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

[steve white]

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.

Of course, Bell used full patch ammo, and Hornady didn't exist back then....

 

[Hififile324]

Shootist, for sure, my believe as well..this rifle shoots small groups using ELD-X 143gn as well as the Lapua Scenars 139gn,,,,,,it definitely is the load...the last photo being the 160gn round nose View attachment 743074View attachment 743075View attachment 743076

Gert, that is great shooting and excellent groups. Your 160 Round nose was not as tight as the other groups but plenty good for big game hunting!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thank you Bob for the correction, it is much appreciated...I need it to be a hunting bullet at 50 meters to 100 meters

@Gert Odendaal
Even tho it's not bonded used within the velocity parameters of the Swede you will find it will hold together and drive deep even at closer ranges.
They are tougher than you think.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Shootist, for sure, my believe as well..this rifle shoots small groups using ELD-X 143gn as well as the Lapua Scenars 139gn,,,,,,it definitely is the load...the last photo being the 160gn round nose View attachment 743074View attachment 743075View attachment 743076

@Gert Odendaal
That still looks like hunting accuracy to me.
What is the group size and range. Even if it's 2" at 100 that's fine in my book.
Yes smaller is better but to many people crave that sub moa when in realt any rifle that will hold an honest 1.5-2" groups is fine for hunting big game at sensible ranges.
Bob

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, that is great shooting and excellent groups. Your 160 Round nose was not as tight as the other groups but plenty good for big game hunting!

No, I expect my 6.5x55 to shoot the 160 gn bullets in very small groups as did the other two bullet types/brands ...I expect it to shoot the same clover groupings as the other two types of bullets I shot in my 6,5x55 Swedish Mauser..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

@Gert Odendaal
That still looks like hunting accuracy to me.
What is the group size and range. Even if it's 2" at 100 that's fine in my book.
Yes smaller is better but to many people crave that sub moa when in realt any rifle that will hold an honest 1.5-2" groups is fine for hunting big game at sensible ranges.
Bob

Bob I know , except that the 6.5x55 is made for accuracy..I need every type of bullet that I shot from my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with the SHILEN barrel to shoot extremely accurate at 100 meters hunting distance..I know this Shilen Mauser can repeat extreme small groups if I can increase my level of accuracy in my own shooting performance.the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser will out-shoot myself many times over..I expect the 160gn round nose bullets to group in very small groups at 100 meters.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, I still need the OAL of your 160 Gr. Hornady Ammo and the length of your barrel. My oldest Swede produced a six shot sub-MOA group with 156 Gr. NORMA Oryx. I'm sure it is just the load and not the bullet weight causing the inaccuracy.

OAL 78mm but I noticed the crimping groove is about two millimeters higher then..was thinking of using the crimping groove but then the OAL is 76mm that is too short ...anything between 78mm and 80 mm OAL will work for me barrel length is 26" inches

 

[Daryl S]

My daughter's .260 Rem. did better with 160gr. Sierra semi RN's than with the 160gr. Hornady bullets
both at 2,500fps, both shooting at or under 1 1/2".
My 6.5 x55 Varberger also liked the Sierra bullets but did better with the 160gr Hornadys, also driven at 2,500fps. and shooting under an inch.
I have some Hornady 160's loaded to 2,500fps for my 6.5x57, but haven't tried them yet. Maybe some time this coming spring.
I think 2,500fps is a GOOD velocity for the 160gr. Hornady RN's. All of my 6.5x55's are capable of this speed & the RN has proven itself on moose here, from the m96's a lot of lads in P.G. have in their safes.
My M96 has only seen 140gr. Matchkings, so far in my loadings for my own shooting. It did 'take" a large bull moose for it's original owner, prior to my acquisition of the rifle using 43.5gr. IMR4350, I believe I loaded for him giving an even 2,500fps. The bullet was balled up under the hide on the off side. It punched through ribs (3/8" thick[.95cm.]) on both sides and holed both lungs. 1 shot was all it took. The moose ran 40 or 50yds., lay down as was dead when he got to it.
A .375H&H gives about the same performance on moose, with the bullet expanded (balled up) under the hide on the off side, however, sometimes from the .375, they drop on the spot, other times they'll run 50yards. If they aren't chased, they'll be dead in their 'bed' if you wait 10 or 15 minutes before following up on them.

 

[Daryl S]

OAL 78mm but I noticed the crimping groove is about two millimeters higher then..was thinking of using the crimping groove but then the OAL is 76mm that is too short ...anything between 78mm and 80 mm OAL will work for me barrel length is 26" inches

I load to my individual rifle's throat (usually .050" off), not the cannelure. The only loads I crimp are for my lever actioned rifles to prevent bullet movement under recoil and my .22 Hornet and .218Bee rifles using a Lee crimp die as that improves their accuracy when using Lil'Gun powder.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob I know , except that the 6.5x55 is made for accuracy..I need every type of bullet that I shot from my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with the SHILEN barrel to shoot extremely accurate at 100 meters hunting distance..I know this Shilen Mauser can repeat extreme small groups if I can increase my level of accuracy in my own shooting performance.the 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser will out-shoot myself many times over..I expect the 160gn round nose bullets to group in very small groups at 100 meters.

