Best off the shelf factory load for deer with 6.5x55 Swede?

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johnson_n

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Ive been looking into getting a target/deer rifle before the end of the year and it's coming down to a Savage 10FP/10FCP McMillan in .308 or CZ 550 American in 6.5x55 Swede, .270WIN, or .308WIN. Ive been reading for the past few days and the 6.5x55 cartridge interests me being that it's widely used in Europe and it's sort of an uncommon caliber and has a flatter trajectory. I will reload eventually so right now im just looking to buy a box or two of the Swede ammo to add to the ammo collection and use if need be. If I buy the 550 in 6.5x55, ill use the Prvi stuff from AIM Surplus for plinking. I havent read that much on scopes but the SWFA Super Sniper SS10X42 seems like a viable option. The current shooting range that I go to only goes out to 100 yards.

Of course, I could always buy two seperate rifles for different purposes. :)
 
The basic Federal blue box (Vital-Shok) works pretty well in my '94 Swede. I have to assume that the premium would group as good or better. Any of them will easily kill a deer if you make a good hit.

Get the CZ 550 - you won't be sorry.
 
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The Swede is a very flat shooting rifle, and if I was going to use factory ammo for hunting deer it would have to be the Remington Core-lokts as mentioned above. Once you get into reloading you owe it to yourself to work up a load with a Nosler partition or ballistic tip. I've shot whitetail with both and all have just dropped where they stood.
 
Norma still makes some very good premium hunting ammo for the 6.5x55mm Mauser. I also mave a box of factory Nosler partitions in 6.5 around here someplace.

I handload 160 grain Hornady round nose soft points using RL-22. It is almost exactly the same as the Norma 156 grain hunting load.
 
What websites can I buy the Norma and Ingman ammo? I see the Norma at Sportman's Guide but it's sold out.

WX2-14514 Norma® Soft-Point Military 6.5x55 139 Gr. VSP 20 rds.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=144159

Another thing, is a 6-24x40 scope too much? I'm looking at the Bushnell Elite 4200 series. I just started reading about scopes today and not sure what power magnification is common.
 
Hi Johnson N....

The Bushnell scope you mention is a really nice scope and what you can't do with it on top of a Swede probably doesn't need to be done anyway. However - it is not compact so you'll have to decide if that is an important factor.

Good luck !

:cool:
 
Hello!

Fun to hear that you chose a 6.5 Swede! Warms my heart!

As target shooting I would recommend the ordinary swedish surplus army ammo. Many professional target shooters in Sweden use that ammo for ranges up to 600 meters with good results. I don´t know about the availibility in the states, but if you find any, buy it!!! Just don´t waste it on plinking... ;)

For hunting, Norma makes high quality ammo. A little expensive, so make them count!

Greetings from Sweden!!!

/ Erik
 
Ah, straight from the horse's mouth. Problem being, Swedish military surplus ammunition costs as much as commercial hunting ammo, and the cases are not, if I remember right, reloadable. Plus, you can't hunt with solid, jacketed bullets.
 
In my opinion your problem is the desire to mount a target scope on a hunting rifle. While there is nothing wrong with this and with most "deer rifles" it will work just fine. Also, a CZ in 6.5 is well above most "deer rifles" for sure, one must realize that 2-7 power can handle every realistic hunting situation unless you are very good and lucky, it does not handle every target shooting opportunity.

If you want to shoot a white tail/mule deer at 350 yards, yep a good 7 power can clearly define 1/3 the way up and just behind the front leg.

No way, to me, can the same be said for hitting a 6" circle at 500 yards to impress the heck out of ones self.

The gun is just as accurate, just push that sweet trigger forward a bit and it's more accurate than you will ever need.

If nothing else get 2 scopes, both wearing rings for different seasons.

Happy shooting,
YMMV,
IMNSHO,
FWIW,
ECT.

Tony
 
Now that we are into scopes................ How far do you plan on shooting when hunting?? If it's a one rifle to do all deer size hunting I'd go with the 2-7, 1-4 is better if not going much beyond 200 yards when most is in thicker stuff.

In general I'm thinking most people are in the field with one range too high magnification. I have no desire for any thing other than a "bean field rifle" to be wearing a 3-9, yet alone higher.

FWIW,

Tony
 
Privi Partisan groups MOA in my Swede, as good as the Factory Winchesters. Its soft point, reloadable, hunting ammo, and much cheaper.
 
I handload 160 grain Hornady round nose soft points using RL-22.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's cool - what's the twist rate of your rifle? Is that a flat-based bullet? I've never heard of people going over 140s without having a 1 in 8 or 1 in 7.5 twist such as a military 96/94 swede.

Originally Posted by PremiumSauces
Get the CZ 550 - you won't be sorry.

I bought a 452 Lux .22lr in Feb. and a CZ 75B SA last month and I havent been sorry yet.
Click to expand...

Hee hee - yeah. I've got four 452/453s, two 550s, and two 75 series pistols. The rifles are even more impressive than the pistols, especially the 550s and 453. One of these days, a 527 will be forthcoming. :)
 
Stopped by the outlet and they didnt have that big of a sale as I thought. Maybe it was the other location.

The Elite 3200 3-9x40mm was $155 (normally $200 online) and the Elite 4200 2.5-10x40mm was $320 (normally $400 online). I forgot to look at the Elite 3200 2-7x40mm. I didnt buy any of them but got a set of binoculars which ill be returning. It sold for $75 and I thought I was getting a decent deal but you can find it for $80 shipped online.

Also stopped at Bass Pro Shops and got a box of the Remington Core-Lokt for $25. How much does the Norma usually sell for?

What's the next step in quality for a 2-7 after the Elite 3200?
 
Check 24 hour campfire Forum classifieds. VXll Leupolds used for less than $260. I've bought and sold with those guys for years. Every one a good deal. I just bought a Leupold M8 4x today for $120 shipped. Can't go wrong with Leupold and lifetime guarrantee. That said I do have an Elite 3200 that I bought new past winter from Natchez Shooters supply for $135. Check their website. They always have deals. Nikons are a great scope too.
 
Wow, that's cool - what's the twist rate of your rifle? Is that a flat-based bullet? I've never heard of people going over 140s without having a 1 in 8 or 1 in 7.5 twist such as a military 96/94 swede.
Click to expand...

I have three Swedes. a 1900 Oberndorf M/96, a 1907 Carl Gustaf M/94-14 carbine and a 1943 Husqvarna M/38. The rifling twist on those girls are one turn in 200mm, so about 1 in 8in twist. They handle 139 grain up to 160 grain with no problem.

The later CG-63 target rifles had a one in 220 mm twist for lighter 139 grain (9 gram) boat-tails loaded hot for competition.

The 160 grain Hornady and the 156 grain Norma bullets are flat base. Out to 300 yards a flat base works just fine in the trajectory dept. The Hornady 160s will punch through a LOT of meat. Many a moose has dropped to a 156 or 160 grain 6.5 Swede load.
 

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I have used Swedes for over 30 years.

Favorite Factory: Norma 139 grain (too expensive)

Favorite Factory: Winchester SuperX 139 grain (reasonable at today's prices)

Favorite handload: 45 grains of 4350 with a 120 grain Nolser Ballistic Tip, Rem. 9 1/2 primers.
 
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