6.5X55 load data?

[Glockdaddy]

I am about to invest in a rig for reloading this round....already have dies and have been collecting brass. My intention is target shooting from a Swedish 96 and a sporterized 94.

Can anyone give me their recommended load data? Looking for lighter hitting and accurate loads....primarily for 100 yd target shooting. What is your preferred bullet, powder and grain count?

Thanks for the recommendation. I figured any help would be a start...

 

[Jake in TX]

My preferred is Sierra MatchKing 140 grain bullets and 45.2 grains of Reloder 22. Alliant says the max charge is about 48 grains (check their web site). I started at about 44 grains and worked up from there. I'm shooting a 1900 m/96 made by Mauser in Oberndorf. Load safely.

Jake in TX

 

[Slamfire]

I have chronographed 1986 Swedish ball in a 24" Cavalry carbine and the 29" Infantry rifle. In the 24" barrel the ball ammunition goes just at 2500 fps. The longer barrel rifle pushes the same bullet just above 2600 fps.

I have found that a 140 grain Hornady SP with 43.0 grains AA4350 will just about duplicates this velocity.

As good of barrels as these Swedish rifles have, I don't think it makes sense to use Sierra Match kings. Way too expensive. Good quality hunting bullets will shoot within the capability of a service rifle barrel.

 

[Slamfire]

I have chronographed 1986 Swedish ball in a 24" Cavalry carbine and the 29" Infantry rifle. In the 24" barrel the ball ammunition goes just at 2500 fps. The longer barrel rifle pushes the same bullet just above 2600 fps.

I have found that a 140 grain Hornady SP with 43.0 grains AA4350 will just about duplicates this velocity.

As good of barrels as these Swedish rifles have, I don't think it makes sense to use Sierra Match kings. Way too expensive. Good quality hunting bullets will shoot within the capability of a service rifle barrel.

 

[Limey46]

The best recipe I've found so far is a 140 grain Sierra Matchking bullet over 43.0 grains of IMR 4831, with a Federal primer and Lapua brass neck sized in a Forster die. My rifle is one of the 96s the Swedes set up as a target gun. Teeny tiny little 100 yard groups, great stuff.

 

[cracked butt]

140gr SMK with 45-46 gr RL-22 and Federal 210 primer.

As good of barrels as these Swedish rifles have, I don't think it makes sense to use Sierra Match kings. Way too expensive. Good quality hunting bullets will shoot within the capability of a service rifle barrel.

I agree to an extent and disagree as well. The barrels on these rifles if not worn are probably as good if not better than most factory varmint rifles today, possibly better as most production barrels aren't handlapped. The biggest limitation to their accuracy is their sights. Most people aren't going to be able to shoot better than 2moa with the issue sights so a good hunting bullet makes sense in this regard. FWIW, I shoot remington corelokt bullets when shooting in surplus highpower matches as I can't hold as good as the rifle is capable of shooting anyway, for bench shooting and with shooting my M41B I only used SMKs, the M41B with its decent optics can take advantage of the extra acuracy gained by using a match bullet- its a difference between shooting 1.5MOA and 0.5MOA

 

[aka108]

Been using 42 gr Accurate 2700 behind a 140 gr Remington bullet for a good number of years. Seems OK but just got some Hogdon 4895 to try.