Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
- Start date
Can anyone report on how the Barnes 6.5 mm 127gr LRX perform on big game, Deer to Moose? Thank you, WK
It's performed excellent for us. Very accurate, lots of internal damage and deep penetration. Several deer and a bull moose.
Yes!
Have taken many species (stones sheep, whitetail, caribou, moose and elk) over the years with the Swede, mostly with 140 gr bullets (Barnes, Nosler and Berger), as I hunt larger game mostly. Nice balance of velocity with penetration. The Scandinavians use/like the 156 bullets for their moose (reported at approx. 100,000/year), similar in size to our Canadian moose, and quite often under close distances, and those bullets are well known for their penetration!
If looking to hunt deer mostly, the 120-130 gr bullets may be more to your liking.
Factory ammo with 140 gr bullets varies from 2650 to 2780 fps, and handloads in modern actions will do better with newest powders. Favourite is the AccuBond.
Place the bullet in the vitals and the game will expire quickly.
I have more reloading and trigger time with the ol' Swede than any other cartridge, and been enjoying it for 28 years now.
Similar results would be had with both the 260 and the 6.5 CM, (both of which I have owned; I have also taken moose with the CM).
Have taken many species (stones sheep, whitetail, caribou, moose and elk) over the years with the Swede, mostly with 140 gr bullets (Barnes, Nosler and Berger), as I hunt larger game mostly. Nice balance of velocity with penetration. The Scandinavians use/like the 156 bullets for their moose (reported at approx. 100,000/year), similar in size to our Canadian moose, and quite often under close distances, and those bullets are well known for their penetration!
If looking to hunt deer mostly, the 120-130 gr bullets may be more to your liking.
Factory ammo with 140 gr bullets varies from 2650 to 2780 fps, and handloads in modern actions will do better with newest powders. Favourite is the AccuBond.
Place the bullet in the vitals and the game will expire quickly.
I have more reloading and trigger time with the ol' Swede than any other cartridge, and been enjoying it for 28 years now.
Similar results would be had with both the 260 and the 6.5 CM, (both of which I have owned; I have also taken moose with the CM).
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Velocity wise it's a twin to the 6.5 creedmore/soy burner. Older Swedes would not want to handload over max, and I would bet on a 1-10 or 1-12 barrel twist rate. So no long, sleek, high gr and bc bullets designed for the 6.5 soy boy.
My first moose shot as a teen, with a 243. The Swede is as adequate as your bullet choice and placement. If I had a choice, and I.....do, personal choice would be a larger caliber. Can't ever kill em too dead.
My first moose shot as a teen, with a 243. The Swede is as adequate as your bullet choice and placement. If I had a choice, and I.....do, personal choice would be a larger caliber. Can't ever kill em too dead.
1-10 or 1-12? Who made Swedes with that twist?
Kinda shooting the 6.5x55 over the 6.5 Creedmoor here solely because I love the long actioned Rem 700 Classic. Otherwise, prefer the efficiency and powder selection of the CM. Better mousetrap to me. Not a big fan of the short action Rem 700s tho.
Kinda shooting the 6.5x55 over the 6.5 Creedmoor here solely because I love the long actioned Rem 700 Classic. Otherwise, prefer the efficiency and powder selection of the CM. Better mousetrap to me. Not a big fan of the short action Rem 700s tho.
I’ve got an m96 sporter , I’ve only sighted it in but it was a pleasure to shoot. I bought it for a wide variety of game aswell as easy on the shoulder for range days and longer shooting. I’ve got 130 gr SMK as well as 120 gr hornady gmax currently, haven’t gotten to handload anything yet..
Agree with the preceding points. The typical recommended powders lie in the IMR 4350 to IMR 7828 range. I've been doing a little playing with QuickLoad for my 6.5x55 and have found that exceptional velocities at acceptable pressures are possible with the newer Alliant Re26 powder. The same velocity gains with this powder as in the .270 Win. In fact, the 6.5x55 really approaches .270 Win. power territory with Re26. QL gives 3000 fps at safe 60,000 psi pressure for the 130-grain Nosler Accubond bullet out of my 23.5” barrel.
When sighted to hit 3.0” high at 100 yards (my usual sighting practice for long-range hunting), the 130-gr. .270 Nosler Accubond with MV of 3100 fps is down 11.8” at 400 yards, arriving at that distance with 1478 ft. lbs. of energy. The 6.5x55 with the 130-gr. Nosler Accubond LR with a MV of 3000 fps sighted the same way is down 12.2” at 400 yards (so only .4” below the .270), but arrives at 400 yards with 1548 ft. lbs. of energy and with a superior sectional density of .266 vs. the .270’s .242. So the actual killing power of the 6.5x55 is superior to that of the .270 Win. at that range, both with 130-gr. bullets—what I’d consider the ideal weight for deer-size game.
When sighted to hit 3.0” high at 100 yards (my usual sighting practice for long-range hunting), the 130-gr. .270 Nosler Accubond with MV of 3100 fps is down 11.8” at 400 yards, arriving at that distance with 1478 ft. lbs. of energy. The 6.5x55 with the 130-gr. Nosler Accubond LR with a MV of 3000 fps sighted the same way is down 12.2” at 400 yards (so only .4” below the .270), but arrives at 400 yards with 1548 ft. lbs. of energy and with a superior sectional density of .266 vs. the .270’s .242. So the actual killing power of the 6.5x55 is superior to that of the .270 Win. at that range, both with 130-gr. bullets—what I’d consider the ideal weight for deer-size game.
We here all have our favourite "middle of the road" do it all cartridges that do very well with a lot of flexibility. The 6.5x55 is a very good one.
Saying that, there are several similar cartridges that will do it all with equal efficiency. I like the 7x57, but the 300Savage, 6.5CM, 270Win, 280, 308, 30-06, 8x57, 303British will do all as well.
I had a Sig Cross in 6.5 Creedmoor in the rotation this year for black bears. No qualms about driving the 156g Sako bonded soft point into one at 100 yards. Would work fine on moose and elk as well I imagine. I only ever shot deer with my 6.5x55mm but many pass throughs with the 140gr partition. Nice exit holes, no real tracking that I can recall. I prefer a bit more for moose or elk on the other side of the Pembina valley but that's a "me" thing.
