Hornady 162gn round nose bullet in the 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser caliber

Gert Odendaal

Gert Odendaal

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Good day members, are any one familiar with a Hornady 162gn round nose bullet ?
I received loaded rounds with information as Hornady 162gn round nose bullets loaded in a Lapua case , 43gn S365 ( SONCHEM Propellant). I am trying to find any information in regards to this 162gn round nose bullet but is unsuccessful.
Untitled2.jpg
 
Likely just a regular Hornady- thin jacketed cup and core. Hornady lists a 160 gr RN InterLock. Take a small cut off blade in a Dremel or even a hacksaw, cut in half lengthwise and look. Then shoot into some wet, tough media. That will tell the story.
 
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Thank you for the reply, it is much appreciated..I am more concern about the loads , in South Africa we have SONCHEM 365 it is indicated on the paper I received with the loaded rounds that it is loaded with S365 , 43gn ..I am currently shooting a ELD -X 143gn bullet with S365 , 43.4 gn at 2725 f/s......I was wondering if the 43gn S365 with a 162gn bullet will create pressure spikes???

I would like some opinions please??
 
The closest load to that my Rheinmetall manual has in the 6.5x55 is a 156 grain Norma SP with a max charge of 40.0 grains Somchem S365.
That load could have been fine in the rifle it was worked up for but not yours.
 
Somchem has online data.

S365 is the recommended powder.

The heaviest bullet they list is a 156 grain with 40.0 grains of powder as max.

A heavier bullet requires less powder than a lighter bullet. So that appears to be a higher pressure load than Somchem’s recommended loading. However load data is geared towards being safe in all rifles including 100 year old rifles.

Did the ammo come with the rifle? Was the ammo worked up specifically for that rifle? If not, pull it and work up a load for the rifle in which it will be used.

Ammo costs less than medical bills and new eyeballs and hands.

Search | SOMCHEM

www.somchemreload.com www.somchemreload.com



IMG_9598.png
 
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I guess these bullets are in real Hornady Interlock 160 gr.
I have never used such these big round nose bullets with the 6.5x55, but I reloaded them for my 6.5 Creedmoor that is more or less the 6.5x55's ballistic twin.
wxmddr.jpg

I pushed them at ~ 2500 f/s with a good success on wildebeests, waterbucks and impalas. It's a classic cup and core bullet but the weight retention tends to be better than the Hornady ELD-X that is too fragile for my liking when you shoot something bigger than a kudu.
Here is one recovered in water jugs.
whvri8.jpg

Here is the two bullets I recovered.
489807667_2785505984989881_5830289186242460908_n.jpg

1) Hornady Interlock recovered in a waterbuck shot at ~ 100 meters : 98.8 gr ( 61.75%)
2) Hornady Interlock recovered in a wildebeest at ~ 100 meters : 101.9 gr ( 63.7 %)

I don't have your barrel length, and the real case capacity to adjust it, but Quickload already gives you an idea of what you can expect from this recipe.
6.jpg
 
Gert Odendaal said:
Good day members, are any one familiar with a Hornady 162gn round nose bullet ?
I received loaded rounds with information as Hornady 162gn round nose bullets loaded in a Lapua case , 43gn S365 ( SONCHEM Propellant). I am trying to find any information in regards to this 162gn round nose bullet but is unsuccessful.
View attachment 741978
Click to expand...
That is the Hornady MPN 2640. 160gr., .264 Roundnose, Interlock. Excellent bullet for big game from a 6.5 x 55 or 6.5 x 54. This bullet was originally designed and made as a standard load bullet for 6.5 x 54MS and Carcanos. It will work well in all 6.5 cartridges. Well regarded for penetration ability and expansion down to 1800fps. We sold many thousands of them in the 1960's with few complaints.

You can try the 156 Norma load data, but use the start loads and work up slowly. There is little need to try to push velocity to the max with this bullet. Also, I recommend using the lee Factory crimp die with a crimp into the cannelure with this bullet.
 
Dirtdart said:
The closest load to that my Rheinmetall manual has in the 6.5x55 is a 156 grain Norma SP with a max charge of 40.0 grains Somchem S365.
That load could have been fine in the rifle it was worked up for but not yours.
Click to expand...
Dirtdart, the SONCHEM loads are known for being under loads ..I am comfortable to shoot these rounds in my Shilen barrel M96 Action 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.
 
Hififile324 said:
That is the Hornady MPN 2640. 160gr., .264 Roundnose, Interlock. Excellent bullet for big game from a 6.5 x 55 or 6.5 x 54. This bullet was originally designed and made as a standard load bullet for 6.5 x 54MS and Carcanos. It will work well in all 6.5 cartridges. Well regarded for penetration ability and expansion down to 1800fps. We sold many thousands of them in the 1960's with few complaints.

