Quickload info for 6.5x55 & 7.5x54

I got a PM asking for some info. I could not find a good way to post the results in a PM so I am providing the results in this thread.

These tables are set up with requested bullets and AOL and everything else is left at default QL settings. These tables are intended to help select optimum powders and then work up loads.

The pressures shown are close the max pressures listed in QL. If using in conjunction with a chrono, working up to the max shown is reasonable provided that velocities do not exceed projections. If not using a chrono, stopping short of the max shown is recommended.

The powders I selected for inclusion are mostly ones marked by Hodgdon or Shooters World. Some were by request, others just looked good to me.

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Speer SP 1441 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Accurate MAGPRO 97.3 50.2 3.25 2731 93.9 48225 11823 1.325 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Magnum 97.7 51.6 3.34 2714 98.1 48225 11128 1.316 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Hunter 88.8 44.5 2.88 2677 99.2 48225 10555 1.332 ! Near Maximum ! Winchester 760 83.7 42.9 2.78 2670 98.7 48225 10522 1.335 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4350 87.8 42.6 2.76 2658 99.9 48225 10179 1.363 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon LVR 85.8 41.6 2.70 2653 99.7 48225 10093 1.336 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon H1000 *T 104.0 49.9 3.23 2652 95.2 45639 11041 1.342 IMR 4831 92.6 43.0 2.79 2645 99.9 48225 9956 1.352 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 3100 97.0 47.0 3.05 2644 99.2 48225 10263 1.365 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Big Game 79.4 41.0 2.66 2634 100.0 48225 9625 1.339 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4895 78.6 38.1 2.47 2624 100.0 48225 9561 1.349 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4350 88.5 42.7 2.77 2617 98.2 48225 9893 1.333 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4320 81.4 38.8 2.52 2607 100.0 48225 9235 1.331 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon Retumbo 104.0 50.7 3.29 2603 96.9 39978 11566 1.430

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Hornady ELD-M 26331 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Accurate MAGPRO 98.4 49.2 3.19 2722 93.6 48225 11496 1.325 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Magnum 98.7 50.6 3.28 2703 97.9 48225 10822 1.317 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Hunter 89.8 43.6 2.83 2668 99.1 48225 10284 1.334 ! Near Maximum ! Winchester 760 84.6 42.1 2.73 2661 98.5 48225 10244 1.337 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4350 88.9 41.8 2.71 2650 99.9 48225 9924 1.364 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon LVR 86.8 40.8 2.64 2645 99.6 48225 9833 1.338 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 3100 98.2 46.2 2.99 2637 99.1 48225 9998 1.366 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4831 93.7 42.2 2.73 2637 99.9 48225 9706 1.353 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Big Game 80.3 40.2 2.60 2626 100.0 48225 9385 1.341 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4895 79.5 37.4 2.42 2615 100.0 48225 9322 1.352 ! Near Maximum ! Shooters World SW4350 88.7 41.2 2.67 2608 98.6 48225 9699 1.356 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon H1000 *T 104.0 48.4 3.13 2607 94.3 44072 10594 1.367 IMR 4350 89.4 41.8 2.71 2607 98.0 48225 9621 1.336 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon Retumbo 104.0 49.2 3.19 2556 96.0 38537 11114 1.456

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Accurate MAGPRO 99.2 48.6 3.15 2715 93.4 48225 11302 1.325 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Magnum 99.4 49.9 3.23 2694 97.7 48225 10642 1.316 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Hunter 90.5 43.1 2.79 2662 99.0 48225 10126 1.334 ! Near Maximum ! Winchester 760 85.3 41.6 2.69 2654 98.4 48225 10081 1.337 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4350 89.6 41.3 2.67 2644 99.8 48225 9777 1.364 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon LVR 87.4 40.3 2.61 2638 99.5 48225 9683 1.338 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 3100 98.9 45.6 2.95 2630 99.0 48225 9844 1.365 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4831 94.4 41.7 2.70 2630 99.8 48225 9561 1.353 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Big Game 80.9 39.7 2.57 2620 100.0 48225 9248 1.341 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4895 80.1 36.9 2.39 2609 100.0 48225 9184 1.352 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4350 90.1 41.3 2.67 2599 97.9 48225 9461 1.337 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon BL-C2 76.7 38.5 2.50 2598 100.0 48225 8979 1.357 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4320 82.9 37.6 2.43 2591 100.0 48225 8864 1.334 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon H1000 *T 104.0 47.4 3.07 2576 93.6 43079 10321 1.382 Hodgdon Retumbo 104.0 48.2 3.12 2525 95.4 37625 10835 1.474

