6.5x55 Swede bullet questions (FMJBT etc)

Rugerno1shooter · September 20, 2007, 09:23 PM

Has anyone tried the UMC 6.5 (.264) 144gr FMJBT bullets in their 6.5x55 Swedish?
Results?

How about the Prvi Partizan 139 FMJBT or 139 SPBT bullets in their 6.5x55 Swedish?
Results?

Has anyone been able to get the 160 grain RN bullets to shoot well in their 6.5x55 Swedish? If so what powder/velocity were you using/getting?

Do they even manufacture Steel core bullets (.264 diameter) anymore?

Thanks
Pat

exercion · September 20, 2007, 10:43 PM

I have shot most of the available 6.5x55 ammo in a variety of rifles, but not the UMC. However, the Privi Partizan has been my fav civilian ammo, though Sellier & Bellot is high on my list too, and I have shot the new Wolf brass cased stuff (has the NNY headstamp) which was accurate, but seemed to vary in velocity/power in my Ljungman (no chrony data, just experience hitting steel ram silhouettes). In fact, the only brand I have used that I will never ever ever use again is PMC.
You didn't mention what kind of performance/use you are looking for. I truly agree with the person who said that it's difficult to make the 6.5x55 *inaccurate* I never have seen steel core .264 pills, but have shot a bunch of the surplus military Swede ammo with it's mild steel jackets (it is phenomenally accurate). The 160RN bullets work well for me in the long throated military Swedes, seated out near the rifling, and they seem to be similar to the original 156g round nose it was designed for.

Eric

Rugerno1shooter · September 20, 2007, 11:01 PM

Eric-
Thanks for the swift response!

As far as performance goes I'm not so much worried about the velocity etc as I am the accuracy. If diff bullets perform better at diff velocities then that's ok with me. I shoot a lot at the target range and so accuracy is more important to me than speed/power for my target loads.

Also-Correction-It was PMC NOT UMC bullets-they offer a 144 grFMJBT bullet-
sorry about that!!!

Wildalaska · September 21, 2007, 02:29 AM

In my unaltered military Swedes I use 44 grains of RL22 and a 139 Scenar (or 140 SMK). 2500 fps and astonishingly accurate.

I have not played with 160 RNs in the military guns.

Wildloves6.5Alaska TM

Rugerno1shooter · September 21, 2007, 07:04 AM

Thanks Alaska-

The only reloading store in town (while it is quite impressive for our small area-it's actually much better than all the other bigger places for about 100 miles or so) for some reason doesn't carry much of the Reloader products- I haven't seen any Reloader 19 or 22 there despite my efforts to get some-it looks like I'm going to need to get some online- ::sigh::

Wildalaska · September 21, 2007, 02:24 PM

Look at VN560 then

WildtrythatpowderAlaska TM

Rugerno1shooter · July 22, 2008, 05:22 PM

this one's for Wildalaska it's in his type of language haha

they'recarryingRL22inourlocalreloadingshopnowbutfor25bucksapoundkindaroughdonchathink

Wildalaska · July 22, 2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

they'recarryingRL22inourlocalreloadingshopnowbutfor25bucksapoundkind
aroughdonchathink

5 pounds here $95

Wildpricecheckaisle5Alaska ™

firewrench044 · July 22, 2008, 09:00 PM

For my Swedes I use--

M96 and M41B, 29" barrel
142gr Sierra MK
43.5gr IMR 4350
CCI # 34 primer (is a magnum primer )

my shorter barrel Swedes
142gr Sierra MK
35.8gr Hodgdon Varget
CCI # 34 primer ( is a magnum primer )

Wildalaska · July 22, 2008, 10:17 PM

Why CCI 34s?

WildcuriousAlaska TM

Rugerno1shooter · July 22, 2008, 10:36 PM

No one's played with Reloading the PMC 144gr FMJBT? I can get em for just over 12 cents per bullet......kinda hard to say no to If they can be reloaded into an accurate configuration!!!

It was mentioned that the PMC ammo wasn't too accurate but I wonder if that is the load or the bullet's fault?

Still looking for someone who has reloaded the PMC or the Prvi Partizan 139 FMJBT or 139 SPBT bullets and gotten either positive or negative results...

Thanks
Pat

Wildalaska · July 22, 2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

I can get em for just over 12 cents per bullet

Cost is meaningless when the Swedes are involved. Thats why I have my lapua cases gold plated, and use the factory bullet selection service where each bullet is hand weighed, measured and packed in velvet

You do it on the cheap if you want, you cant join the OSMCC though

WildtshirttowhofiguresitoutAlaska TM

Rugerno1shooter · July 22, 2008, 10:53 PM

I like finding cheap combos and getting them to shoot!!!

::deep breath::

copperissoflippingexpensiveitmakesmyheadhurtandsofarIcangetmy160grroundnosebulletstooutshootmy140grSMKwouldn'tthatbelovelyIfthe12centbulletcoulddothesame?

lonniemike · July 23, 2008, 06:46 PM

Ruger, best of luck with the PMC target ammo. I had poor luck reloading with it. Factory accuracy was OK, but I did have 100% case head separations or obvious incipient case head separations. I fired 5 reloads. The 5th reload ejected only the case head and closer inspection showed the 4 previous cases that I had fired had cracks visible(incpient separations). At home I pulled down the remaining reloads. All showed serious thinning and cracking on the interior of the cases. I have gotten a number of reloads from PMC's 139 SP loads. I've reloaded plenty of Prvi, CBC, and Lapua with out the PMC's Target ammo's brass problems. Wishing you better luck.

