Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge

Rob said:
Can you provide a published source for this horse-shooting requirement idea?
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Think about it. It is hard to train men to pick-off mounted horse soldiers without plugging a pony.

On the other hand, shoot the horse, The horse stumbles, falls and so does the rider; injured rider is less of a threat. Dead and injured horses create obstacles for their dismounted riders and stumbling blocks for other horses. Sound battle plans.

So sad for the horsey people.
 
It all sounds logical, but that doesn't make it true. I would like to be referred to some actual historical documents.

I recall a similar case made for the heavy sabres often issued to artillery troops. The argument was that since 19th c. artillery was often attacked by cavalry, the artillery sabre had to be capable of dismembering or even killing a horse. It all sounded logical but again I don't recall any actual evidence.
 
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This is from 1907. It discusses the Cavalry Horse as a ballistic weapon, the weight of the horse and rider being a weapon to break the Infantry.

A new pistol (which the 1911 45 ACP would be) must be able to take down a horse at 50 yards.

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Rob said:
Thats it. Now if there was just something like that for the 6.5 Swede.
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A guy would need to learn Norwegian and/or Swedish. I have no doubt such documents exist, all the Great Powers were heavily vested in Cavalry at that time.
 
There's a reason why armies of the world didn't adopt and standardize cartridges less than 6.5mm in that era. They were facing and dealing with different obstacles. A cartridge designed to "shooting people" goes out to the like of 5.56 Nato.
 
Horses were absolutely of major concern with Small Arms.

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For guys who like heavy for caliber/moderate speed, this might be interesting. 140 grain Hornady ECX.

This one was loaded toward the "starting/middle" end of the spectrum and hit a 2 liter pop bottle, flew a few feet, and into the dirt birm. It'll be interesting to see it at the max end of things and all.

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dgradinaru said:
Looks like a good bullet for the Swede and moose.
I picked up some 127 grain Barnes LRX that I hope to get a load worked up.
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Hope so! Think Hornady loads it in the 6.5x55 as well, in their International line, for non reloaders.

The 127gr LRX shot well for me here using Nosler's 130gr data and Ramshot Hunter but I bet you'll have even better options/know more.

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To you guys that shoot monometal bullets in the 6.5x55, do you seat the bullets deeper than you do with regular jacketed bullets? I've never used monometals, and have always seated jacketed bullets about .03" from the lands in hunting loads (assuming, of course, that the magazine length will permit this). Does greater resistance to the rifling with monometals call for deeper seating?
 
With the longer throat of the 6.5x55 I wasn't too worried about it, but I've seen accuracy fall off before pressure signs build up when the monos get too close to the rifling. They really shoot better with some jump. Maybe its just like you say and its about pressure/engraving the rifling.

Bet the guys who experiment shoot better groups but I kind of just put them where the manual says they should be and work on what powder charge shoots best :)
 
South Pender said:
To you guys that shoot monometal bullets in the 6.5x55, do you seat the bullets deeper than you do with regular jacketed bullets? I've never used monometals, and have always seated jacketed bullets about .03" from the lands in hunting loads (assuming, of course, that the magazine length will permit this). Does greater resistance to the rifling with monometals call for deeper seating?
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I start at 0.050 from the rifling, then go down to 0.075, 0.10, 0.125. These are Barnes recommendations. When the SD is good, one of these depths will shoot sub moa for sure. There is no need to tweak the COL by 0.003 for Barnes bullets. This makes for a faster load development.
 
MiG25 said:
Horses were absolutely of major concern with Small Arms.

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Okay, I'm convinced...the military 6.5x55 was likely designed to be a good horse-shooting round. Never having had to shoot to stop a charging horse, I don't really know how difficult that might be.

Same as a moose? Maybe. However, I've shot enough moose to know they are relatively fragile and will go down after being hit with almost any well-designed bullet from a "deer cartridge." It seems quite a few Swedes preferred to shoot moose with 30-06, 8mm, 9.3x57, and 9.3x62 rather than use their homegrown 6.5x55. Maybe they have tougher moose over there.
 
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South Pender said:
To you guys that shoot monometal bullets in the 6.5x55, do you seat the bullets deeper than you do with regular jacketed bullets? I've never used monometals, and have always seated jacketed bullets about .03" from the lands in hunting loads (assuming, of course, that the magazine length will permit this). Does greater resistance to the rifling with monometals call for deeper seating?
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I have had mostly good luck with the 'trick' of loading Barnes bullets so that the case mouth is flush with the top of the upper 'band' on the bullet shank. Sometimes a little deeper with a light crimp into the top relief groove. In my 6.5x55 I could not get the 120gr TTSX to shoot consistently well. The 130gr TSX shoots well for me. The 127LRX loaded to 3.15" over 48gr RE22 shoots very well in my Tikka. Same load with the 130gr Accubond is exceptional, and both bullets land ontop of each other out to 200m. I could pick one or the other and never need another hunting bullet. I am partial to copper though. Accubonds have also been mostly unobtainable for 3 years and have almost doubled in price to over $2/bullet.

I have 100 129gr Interbonds I hope will shoot well too, but have not tried them yet. I still would like to try the 100gr TTSX in the Swede, I have seen it do impressive things from a friend's .260 on deer and moose. I also need to find some RE26 to try in the Swede.
 
The 100gr TTSX shot well in my Swede Tikka with N150. Liked the performance on game too!

RE26 really seems to be made to take the Swede to new levels! Looking forward to hearing more if you find some
 
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struff55 said:
Coyotes to moose ?
Or is that a stretch
Thinking of taking one for a ride it will be a modern version with hand loads
Anyone with experience
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This cartridge would not be my choice. It's been mentioned over 1 trillion times.........30-aught-6.
 
track said:
This cartridge would not be my choice. It's been mentioned over 1 trillion times.........30-aught-6.
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Between the two cartridges, 30.06 is my choice as well.

I have a couple of rifles chambered for it, and none chambered for the 6.5.

If the situation were reversed, with a couple in 6.5 and no 30.06, 6.5 would be my choice and I would be satisfied with it.

In most cases, for the majority of people, the rifle you have is not simply adequate, but is arguably the best for the purpose.
 
CLW .45 said:
Between the two cartridges, 30.06 is my choice as well.

I have a couple of rifles chambered for it, and none chambered for the 6.5.

If the situation were reversed, with a couple in 6.5 and no 30.06, 6.5 would be my choice and I would be satisfied with it.

In most cases, for the majority of people, the rifle you have is not simply adequate, but is arguably the best for the purpose.
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Great advice
 
I think the refrain we hear a lot on CGN about 6.5 swede being a popular moose chambering in Sweden is like saying the 303 brit is a popular Canadian moose caliber. Technically true but other options are likely more popular.

For what it's worth a Swedish friend told me that 30-06 is the " old man caliber"
 
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