6.5x55 hunting bullet choice

[redneck09]

Looking at putting together a 6.5 Swede for hunting.

Probably be used for deer, wolf, coyote and goat. Maybe some other stuff in that size and weight range.

Was wondering what you 6.5 Swede guys use for hunting bullets and what game you shoot them at.

Was thinking the 142 grain eld-x or maybe the 129 grain lrx. I’m open to suggestions.

 

[Locked out]

My m96 loves the PPU 120gr. I’d like to say it was amazing but I’ve never seen a 6.5SW that wasn’t

 

[Denver Steve]

The 143 eld-x will treat you good on that type of game, so would the 140 nosler ballistic tip. Infact even the cheap 140 grain Speer hot cor bullets would do great.

 

[redneck09]

Should probably mention that it will be on a tikka action.

 

[savagelh]

143 eldx would be fine so would the 140/145 tipped game king. 127lrx is fine if it will shoot. 140 accubond, 140 speer impact, so many fine options. You really can't go wrong.

 

[Paul_T]

140gr Hornady SST. Has been fine for deer and bears

Your 143 ELDX choice would be just fine.

 

[mmattockx]

Probably be used for deer, wolf, coyote and goat. Maybe some other stuff in that size and weight range.

For that list any 129gr or 140gr hunting bullet will be fine. The velocities are moderate with the Swede, so even basic cup and core bullets work perfectly well for medium game like this.

I have mostly used the 140gr bullets, but am switching to 129gr because they shoot a little flatter and hit more than hard enough for anything on your list.


Mark

 

[22to45]

I have a couple military swedes, they shoot 129 gr Hornady bullets very accurately . I use them for moose, in the brush, where there might be a bear, either a black or a grizzly, so I use 160 gr Hornadys. Plus, I am an old heavy bullet fanatic. I got the lighter ones in a trade, and played with them.

 

[Decker9]

Iv taken a couple rams and coupe wolves and a WT with my tikka 6.5 Swede, always used 140gr accubonds. Iv never had to shoot twice and never much meat loss on the sheep or deer. The 143gr eldx shot great too but always went with the accubond.

I took my first Billy when I was a kid with my 6.5x55 ai and was using 160gr Hornady round nose and my hunting partner took a couple moose with his Swede and the 160’s. Great bullet for close in the bush shots.

 

[Lefty Dick]

140 grain Sierra GameKing’s………….

 

[CV32]

I am still shooting the 140 gr Barnes XLC (the blue pill). Probably have enough to last the remainder of my big game hunting days.

 

[Meroh]

Any good hunting bullet in 120-140 gr. I have always been partial to Sierra, but had used Speer bac in the day.

 

[woodlotowner]

Ditto all the above in 6.5 Creedmoor, save the 160s.

 

[iron cat]

I never had an issue killing stuff with 140 Game Kings or the 156 Normas in my various 6.5x55's.
Cat

 

[Mulletard]

My m96 sporter shoots speer 120 gold dots pretty well. Not blindingly fast at about 2650fps. (Didn't push load development to far yet) But I always hear great things about them on game.

Does shoot ppu 156grn softies very well at 2500+fps. Those should do real well.

 

[AB3006]

I haven't used them on game yet, but this year my whitetail and mulie medicine will be the 130gr Sierra Gamechanger (now sold as the Tipped GameKing BT) over 43 gr of Hunter. My HVA 1900 loves them. 1" at 100, ~2750 fps.

 

[Meroh]

Any good hunting bullet in 120-140 gr. I have always been partial to Sierra, but had used Speer bac in the day.

For the above list of game, if you are only using the rifle for Moose, deer, elk, bear, then 158-160 gr. Round nose soft point. They have been doing the job for years.

 

[todbartell]

No shortage of good options for medium sized game. I ran 150gr ABLR last fall in my m70 6.5x55 over enough Ramshot Hunter to hit 2715 fps