Your favorite bullets for the Grand Old 6.5x55 Sweed

[ACLakey]

When I ran my 6.5-06 I had outstanding results with the 139gr Hornady, 125gr Nosler Partition and the 120gr and 140gr Nosler BT. With that rifle I killed everything from coyotes to bear and elk and loved that rifle. My uncle gave my daughter a 6.5x55 Sweed with a lifetime supply of brass and hunting loads mostly heavier 140gr and 156gr Norma factory stuff. I am looking for a modern production 6.5x55 for myself now and will be reloading for both of us. My question is what bullets do you all prefer for the a round with the velocities of the Sweed? Any recovered bullet pictures? Thanks for the time.

 

[JD338]

The 120 gr BT, 125 gr PT or the 130 gr AB would be excellent choices.

JD338

 

[ACLakey]

Yeah...I have been eyeballing that 130gr AccuBond ...I don't think I could go wrong with any of those.

 

[gerry]

There are so many good bullets out there within reason it's hard to go wrong. I used the 140 gr Speer G.S. and 140 gr Partition the most when I had one but the gun was mostly used for youth black bear hunting but I shot a few deer and only wolf (so far) with it. I have a new 260 coming in a couple of months as a first anniversary present from my wife and am actually not sure what bullet I'll use, there are so many good ones . I plan on working up a load with the 100 gr Partition for deer and have some 129 gr Hornady spire points, 130 gr Accubonds and a bunch of different 140's to try. It will be very interesting to see how the new 140 gr Ballistic Tip does. As for powders H 4831 sc and H 4350 are really good in the 6.5x55. I used to have a bunch of recovered bullets from milk jug tests but they may have all been lost in all the moving I did the last couple of years

 

[1Shot]

It all depends on what you will be shooting with your 6.5 Swede. If it is deer the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip or Sierra is hard to beat. For larger body deer 200+ lb the 140 Sierra does great. I have not shot any deer with the 130 AccuBond in my 6.5 Swedes but do use it in my 264 Win Mag and it is awesome. Flies like the ballistic tip starts to open up like the ballistic tip but keeps on trucking like the Partition. If I was to hunt Elk size game either the 130 0r 140 AccuBond would be my choice. For under 45,000 CUP pressure loads that give me great velocity and accuracy I really like Accurate 4350. I called the Co. and talked to a ballistics person and he told me that these loads are max but safe in the Swede. These loads are in the Accurate manual listed as max loads for under 45,000 CUP.
This is what I use in my(sported) M-96 Swede Mauser with original 29" barrel as hunting loads.
Load 1: 46 grs AA 4350, Federal 210M primer, 120 Nosler ballistic tip or Sierra, Rem case, OAL 3.050. average 3000 fps.

Load 2: 45 grs AA 4350, Federal 210M primer, 140 Sierra or Hornady Spire pt, Rem case, OAL 3.050, average 2800 fps.

This is my target load for match shooting with my open site Swedes.
This comes from the Sierra IV manual as the accuracy load as far as powder charge goes.
37.8 grs IMR 4895, CCI BR2 primer, Rem case, 140 Sierra Match King, OAL 3.050, average 2500 fps. This is a tack driver.

The OAL of 3.050 is as long as a length that will work through the magazine of the M-96 Mauser well and be super accurate for me. These rifles have looooooog throats made for the 160 gr RN bullets.

Good luck and good shooting. The 6.5 Swede is one awesome caliber.

 

[Polaris]

If you're hunting big game at short to medium range it would be hard to beat the Norma Oryx 156 gr bullet. It was designed as an all purpose big game bullet specifically for this round. A couple of friends use this caliber for big deer and black bear and swear by the Hornady 140 gr interlock.

 

[JD338]

I really lke the 6.5mm 130 gr AB. I used it in my 6.5mm Rem Mag at 3050 fps last year to poleax this buck.

JD338

 

[Wincheringen]

I like the 120 grain BT in my 1A 6.5 Swede, pushed with IMR4350 its sub MOA and a deer thumper.

 

[FOTIS]

130 gr AB

 

[SJB358]

Seems like just about any of the Nosler's would make great hunting bullets in the Swede. Since it won't overly stress any of them and bullet performance should be excellent. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with for a rifle. They are a sweet like 6.5 round.

 

[ACLakey]

Thanks for the replies. I found this link and thought it was an interesting read.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... .5x55.html


JD I love the looks of that rifle

 

[vodekz]

I have Sako 85 in 6.5x55 SE aka Swede. It shoots 140 AB in less then 3/4 on an inch.
The load flies 2650 fps from 22.5 inch tube. I use N560 and CCI BR2 primers with Lapua brass.
My load on N560 is very stiff but 48.5gr but does not show any pressure. With velocity I went as high as 2750 fps no pressure signs !!
100 BT shoots well with H4350 at max loads 49.5 gr. Another 120 BT with IMR4831 or H4350. I like H4350 since is more stable.
I have shot two deer with 140AB and this set up and it is great for deer.
One shot shoulder and the other behind the shoulder. I would say shoot the shoulder they go no where. 140 AB works great.
All these loads are for modern action non military rifles.

Vodek