Ive used a very similar load. In one of my 6.5 swedes it was the sngle most accurate load I ever found, and it was very accurate. - dan
Is the 6.5 x 55 Swede a do it all cartridge
- Thread starter struff55
- Start date
Ive used a very similar load. In one of my 6.5 swedes it was the sngle most accurate load I ever found, and it was very accurate. - dan
I’m partial to the 125 grain partition over H4350 for a do everything load that is not temperature sensitive. If I was hunting moose then I would use the 140 instead or likely use a larger caliber, although several moose have successfully been taken with my Swede. Partitions have never let me down and I like an exit hole for a good blood trail if needed.
Anyone running 160 grain round nose hornady interlock or woodleighs? In 6.5x55 or 6.5x54ms?
Did the RN woodleigh ever make it to Canada? It has “new” next to it on their product list, but I don’t know how long it’s been on there
Did the RN woodleigh ever make it to Canada? It has “new” next to it on their product list, but I don’t know how long it’s been on there
Used 140gr Speer hotcores on a big black bear a few years ago, was only 75y at the most, went head on it as it was close and the rifle shoots, below the ear, never moved except for the nerves...jaw was clicking loudly for probably 30 secs, seemed like forever in the stand, I could hear it but no movement at all.
Debated a 2nd round but he was down.
Zero meat waste on that one, and if you like bear meat, it was a nice one. Had the pig on camera eating a 40lb bag of molasses soaked deer feed in about 4 hours. He'd pass out for a bit right on the feed, wake up and keep eating. Same season for both here so whatever shows up gets in the freezer.
Debated a 2nd round but he was down.
Zero meat waste on that one, and if you like bear meat, it was a nice one. Had the pig on camera eating a 40lb bag of molasses soaked deer feed in about 4 hours. He'd pass out for a bit right on the feed, wake up and keep eating. Same season for both here so whatever shows up gets in the freezer.
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
My brother and I ran the 160gr interlocks in his Swedish Mauser in our early years of hunting. He shot a few animals with it. Good performance, all pass through on the bears he shot.
I shot some deer with the 140gr Sierra's gamekings and had bullet failures with that bullet. It would literally grenade on impact and create flesh wounds at best. Seen it happen a few times.
Conor,
I got 150 of those Woodleigh 160 from Rick Lepp in August 2021. With Vit 560 I was able to get around 2560 fps with moa accuracy in my 6.5x55 Tikka T3x lite.
The Hornady 160 seems more available. It is extremely accurate in my Tikka. 0.5 moa with Rl 22 and similar velocity as Woodleigh.
The Woodleigh has a much higher BC than Hornady. The MPBR +/- 3 inches with Woodleigh is around 260-270 yards, comparable to a 180 grains in a 30-06. The Woodleigh is bonded, it requires more resistance to expand than the Hornady. A friend who used Woodleigh on small deer told me deer tend to run a bit after hit. My last deer was taken with TTSX 120 grains at 70 yards, DRT.
I've used 160s in both cartridges. Fed, chambered and shot well in two Swedes, one MS and a 6.5x57 (should have kept that one, now I want another). Im sure I have some 160 woodleighs tucked away somewhere, but they are quite old. - dan
Went lighter here. 100gr TTSX over 42gr N150. Thinking that most lead cored bullets are going to wind up near that weight anyway...so far, it has dropped one large doe on the spot with a high shoulder shot but quite a bit of bloodshot around it. Seeing a good amount of internal damage though.
The 160gr at more moderate speed probably spoils a lot less meat, but I'm digging the zero recoil and effect I'm seeing from the 100s. May compromise on the 127gr LRX. I can't see that one performing that much differently from much heavier bullets unless it opens so widely that the frontal area won't penetrate as far?
The 160gr at more moderate speed probably spoils a lot less meat, but I'm digging the zero recoil and effect I'm seeing from the 100s. May compromise on the 127gr LRX. I can't see that one performing that much differently from much heavier bullets unless it opens so widely that the frontal area won't penetrate as far?
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
127 LRX @ 2850ish FPS, 163 yards quartering to. Anchored on the spot
Look at that mullet, great job!
My dad used to use that 160 Hornady in his 260. It would work great for moose or elk I think, but IIRC he switched to the 139 interlock after the 160 drilled a 1/2” hole through a whitetail and it kept running and running like forest gump.
The 160gr Hornady RN performed well in my bullet test but for what its worth, John Barness wrote that it was one of the most unreliable bullet he had ever used. Sometimes performing perfectly, sometimes pencilling and sometimes splashing on impact.
Looks like all the heavies did pretty well in your testing. A bit surprised the Norma rn shed that much weight, bet it creates some dramatic wound channels. Might be a good one for the MS
I feel a 6.5 calling my name. 160 grain RN in the 6.5, 196 grain rn in the 8mm and 275 grain rn in the 338. Fudd perfection
I feel a 6.5 calling my name. 160 grain RN in the 6.5, 196 grain rn in the 8mm and 275 grain rn in the 338. Fudd perfection
IMR 4895 works well when I don't have 4350.
Good data here: http://m-b-r.co.uk/PDF/Sierra 6.5x55.pdf
It's quite a balancing act. Two schools of thought. Pass-through for blood trail and tracking to me says "unused available energy"; IMO a bullet should not exit, but deliver all it's energy inside the target; maximum shock to put them down.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Yer pa should've put the shot through the shoulders of the bugger. Plants 'em good fer the finishing neck breaker with the machete.
