6.5x55 reloading data

[ovenpaa]

Probably too much lube on the shoulder. The good news is the cases blow back at next firing.

[Alpha1]

Yes probably to much lube on the shoulder I will just bin them I think.
Well the cases are all shiny shiny all trimmed to length all case mouths inside and out side de burred. Primer pockets cut to uniform depth and reamed out. Flash holes reamed and any rag removed from in side cases. They are all re primed sitting in there loading bock looking really smart.
Powder measure charged with Vitavouri N160 and set to drop 42grains of powder. The rest of the powder will be trickled in using the target master auto powder trickler.
I use this set up all the time now.
So to morrow nights project is to charge the cases then seat the bullets. I am going to go with Adams advice and seat the bullets level with the neck of the case.
I have looked at my data the last time I fired a 140grain bullet in this rifle I used 43.5grains of Vitavouri N160. The results were nothing special so its going to have to do better this time.
I have also very slightly flared the case mouth on some of the cases when you chamber them you can feel them wiping the walls of the chamber another of Adams suggestions so lots of stuff going on should be a interesting day on Saturday. Oh I have dragged the chrono out and checked the batteries as well.

After all this fun making them it seems a shame to shoot them but hey I will have some more cases to fill. YES. :shakeshout:

I need a better case trimmer but that's another story.

[jjvc]

Dave I will be loading and shooting 6.5x55 myself tomorrow. Indoor lead loads for a 1912 M96 Carl Gustaf.

Good luck with your loads and have a fun day too,

Joe

[Alpha1]

Thanks Joe. Indoor shooting interesting. Let me know how you get on. I would be interested in some loads for 25meters / yards.

[Alpha1]

Oops nearly forgot I took half a day off work done the shopping thing then disappeared like a rat up a drain pipe to the reloading room.
Spent a pleasant couple of hours charging powder used Vitavouri N160 for all the loads. Three different makes of bullet all weighing 139grains.
Most of the cases full length sized and a smaller amount of cases neck sized.
Started with 43.5grains this is the last recorded data I have for this rifle. I also loaded some rounds at 43.8grains for comparison. I have also prepped five special cases they have had every reloading preparation and measurement known to man. I have charged five full length sized Lapau cases with 44grains of Vitavouri N160 underneath a 139grain Lapau scenar. The bullet is seated out as far as I could get it with good bullet retention. These will probably need to be singly fed they may be to long for the magazine. Any way to morrow is the day lets rock.

[ovenpaa]

I have a couple of boxes of 140 Hybrid Bergers to try as an alternative to the 139 Laps. It will be interesting to see how they perform . probably with N560

[Alpha1]

A interesting day I struggled to get on the firing point because of the excellent turn out. Managed to get some shooting in on the afternoon. I didn't manage to get the chrono set up so no data I am afraid.

I had a couple of cases that would not extract I had to use a cleaning rod to push them out. A couple of them the bolt needed extra effort to close. All of these were with cases that had been neck sized only. They were all previously fired in this rifle.

The full length sized cases functioned with out any problems the group sizes were OK on all of the rounds fired. They could of been better if the nut on the but had done a better job.

Any way the best groups were with 140grain Lapau scenars with 43.5 grains of Vitavouri N160.
So the old Girl can still do the business. Will I keep her my head says no but my heart says yes. So I don't know still thinking about it.

I used a mojo aperture sight for testing. With the mojos fitted you don't have to compensate like you do with the original sights they start at 50yds and adjust for longer distances.
what the days shooting did flag up is the fact that my right eye is no were as good as my left. The right eye is the one I had surgery on to fix the detached retina.
My left eye is spot on but the right eye is not. So iron sights are hard work which makes me think it is may be time to move some of the military rifles on or scope them up but I don't really want to do that. So I may have a cull to raise cash for more modern stuff we will see.

Any way that's another story. But the old Girl is a shooter and home loads are the way to get the best out of her.

[Dougan]

Thanks for the reports - it's interesting that folk seem to have had some of the same problems with loading that I had...but the Carl Gustaff is definitely worth persisting with....

If you are having problems with open sights you really should try the scout scope - it's a bit different, and very effective (you are still welcome to borrow the mount)....and if you don't fancy that, you don't necessarily have to go 'modern'...there's always the M41 B sniper version... tongueout

[Alpha1]

there's always the M41 B sniper version... tongueout

Have you ever tried to find a original sniper version. Serious money. No it will go back in the cabinet and some time In the future I may have another play or I might just sell it we will see.