Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

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andychas
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:06 pm
Location: uk somerset

Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

Hi all,
Anyone got as far as reloading for the 8.5x55Blaser? I’m looking into getting a spare barrel in that calibre and would like to reload if poss, theres virtually no data out there yet though.
Any thoughts would be gratefully received!
Thanks in advance
Andy

hv
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 3:35 am
Location: Finland
Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

Hello

I'll start next spring. All I need anymore is a backpack full of cases.

And I know a guy who has already started.
https://forum.robsoft.nu/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=254632

andychas
Posts: 22
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Location: uk somerset

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

Thanks for the reply hv, that'll be about the same time I start. Ive found some dies in Germany, just looking around for brass suppliers and load data pointers now, ideally with Vihtavouri powders.

escard
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 5:10 am
Location: austria

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by escard »

because of the existing of (nearly) dimensional twins, there should be no problem by using reloading data for the
338 WSM (proprietary yet?) or data for loading the 338 RCM cartridge.

I personally wouldn´t hesitate to do so...…...

hv
Posts: 33
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Location: Finland
Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

And it’s also already added to Quick Load if you dare to trust it enough. I compared Arnold's downloads in Quick Load and it seems that Quick Load gives the right results.

andychas
Posts: 22
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Location: uk somerset

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

Thanks both of you,
Id agree, there's enough basic information to start collating load data both from QUickload (Ive got the alternative Gordons reloading tool - 8.5x55 raw case data is in there too) and keeping an eye on the 338WSM/338RCM data. cases are more tricky, so Ive got a couple of hundred factory coming with the barrel to get me going. When I get properly started I'll post some details for anyone interested.

hv
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 3:35 am
Location: Finland
Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

Similar thoughts. I already bought bullets to wait for: TTSX 210gr, TSX 185gr and Naturalis 15g/231gr and powder with which I start: N550. If it turns out to be too slow, then I will continue with the N540 unless they suddenly launch N545 ;)

escard
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Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 5:10 am
Location: austria

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by escard »

...maybe the best option while used in a 20-inch-barrelled scout-type-rifle.....
:think:

Tomjoad
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Location: Denver
Location: Denver, CO

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by Tomjoad »

Anyone on this thread started loading this cartridge yet? Anyone using it for a k95? feedback would be appreciated

andychas
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:06 pm
Location: uk somerset

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

Still waiting for my barrel to arrive! from the research Ive done, Norma 203B is a go to powder, which is identical to Reloder15. with a 185gn Barnes TTSX it should be around 63gn but that would be max. when I get a couple of fired cases I'll run it through Gordons Reloading tool (like quick load). and being Barnes should start around 50 thou off the lands going by their seating method.
very big and very obvious caveat here is that recipe is entirely untested by me, only collated info from various sources but I'll be starting with that info myself, 10% below and work up.

226tt@live.se
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Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2021 3:39 pm
Location: Sverige

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by 226tt@live.se »

TTSX 185 203-b 63.2gr CCI 250 79.80mm 926 mv 5bullets 10mm
blaser Ultimate semi pipe 580mm

hv
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Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »


hv
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 3:35 am
Location: Finland
Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

The first smokes taken with self-loading. I used N550 as gunpowder and the bullet was Lapua Naturalis N508. The coal was 75mm, so there was quite a jump. I loaded gunpowder in portions (ladder test) from 57.0gr to 62.5gr and got speeds from 753m/s (2470fps) to 836m/s (2743fps). I have to say that I take no responsibility for this information, so be careful yourself.

My goal was to reach 800m/s (2625fps) and I already reached it with a dose of 60.0gr. Next, more specific batches are loaded with the same dose and just above it. Seems like a pretty suitable gunpowder for this bullet.

But before that, I will test these bullets at slower speeds into wet phone books.

hv
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 3:35 am
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Location: Hakolahti

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

I examine the cartridge I made with Quick Load. I entered the correct values - actually I only corrected the bullet length (38.04mm) and maximum case volume (77.01) - into the program and according to it the max dose of N550 gunpowder was 60.0gr (=804m/s).

When shooting, the last couple of hardest charges put the lock a little stuck and their hits were pretty low while the first five hit almost the same. After all, it is not very easy for Blaser to detect overpressure.

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jamesc
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Location: Orange - NSW Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by jamesc »

where did you get brass from or are did you buy loaded rounds and shoot first.
The cartridge interests me but even a set of dies from germany is extremely expensive and i can find anyone selling new brass

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