6.5x55 Swede Ammunition Questions.

The Winny has a 1:7ish twist. The Norma ammo should be fine in it.

I,d use norma look at the velocities claimed by american manufacturers for 6.5 ammo, they seem to think that all rifles in this cal are "weak actions and dumb the velocity down. I shoot a m38 swede made in 1942 using the 140gr norma,soft point semi boat tail, it's flatter out to 300m and I haven't blown the weak old rifle up yet.

Agree, Norma ammo is good stuff. Norma use to produce ammo with the 140gr Nosler Partition which IMO is one of the most effective all round bullets for the Swede. The 156gr Oryx is a good bullet but will limit your hunting range secondary to velocity and BC constraints. Also, there are 2 American loads that are loaded hotter for more modern actions, the Nosler TG 140gr Accubond and Hornady SP 140gr SST. I've taken large hogs and deer with both, no problem. It's difficult to find a bad 6.5mm hunting bullet. C&C bullets work just fine as well. My 3 favorite all around bullets in 6.5mm are the Partition (125gr and 140gr), Accubond (130gr and 140gr) as well as the 120gr TSX/TTSX's. You certainly don't need premiums for deer, however.

A big buck is not going to notice 16 grain difference but he will know what bullet performs better.

A 200 lb. buck isn't going to run off after a good hit from any 140 gr. soft point bullet on the market. I have dropped mule deer with hand loaded Remington, Hornady, and Sierra 140 gr. pills, as well as factory Prvi 140 gr. soft points. I hunt a bucks only area and pass on forks (the minimum legal). I have yet to recover a bullet inside of an animal. The main thing that 140 gr. bullets have going for them in this caliber is a sectional density of .287. To get a similar S.D. in a 30 cal., you need a bullet of 190 gr.

The important thing is finding a bullet that your gun fires accurately.

Prvi Partizan, Affordable ammo that has higher quality brass than win,rem, or federal, and its hotter ammo that shoots accuratly outa my m98 custom built 6.5swede

I have two boxes of the Norma Alaskans (old school Oryx) put away for elk when I get drawn, they look a little funny but hit hard.

I have had very good results hand loading a 140 grain Nosler partition over a dose of RL-22. Sub-moa accuracy and total penetration on white tail. Velocity will never knock your socks off, but that's really the point. I think my featherweight had a slower twist than 7, though.

Gunnerboy said:

Prvi Partizan, Affordable ammo that has higher quality brass than win,rem, or federal, and its hotter ammo that shoots accuratly outa my m98 custom built 6.5swede

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+1.

ive always had excellent luck with rem core lokt bullets in any caliber.i shot a 243 for years with stock rem core lokt 100 grns.the kills were spectacular and reliable.

ive also killed many deer of all sizes with 140 grn 6.5x55 handloads.mostly with non premium bullets at less than max loads.so far just a bunch of 1 shot kills.with your rem 140 loads id not feel undergunned on anything from elk on down.i do limit my shots to 275 yrds or less unless it is a perfect shot and i know the distance for sure.

that long 140 grn bullet is a proven killer and the core lokt is a proven bullet.

That cartridge got it's reputation as extremely accurate with a 139g bullet, and it's extremely popular in Sweden for moose hunting.

Maybe the 156g for shorter distances, but for long shots you might be better served with the one it was developed with, I'm sure it won't notice 1 extra g.

Arguably the best balanced of ALL smokeless cartridges, the 6.5X55 will get the job done.

Your rifle will handle the 60,000+ PSI loads. There is nothing on this planet that has not been harvested with the 'Swede.

Put the pill in the critter's boiler room, and get out the skinning knife.

Never tried Norma or Remington ammo in my Sweed. Once I shot Prvi 139gr SPs I needed to look no further, spectacular accuracy, very effective on deer, affordable, and brass so good it rivals the premium brands. Tried Winchester 140gr and it shot really well too but I was much more pleased with the cheap stuff.

Good feed back on the Privi ammo. I have never seen it in the store but see it all over the internet.

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I have had luck with Wolf Gold 140 SP, which is supposed to be the same thing.

Found Prvi at a local gun store and at gun shows.

Agsalaska said:

Good feed back on the Privi ammo. I have never seen it in the store but see it all over the internet.

