6,5x55

[CZ93X62]

Messy?? QUIT IT. Both my reloading bench and gun-working table look like "The Wreck of the Hesperus" sounds, and lacking both meter and rhythm. You have NO worries on that score, I assure you.

 

[fiver]

I walked in mine today and seen an empty basket on the bench I assumed someone had taken all the die adjustment tools out of it,, and was having a panic attack.
then I moved a rag and there it was.
I got 4 empty shelves in there and still can't find anything...

 

[Spindrift]

Life being full of other obligations, my reloading tasks are typically performed by typical «guerilla tactics»; move in fast, do what must be done, get out. When I work on several projects simultaneously, the reloading area typically looks like -well- it has suffered a guerilla strike.
I already have water quenched bullets ready. What I am doing now, is just making myself a little familiar with the bullet. Finding out a little about how the different powders act in this cartridge, which has larger powder-space-to-caliber ratio than the other cartridges I have shot cast in.
I also believe the water quenched bullets will have a higher potential, and it may then seem irrational to start with air cooled bullets. But I want to do it this way, because I think I might learn something.

 

[Spindrift]

So, today I tried a few new (and some old) loads. Size .266, Sages GC, dip- lube, top coat of tumble lube. Visual bullet sorting only. Collet sized Norma range pick- ups, expanded/flared with NOE .268x.264. CCI LRP. COL jam- length. Chronoed the fouling shots (accuracy testing still has priority), but only one shot of each load- rough indicator, at least. Light cross wind. Some chrono data:

Viht N110, 15grs: 1570fps
Vectan tubal-3000, 22 grs: 1660 fps
IMR4064, 27grs: 1742 fps
Viht N120, 18grs: 1600fps

The idea today, was to make loads producing similar pressure levels but with different pressure curves. I don´`t know if I succeded in that....
N110 14 grs (2x5 shots) produces 4 shots close, an one flier- around 2 MOA with the fliers.
TU- 3000, 20 grs gave a 5- shot 2 MOA group. The chronoed 22grs was probably a bit to hot.
IMR 4064 26+27 grs was obviously to hot for the alloy
N120, 17grs gave the best group today, around 1,5MOA.

It seems, with this bullet, I have a tendency to get fliers. I will now try to solve that. It might be a lube issue (but this lube functions very well with other bullet/cartridge combinations), it might be the gas checks (very shallow cups, still not sure I trust them). At least, I get accuracy with this bullet that would be OK for a practice round, and I think there is more potential here. Will try some other gas checks next time (Hornady, and home- made with different materials), I think.

 

[Jeff H]

Life being full of other obligations, my reloading tasks are typically performed by typical «guerilla tactics»; move in fast, do what must be done, get out. When I work on several projects simultaneously, the reloading area typically looks like -well- it has suffered a guerilla strike......................................

I can relate. I've developed my casting/loading tactics and strategies over several years such that if I'm not winning the war, I'm at least not losing the battles.

Since I keep the reloading stuff isolated in an old dorm wall locker, it's pretty safe from the mess. It's when I have to process brass, make gas checks or size bullets that I venture out of that base camp, and when I have recently worked on "several projects simultaneously," that my other (woodworking benches) are already occupied and I have to shove, push and stack to make a few extra square feet of bench space.

That's some fine shooting with your 6.5 and it's making me want to drag mine out and try. I have way too many other projects to sort out for that since I've reconfigured my personal battery and have several new barrels (Contender Carbine) to fully wring out. Others here have unknowingly goaded me with their 6.5s and cast, but your post is starting to make things difficult for me to resist. Worst of all, another excuse is gone since I picked up a couple scopes and can put my old B&L back on my 6.5.

That thread on the 257 Roberts isn't helping a whole lot either. I"ve got moulds and bullets for both that I've set back over the years. Not having so much luck setting back some time to use them.

 

[fiver]

I think I'd sort out the flyer issue first.
if it's consistent, like every 4-5 or 8 shots I would suspect the lube being too slippery.
if it's random I would weight sort my bullets.

I'm kind of lazy about the weight sorting and do a good visual at the size die, then weight sort after lubing and checking.
if it's something I'm really, really wanting to work under high pressure high accuracy situations then I spend more time and visually sort and weight sort.
yeah your gonna have a big bell curve of weights, but that's going to also tell you something about your
casting session too.
and is a clue as to whether you should extend out that middle section or back the mold down closer to the start temps for a longer run.

