How fast should my 143g ELDX/130TMK be out of my 6.5x55 22.5”?

[MichaelC]

Brand new Tikka T3X 6.5x55 22.5” barrel (about 90 rounds down the barrel) and I am woking my loads up for the 130g TMK and 143g ELDX over several charges of N560 (Mostly to find pressure). I did not find the end of the top of pressure yet as no real published data for modern rifles (tikka t3x) but the 143’s shot better than the 130s. Though the 130s did ok for loads just thrown together to see where things were at. .5 MOA vs 1.5moa all at 100. With the 130’s I had to jump 50k to get enough of it in the case for me to be comfortable with it.
The 143’s at 51g of N560 were 2870 fsp (slight ejector mark) seated 10k off and this may be close to the max. The 130 tmk at 52g of n560 were 2900 (zero ejector mark or anything else).
So, here is the question, my cow elk hunt is probably going to be in closer to 300 yards. How fast should I be getting these going? I assume anything over 2800 is good to go but my experience is low in this area, as I am a new hunter and long time competition shooter. The guys I will be with told me they dont shoot over 300 yards.

 

[mt100gr.]

More than enough velocity. I have 6.5 that starts the 147gr ELDM at 2560. By the numbers, it's carrying 1800fps+ to 700ish yards. There isn't an elk that I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting with that or either of your loads.

Dial 1 or the other in and go kill one!

 

[willfrye027]

The 143 eldx load sounds perfect. With high BC you’re not gaining all that much chasing an extra 50-100 fps.

Load up a few hundred and hit the range is what I’d do.

 

[MichaelC]

Good perspective thanks guys!

 

[TxxAgg]

Have T3x 6.5x55 also. Dang, I wish I reloaded.

 

[MichaelC]

Have T3x 6.5x55 also. Dang, I wish I reloaded.

I wouldn’t have gotten into that cartridge without being a reloader. Start buying equipment if you’re sticking with that cartridge. If you barrel swap to creedmoore it’s probably not worth it.

 

[TxxAgg]

I wouldn’t have gotten into that cartridge without being a reloader. Start buying equipment if you’re sticking with that cartridge. If you barrel swap to creedmoore it’s probably not worth it.

I agree. I just like that it's different. I mostly bowhunt so not a huge deal. I do geek out over my Tikka 223.

I 'll follow this thread to see how you fair. Good luck.

 

[BrBa]

The tipping point for me to start hand loading was paying something like $65 (a fair amount back @ 2015) for a 20 round box of Nosler 140 Accubonds which ran at an anemic 2650 fps and grouped like 00 buck at 100 yards.

Bought my 6.5x55 right before Tikka started offering it in 6.5CM. Have never regretted the purchase, but if you don't hand load it's a dog with fleas.

 

[BCsteve]

I get 2750fps with H4831 and 143 gr eldx in my Tikka 6.5x55. It's by far the most accurate bullet in this rifle. For a Tikka It's been very picky.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I get 2733 fps for 130TMKs with 47 gr N560 in my 25” barreled 6.5x55 and that gives me killing velocity (1800) out to 700 yards where I hunt.

 

[Ozarkansas]

I’ve never worked with N560 but I pushed 127 grain LRX until I started getting significant pressure signs in my Tikka using R26 and got to nearly 3100 FPS, but if I had cared about case life I would have stopped at 2900. I’m able to get 156 grain norma oryx to 2590 with H1000 and 140 grain gold dots to 2750 with staball 6.5, and that’s without any pressure signs at all, I was stopping at a sufficient speed rather than stopping due to pressure.

so far I’ve found that I can start my load development right at the book max, and usually don’t get any pressure signs until several grains over max. I guess that’s because 6.5x55 load data is so conservative and also because you can easily load bullets longer than normal COAL in the tikka, earning yourself some extra case capacity.

Edit: sorry I initially thought you were asking if your speeds were too fast to be safe, as in “are my loads too hot?”. I think you’re plenty fast enough for your hunt.

 

[MichaelC]

I looked at starting loads for 6.5x284, so I did not waste too much time with very low published loads for the 6.5x55.