Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

This forum is for discussion of all reloading-related topics. Sponsored by Shooting Shed-UK

Moderators: deerhunter338mag, Vaughan, stokesrj

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

jamesc wrote: Sat May 01, 2021 3:19 am Assume it is Norma that will release the brass as they seem to be the only ones doing loaded for it, does Norma load all the blaser ammunition as well ?
I guess so. I have understood this caliber is cooperation between Norma and Blaser.

User avatar
jamesc
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2017 12:24 am
Location: Orange - NSW Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by jamesc »

hv wrote: Sat May 01, 2021 5:11 am
jamesc wrote: Sat May 01, 2021 3:19 am Assume it is Norma that will release the brass as they seem to be the only ones doing loaded for it, does Norma load all the blaser ammunition as well ?
I guess so. I have understood this caliber is cooperation between Norma and Blaser.
Answered my.own question and found some Norma 8,5x55 brass online, not in stock yet but €139 for 50 pieces, will contact the local distributor and see if I can order it here

User avatar
jamesc
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2017 12:24 am
Location: Orange - NSW Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by jamesc »

Contacted Bruce Bertram over the weekend and he will be doing another run of 8.5x55 brass soon as he also did the first run for blaser. $250aud /100

secondtry
Meister der jagd
Posts: 2303
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Victoria Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by secondtry »

jamesc wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:58 pm Contacted Bruce Bertram over the weekend and he will be doing another run of 8.5x55 brass soon as he also did the first run for blaser. $250aud /100
That's a big tick for Bertam. Obviously no quality issues with their brass in this calibre if Blaser are buying from them.

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

jamesc wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:58 pm Contacted Bruce Bertram over the weekend and he will be doing another run of 8.5x55 brass soon as he also did the first run for blaser. $250aud /100
I wonder if he'll ship to the UK? with the import/export difficulties of Brexit still settling down, trying to get anything from Europe is proving tricky!
do you have contact details for him?

User avatar
sav338
Meister der jagd
Posts: 2522
Joined: Fri May 03, 2013 6:25 am
Location: Australia
Location: Melbourne

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by sav338 »

2C356D21-360E-443D-B06E-5CB0ECAF3A3E.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by andychas »

brilliant, thank you very much!

User avatar
jamesc
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2017 12:24 am
Location: Orange - NSW Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by jamesc »

Have sent a PM with his contact email

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

I got my brass today from my local store.
If there had been it on the shelf, I would have bought a big package ... time to reload.

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

I found it. I mean time to reload.
But before those reloadings: I tested the performance of the bullets by shooting them into wet phone books. I put the phone books in plastic bags and the bags in a big water container for one week.
I loaded the cartridges mild because the purpose was to test how the bullets would open a long distance if they still hit a soft spot.
So, if I succeed in pasting the images, then below is the information for each bullet.
n508_top.JPG
n508_side.JPG
185tsx_top.JPG
185tsx_side.JPG
Okay, there is still a little more, but apparently there is some limitation here for pics.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

Continues:
210ttsx_top.JPG
210ttsx_side.JPG
160ttsx_oryx_top.JPG
160ttsx_oryx_side.JPG
160gr TTSX and 230gr Oryx are factory cartridges.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

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

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by hv »

First I tried a 210gr TTSX bullet with a powder N550. At a charge of 62.5gr, the muzzle velocity was 858mps. Maybe I could still raise it, but I decided to try the RS60 powder and it would seem to work perfectly. For this season, I serve this bullet to the side of the moose at a charge of 64.6gr (870mps, coal 78.0mm).
I also loaded 185gr TSX with N550. At a charge of 66.0gr, the muzzle velocity was 915mps. Coal was 76.0mm. But this bullet seems to break up too easily.

secondtry
Meister der jagd
Posts: 2303
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Victoria Australia

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by secondtry »

Very thorough. Thank you. :handgestures-thumbup: 8.5x55 would be a great sambar cartridge, but I don't think we will ever see it in Aus. :(

Rifletuner
Posts: 352
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 10:29 pm
Location: Melbourne AU

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by Rifletuner »

Thanks for the post with your results. To my eye at least, the best looking expansion was the Lapua Naturalis. I recon the combination of expansion and the shank would produce some good, deep wound cavities.

User avatar
Vaughan
Moderator
Posts: 3522
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:43 pm
Location: Northern Sweden

Re: Anyone reloading 8.5x55 Blaser?

Post by Vaughan »

hv wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:49 pm First I tried a 210gr TTSX bullet with a powder N550. At a charge of 62.5gr, the muzzle velocity was 858mps. Maybe I could still raise it, but I decided to try the RS60 powder and it would seem to work perfectly. For this season, I serve this bullet to the side of the moose at a charge of 64.6gr (870mps, coal 78.0mm).
I also loaded 185gr TSX with N550. At a charge of 66.0gr, the muzzle velocity was 915mps. Coal was 76.0mm. But this bullet seems to break up too easily.
Good info, thanks. If ever I buy an r8, this looks like a really useful cal.
/Vaughan

Real dogs have beards

Post Reply

Return to “Reloading”