 

[Spindrift]

First little test with water quenched bullets. Tried with viht n120- powder. With air cooled bullets, the sweet spot was around 17 grs, and «the wall» at 19 grs. Shot 4 series of 5 shots, from 17-20 grs. Accuracy was quite stable, in the 1,5-2 MOA region, with a tendency towards improvement with increasing loading weight. 20 grs was the best. I think it is room for a little more powder here. Will try 20-22grs next, and revisit imr4064 and tu-3000, maybe. And tighten up the bullet sorting process (till now, I have made my ammo after the «minimize work load»- principle)

 

[Spindrift]

Tried water quenched bullets today, with N120 20-22 grs. Changed the lube (666-1, I shoot mostly in cold conditions). 20 grs was quite good, 21 was too much and 22 beyond the wall. Think I will try some powder coated bullets next. I have some PC-ed bullets ready, but have actually never shot such bullets before. I think I will start at the sweet spot and climb from there, later try a slower powder (imr 4064).

 

[Gary]

Spindrift; I really like your shooting setup, specifically the Laptop screen view of your target. Could you elaborate more about the camera and the actual setup?

 

[fiver]

it's actually a computer generated simulation of the shots.

 

[Gary]

So, how is the image captured? By camera or scope or what? I'm pretty dense on these matters. Seems sometime back Waco was using a camera to capture actual shot impacts over long distances.

 

[fiver]

it's a 'camera' down range, it catches/senses the bullet breaking the plane and marks it in space.
then it places the image on a back round and 'shows' you where the 'holes' would be.
if you notice there are no actual holes in the paper.

 

[Spindrift]

This is the typical setup in Norwegian public ranges. The target (which looks like a normal target) has electronic sensors, which registrer the hit. You have a screen next to you, were you immediately can see where you hit the target, and how many mm right/left/up/down from the bullseye.
In the photos above, I have activated «ammo testing mode», where the group is moved to center, and the computer calculates the diameter of the group.
The big advantage of this system is, you don’t have to cease fire to go check the groups. Today, I brought 4 rifles and shot aprox. 200 shots in 1 hour, 45min. So, more shooting in my limited «range time».

 

[Rick]

Curious, in Norway in January. Isn't there supposed to be snow in that picture?

 

[fiver]

he ain't in the part above the arctic circle.

 

[Spindrift]

The picture was taken this autumn, I found it in my album to illustrate the setup.
We have a little snow around here (southern Norway) but less than a foot in my parts (which is a drag, no cross-country skiing).

 

[CZ93X62]

he ain't in the part above the arctic circle.

Nor are Buckshot and I, living in Redlands CA. Latitude is in the 34* N ZIP Code. But this time of year (early January to late February) brings our coldest temps and occasional snow. 12 years ago I had pipes freeze and burst in a series of several nights where temps plummeted into single-digits locally, and mountain and desert locations went well below zero. It isn't frequent, but it can happen here--Tournament of Roses parade and its La Canada-Flintridge bikini pullets notwithstanding. Plumbers did VERY well that season, since so few houses are built to withstand sustained sub-freezing temps. Point being.....no need to live above the Arctic Circle in order to freeze your aspirations off.

 

[Rick]

Fiver doesn't live above the artic circle either but I'll bet that last rain that fell at his place was both white and it piled up.

 

[fiver]

rain?
oh yeah that stuff that comes in June and September just before it snows..

 

[Bass Ackward]

Wow, Norway? I remember helping a guy that was learning to snap shoot a handgun from a holster 10 yrs or so ago that said he was in Norway. I ain’t probably gonna help you much here, but I did a 6.5-06 on the CB board and I used a 270 cal, 105 gr, Lyman, loverin design & simply sized it down. Sorry, don’t remember the mold number. It will violate some rules cause it ain’t fitting no throat in a 6.5, but I NEVER do that in a rifle anyway. I got to MOA fairly quick, somewhere in the 2400 - 2600 area. 6.5-06 is really too overbore to have much powder flexibility. Only things I choke is a revolver or the wife during a certain physical activity. Anyway, I’m sure it’s there if you want to hunt for it.