I know, I've swore off Encores twice already, and now here I am waist deep in them again. I am a Contender guy for sure, but when something interesting pops up for an Encore, it calls to me my precious. That brings us to the topic at hand. Some of you may have seen this barrel posted for sale on Ebay a short time ago and wondered who the schmuck was that won the bid...me! I already have a SSK barrel in 6.5x55 Swede, but when I saw the fluting and 2 port M-N-P on the Improved one, I just couldn't resist. Kinda like a big mouth bass going after a spinner bait. I decided that even though it was an SSK barrel with bells and whistles, I wasn't going to go too high with my bid. After all, I wanted a bargain. It wasn't until after I submitted my bid that I began my research on the chambering. Looked impressive, just short of a 6.5-284. Then the search for the things I needed to load for it. Dies, brass, and bullets. I had some Hornady 120 grain A-Max bullets that I was going to use in my JDJ or Grendel but had decided against them before I even started. I would sacrifice them for fire forming the brass. I still had an unopened package of Win 6.5x55 brass that would get me started. So far, so good. I started checking the usual places for dies, Midway, Midsouth, etc. No luck, not even listed. Finally found some at Graf's. That's the most I have ever paid for a set of dies! If you gotta have them, well you gotta have them. Loaded up some fire form loads with the bullets seated out to engage the lands and went to the ranch to sight it in. Got it zeroed at 50 yards and the 120 Hornady's were clocking 2530 fps with the cases coming out perfectly formed. That leads me to the reason for the post. I need some help choosing powders and bullets. I would like to squeeze as much velocity as I can with a hunting bullet. I will probably only shoot deer and hogs, but would like a couple bullet choices that would handle just about anything within reason. No target shooting, except informal. Anything ya'll could pass on concerning this would be appreciated.

Sweet!

I use IMR 4350 in my 3 6,5x55 rifles,all are 21 in or shorter, with a 140 gr Hornady sp interlok . At 2600fps or so when I hear my wife shoots I just go pick up her deer. The Nosler 120 also have a good reputation in the 6.5 rifles. The rifles all shoot the Hornady under an inch with the original barrels and my load but I am not pushing them hard.
If you fall out of love with your original 6.5 Encore barrel I know where it can find a good home in KY.

I would start with H-4350

What bullet weight/type do you have in mind for hunting?

I guess I'm considering anything from 100 grains to 140 grains weight wise. As far as type of bullet, I was considering Nosler Partitions and/or Barnes TTSX's. I'm really looking for one bullet to use on just about any animal and shot angle. That being said, about the only animals I would probably use it on would be Whitetail deer and feral hogs. If I decide to use one on the heavy end of the spectrum then I might lose too much velocity at the muzzle and at the target to make the bullet expand properly. If I pick one from the light side, then I get my higher velocity, but do I loose some penetration? This is why I am consulting the experts here on this forum. I am seriously considering the Barnes 100 grain and 120 grain TTSX, and the Nosler 125 grain and 140 Partitions. If anyone else has a preferred or favorite bullet for their hunting, please make a suggestion.

I would go with the partition-140 grain
He will typically get a better velocity out of that heavier bullet.
A lighter bullet, will go faster, but the bullet above will easily take care of anything that you want

I shot 120 grain pro hunters out of my 21" 6.5x55 with a mild load of RL-19. It is on a Mauser 96 so I didn't get too carried away.

I have a cz in 6.5x55 and it will take anything you feed it from mild to wild. Mostly RL-19 in it as well. A good bullet is the 130 accubond or the 130 Sierra hollow point.

Brenden

130 AB would be great too

Back in the olden days as my grandkids like to say, Norma was the only game in town for Boxer primed commercial 6.5 X 55 ammo. I had a sporterized Model 96 Mauser, and another 6.5 x 55 built on a 98 Mauser action. Best loadings in both guns was the Norma 139 gr. Plastic Point ammo (and you thought the Ballistic Tip was a new idea). That would still be my choice of weight for a conventional bullet.