140gr bullets in a 1 in 9 twist 6.5x55mm

trigger45 · August 17, 2014, 12:55 PM

Any of you have success stabilizing 140 gr bullets in a 1/9 twist barrel. Want to use the 140 gr. bthp. It's a 22 inch Ruger.

green_MTman · August 17, 2014, 02:14 PM

The real issue is bullet length not grain weight however most 6.5 mm bullets are boatail spitzers for long range shooting.

140 grain partitions or A frames might work well with a 1 in 9 twist.my 6.5 Mauser is a 1 in 8 and rebareling might be a good option for you.

Try to find the shortest non spitzerish and non copper bullets you can find but any 140gr spitzer or 160gr round nose will need a 1 in 8

The 130's may be a good option for you to.

One thing about reloading that is frustrating but also liberating is that until you try a load in your rifle you never know for sure what will happen

trigger45 · August 17, 2014, 02:22 PM

Sounds about right. Any body else?

Bart B. · August 17, 2014, 02:27 PM

Twist rate alone is only half the issue. The muzzle velocity makes a difference, too. Both combine to give a bullet a spin rate in rpm's.

What cartridge are you shooting those 140's from?

trigger45 · August 17, 2014, 04:46 PM

6.5x55mm. awesome cartridge. Just wondering about the twist rate getting in the way. Flat base hunting bullets are no problem. Shoot them all the time in the .270 win. Well everything else to. It seems that all every body had to sell are the bthp in this caliber.

Doyle · August 17, 2014, 05:51 PM

I don't know about a 6.5x55 but my .260Rem with a 1 in 9 twist shoots 140gr Federal GameKings to about 1 MOA.

pathdoc · August 17, 2014, 05:58 PM

Consider the long, long 160 grain RN bullets these rifles were originally designed for. 140 grain BT should not be a problem. Not just 6.5 Swede either, .303 and .30-40 both stabilize long RN bullets at lower velocities with a 1:10 twist so you should be fine.

trigger45 · August 17, 2014, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doyle

I don't know about a 6.5x55 but my .260Rem with a 1 in 9 twist shoots 140gr Federal GameKings to about 1 MOA.

Thanks for this and all the responses. I will load a ladder for the bullets I have.

trigger45 · August 17, 2014, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doyle

I don't know about a 6.5x55 but my .260Rem with a 1 in 9 twist shoots 140gr Federal GameKings to about 1 MOA.

What kind of speed are you getting on those game kings?

Clark · August 17, 2014, 11:42 PM

If you plug in your bullet length, weight, velocity, and twist rate into this calculator...... from my experience, 1.0 is perfect, 0.8 will get some tiny groups and some with keyholing bullets.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

In 140 gr the Sierra Match King is 1.309", the Nosler Ballistic tip is 1.35", and the Berger VLD is 1.421".

If I plug in:
2800 fps
9" twist
1.421"

I get out:
1.21 stability.

What does it all mean?
Yeah, it's stable.

Folklore from the internet:
129 should be ok in 10" or 9"
Swedes are 7.5"

ligonierbill · August 18, 2014, 03:14 AM

FWIW, I get <1" with 140 SGK at about 2,700 from my M70. I'll have to check the rate, but I think it is near your Ruger. My best group, however, is with 120 Nosler BT at about 2,900 - an honest 1/2". Where mine falls off is with 160 Woodleighs; can't do better than 2" with those.

trigger45 · August 20, 2014, 03:19 PM

Well it doesn't like 41 gr of h414 looks like 40 gr is all I'll be able to use gonna try imr4831 next. Any body use this powder in the 6.5x55mm?

Doyle · August 20, 2014, 03:44 PM

Quote:

What kind of speed are you getting on those game kings?

Unknown. Those were factory loads (which don't seem to be available anymore from what I've seen. I don't have a Chrono so I never bothered to check.

GeauxTide · August 20, 2014, 07:14 PM

My 6.5-06 is a 9". Shoots 140 Hornadys into 5/8" Cloverleaves.

trigger45 · August 21, 2014, 05:52 PM

The bullets in this weight, do they like to go slow? The faster I push them the worse it gets. Would a slower powder help.

ligonierbill · August 21, 2014, 06:01 PM

Reloder 22 is the ticket. Absolutely, slow powder. Mine does better at higher velocity: good at 2,600, better at 2,700.

trigger45 · August 31, 2014, 06:06 PM

Well it likes 40 gr. H414, inch groups. will try re 22.

Clark · August 31, 2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

GeauxTide
My 6.5-06 is a 9". Shoots 140 Hornadys into 5/8" Cloverleaves.