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Cartridge : 7.5 x 54 mm MAS French Bullet : .308, 135, Hornady FTX 3027 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.793 inch = 70.94 mm Barrel Length : 20.5 inch = 520.7 mm These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window. C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Winchester 748 91.1 47.1 3.05 2829 97.3 48225 9415 1.024 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Big Game 98.7 50.5 3.27 2826 94.3 48225 9633 1.021 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4064 101.8 47.8 3.10 2823 98.9 48225 9431 1.063 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4895 97.9 47.0 3.05 2823 94.8 48225 9667 1.034 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2495 95.9 45.1 2.92 2821 99.9 48225 9154 1.068 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2520 94.0 47.6 3.09 2812 98.0 48225 9283 1.044 ! Near Maximum ! Shooters World Match Rifle 96.2 47.6 3.09 2812 98.0 48225 9283 1.044 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Wild Boar 93.3 47.9 3.10 2793 94.6 48225 9328 1.031 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4320 100.2 47.4 3.07 2789 94.3 48225 9178 1.020 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2460 89.3 46.1 2.99 2765 97.3 48225 8910 1.055 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon LVR 104.0 50.0 3.24 2754 90.1 44889 9477 1.054 Shooters World AR Plus 87.9 45.2 2.93 2753 97.2 48225 8749 1.051 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2230 88.8 46.2 2.99 2748 95.6 48225 8797 1.047 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2015 91.2 41.9 2.72 2746 100.0 48225 8232 1.054 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot TAC *C 92.5 47.9 3.10 2742 91.1 48225 8987 1.039 ! Near Maximum !

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Cartridge : 7.5 x 54 mm MAS French Bullet : .308, 150, Sierra HPBT MatchK 2190 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.958 inch = 75.13 mm Barrel Length : 20.5 inch = 520.7 mm These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window. C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Winchester 760 99.9 52.3 3.39 2720 90.9 48225 10242 1.068 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon LVR 102.4 50.7 3.29 2718 93.7 48225 10072 1.068 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Big Game 95.0 50.1 3.25 2717 96.2 48225 9904 1.070 ! Near Maximum ! Winchester 748 87.4 46.6 3.02 2708 98.5 48225 9567 1.076 ! Near Maximum ! IMR 4895 94.0 46.6 3.02 2707 96.5 48225 9890 1.084 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon BL-C2 90.0 48.6 3.15 2704 97.7 48225 9792 1.085 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4064 97.4 47.2 3.06 2696 99.7 48225 9490 1.117 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2520 90.2 47.1 3.05 2690 99.1 48225 9401 1.097 ! Near Maximum ! Shooters World Match Rifle 92.3 47.1 3.05 2690 99.1 48225 9401 1.097 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 2495 91.7 44.4 2.88 2688 100.0 48225 9118 1.123 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate 4350 104.0 51.5 3.34 2685 93.8 45232 10172 1.113 IMR 4320 96.6 47.1 3.05 2682 96.2 48225 9440 1.068 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Wild Boar 89.8 47.5 3.08 2681 96.3 48225 9565 1.081 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Hunter 104.0 53.2 3.45 2675 91.0 45747 10127 1.093 Shooters World Precision 95.6 46.1 2.99 2665 97.8 48225 9306 1.095 ! Near Maximum !

Here are a couple of tables that provide details on specific combinations.

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Hornady ELD-M 26331 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm Powder : IMR 4831 CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -04.8 89 40.00 2512 1961 41453 9358 99.2 1.453 -04.3 89 40.20 2523 1979 42030 9394 99.3 1.443 -03.8 90 40.40 2535 1997 42615 9429 99.4 1.434 -03.3 90 40.60 2546 2015 43207 9463 99.4 1.424 -02.9 91 40.80 2557 2033 43807 9496 99.5 1.415 -02.4 91 41.00 2569 2051 44415 9529 99.6 1.406 -01.9 91 41.20 2580 2070 45031 9561 99.6 1.397 -01.4 92 41.40 2592 2088 45656 9592 99.7 1.388 -01.0 92 41.60 2603 2106 46288 9622 99.8 1.379 -00.5 93 41.80 2614 2125 46929 9651 99.8 1.370 ! Near Maximum ! +00.0 93 42.00 2626 2143 47578 9680 99.8 1.362 ! Near Maximum ! +00.5 94 42.20 2637 2162 48237 9708 99.9 1.353 ! Near Maximum ! +01.0 94 42.40 2648 2180 48903 9734 99.9 1.344 ! Near Maximum ! +01.4 95 42.60 2660 2199 49579 9761 99.9 1.336 ! Near Maximum !

