6.5 X 55 Swedish
02-09-2002, 11:43 AM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mtn. Hse. Alberta
Posts: 823
6.5 X 55 Swedish
Who has one, in what rifle, what bullet weights do you use (reload) for what game?
I am not really happy with the .243 I got for my kids to use for deer sized game and am thinking of getting a 6.5 to replace. (I know there are a bunch of .243 lovers out there. It has its place but I'd rather you didn't rise up in its defence on this thread, please)
Robin
I am not really happy with the .243 I got for my kids to use for deer sized game and am thinking of getting a 6.5 to replace. (I know there are a bunch of .243 lovers out there. It has its place but I'd rather you didn't rise up in its defence on this thread, please)
Robin
02-09-2002, 04:58 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,476
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
Duffy,
I love the .243!!! But I love the 6.5 x 55 just as much. I have loaded and bought 140 grain loads that seem to be just about the right blend for whitetails and larger. though I never have used them some guys have spoken of great whitetail success with 120 grainers. My 6.5 x 55 rifles are all military in origin so I don't try to load any screamer rounds. I consider the 6.5 Swede round as good as or better than the 7mm/08 for whitetails.
I love the .243!!! But I love the 6.5 x 55 just as much. I have loaded and bought 140 grain loads that seem to be just about the right blend for whitetails and larger. though I never have used them some guys have spoken of great whitetail success with 120 grainers. My 6.5 x 55 rifles are all military in origin so I don't try to load any screamer rounds. I consider the 6.5 Swede round as good as or better than the 7mm/08 for whitetails.
02-09-2002, 06:42 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Troy MI
Posts: 44
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
Duffy;
I have a military 96 mauser that I have sporterized: barrel cut & crowned at 22 inches, bolt handle bent for scope mounting, Winchester style saftey, and synthetic stock. I have used it to take only one deer..a mulie doe that I shot at 275 yards. My gun likes the Hornady 129 grain soft point, and the Sierra 100 grain HP. The 129 grain is my deer/antelope/boar load, and the 100 grain load is my varmint load. It will shoot sub MOA with both bullets and the right powder combination. While I have experimented with 140 grain bullets, and I get fair (MOA or slightly worse) with this wieght, the gun really likes the 129 grain bullets. I had a military version several years ago that I sold and could kick myself for selling....it shot a group that I could cover with a dime at 100 yards with military open sights; problem was, it was about 12 inches high at 100 yards, and I couldn't find any ammo for it (only Norma was making factory sp ammo for it at that time, at greater than $1/rd...so I sold it
).
I don't plan on making the same mistake twice
I have a military 96 mauser that I have sporterized: barrel cut & crowned at 22 inches, bolt handle bent for scope mounting, Winchester style saftey, and synthetic stock. I have used it to take only one deer..a mulie doe that I shot at 275 yards. My gun likes the Hornady 129 grain soft point, and the Sierra 100 grain HP. The 129 grain is my deer/antelope/boar load, and the 100 grain load is my varmint load. It will shoot sub MOA with both bullets and the right powder combination. While I have experimented with 140 grain bullets, and I get fair (MOA or slightly worse) with this wieght, the gun really likes the 129 grain bullets. I had a military version several years ago that I sold and could kick myself for selling....it shot a group that I could cover with a dime at 100 yards with military open sights; problem was, it was about 12 inches high at 100 yards, and I couldn't find any ammo for it (only Norma was making factory sp ammo for it at that time, at greater than $1/rd...so I sold it
). I don't plan on making the same mistake twice
02-09-2002, 07:42 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calagary Alberta Canada
Posts: 37
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
I was looking into one as well once and the way I see it is dont waist your time. I am a gun freak and I can tell you some balistics off my head 243 - 3000 fps with 100's out of mussle and roughly 1900 fps. A 6.5X55 swedish mauser is 2550 with 140's and has 2050 fps of pressure. The 243 is better and im not defending nothing because I have neither. It has the upper edge on distance and maintaing power. If I were you, for kids get em something like a 260 or 7mm-08 because they dont kick and at least you arent then still playing with glorified pop guns.
02-09-2002, 11:21 PM
#5
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mtn. Hse. Alberta
Posts: 823
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
Hey "buckmaster243" hows things in Cow town? Great weather we've been having in Alberta eh!
I just looked in a winchester ammo guide and this is what they list;
Velocity 200yds.---- Energy 200yds.
.243(100 gr.) 2562------- 1458
6.5 X 55(140) 2176------ 1473
Factory ammo for the 6.5 is usually loaded quit "cool" because of all the military surplus guns around it could go into. I think one could load it somewhat hotter if one thought there was a need. I would not call it a pop gun though.
Edited by - Duffy on 02/10/2002 00:22:46
I just looked in a winchester ammo guide and this is what they list;
Velocity 200yds.---- Energy 200yds.
.243(100 gr.) 2562------- 1458
6.5 X 55(140) 2176------ 1473
Factory ammo for the 6.5 is usually loaded quit "cool" because of all the military surplus guns around it could go into. I think one could load it somewhat hotter if one thought there was a need. I would not call it a pop gun though.
Edited by - Duffy on 02/10/2002 00:22:46
02-10-2002, 06:54 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,476
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
Duffy,
You made THE very important point about the 6.5 x 55 Swede. Its effectiveness is much more apparent and appreciated as it reaches out farther and farther. This is why it has been succeessfully used in long distance accuracy matches for years,...especially in Europe.
I love the .243 but the 6.5 beats it hands down.....not necessarily in a race off the line,...... but it'll catch it in short order and have more oomph farther out. Using similar sized/weight bullets would put the 6.5 x 55 out in front anyway. Don't get me wrong....I love the .243 .....my favortite rifle is chambered in that round.........I just have to recognize the effectiveness of the 6.5 while admiring them both. They each hold a slightly different niche in my collection.
You made THE very important point about the 6.5 x 55 Swede. Its effectiveness is much more apparent and appreciated as it reaches out farther and farther. This is why it has been succeessfully used in long distance accuracy matches for years,...especially in Europe.
I love the .243 but the 6.5 beats it hands down.....not necessarily in a race off the line,...... but it'll catch it in short order and have more oomph farther out. Using similar sized/weight bullets would put the 6.5 x 55 out in front anyway. Don't get me wrong....I love the .243 .....my favortite rifle is chambered in that round.........I just have to recognize the effectiveness of the 6.5 while admiring them both. They each hold a slightly different niche in my collection.
02-10-2002, 01:58 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
Don't forget the very high sectional density of the heavier 6.5mm bullets. The only bullets with sectional densities as high as or higher than 6.5 mm's are .338's and 8mm's. These bullets can penetrate carcasses far better than one would imagine for such a modest looking cartridge. AT any range, the a .243 bullet could have more velocity, but a 6.5 mm bullet would still have better terminal performance.
02-10-2002, 02:20 PM
#9
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mtn. Hse. Alberta
Posts: 823
RE: 6.5 X 55 Swedish
And the best terminal performance (as well as proper location of the hit on the animal) is what we should all be striving for.
Together they are the recipe for fast one shot kills.
Together they are the recipe for fast one shot kills.