That is so encouraging

I have a 6.5-06 Reamer.
I have a #3 Stainless select match Caliber 6.5x8 Ratchet twist barrel blank.
I have lots of actions, stocks, and scopes lying around in wait.
I have RCBS and Hornady 6.5-06 die sets.
I have half baked plans for converting Lee collet neck dies to 6.5-06.
I have two deer tags.
All I need now is some time.

hooligan1 · September 1, 2014, 12:17 PM

I had the gunsmiths at ITnD twist my 6.5-06 1in 8", so that I could use heavy for caliber bullets to shoot a little farther. But the selection of localbullets is slim right now so Im starting with 120 grain B Tips...but totally interested in 140's up.

trigger45 · September 1, 2014, 07:47 PM

I have a pound of re19. is that slower than h414?

August 17, 2014, 12:55 PM	#1
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	140gr bullets in a 1 in 9 twist 6.5x55mm Any of you have success stabilizing 140 gr bullets in a 1/9 twist barrel. Want to use the 140 gr. bthp. It's a 22 inch Ruger.

August 17, 2014, 11:42 PM	#10
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	If you plug in your bullet length, weight, velocity, and twist rate into this calculator...... from my experience, 1.0 is perfect, 0.8 will get some tiny groups and some with keyholing bullets. http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/ In 140 gr the Sierra Match King is 1.309", the Nosler Ballistic tip is 1.35", and the Berger VLD is 1.421". If I plug in: 2800 fps 9" twist 1.421" I get out: 1.21 stability. What does it all mean? Yeah, it's stable. Folklore from the internet: 129 should be ok in 10" or 9" Swedes are 7.5" __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

September 1, 2014, 12:17 PM	#19
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,586	I had the gunsmiths at ITnD twist my 6.5-06 1in 8", so that I could use heavy for caliber bullets to shoot a little farther. But the selection of localbullets is slim right now so Im starting with 120 grain B Tips...but totally interested in 140's up. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

August 17, 2014, 02:14 PM	#2
green_MTman Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2014 Location: southeastern Vermont,USA Posts: 325	The real issue is bullet length not grain weight however most 6.5 mm bullets are boatail spitzers for long range shooting. 140 grain partitions or A frames might work well with a 1 in 9 twist.my 6.5 Mauser is a 1 in 8 and rebareling might be a good option for you. Try to find the shortest non spitzerish and non copper bullets you can find but any 140gr spitzer or 160gr round nose will need a 1 in 8 The 130's may be a good option for you to. One thing about reloading that is frustrating but also liberating is that until you try a load in your rifle you never know for sure what will happen

August 17, 2014, 02:22 PM	#3
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	Sounds about right. Any body else?

August 17, 2014, 02:27 PM	#4
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Twist rate alone is only half the issue. The muzzle velocity makes a difference, too. Both combine to give a bullet a spin rate in rpm's. What cartridge are you shooting those 140's from?

August 17, 2014, 04:46 PM	#5
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	6.5x55mm. awesome cartridge. Just wondering about the twist rate getting in the way. Flat base hunting bullets are no problem. Shoot them all the time in the .270 win. Well everything else to. It seems that all every body had to sell are the bthp in this caliber.

August 17, 2014, 05:51 PM	#6
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I don't know about a 6.5x55 but my .260Rem with a 1 in 9 twist shoots 140gr Federal GameKings to about 1 MOA.

August 17, 2014, 05:58 PM	#7
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	Consider the long, long 160 grain RN bullets these rifles were originally designed for. 140 grain BT should not be a problem. Not just 6.5 Swede either, .303 and .30-40 both stabilize long RN bullets at lower velocities with a 1:10 twist so you should be fine.

August 18, 2014, 03:14 AM	#11
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	FWIW, I get <1" with 140 SGK at about 2,700 from my M70. I'll have to check the rate, but I think it is near your Ruger. My best group, however, is with 120 Nosler BT at about 2,900 - an honest 1/2". Where mine falls off is with 160 Woodleighs; can't do better than 2" with those.

August 20, 2014, 03:19 PM	#12
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	Well it doesn't like 41 gr of h414 looks like 40 gr is all I'll be able to use gonna try imr4831 next. Any body use this powder in the 6.5x55mm?

August 20, 2014, 07:14 PM	#14
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	My 6.5-06 is a 9". Shoots 140 Hornadys into 5/8" Cloverleaves.

August 21, 2014, 05:52 PM	#15
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	The bullets in this weight, do they like to go slow? The faster I push them the worse it gets. Would a slower powder help.

August 21, 2014, 06:01 PM	#16
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	Reloder 22 is the ticket. Absolutely, slow powder. Mine does better at higher velocity: good at 2,600, better at 2,700.

August 31, 2014, 06:06 PM	#17
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	Well it likes 40 gr. H414, inch groups. will try re 22.

September 1, 2014, 07:47 PM	#20
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	I have a pound of re19. is that slower than h414?