Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
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I dont think it is any more of a compromise than the 270. The swede will do it all in NA, just like the 270. - dan
That 156 Sako Deerhead bonded core bullet in a 6.5x55 sounds like perfect moose and elk medicine. It's a damn shame we can't get the unloaded bullets in Canada for handloading. My substitute (not yet tried on game) is the Lapua 155-gr. Mega. QuickLoad indicates that 2750 fps with safe pressure in the 6.5x55 is possible with the slower-burning powders. Lapua advertises this bullet as "mechanically bonded," which I think is less preferable than chemical bonding, but may be fine. The problem with heavy 6.5 mm. bullets like the Sako Deerhead and Lapua Mega is poor ballistic coefficient--.344 reported for the Sako and .377 for the Lapua—so I’d limit range to 300 yards and under, I think. The standard advice re minimum retained energy for moose and elk is 1500 ft. lbs. (I’m not sure just how relevant retained energy is re killing power, but those are the suggestions.) The 155-gr. Lapua Mega at 2750 fps MV retains 1476 ft. lbs. at 300 yards and retains greater than the 2000 fps often cited as necessary for adequate expansion of soft-point bullets.
Edit. There is also the Norma ORYX 6.5mm. 156 gr. Bonded Soft Point, which is available in Canada for handloading. It has a similar BC (.348) to the Sako and Lapua bullets. Should be a winner in the 6.5x55 on the heaviest game, but is expensive ($144 per 100 at present).
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I haven't tried Moose, but I've taken a stag Caribou with my AG42B at about 175 yards and it was pretty clean. At the time I was using BELL 140gr SPs.
There are a lot of PPU 156 gr RN SP used throughout the world. These are available, and shoot great out of both my old Swedes and my bought new Zastava. While they don't have the BC of a 120 gr FMJ Boat-tail, they are still a long for weight bullet, and certainly retain more energy on account of it. Interesting that with my Zastava and my M96 the 85 gr HP, 120 gr Sierra HPBT Match King and the PPU center of group shoot within an inch of the same point of aim at 100 yards. Not so with the shorter barrel M38; heavy bullets like a longer barrel.
Another heavy bullet for the 6.5x55 that might be the best of all for moose and elk is the 6.5mm Woodleigh 160-gr. PPSN (protected point, soft nose). As reported on the Woodleigh website, this bullet, with a bonded core, has a phenomenal BC of .509 with its streamlined spitzer form (Woodleigh also makes a 6.5mm round nose in the same weight), rather than the round-nose form of most heavy 6.5mm bullets. According to QuickLoad, 2700 fps MV with safe pressure is possible with the right slow-burning powder from my 23.5" barrel. This gives it a flatter trajectory than most 6.5mm heavyweights. Sighted to be +3.0" at 100 yards, it is down only about 11.5" at 350 yards and retains 1572 ft. lbs. of energy. With its great sectional density of .328, it should penetrate deeply and kill reliably out to 350 yards if put in the right place.
based on Labradar doppler retained downrange velocity from two different 6.5 PRC rifles, the actual BC is between .388 & .409 G1
I emailed Woodleigh and asked how they determine their BC and they said "our BC are calculations only, based on charts supplied by Dupont many years ago. Approximates only"
That's really interesting, Tod. It certainly changes the downrange potential of the 160 Woodleigh. A true BC of around .40 is still something of an improvement over the other high-end 6.5mm 160s (the Lapua and Norma). Do you have some Labradar doppler results for those two?
This also makes the point that we can't take published ballistics figures as gospel. The Labradar results are very impressive. I've always used actual drop figures I've obtained at ranges out to 300 yards+ with my +3.0" 100-yard setting to know confidently what to expect at the longer ranges.
I have some Lapua Mega 155gr but haven't shot any in a long time. I'm sure the Woodleigh PP is a improvement on them, for BC
On another Woodleigh retained speed topic, the 30cal 220gr round nose is rated at .367 BC, and in my 308 Norma Mag the 75 yard retained speeds suggest a BC of .254 (I use this calculator on JBM ballistics - https://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmbcv-5.1.cgi
I like the Woodleigh bullets, use them for hunting in conditions where shots won't be far. Some good combos for me have been that 160gr 6.5 PRC, 30cal 220 RNSP & 240gr PP in 308NM/300wm, 325 WSM 250gr RNSP, 338-06 300gr RNSP and the 350gr RNSP in the 375R. A good friend of mine has killed four bull elk with the 300gr PP in his 375 Ruger and the retained bullets show good expansion and weight retention.
On another Woodleigh retained speed topic, the 30cal 220gr round nose is rated at .367 BC, and in my 308 Norma Mag the 75 yard retained speeds suggest a BC of .254 (I use this calculator on JBM ballistics - https://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmbcv-5.1.cgi
I like the Woodleigh bullets, use them for hunting in conditions where shots won't be far. Some good combos for me have been that 160gr 6.5 PRC, 30cal 220 RNSP & 240gr PP in 308NM/300wm, 325 WSM 250gr RNSP, 338-06 300gr RNSP and the 350gr RNSP in the 375R. A good friend of mine has killed four bull elk with the 300gr PP in his 375 Ruger and the retained bullets show good expansion and weight retention.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Me favorite bullet for the 6.5 Swede is the Hornady 160 gr RN Interlock pushed out at 2300 fps using IMR 4831.
I've used this bullet for deer & black bear with fine results & would not worry about moose & big bears out to 100 yds or so.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6-5mm-264-160-gr-interlock-rn#!/#specs
I've used this bullet for deer & black bear with fine results & would not worry about moose & big bears out to 100 yds or so.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6-5mm-264-160-gr-interlock-rn#!/#specs
That's a really useful calculator, Tod, when you have some downrange velocity data. I've often used the JBM ballistics calculator to calculate drop figures for a known BC and MV, but, of course, the actual BC must match the published one for this to work properly.
That is a great bullet at those speeds. I've used it in a few 6.5's. - dan
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Steep Rock Lake NWO
I have a fond memory of an old Thunder Bay gunsmith who told me that the 160 grain round nose would auger right through a moose. I believe he was right about that.
Darryl
Darryl
In some. Also the MS. Depends on their actual bore size though. - dan
A good deer cartridge out of my current Swede is the 120 NBT over RL-19 @ 3.075"... this load did well out of a couple previous rifles also. Clean kills with minimal bloodshot meat, a couple recovered bullets on quartering shots that had expanded well and largely stayed together.
