RL17 and 6.5x55

[Barlow]

Finally got to test my old 96 Swede with RL17 yesterday. 96 action, 26" Brux barrel, 123gr Sierra HPBT match bullets, Leupold Vari X 111, 6.5x20, Lapua brass and WLR primers.
42gr 2748mv
43gr 2799mv
44gr 2861mv
45gr 2934mv
46gr 3007mv

Three shot groups at 100 yards 43 and 44gr best group at .686 and .696. Shot off my portable bench, temp 45 degrees (heat wave). I just wanted to get a baseline and it worked out well. No pressure problems at all. Barlow

 

[watercam]

Good to know...

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have been very tempted to buy a pre-fit 6.5x55 for my Savage Long action.

 

[Barlow]

Data with RL17 is hard to find, at least in the cartridges I use, so I thought I would post it, ymmv. The 43 & 44 gr loads were 9 & 10 SD's. Barlow

 

[KMart]

I have been very tempted to buy a pre-fit 6.5x55 for my Savage Long action.

Step out there. I don't think you will be disappointed. I built one about a year ago on a mod 70 action and am very pleased with accuracy and velocity. There seems to be an accuracy node around 2950 with 140 Bergers and RDF Noslers. RE- 23 and 16 have shot well for me. Pressure has never been a problem.
Lapua brass is very reasonable. I also shoot comparable loads in a sporterized 96 Husqvarna and it shoots well too.

 

[normmatzen]

You might try RL-16. It is very similar to RL-17 but more temp. stable. I switched my 284 WIN and 7X57 to RL-16 with way better results, and RL-17 wasn't bad!

 

[Barlow]

You might try RL-16. It is very similar to RL-17 but more temp. stable. I switched my 284 WIN and 7X57 to RL-16 with way better results, and RL-17 wasn't bad!

Thanks Norm for the info. I'm going to run with 17 for awhile. It looks like it's going to work and I'm tired of buying powder. Barlow

 

[F224]

I'm running 50gr of VV N560 and getting 2900fps out of a 22.7" barrel with 130gr Berger VLD's and Swift Scirocco bullets. No trouble holding sub .5 mos out past 600 yards.

 

[joshb]

I load my Swede M38 on H100V and get great groups. Sometimes 3/4" at 100 yards. Original factory barrel. I'm with Barlow, tho. When you find a load that makes you happy, sometimes it's good to stick with it.
If I see some RL-16 tho, I might grab some to try.
Barlow: "Old 96" and "Brux barrel"............and I felt like I was committing a slight when I drilled mine for a scope! Be careful. It's still a small ring Mauser

 

[Liven The Dream]

Old School ,Barnard Action , Krieger (obermeyer )R5 32" long.

Winchester Brass CCI BR2 H4831SC 140 Berger or 142 Sierra at AV 2910
Nosler RDF just don't group as well

 

[rardoin]

ReLoder 23 has been very consistent, excellent groups and velocity with 142gr bullets while fireforming into BJAI and also in the formed cases...which are about 4gr larger H2O capacity than the original 6.5 x55SE case. I started with H4381sc but now have several jugs collecting dust. I think it would also be excellent with the parent chambering in that projectile weight.

 

[Barlow]

I load my Swede M38 on H100V and get great groups. Sometimes 3/4" at 100 yards. Original factory barrel. I'm with Barlow, tho. When you find a load that makes you happy, sometimes it's good to stick with it.
If I see some RL-16 tho, I might grab some to try.
Barlow: "Old 96" and "Brux barrel"............and I felt like I was committing a slight when I drilled mine for a scope! Be careful. It's still a small ring Mauser

The military barrel finally gave up the ghost few years back, so I decided to go this route. I have a plastic stock on it and I use it in bad weather. I just filled the butt stock with lead shot which put her at 12lbs for some target work this summer. The lock time could be measured with a sundial. Barlow

 

[rardoin]

The lock time could be measured with a sundial. Barlow

LMAO!!!

 

[DukeDuke]

RL-17 is my "to go" powder for the 6.5x55! 43.0 gr. gives me just over 2700 fps with the 140s out of my M96, its kind of accurate too.