Need loads for 6.5x55 with Lapua 123

[BobW]

Just picked up a Sako 75 Finnlight in 6.5x55 for coyotes. Looking through my bullets I have a lot of 6.5-123Lapuas from a previous gun. I have RL19, 4831sc, RL 17, 4350, Varget on my powder shelf. Anyone have some loads for this bullet in any of these powders? Sure appreciate someone zeroing me in.

thanks

Bob

 

[JoePellegrene]

PM sent

 

[2506]

I have always had good luck with the 4350's with the Swede. It depends on which 4350 you have. I use AA 4350 and 46 grs with a 120 gr Nosler ballistic tip and get 3000 fps and tack driving accuracy from my 29.5 inch barrel on my 96 Mauser sporter and the pressure is under 51,000 psi. Try the 4350 you have.

 

[FURMAN]

I have always had good luck with the 4350's with the Swede. It depends on which 4350 you have. I use AA 4350 and 46 grs with a 120 gr Nosler ballistic tip and get 3000 fps and tack driving accuracy from my 29.5 inch barrel on my 96 Mauser sporter and the pressure is under 51,000 psi. Try the 4350 you have.

What is tack driving accuracy? I am trying to work up a load for 139 scenars for my buddies 96 sporter using h4350. I am going to start with a ladder test. I would like to know What kind of groups to expect.

 

[Raptor]

I am using 42grs of H4350 with mine and it is very accurate for a tactical rifle. I have shot a lot of groups in the .3s to .4s @ 100yds but when practicing I use only 3 shot groups out to 1000yds.

Two weeks ago I shot 1.5" group at 600yds an a 3.5" 3 shot group at 1000yds and then a 8" 5 shot group with three of the 5 in the paper plate in a 2.2" group.

Its a consistant .5 and under rifle with the 139s and this load. I have also shot up to 45grs but felt it was hotter than I wanted to shoot since it was within .5MOA of my 6.5x284 dials out to 1000yds so I backed the load down for my best accuracy.

Its now shooting about where you would with a hot 260 load so I am hoping to get better barrel life with it over either the 260 or the 6.5x284 since this is a mild load for the 6.5x55.

 

[8mmMauser]

Just a quick mention in case you're referring to Lapua's own reloading data. If you have a modern Swede,Tikka T3 varmint for example), their load data is EXTREMELY conservative.

They state max load for N550 as 40.1. A mate QuickLoaded the info for me and 44+ grains is well within 55,000PSI. I think Lapua data takes into account all the old military rifles that are still popular .

 

[2506]

What is tack driving accuracy? I am trying to work up a load for 139 scenars for my buddies 96 sporter using h4350. I am going to start with a ladder test. I would like to know What kind of groups to expect.


For a model 96 Swede Mauser I consider 3 shots under 1/2 inch @ 100 yards tack driving accuracy. The load I gave was for a full house load for the 96. I use it to deer hunt with. For 139 to 140 gr bullets 45 grs AA 4350 is the hunting load but for paper punching I have found that 37.8 grs IMR 4895 CCI BR2, 140 Sierra MK Remington case, OAL 3.050 is the ticket. It is not hard to get a Swede to shoot great.

 

[Forum Boss]

All your powders will probably work. My first choice would be the H4350. This is a very accurate powder with the 123gr scenar, one of my favorite bullets.

For a Coyote Load I'd start at about 45.5-46.00 grains of Hodgdon H4350, and work up to about 3050 fps,that should be about 47.5 grains acc. to Quickload but work up in small increments). Normally I like to seat bullets about .010 in the lands, but with the .123,in a Rem 260) I found it worked well jumped .020 and this gave the best ES/SD. I think you'll find excellent accuracy between 2940 and 3070 and the H4350 will fill the case nicely.

Finnlight, 123 Scenar, H4350 -- sounds like a nice set-up. The Nosler 120s are also very accurate, but they're pretty expensive.

 

[Sako6555]

Hello BobW
I have a Finnlight in 6.5x55. I use Vhit N-160 for all my loads in this rifle, including Scenar 123gr,yessss, before the pundits write-in, I know it's "too slow" for the 123gr!).
I know my load will hold <1 MoA at 600yds.

Before I could persuade the rifle to shoot well, I had to have the rifle properly bedded. It also has a sound-moderator,Asu Utra) on the front now, which changes the PoI but not the group size.

Will go to look-up my load data if you're interested.


Sika

 

[BobW]

Sika,

My Finnlite shoots just great. I bought some factory 142 and they shot under 1" at 100. Didn't like the recoil of the 142's and tried 120 Noslers. I worked up loads with the 1 pound of RL17 I managed to snag. At 41.0 grains of RL17 the Nosler 120's shoot with holes touching at 100. I chrono'd the loads at 2550 fps which is fine for coyotes and blacktail deer. Very mild recoil. I am very impressed with the Sako Finnlite. It's a 6lb gun that shoots lights out. I managed to load 40 rounds with the powder I had left of RL 17. I think that should be enough to get a deer this month.

thanks
Bob