Thread: How to find reloading data

Originally Posted by taupo_cowboy

Maybe a bit of a newbie question, I want to find some reloading data for 6.5x55 using 130gr Sierra TMKs and either AR2209 or N560, but can’t find any info that’s a direct match.

Is there a formula or some way of working out a starting and max load?

Cheers.

Greetings Taupo-cowboy,
The 6.5x55 is a hard cartridge to get good data for but here is what I have found. AR2209 is a good powder for the 6.5 Swede but the Hodgdon ADI data is for an older and slower lot. It is also for lower pressure which does balance things out. Hodgdon data is for the 129 grain Interlock which should be close to your 130 grain TMK. My loads were with the 129 grain SST as follows. Loads for military rifles should be less.
45.5 grains of old lot AR2209 2,720 fps. This pretty well agrees with the max Hodgdon data.
45.5 grains of new lot AR2209 2,805 fps. This powder was purchased in 2019.
46.0 grains of new lot AR2209 2,850 fps. This is 0.5 grains over max in the Hodgdon data but the velocity is consistent with what I had calculated should be possible based on case capacity.
All the above loads were in new Lapua cases with Federal 210 primers. The rifle was my Tikka T3 Lite with a 570mm barrel.
I am still working through previous loads with this rifle and have yet to decide if I will use the 45.5 or 46 grain load in the next batch,
It would probably be best to start with the 40 grain Hodgdon start load and chronograph them to see if the velocity is in line with their results. I would expect it to be around 2,500 fps with the new lot powder and a standard barrel. If this checks out you could work up in grain steps (perhaps 2 grains for the first step) until the chronograph reads 2,800 fps or a little more. Happy to answer any questions.
Regards Grandpamac.