September 20, 2007, 09:23 PM	#1
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	6.5x55 Swede bullet questions (FMJBT etc) Has anyone tried the UMC 6.5 (.264) 144gr FMJBT bullets in their 6.5x55 Swedish? Results? How about the Prvi Partizan 139 FMJBT or 139 SPBT bullets in their 6.5x55 Swedish? Results? Has anyone been able to get the 160 grain RN bullets to shoot well in their 6.5x55 Swedish? If so what powder/velocity were you using/getting? Do they even manufacture Steel core bullets (.264 diameter) anymore? Thanks Pat

September 20, 2007, 11:01 PM	#3
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	6.5 Eric- Thanks for the swift response! As far as performance goes I'm not so much worried about the velocity etc as I am the accuracy. If diff bullets perform better at diff velocities then that's ok with me. I shoot a lot at the target range and so accuracy is more important to me than speed/power for my target loads. Also-Correction-It was PMC NOT UMC bullets-they offer a 144 grFMJBT bullet- sorry about that!!!

September 21, 2007, 07:04 AM	#5
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	6.5 Thanks Alaska- The only reloading store in town (while it is quite impressive for our small area-it's actually much better than all the other bigger places for about 100 miles or so) for some reason doesn't carry much of the Reloader products- I haven't seen any Reloader 19 or 22 there despite my efforts to get some-it looks like I'm going to need to get some online- ::sigh::

September 20, 2007, 10:43 PM	#2
exercion Member Join Date: May 7, 2007 Posts: 46	I have shot most of the available 6.5x55 ammo in a variety of rifles, but not the UMC. However, the Privi Partizan has been my fav civilian ammo, though Sellier & Bellot is high on my list too, and I have shot the new Wolf brass cased stuff (has the NNY headstamp) which was accurate, but seemed to vary in velocity/power in my Ljungman (no chrony data, just experience hitting steel ram silhouettes). In fact, the only brand I have used that I will never ever ever use again is PMC. You didn't mention what kind of performance/use you are looking for. I truly agree with the person who said that it's difficult to make the 6.5x55 inaccurate I never have seen steel core .264 pills, but have shot a bunch of the surplus military Swede ammo with it's mild steel jackets (it is phenomenally accurate). The 160RN bullets work well for me in the long throated military Swedes, seated out near the rifling, and they seem to be similar to the original 156g round nose it was designed for. Eric

September 21, 2007, 02:29 AM	#4
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	In my unaltered military Swedes I use 44 grains of RL22 and a 139 Scenar (or 140 SMK). 2500 fps and astonishingly accurate. I have not played with 160 RNs in the military guns. Wildloves6.5Alaska TM

September 21, 2007, 02:24 PM	#6
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Look at VN560 then WildtrythatpowderAlaska TM

July 22, 2008, 05:22 PM	#7
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	this one's for Wildalaska it's in his type of language haha they'recarryingRL22inourlocalreloadingshopnowbutfor25bucksapoundkindaroughdonchathink

July 22, 2008, 09:00 PM	#9
firewrench044 Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 381	For my Swedes I use-- M96 and M41B, 29" barrel 142gr Sierra MK 43.5gr IMR 4350 CCI # 34 primer (is a magnum primer ) my shorter barrel Swedes 142gr Sierra MK 35.8gr Hodgdon Varget CCI # 34 primer ( is a magnum primer )

July 22, 2008, 10:17 PM	#10
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Why CCI 34s? WildcuriousAlaska TM

July 22, 2008, 10:36 PM	#11
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	No one's played with Reloading the PMC 144gr FMJBT? I can get em for just over 12 cents per bullet......kinda hard to say no to If they can be reloaded into an accurate configuration!!! It was mentioned that the PMC ammo wasn't too accurate but I wonder if that is the load or the bullet's fault? Still looking for someone who has reloaded the PMC or the Prvi Partizan 139 FMJBT or 139 SPBT bullets and gotten either positive or negative results... Thanks Pat

July 22, 2008, 10:53 PM	#13
Rugerno1shooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2007 Location: VA Posts: 144	I like finding cheap combos and getting them to shoot!!! ::deep breath:: copperissoflippingexpensiveitmakesmyheadhurtandsofarIcangetmy160grroundnosebulletstooutshootmy140grSMKwouldn'tthatbelovelyIfthe12centbulletcoulddothesame?

July 23, 2008, 06:46 PM	#14
lonniemike Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Posts: 138	Ruger, best of luck with the PMC target ammo. I had poor luck reloading with it. Factory accuracy was OK, but I did have 100% case head separations or obvious incipient case head separations. I fired 5 reloads. The 5th reload ejected only the case head and closer inspection showed the 4 previous cases that I had fired had cracks visible(incpient separations). At home I pulled down the remaining reloads. All showed serious thinning and cracking on the interior of the cases. I have gotten a number of reloads from PMC's 139 SP loads. I've reloaded plenty of Prvi, CBC, and Lapua with out the PMC's Target ammo's brass problems. Wishing you better luck.