6.5 x 55 Swede hunting load - favorites?

[Paradiddle]

I'm going to start working up some loads for hog and deer. I'll hunt in California to start as an FYI.

I have a Ruger M77 in 6.5 x 55 Swede.

What grain bullet, loads, powder, etc. do you Swede guys like? 140 grain or should I go lighter?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[NCsmitty]

Are you required to use lead-free bullets in Kali? If so, your choices are limited.



NCsmitty

 

[oneounceload]

MY Swede carbine likes Sierra 120 and 3031 for accuracy, with the Sierra 140 a decent second place

 

[Paradiddle]

I will only be required to use lead free in Condor zones - so give me your pet loads for regular bullets. I plan on doing some hunting in Az and Il as well (I have relatives in both areas).

Also since I'm using a new commerical rifle and will not be shooting these out of my Swede 38/96 I could probably use a "hotter" load if such a think exists.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[steve4102]

I have two, both love 140gr Partitions powered DP 86 or MRP.

 

[azar]

Here's one I've hunted with and it's within the parameters for the older weaker actioned Swede's as well (of course you still have to work up to it in any rifle).

140g Hornady Interlock
40.9g IMR 4350 (1/2 grain below listed max)
Winchester WLR primer
PMC Brass (substitute with Winchester)
COAL 3.025"

5 shots at 100 yards gave me a 1.1" group at 2,536 fps. Not a barn burning load but it gets the job done for sure! I took a mule deer this last fall with that load at 235 yards. The bullet entered just behind the right shoulder, took out a chunk of lung, and then proceeded to penetrate through the intestines (yuck) and exited just in front of the left hip.

I just ate some grilled loin steaks basted in butter, soy sauce, and brown sugar last night from that buck. Delicious!

 

[Runningman]

Had good luck in the 6.5 x 55 with 140 Gr Nosler and 140 Gr Sierra bullets and manual maximum charges of Reloader 22 using Remington 9 1/2 primers.

 

[NCsmitty]

There's a plethora of loads for the 6.5x55 at reloadersnest website, and some are full power for commercial actions like your Ruger.

www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=120

Rel-22 is a great powder with many 140gr SP. I find myself exceeding Alliant's recommended maximum for Rel-22 without high pressure signs in my M98 6.5 Swede.


NCsmitty

 

[steve4102]

Yup, R-22 is an excellent powder for the 6.5x55. I found to much lot to lot variation for my liking and switched to MRP, just as good only better.

 

[Ol` Joe]

+1 more for R22

 

[blackwalnut]

Swedish hunting loads

More applause for Reloader 22 powder. I use it in conjuction with the Hornady 160 grain roundnose. It works real good on whitetail deer and is also a very accurate load in my M38 but I really started to use it in a FN Mauser commercial action with a 24 inch Douglas barrel with a 1 in 8 twist.

If your in the PRK and hunting in a Condor zone I would imagine any of the lead free bullets will also do well. They are usually long for their lengths and would probably have high sectional density and ballistic coefficient.

Now the good part this load was published in the Alliant Loading manual from about 10 years ago and I have used it since. Good luck. Good rifles , beautiful blondes , fast jets and good cars come from Sweden for whatever that is worth.

Vihtavouri powders cans give you some good ballistics. Im planning trying some in a few of my European metric caliber rifles. Also I have some Lapua Mega bullets and have yet to try them.

 

[evan price]

My Swedes like the Hornady 129-grain spire point and Varget powder.

 

[Tuckerp229]

Nosler Accubond 140 grainers on top of 46.0 grains of RL22. Very accurate and quite deadly for Whitetail. I had the great fortune of dropping two medium size deer this year, one 8 point Buck and one Mature Doe, both with one shot each.

 

[Bear41mag]

120 nosler ballistic tip, 38.0 grains varget, deadly in my sportized Swede

 

[Kachok]

I am loading 120 BTs and 140 SSTs 46.5 gr of RL22 top notch acording to noslers manual with 140s.