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.050 inch = 77.47 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm Powder : IMR 4831 CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -04.8 91 40.00 2534 1997 42912 9304 99.3 1.429 -04.3 91 40.20 2546 2015 43520 9338 99.4 1.419 -03.8 92 40.40 2558 2033 44136 9371 99.5 1.410 -03.3 92 40.60 2569 2052 44760 9404 99.6 1.401 -02.9 92 40.80 2581 2071 45393 9435 99.6 1.392 -02.4 93 41.00 2592 2089 46035 9466 99.7 1.383 -01.9 93 41.20 2604 2108 46685 9496 99.7 1.374 -01.4 94 41.40 2615 2126 47344 9525 99.8 1.365 ! Near Maximum ! -01.0 94 41.60 2627 2145 48012 9553 99.8 1.356 ! Near Maximum ! -00.5 95 41.80 2638 2164 48690 9581 99.9 1.347 ! Near Maximum ! +00.0 95 42.00 2650 2183 49376 9607 99.9 1.338 ! Near Maximum !

Tag

In response to a PM, here are some QL tables that show the differences expected based on two different COALs.

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Cartridge : 6.5 x 55 Swedish Bullet : .264, 140, Hornady SST 26302 Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm Powder : IMR 4831 CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.030 inch = 76.96 mm Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -04.7 93 41.00 2599 2099 46487 9447 99.7 1.376 -03.5 95 41.50 2628 2146 48154 9519 99.8 1.354 ! Near Maximum ! -02.3 96 42.00 2656 2193 49878 9585 99.9 1.332 ! Near Maximum ! -01.2 97 42.50 2685 2241 51663 9647 100.0 1.311 ! Near Maximum ! +00.0 98 43.00 2713 2289 53511 9702 100.0 1.290 ! Near Maximum ! +01.2 99 43.50 2742 2336 55423 9754 100.0 1.270 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.940 inch = 74.68 mm Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -04.7 96 41.00 2629 2149 48712 9354 99.8 1.347 ! Near Maximum ! -03.5 97 41.50 2658 2197 50501 9419 99.9 1.325 ! Near Maximum ! -02.3 98 42.00 2687 2245 52356 9479 100.0 1.304 ! Near Maximum ! -01.2 99 42.50 2716 2294 54277 9534 100.0 1.282 ! Near Maximum ! +00.0 101 43.00 2745 2342 56269 9584 100.0 1.262 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +01.2 102 43.50 2774 2391 58333 9633 100.0 1.241 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Note that the max charges in my previous post seem a good bit less than expected if you take a look at Hodgdon data. Lets compare more "apples to apples" by using the same bullet and same powder.

The Hodgon data looks to be for bullet: .264, 140, Speer SP 1441 and the powder was H4831 instead of IMR4831.

At the Hodgdon COAL of 3.03", seating depth is 0.335. When this is loaded in QL with 47 gr of H4831, the default QL case capacity gives a 100.3% fill. These inputs result in a predicted 2695 fps at 50682 psi for a 24" gun. The pressure is just under the SAAMI MAP of 51000 psi.

Note that the Hodgdon result is 2586 fps at 45700 cup. Again, just under the SAAMI MAP which is 46000 cup.

Both results are around 300 below the SAAMI limit when using the correct units. So the QL pressure prediction is probably not that far off the test data for the load with the Speer bullet. QL is off a bit more for velocity, it is close to 110 fps higher. Still this is not a terrible match.

Now lets change over to the powder used in previous runs, IMR 4831. The fill went up, to 101.7%. The result also went up, to 2867 fps at 63520 psi. The difference between the IMR and H versions of 4831 was a lot bigger than I expected.

Another surprise for me with this effort was finding the SAAMI Map to be only 51000 psi where QL has a max allowed of 55114 psi. Then I noted that QL references the CIP standard instead of SAAMI which kind of make sense for this european round.

A couple of my standard 6.5x55 Jacketed hunting loads as used in my Carl Gustav M96 (w/standard 24.7" barrel) with the pressures being measured via the Oehler M43 PBL.

129 gr Hornady SP in Winchester 65.x55 cases, WLR primers. OAL at 3.044" with 47 gr of IMR 4350: 2810 fps at 54,000 psi

140 Hornady SP in Winchester 65.x55 cases, WLR primers. OAL at 3.112" with 49 gr H4831SC