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Gun shop or big box?

It's in all my area gun shops, plenty of it, and its affordable.

Consider that the 160 gr. load is regularly used on moose.

Any properly constructed bullet between 120 gr and 140 gr should work well on the South Texas whitetails.

Even the 120 gr Hornady AMax target bullet will work well for creating havoc in the boiler room if you don't hit anything bigger than a rib going in. (It just may not stay together going out. But it will do a lot of damage as it is coming apart).

I am contemplating using the Prvi 120 gr match ammo on little West Texas whitetails next fall. They should work a lot better than a 223.

The 140 and heavier bullets will give lots of penetration. For deer in herds, maybe too much, unless you want to drop more than one. Consider the 125 grain Partition.

A properly designed 140 .264 bullet is lights out

On any deer or elk sized game. The 160 gr varieties are for bigger/tougher game and come at seriously reduced velocity.

Agsalaska;

My 6.5 Swede is a custom left hand bolt & I do my own loading. But, I also hunt elk with this rig and have no worries about doing so.

Find the most accurate factory ammo for your gun & when you do, buy lots of it. Then go worry about other things, that base is covered.

900F

I too have a model 70 featherweight in 6.5x55mm.
While I am used to shooting several Swede Military Mausers, the little M-70 is a real treat to carry and shoot. Although with the 22 inch barrel it has some velocity limitations.
And while I could hot load the Winchester, I do not since I know I would get all goofy headed one day and load a hot round into one of my 100 year old Swedes.

I have used the 6.5x55mm to harvest moose and caribou, so deer will not be a problem.

The round nose bullets are actually shorter than many boat-tails and BULLET LENGTH NOT WEIGHT are what makes the difference in bullet stability.

The Norma 156 grain bullets are very tough and they work well on heavy bones and thick hides, like large bears.... they blast right through moose shoulder bones.

here are some loads I have run through mine....


6.5x55mm Winchester MODEL 70 LOADS ONLY

Federal factory 140gr Soft Point: = 2,375 fps, 0.50 inch group.

120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip: 46.5gr RL-19, Lapua, CCI BR-2, 3.085 col= 2,560 fps and a 1.0 inch group

120gr Sierra Match King: 46.0 gr RL-19, Lapua, BR-2, 3.085 col= 2,508 fps and a 0.50 inch group.

120gr Hornady A-Max, 48.8gr IMR-4831, ww,ww, 2.964 col
= 2,925 fps and a 0.75 inch group Lee Crimp. High Pressure

129gr Hornady SST, 47.3gr IMR-4831, WW, WW Stand, 2.942 col
=2,808 fps and a 1.5 inch group. no crimp. Cratered primers

140gr Rem Accu-Tip, 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.970 col= 2,640 fps and a 1.0 inch group

140gr Nosler Partition, 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.950 col= 2,569 fps and a 1.5 inch group

140gr Hornady Soft oint , 47.0gr RL-22, Lapua Brass, CCI-200, 3.850 col= 2,575 fps and a 2.0 inch group

140gr Hornady SST. 46.5 gr RL-19, Lapua, CCI-200, 3.090 COL
= 2,570 fps and a 1.0 inch group

140gr Hornady SST, 44.5 gr H-4350, Lapua, CCI-200, 3.090 col
= 2,608 fps and a 1.5 inch group

140gr Hornady SST, 44.5gr H-100V, Lapua, CCI-200 3.090 col
=2,669 fps and a 0.50 inch group.

140gr Sierra Game King, 44.5gr H-100V, WW, WW, 2.930col
= 2,675 fps and a 0.55 inch group Lee factory Crimp, no pressure signs

140gr Hornady Soft Point, 44.5gr H-100V, ww, ww, 2.945 col
=2,680 fps and a 2.5 inch group. Lee Crimp. Some pressure signs

140gr Hornady R. N. 44.5gr H-100V, WW, WW 2.975 col
=2,620 fps and a HUGE Group, lee Crimp

140gr Hornady SST, 46.5gr IMR-4831, ww,ww, 2.995 col
=2,700 fps and a 0.75 inch group, primer flow

160gr Hornady Round Nose: 45.0 gr RL-22, PMC, Rem 9.5, 3.100 col= 2,288 fps and a 1.5 inch group