Barnes 6.5x55 data...seems low?

[Igloo]

Question for the guys with a lot of experience loading 6.5x55. I know this is their pressure barrel, their testing setup etc but does the Barnes 6.5x55 data look unusually low to you?

Like 127gr LRX 2595fps max with H4350 and a 24 inch barrel?

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/6.5x55-Swed.pdf


Whats your experience loading Barnes bullets been with this cartridge?

Thanks!

 

[JFK]

Barnes, and many other bullet mfg, publish extremely conservative load data for older cartridges, with the reasoning being that many people are shooting them out of older actions of unknown quality.

 

[Igloo]

Barnes, and many other bullet mfg, publish extremely conservative load data for older cartridges, with the reasoning being that many people are shooting them out of older actions of unknown quality.

I was wondering about that...should ask them how hot their max is on their data sets there. Think I'll call this afternoon

 

[wind gypsy]

The barnes data you linked says max is based upon 51k psi. Most modern cartridges not designed for semi auto applications have max in the low to mid 60k psi range.

As a generalization, using 260 rem powder charges should still be conservative in a modern rifle because the Swede case is a little bigger than the 260.

 

[Igloo]

The barnes data you linked says max is based upon 51k psi. Most modern cartridges not designed for semi auto applications have max in the low to mid 60k psi range.

As a generalization, using 260 rem powder charges should still be conservative in a modern rifle because the Swede case is a little bigger than the 260.

They confirmed on the phone that 51k PSI is indeed correct. So it does sound like in deference to older firearms.

Considering I'll be shooting in either a Tikka T3x or Win 70, that makes sense, wind gypsy. Thanks!

 

[Mojave]

Norma, Lapua, and RWS should have data for modern loads in the Swede.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I get much better velocities for 127 LRX (2780+ fps) just a touch above Vihtavuori’s N165 starting load for 130 TSX. I haven’t tried anything near max charge because I want to stay near quick drop velocities.

Zero high pressure indications in my 126-year old model 96 Swedish Mauser.

 

[wind gypsy]

Norma, Lapua, and RWS should have data for modern loads in the Swede.

Viht too.

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[Ozarkansas]

nearly all 6.5x55 load data is going to be very conservative, even the relatively “hot” European load data is probably set to the CIP pressure standard of 55k PSI, almost all American load data is set to the SAAMI spec of 51k PSI. In a modern rifle you can generally move up quite a lot from there.

Like @wind gypsy i find that 6.5x55 max data gives me a starting point, with most of my loads stopping 2/3-3/4 of the way between max 6.5x55 and max 6.5x284 load data

 

[Choupique]

Zero high pressure indications in my 126-year old model 96 Swedish Mauser

I remember reading somewhere those were proofed at some really high pressure at the plant.

 

[Torque]

If you want more accurate, modern loading data for the 6.5, you have to use European data. Lapua is a good source for modern data.