You can try the 156 Norma load data, but use the start loads and work up slowly. There is little need to try to push velocity to the max with this bullet. Also, I recommend using the lee Factory crimp die with a crimp into the cannelure with this bullet.
Click to expand...
Thank you kindly this information is much appreciated. Like I explained to Dirtdart, the SONCHEM loads are under powered ..I am comfortable shooting this 43gn S365 with the 160 gr bullet and Lapua case in my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.
 
Gert Odendaal said:
Thank you kindly this information is much appreciated. Like I explained to Dirtdart, the SONCHEM loads are under powered ..I am comfortable shooting this 43gn S365 with the 160 gr bullet and Lapua case in my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.
Click to expand...
You are welcome. Just one more thing...If you have access to a copy of Pet Loads by the great Ken Waters, he has 2 chapters on 6.5x55 and discusses powder ranges and performance. An excellent book, all reloaders should have one on their shelf!
 
I really don’t know what you are asking. As has been posted, Sonchem data is listed online. The closest bullet in the S365 data is a similar design 156 gr. The max load listed for that bullet is 40 gr of S365. Sooo you pays you money and you takes you chances. If you are fishing for agreement with your opinion, I’ll let someone else do that. I’d just pull those cartridges down, pitch the powder in the garden, load with suggested starting load for the 156 gr. and work up.
 
Gert, that is the bullet that made the 6.5 mannlicher schoenauer so famous. WDM Bell used them on elephants. He only stopped using it because of issues with the ammunition he could get. Load and use them and you will not be disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend them for elephant though.
 
I have on two occasions used a rubber hammer to beat open stuck rifle bolts because hunters used handloads given to them by other reloaders. Pull the bullets and work up loads in your rifle, like a responsible reloader.
 
Hififile324 said:
You are welcome. Just one more thing...If you have access to a copy of Pet Loads by the great Ken Waters, he has 2 chapters on 6.5x55 and discusses powder ranges and performance. An excellent book, all reloaders should have one on their shelf!
Click to expand...
I will see if I am able to find a copy. Thank you kindly.It is much appreciated.
 
MS 9x56 said:
Gert, that is the bullet that made the 6.5 mannlicher schoenauer so famous. WDM Bell used them on elephants. He only stopped using it because of issues with the ammunition he could get. Load and use them and you will not be disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend them for elephant though.
Click to expand...
MS9X56 this is great feedback, thank you kindly for this insight and knowledge about WDM Bell`s used of this ammo, it is much appreciated. (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)
 
ThinusS said:
I have on two occasions used a rubber hammer to beat open stuck rifle bolts because hunters used handloads given to them by other reloaders. Pull the bullets and work up loads in your rifle, like a responsible reloader.
Click to expand...
Dankie Thinus, ek sal dit so doen..ek skiet tans die 143gn ELD-X teen 43.4gn S365. Ek vermoed daar gaan nie druk wees nie die punt sal basies n stadiger tromp snelheid registreer. Ek sal so 5x rondtes trek en opwerk van 40gn tot 43gn wat die rondtes tans gelaai is.
Thank you Tinus, yes for sure . It is how it should be done. I will extract a few bullets and weight the loads of the S365 propellant..down load to 40gn S365 and work up to where I can confirm the loads to be safe and getting small groups at 100 meters.

Hunting distances this coming hunt will be between 80 meters and 100 meters ..stalking hunt/sitting hunt .
 
Gert Odendaal said:
Thank you for the reply, it is much appreciated..I am more concern about the loads , in South Africa we have SONCHEM 365 it is indicated on the paper I received with the loaded rounds that it is loaded with S365 , 43gn ..I am currently shooting a ELD -X 143gn bullet with S365 , 43.4 gn at 2725 f/s......I was wondering if the 43gn S365 with a 162gn bullet will create pressure spikes???

I would like some opinions please??
Click to expand...
I would pull it apart resize with decaping pin removed from die to save primers & reuse bullets & powder reduce powder charge & go from there.
 
rdog said:
I would pull it apart resize with decaping pin removed from die to save primers & reuse bullets & powder reduce powder charge & go from there.
Click to expand...
For sure,this is what I will do, I will pull some of the bullets , start at 40gn S365 and work my way up to 43 gn S365.
 
Gert Odendaal said:
For sure,this is what I will do, I will pull some of the bullets , start at 40gn S365 and work my way up to 43 gn S365.
Click to expand...


Gert,

While it doesn't list any data for Somchem powders, here's Hornady's load data for their 160 gr RN bullet. I thought you could at least use it for comparative purposes. And, it does list the ballistic coefficient (G1 B.C.) of the bullet.

Cheers! Bob F. :)


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