to shoot 3 shot groups. load #1-123 gr Matchkings went into .275-.264=.011, the 2nd load, Hornady Match 140bthps went into .460-.264=.196. The first group was the best I have ever shot, and this was my first time using HBN. A older friend was there and I had him shoot a group with each, the .123's went into .295-.264=.031 and the 140;s went into .370-.264=.106. Very close results with 2 different shooters on a new barrel. The 123 load was going 3250fps and the 140s were running 2830fps. To say I am happy is a understatement, and a lot of you guys may say I need to shoot 5 shot groups. I will, I felt that this was as good as we could do given the blustery wind condition's. This rifle will be used in informal F class type matches, maybe deer hunted with, and I have a long way to go to see what the max velocity I can get it to shoot accurately, but I think this is a dang good starting point.

 

[RegionRat]

Sounds like a very good starting point.
I have been a big fan of this cartridge and also of the old Swedish Mausers ever since shooting them in The Wooden Guns Games at the CMP Matches at Ben Avery and doing load development on them. It is a very user friendly cartridge and obviously has "the magic" that makes the nodes wide and stable.
Good Luck with it!

 

[koger]

In the past 37 years I have built over 100 rifles in this caliber, and used it for 95% of my deer hunting, a lot of varmint hunting, with a Husqvarna match rifle that I sporterized, been shooting it since 1985. I did extensive load work over 2 years and the best groups came out to use IMR 3031, even though it was not listed as a good powder. Best accuracy and top velcoity. I am planning on some loads using it in the future, but right now VV560 is working very well.

 

[JRR]

In the past 37 years I have built over 100 rifles in this caliber, and used it for 95% of my deer hunting, a lot of varmint hunting, with a Husqvarna match rifle that I sporterized, been shooting it since 1985. I did extensive load work over 2 years and the best groups came out to use IMR 3031, even though it was not listed as a good powder. Best accuracy and top velcoity. I am planning on some loads using it in the future, but right now VV560 is working very well.

Very nice! What powder(s) did you use? My favorites have been Alliant 22,23 and 26 plus 4831. Due to the disappearance of these, I tried several others and found IMR 4955 which has given good accuracy.

 

[koger]

I shot VV 560 and Today I tried some IMR 3031, with virtually the same results. I was shooting about 3 grs over Max in old literatures, with Lapua brass with no pressure signs, and nearly identical groups

 

[DocBII]

Koger,

Out of 26" barrels, 48- 49 gr. N-165 or Norma MRP shoots bugholes at 100 with Sierra, Hornady or Berger 130 gr. bullets, no bullet lube and CCI43 or WLR primers. Not too picky as to jump or jam. This load is in modern Mauser or Remington actions with modern barrels.

HTH,
DocBII