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Posted: 3/2/2017 1:07:29 AM EDT
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Now that I have access to a yuuuuge pile of 6.5 brass, I'm looking for some new projects. Does anyone load this caliber for use with a silencer? Thanks. I am a little concerned about such a long, slender bullet staying stable while in the baffles.
Thanks folks. |
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Yes. Go to Hodgdon web site and read about using Trail Boss. I use Trail Boss. I'm not aware of any "50% rule"
While you are there look at some of the Trail Boss data especially the pressure it works at. While Trail Boss is used basically for low power loads it actually works at fairly high pressure the kind of pressure you would expect from a fast burning pistol powder like Bullseye and this is exactly what it was made for. Except unlike Bullseye it fills the casing so it's impossible to accidentally double charge. Also look at the data in comparable size cartridges as your 6.5 Many Trail Boss loads in rifle cartridges are not sub-sonic. Motor |
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Remember poster was going off memory, check the Hodgdon site for full info. Quoted:
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Good ideas. Can you explain the 50% rule? I've never used Trail Boss. Right indeed.. its a 70% rule: http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf I hadnt had my tea yet... sorry. Very nice and clean powder to work with. Doesnt meter great but I cant see you cracnking out thousands of rounds that quickly anyway. In my opinion, it drops with a Dillon PM good enough for my 30-06 subsonic loads that variation in drop has little impact to results. OP, what rifle are you suppressing? I got an adapter for my old mauser but havent been courageous enough to test.. |
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Right indeed.. its a 70% rule: http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf I hadnt had my tea yet... sorry. Very nice and clean powder to work with. Doesnt meter great but I cant see you cracnking out thousands of rounds that quickly anyway. In my opinion, it drops with a Dillon PM good enough for my 30-06 subsonic loads that variation in drop has little impact to results. OP, what rifle are you suppressing? I got an adapter for my old mauser but havent been courageous enough to test.. What bullets would you guys point me towards? I would think that a heavy for caliber bullet (150-170 grain) would be optimal, but maybe not? Thanks. |
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I'll be using the factory threads on my M38 Husqvarna Swedish Mauser. I have ordered the thread adapter, and I will be using a Dakota Silencer brand Varminter 3.0. It's an upper midwest regional distributor for Mack Brothers. I really don't require a powerful load, just a light plinking load for walking around the farmstead. What bullets would you guys point me towards? I would think that a heavy for caliber bullet (150-170 grain) would be optimal, but maybe not? Thanks. Been a while since I was debating suppressed swede. Not a lot of data (or really any) above 160. Just make sure it stabilizes. Heavy 6.5 bullets arent cheap. Good excuse to get into casting. Edit: if you do go heavy, Trail Boss rule helps with the data issue. |
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 What bullets would you guys point me towards? I would think that a heavy for caliber bullet (150-170 grain) would be optimal, but maybe not? Thanks. Problem is the caliber. All of the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor guys keep the bullets in this caliber moving very fast. Couple of weeks ago blems were on sale at Midsouth and Nosler. All OOS now. This question would be best addressed in the tacked "where to find" thread at the top of the page. |
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For plinking you want what's on sale. Problem is the caliber. All of the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor guys keep the bullets in this caliber moving very fast. Couple of weeks ago blems were on sale at Midsouth and Nosler. All OOS now. This question would be best addressed in the tacked "where to find" thread at the top of the page. |
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Those nosler OR 6.5's are a fantastic deal. I am running with 8208 xbr in grendel. I bought 1k of the Lapua scenar-l's on "clearance" at Midway that I have been slowly going through in my Tikka 6.5x55. Maybe I should have that one threaded...
Anyway, I would be very interested to see if you can slow down the Noslers enough but for reference, I couldnt get my 170 cast bullets slow enough in 30-06... but I am not saying it's impossible. |
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I actually did get in on one of those Nosler overrun boxes. I'm asking more about what style of bullet would be optimal. I have 1400+ 120 grain bullets, 100 ish 130 grainers, and a box or so of 140 grainers. Also, Midsouth Shooters Supply sells this mold, which is a 170 grain thumper. Is this the same as the legendary Cruise Missile mold? It seems like an ideal candidate for subsonic work. 
Like previously mentioned, shoot some and ensure they don't tumble with your subsonic load, then install your suppressor and enjoy. |
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Something to remember while developing a subsonic load is to work down, not up, in powder charge. A chrono is also a must in order to see if you have highly erratic velocities at a given charge which might lead to an oddball slow round which makes your stability testing moot.
You can determine the twist rate if your barrel and compare to a .308 for a very rough estimate. I'd at least give it a shot so you have some sort of starting point as far as bullets to try. As DF3 pointed out, test without the can on to check for stability. When doing my chronoing I put a target a few meters past the chrono to check for any out of round holes close up, and once I settle on a subsonic load I move out to 25m and beyond. If I see any stability issues 25m and in I scrap the idea of putting the can on. They're eventually going to tumble, but my opinion is that if they're doing it that close then you are on the edge of stability and putting some unnecessary risk on your can. |
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You might want to look at C.E. Harris' "the load". (search "c e harris the load") Using 13 grains of Red Dot in rifle cartridges to create reduced, subsonic loads. Fun, cheap and easy. Harris indicates a minimum case size for that. I believe for example that 30-30 is too small. I am not sure if the 6.5 swede round would be too small or not. No doubt that a safe Red Dot load is possible. I doubt you would find a book that lists one though. |
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Harris indicates a minimum case size for that. I believe for example that 30-30 is too small. I am not sure if the 6.5 swede round would be too small or not. No doubt that a safe Red Dot load is possible. I doubt you would find a book that lists one though. He also stated bore size of .30 or larger. |
| Well, I finally got around to installing the can last night. Everything appears concentric, the factory flash hider spun off with no issues, and now I just need to load up some ammo! I'm going to start with standard supersonic loads, but I bought a keg of Trail Boss to work on subsonics later. I will report back! |
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Success! I fired about 25 rounds of 'ball equivalent' loads through the silenced Swede. Very quiet, and no baffle strikes, but there was still a considerable sonic crack. So I decided to load some subsonics. On my first try with the Trail Boss 70% rule, I was able to produce rounds which were so quiet, that the sound of the bullet hitting the snow was as loud or louder than the report of the gun. Extremely fun, so I loaded up another 20 rounds.
My supersonic rounds were: Norma berdan primed brass (from the blanks I pulled) 34 grains IMR 4064 123 grain BTHP The subs were: Same brass 10.8 grains Trail Boss 129 grain Hornady round nose This is such a fun project. |
| I got out and shot it a little more extensively, and at a little greater range this afternoon. It sounded like the hiss of compressed air escaping a valve. Like when you let the air out of your tire, or dump the condensation in a compressed air supply. Totally comfortable to shoot. Literally zero felt recoil. However, this is only good to be a plinking/small game load. 130 grains at ~900 fps isn't exactly a big game slayer. I am planning to take rabbits around the farm with this combination, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything bigger. |
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