@Gert Odendaal
Sometimes expectations exceed reality.
Remember each rifle is a law unto itself.
You may have to alter the powder charge and or seating depth.
My Whelen with the 250 Hornady Round nose when I was testing them I fire the first shot then the second shot. After the second shot my son said dad you need to fire another one I think you missed. Shot 3 and my son said all you are doing is making the hole bigger. Those 3 shots were less than half MOA. The 319gn Woodleigh rnsp do the same.
Unusual they don't do as well in your rifle
Bob

 

[sgt_zim]

OAL 78mm but I noticed the crimping groove is about two millimeters higher then..was thinking of using the crimping groove but then the OAL is 76mm that is too short ...anything between 78mm and 80 mm OAL will work for me barrel length is 26" inches

Cannelure is a mere suggestion. Taking my cues from @Shootist43 6.5x55 often like a sizeable jump. Remember that RN are a lot closer to the lands even on a shorter coal because the ogive isn't tapered like spitzers. Might just need another .01" of jump

 

[Gert Odendaal]

@Gert Odendaal
Sometimes expectations exceed reality.
Remember each rifle is a law unto itself.
You may have to alter the powder charge and or seating depth.
My Whelen with the 250 Hornady Round nose when I was testing them I fire the first shot then the second shot. After the second shot my son said dad you need to fire another one I think you missed. Shot 3 and my son said all you are doing is making the hole bigger. Those 3 shots were less than half MOA. The 319gn Woodleigh rnsp do the same.
Unusual they don't do as well in your rifle
Bob

Looks like our son`s are much more clued up than us..my son Ruan was sitting along side me when shooting the 139gn Lapua Scenars when he said Dad this rifle will group at 40.5gn S365 ...

I asked him why he mentioned this..he remark it is all about harmonics ..bullets/brass/propellant does not have an effect on accuracy at all...find the harmonics and you find the accuracy...I was flapper-gusted .....he`s words rang true after I shot this small group with the 139 Lapua Scenars......

From now on I only will look to find the harmonics ..not the loads, not the bullet weight not the propellant ..only the HARMONICS

 

[Shootist43]

Gert, attached is the QuickLoad simulation of your 6.5 X 55 Ammo using a 160 Gr. Hornady bullet loaded to an OAL of 78mm converted to thousandths. It is very close to a node i.e. Optimal Barrel Time. Note that it is obtained using slightly more powder than what you originally mentioned.

 

[Shootist43]

Gert, we both know that SomChem powders vary somewhat between "lots." Check your chronographed velocity against the expected 2632 FPS.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Looks like our son`s are much more clued up than us..my son Ruan was sitting along side me when shooting the 139gn Lapua Scenars when he said Dad this rifle will group at 40.5gn S365 ...

I asked him why he mentioned this..he remark it is all about harmonics ..bullets/brass/propellant does not have an effect on accuracy at all...find the harmonics and you find the accuracy...I was flapper-gusted .....he`s words rang true after I shot this small group with the 139 Lapua Scenars......

From now on I only will look to find the harmonics ..not the loads, not the bullet weight not the propellant ..only the HARMONICS

@Gert Odendaal
If'n that's the case just get a few different harmonicas and tape to the barrel and balance it like a tyre. Harmonics solved
Bob

 

[Gert Odendaal]

@Gert Odendaal
If'n that's the case just get a few different harmonicas and tape to the barrel and balance it like a tyre. Harmonics solved
Bob

I thought about that option ....but my 404 Jeffery is already a heavy rifle ...so I will solve the harmonics of the rifle barrel doing it with correct load

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, we both know that SomChem powders vary somewhat between "lots." Check your chronographed velocity against the expected 2632 FPS.

Thank you Shootist , will do so, I have the load I need, will chronograph it.
It is now the turn of finding a correct load for the 160 gn round nose bullets.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, attached is the QuickLoad simulation of your 6.5 X 55 Ammo using a 160 Gr. Hornady bullet loaded to an OAL of 78mm converted to thousandths. It is very close to a node i.e. Optimal Barrel Time. Note that it is obtained using slightly more powder than what you originally mentioned.View attachment 743341

Shootist this re-loading data is very much appreciated. Thank you kindly . I will keep you informed about the results...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, attached is the QuickLoad simulation of your 6.5 X 55 Ammo using a 160 Gr. Hornady bullet loaded to an OAL of 78mm converted to thousandths. It is very close to a node i.e. Optimal Barrel Time. Note that it is obtained using slightly more powder than what you originally mentioned.View attachment 743341

This is what I thought after the initial loads appeared to be so poor. More powder ...I am not an expert on the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser ..still I have observed some traits .....most accurate loads with a139gn to 143gn bullet to a 160gn bullets loads are around 40gn to 44gn bracket at muzzle velocity around 2725f/s( the 160gn would be at 2600f/s region...

ELD-X 143gn bullet, 43.4gn accurate load in my 6.5x55
Lapua Scenars 139gn bullet , 40.5gn accurate load
New load( S365 43.5gn, 2632f/s) fit into this observation....
Shootist, do you have an opinion in regards to shooting cast bullets at 100 meters in the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser??

If it is a good probability to find a load for a cast /swage bullet and it shoots accurate in my 6.5x55Swedish Mauser , this rifle will be the most versatile rifle I ever owned..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Shootist, I am loading the following :

S365, 160gn Round Nose bullet, OAL 78mm, :
1 x 42.5gn ( fowling shot base line ) maybe a hole in the bull will give a good sign as to what to expect
3 x 43 gn
3 x 43.5 gn
Even the 43gn loads will give a good indications what groups the 43.5gn is going to be like. Will take photos and give feedback.