Forum Replies Created

  • crossfire

    Member
    July 27, 2015 at 4:33 am in reply to: Hand loading for the 6.5×55
    Tikka Shooters Forum favicon icon 17 Bullseyes

    Wow, sounds like Christmas in July! So if you ever want to try some H4831sc, here are some moderate loads that work for me. With the 123gr Lapua Scenars, I shot three shot groups at 100 yards, starting at 42.0gr and going to 44.1, and watched the groups shrink as I went along. Velocity rose to 2444 and I don't need that much to knock over chickens, pigs and turkey's, and that ended at a .300″ group.      With the 139gr Scenars, I tested 44.1gr to 43.1 and found that 42.9 (2374 fps) worked for me. Really worked for me, with one group measuring .100″.  When that was tested at 500 meters, I got a 1.73″ 3 shot group. Plenty good enough to topple the steel rams. I'm feeling pretty good about hitting these nodes at lower velocities, and I'm confident there is another node waiting up there at hunting velocities if I choose to go there.    Also, I see that you went with the Lee Collet die and Redding Body Die. Good choice. Same here. And I use the Forster Micrometer Seating Die. Concetricity runout is usually 1 thousandth or less.  Good luck with your load developement, I'm looking forward to seeing some results. In the maentime, I know that feeling of waiting for components.    I hope these pictures of the test targets come through. As I have said before, I am not an avid poster.  Have fun.  T. 

  • crossfire

    Member
    July 20, 2015 at 8:14 pm in reply to: Hand loading for the 6.5×55
    Tikka Shooters Forum favicon icon 17 Bullseyes

    Hi Eric, I'm a longtime lurker here and don't post much, but since you were able to get your hands on a Sporter, I couldn't resist. You are going to like that gun and I'm going to be jealous. I was wanting one, but settled on a 6.5×55 Hunter version that I could use for the Silhouette game. It is easily the most accurate factory rifle I have ever owned. I too use Lapua brass, but got a deal on some Lapua Scenars in 123 and 139's, and load with H4831sc. Load development was nothing short of fun and mostly less than MOA. For Silhouette shooting, you don't need a bench rest gun, but I was getting groups that surprised me early on. I'm loading on the light side, since you don't need heavy velocity to knock over steel animals, and that helps with recoil as well, and should show less wear on the barrel. The throat on mine was pretty long, so beware as you reach out for the lands. However, the farther I stretched out the 139's the more accurate it got. When I get back home I'll get you some data and try to download some pics.  As for your other thread about break-in, it won't take long for the barrel to smooth out a bit. At first I was using Butch's (used it for years) but switched to Bore Tech Eliminator and couldn't believe the difference. Good luck with your new piece and most of all have fun.  T.

  • crossfire

    Member
    July 30, 2014 at 12:34 pm in reply to: Tikka T3
    Tikka Shooters Forum favicon icon 17 Bullseyes

    Nice job! Curious what caliber and what scope?