6.5 bullets

[suzukisam]

I'm getting ready to work up a load for my 6.5 swede carl gustaf. I have been told it's a 1:7.8 or something close. so I'm thinking a heavier bullet. I have no previous experience with what this rifle likes. I'm thinking a 140? I would like to use the lightest bullet that will shoot well from this rifle? what is your experience with similar rifles? actually I'm thinking about the 120 pro hunter sierra?

 

[wrench]

I've been using the Hornady 140gr Amax in mine. Very accurate.

 

[USSR]

The 139-142gr 6.5mm bullets are the "target" bullets in that caliber and shoot quite well. They are all that I use.

Don

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

Same as poster above said...140 gr...I never had results w/ 120gr as good as 140gr. I only use IMR4831 powder. I've tried a host of others, but did not get as good results and that's in my 2 Swedes.

 

[suzukisam]

Well I already use h4831sc so that is what I think I'll start with that, but it's pretty close. Well I'll try the pro hunters in 140gr first. after I get that load down I'll work on trying some others. Have any of you guys had any luck with the 130gr tsx bullets?

 

[azar]

suzukisam,

First, what type of bullet do you want to use? A hunting bullet? A target bullet? An inexpensive bullet for plinking & enjoyment? From your posts, it sounds like a hunting bullet (ProHunter, TSX)...

I would like to use the lightest bullet that will shoot well from this rifle?

Any particular reason why? Less recoil? You'll never know how well your rifle will shoot the lighter bullets until you give it the chance to show you. If you want to give the 120g Sierra ProHunter a try, go for it! I've never had a Sierra bullet not shoot accurately.

 

[suzukisam]

well I shoot the tsx as a hunting bullet in all my rifles. I usually also work up a less expensive load in a cheaper bullet that gives the same POI. I'm thinking about just maybe using only one bullet for this gun. I will not shoot thousands of rounds through it. probably only a few hundred. I have 200 pieces of once fired brass and I'll probably just load those up and that will be all for a while. So whatever load I use will probably be my hunting round unless I just don't like it's performance. I am trying to get as much info from guys so I don't have to try a bunch of different weights.

As far as the lightest that will be accurate, the 110/120 is plenty to kill a deer. so I prefer a fast flat trajectory to keep accuracy at more distances. none of that matters if the bullet doesn't shoot well. an 85 gr tsx in my 243 puts 'em down clean. so if I could use a 110 and move it fast, that would be my goal, but I'm not opposed to using a 140, I'd just rather be smaller and faster

 

[azar]

Since you prefer the TSX as a hunting bullet in all your rifles and like "fast & flat" I'd probably give the 120g TTSX and 100g TTSX a try. I've never personally used either in my 6.5x55 (though I've been tempted by the 120g TTSX), but I had outstanding accuracy with the 150g TTSX in a 7mm RM.

 

[suzukisam]

Yeah maybe I will try the 120 ttsx...thanks I'll report back in a few weeks as to how they worked

 

[6.5swede]

Great caliber that's a pleasure to shoot. I have three 6.5x55's and have tried a variety of different bullets both at the range and hunting. I prefer the 120's to 140's. Your 1:7.8 twist should handle longer bullets just fine. The beauty of the 6.5 bullets is their high sectional density which accounts for their exception performance on game at modest velocities. The SD of a 140gr .264 (6.5) bullet is the same as a 190gr 30 cal bullet. I've had good success with 120gr TSX's, 125gr NPT's, 140gr NPT's, 140gr SGK's and 140gr Berger VLD's. If you're set on lighter bullets, then I highly recommend the 120gr TSX and 125gr NPT for CPX2 game hunting purposes. I have no personal experience with the Sierra Prohunter.

 

[center shot]

 

[Palehorseman]

6.5 bullets

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I'm getting ready to work up a load for my 6.5 swede carl gustaf. I have been told it's a 1:7.8 or something close. so I'm thinking a heavier bullet. I have no previous experience with what this rifle likes. I'm thinking a 140? I would like to use the lightest bullet that will shoot well from this rifle? what is your experience with similar rifles? actually I'm thinking about the 120 pro hunter sierra?

__________________________________________________________________________

Have you slugged the bore? My Husky M-38 6.5x55 Swede slugs at .268" and those bullets running .264" don't cut it for accuracy. I have been shooting GC hard cast boolits but can't get accuracy over 1800 fps. The Lee 170 grain Cruise Missile almost drove me to distraction at first, still only getting 3-4" at 100 yds with it.



"Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est"

 

[Water-Man]

120gr.-160gr.

 

[suzukisam]

Okay I settled on starting out with 140gr sierra gamekings. Does anyone have any info on loading these? If accuracy prevails with them, I will just load them exclusively, as I feel they will make and acceptable balance between range fun and hunting bullet. I have IMR3031/hybrid 100/h4831/varget/and maybe another one or two. These are all great powders for this cartridge, but the more I read, the more I think I might want reloader 22? Also my sporter has been cut pretty short, it's a brush gun for sure. I will probably be replacing the barrel on it in the next year if I can't get acceptable accuracy out of it as is. so with the short barrel I don't think I want an extremely slow powder... maybe hybrid 100?

 

[Ol` Joe]

129gr Hornady with either R19 or H4350 or the 140 gr of your choice with R22.
I`ve had 3 swedes and still have one. They all shot extremely well with loads using these components. The cartridge likes slower powders best and I have had best luck with H4350 or slower in mine.

 

[suzukisam]

thanks jo

 

[evan price]

I use the Hornady 129-grain spire point and Hodgdon Varget, iirc 35.5 grains or somewhere about there.
Loading for M38 Carbine, so long barrel and long range isn't really a consideration. Nice and accurate at 100 yrds though.

 

[2ndtimer]

I have had the best results with the Hornady 129 gr SP and 140 gr SP. I was disappointed in the performance of my favorite manufacturer's bullets in my Howa 1500 6.5x55. It won't shoot 100 gr or lighter at all. The 120 gr Ballistic Tips are erratic at best, and the highly anticipated 130 gr Accubond was lousy. I tried RE-22. IMR-4350 and H-4831, as well as Accurate Data 86 (a slightly faster version of 3100) The 129 gr and 140 gr Hornady's shoot the best by far in my rifle with great success with the Accurate Data 86 powder. While I got a few respectable groups with 4895 or Varget and 120 gr bullets, the vast majority of decent groups come with IMR-4350 or slower powders and the heavier bullets. Even the 160 gr Sierras shot well, although sadly no longer offered.

 

[NCsmitty]

2ndtimer, I'm guessing that you have the 1in8" twist with it's preference for heavier bullets.
Howa's also used 1in9" twist barrels at some point, and that's what I have on my M98 6.5x55. 130gr bullets work extremely well with 1in9".

You have many choices in 140gr bullet weights to play with, and if you haven't tried 156gr, I'm here to tell you that they are the most accurate bullet that I have ever used out of my M38 Swede with it's 1in7.8"twist. Those were Norma factory loads at factory rating of 2625fps.
I have used Rel-19, H414, H4350, Rel-22 and they all have their good points with different bullet weights.



NCsmitty

 

[Kachok]

My tikka likes 140gr SSTs with RL22. Those like full power loads in my experence. I have heard mixed reviews of the SGKs in 6.5x55. They are supposedly a little slow expanding with muzzle speeds under 2800fps. 120gr BTs push 270 win speeds and make nasty expansion, but don't shoot quite as tight in my rifle.