6.5x55 Elk Load

[nomosendero]

My Wife drew an Arkansas Cow Elk tag & we are exited about that. She wants to use her 6.5x55 Swede & I have no doubt it will work ( I know about all the Nordic Moose), but I want a good, quick killer, the area most likely to find the Elk is the Buffalo River bottoms, where the G&F has cut many food plots (fields) in the vast Nat. Forrest, so the Elk can cross the river in a hurry. She has been using the 125PT for the last couple of years with great results for Deer, We used 130 Accubonds for one year with good results, seems like in this cal. the Part. opens better. I am looking at trying 120TTSX maybe.
Does anyone feel that a 140PT would offer an advantage? Right now I am inclined to use the 125PT. & leave it alone. She is not at ease shooting my bigger rifles at all, the ones I would use & we will have a 270 loaded with the 140Acc. in case of an unforeseeable mechanical problem with her rifle.

Your thoughts?

 

[DrMike]

First off, that is great. Congratulations to your good wife. I grew up close to the Buffalo Forest, and it is phenomenal to think of elk in the area. If your lady shoots the 6.5 X 55 well, and is comfortable shooting the 125 PT, I'd say go for it, especially with the cow elk tag. While I would like more mass, the ability to shoot accurately is far more important in this instance than mass on target. I can't think of a finer bullet than the 125 PT for a cow elk. Keep us posted during her hunt.

 

[Jimbeaux82]

The bullet I would probably pick for elk would be something like a 140 gr TTSX. That is, assuming, that she can handle the extra recoil generated by a 140 gr bullet vs 125 gr bullet. If she cannot, the the 125 gr PT is pretty good medicine in the 6.5 x 55.

 

[SJB358]

First off, that is great. Congratulations to your good wife. I grew up close to the Buffalo Forest, and it is phenomenal to think of elk in the area. If your lady shoots the 6.5 X 55 well, and is comfortable shooting the 125 PT, I'd say go for it, especially with the cow elk tag. While I would like more mass, the ability to shoot accurately is far more important in this instance than mass on target. I can't think of a finer bullet than the 125 PT for a cow elk. Keep us posted during her hunt.

Like Mike said, that 6.5 probably gets those 125's out pretty fast and they open up well. I wouldn't be worried at all with them on cows, or bulls even to be honest. If she is comfortable with the rifle and load, no sense in messing with it. I would just practice a ton with the rifle and let her have at it. Should be an excellent combo when kept within her abilities. Scotty

 

[baltz526]

If i was going to use my 6.5x55 for elk i would grab a box of federal premium 140gr nosler partitions out of the ammo box. Not a lot of reason for a ton of load development for a rare elk hunt.

 

[DrMike]

Not a lot of reason for a ton of load development for a rare elk hunt.

Other than the fact that it is a rare opportunity and you will want to be as fully prepared as possible.

 

[baltz526]

And with the federal premium 140gr partitions in the 6.5x55 you would be fully prepared. A great load with a great bullet.

 

[YoteSmoker]

In order of bullet choice for elk mine would be 140TTSX or TSX, 140 Partition, 130 AccuBond, 120 TTSX (for both deer and elk).

 

[1Shot]

For large game like elk I would choose the 140 Nosler Partition. It will expand even on deer very well but it will also stop expanding at the Partition and keep on trucking and go deeeeeep. One thing to keep in mind is when shooting at game with a round in the 6.5X55 class you are not going to feel any recoil. Recoil is only felt when shooting targets so if you get your wife's rifle sighted in with the 140's she will not know the difference. There will only be a slight difference in recoil anyway. A max load for a Mauser 96 of 45 grs. Accurate 4350 with 140 Partition is an awesome deer killer in my Swede 96 Mauser that still has the 29" barrel. I get a touch over 2800 fps. If you have a stronger action you can load heaver.

 

[nomosendero]

For large game like elk I would choose the 140 Nosler Partition. It will expand even on deer very well but it will also stop expanding at the Partition and keep on trucking and go deeeeeep. One thing to keep in mind is when shooting at game with a round in the 6.5X55 class you are not going to feel any recoil. Recoil is only felt when shooting targets so if you get your wife's rifle sighted in with the 140's she will not know the difference. There will only be a slight difference in recoil anyway. A max load for a Mauser 96 of 45 grs. Accurate 4350 with 140 Partition is an awesome deer killer in my Swede 96 Mauser that still has the 29" barrel. I get a touch over 2800 fps. If you have a stronger action you can load heaver.

I think all you have said here is correct. I was a little concerned about the recoil going up in bullet weight, but it should not be much. I could allways just load 120"s for practice & then switch to 140 without saying anything, but like you said the recoil diff. may not be enough to worry about that.

Also, I sent an e-mail to Nosler, asking them about the 125 PT, 130 Acc & 140 PT.
Whoever replied did not leave a name, but suggested the 140 Partition.

I think I will see how they shoot.

 

[FOTIS]

Congrats!
Any of the bullets you mentioned will work great. If it were me I would be inclined to use the 140 PT. The extra weight can not hurt. More importantly practice practice practice.

 

[SJB358]

I don't think you can make a bad choice out of the options you have been given. That 6.5 should be excellent and with such low recoil should be a blast to shoot. Looking forward to your work with the 140's. Scotty

 

[Jimbeaux82]

Im not sure that Federal offers the 6.5 x 55 with the 140 gr PT any more. They did at one time but I think it was discontinued. But since our OP is a handloader, the suggestion on the 140 gr PT is still a good one.

 

[SJB358]

I didn't see any Federal, but I did find these

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=890016

But, being a handloader, I would just build my own. Chances are it will shoot better. Scotty

 

[baltz526]

Looks like federal no longer makes the 6.5x55 140gr Partition load. Too bad it was a great load. Faster than the current 140gr they sell now also. They might want to change the name on the box. Federal "less than premium"

 

[FOTIS]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=890016

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=227219

 

[SJB358]

I guess being a handloader, factory ammo never really bothers me, coming or going. It is nice to be able to buy factory stuff, but I think I have bought 1 box in the last 10 years. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

I guess being a handloader, factory ammo never really bothers me, coming or going. It is nice to be able to buy factory stuff, but I think I have bought 1 box in the last 10 years. Scotty

Same here Scotty. That said thank God one can not reload 17 HMR or 22 LR. With my kids it would be a full time job. :shock:

 

[SJB358]

Since my son has discovered his 17HMR is so accurate and fun to shoot, he is shooting it like it's free! Ah well, could be spending my money on much worse things!

 

[DrMike]

Thank God one can not reload 17 HMR or 22 LR. With my kids it would be a full time job.

Ain't that the truth! Fortunately, the cartridges are still somewhat reasonably priced.