6.5 x 55 Cast Bullet Loads

Greetings, the Moderators informed me that I hadn't posted....I was having too much fun reading all the posts. I will be back to post the results of my 6.5 x 55 cast bullet loads.

I'll be back!

Larry

My favorite cast load is 35 grains of surplus WC860 and a LBT .268-140SP-GC bullet made from wheel weight alloy. Alternately 38 grains of Reloder Rx22 and fill case to bullet base with PSP shot buffer. 1650fps and 1" 5-shot groups at 100 yards from the bench

Ay that speed with wheelweight, are you getting any leading ?
Seems like you should be.

Air cooled wheelweights should be ok driven to around 1800fps without leading, provided everything else is up to snuff. Properly sized for the bore, lube up to the job, etc.

My favorite Swede load is a 150 grain bullet cast from a Lyman mold made of wheelweights sweetened with linotype(4/1) with a 17.0 grain charge of SR4759.

I ordered the Special order RCBS 140 grain mold some years ago and paid dearly for it then. Now it is thru the roof at around $120. Its a good design with adequate grease grooves and a gas check shank. I've tinkered with different powders using IMR 4227-13-16 grains in the 1380-1600 fps range, IMR 4198-15-16 grains for around 1500 fps, and 19-21 grains of 4895 for 1400-1600 fps. Best with 4227 was 16 grains. Best with 4198 was also 16 grains; Best of all with 4895 was 19 grains. There was never any leading. All of this followed a diasterous experience with IMR 4064 where it was assumed that 21 grains in a series would be the weakest velocity-wise and would give the poorest accuracy. Wrong! The series began and worked upwards by one grain increments up to 35 grains. Each increment involved a ten shot string. As the firing continued and the higher the loading...the worse the grouping and the score-with more amd more bullets keyholing, tumbling and finally it reached the point where the target was being missed entirely. This was with aircooled WW and it was evident that the BHN hardness of the bullets was not sufficient to withstand the pressure and were deforming. It is true that water quenching would have yielded different results. Also had I loaded lower than 21 grains to start with I might have done a lot better. Well this is what trial and error sometimes consists of. I experimented with other powders as listed above and as indicated-did a lot better. Bullets were sized at .265 with NRA 50/50 formula lube and fired in an M38 short(er) rifle with a really good bore and issue iron sights. I plan to try again with the 4064 just to "balance the books". I'm sure that other powders will work very well too if they are properly adjusted. It is a very accurate cartridge in a well made rifle. JC