Making the most of the 6.5 Swede

[buzz meeks]

Hello. I think we can all agree that the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser is not, first and foremost an elk round. That is the domain of the .338 and .340 and 8mm Magnums, among others. But the 6.5x55's history speaks for itself. It, and cartridges like it- 6.5x54MS, 7x57- have been used for over a century to harvest large critters- American elk, Scandanavian moose, African plains game. To argue that the little 6.5 cannot work in that role is pointless. My wife and I have both used our Kimber-sporterized M96 to take a small number of deer. It kills decisively and true to its reputation, the round just penetrates.

This year I may hunt elk for the first time in several years. I have a 45-70 that is perfect for one heavily timbered area where I may go. But there is another spot on the Rocky Mountain Front where long shots are possible. Because I am (for now) an indifferent elk hunter, I don't want to rush out and buy a dedicated "elk rifle". So I'm wondering what you guys would do to maximize the old Swede's abilities.

I am thinking that inside 200 yards I will take most any shot- broadside, raking or frontal. I would be willing to take a shoulder shot at that moderate range. No shots at an elk's butt at any range. Beyond 200 yards or so I will stick to broadside and stay away from the shoulder. I will draw the line at 300. Sound reasonable?

Also, what bullets do you like? I've never played with the 160s. Are they so much better that I should learn to live with their trajectory? Or do you like a premium 140? My Kimber will do a minute and a half with Noslers. I can get 140s to 2700 fps with no pressure signs and could probably go a bit higher with fresh Norma or Lapua brass and the right powders.

By the way, I more or less live where I hunt. This is not a once in a lifetime deal. A fourteen dollar over the counter tag and twenty bucks in gas and I'm in business. If I have to pass up on a large but distant bull because I "only" have a 6.5 Swede I can live with myself in the morning.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Wildalaska]

Go for it!

I think a 140 grain Nosler would at 2700 fps will kill anyhting in the US planet if shot placement is right....( I carried one last year and bear country and didnt feel undergunned, tho I wasnt bear hunting)

Or even better, get some of those Norma 156 grainers and work up a load for those...

And since your swede probably shoots MOA, shoot it in the head..

WildlovestheswedeAlaska

 

[Snowdog]

As most know, the geriatric 6.5x55 lacks in the paper credentials department, but most also know it's got some magic mojo going on. I've always held the 6.5x55 in high esteem and can't perceive it being inadequate for large game such as elk, considering the proper placement is there. I'll echo the words above and say "go for it". Be sure to give us a field report after you harvest your elk.

 

[buzz meeks]

Let's hope I have a report to give, Snowdog. It seems strange to even talk elk hunting when the weather here in Montana is still springlike. And yet the early season hunt in the Bob Marshall starts in early September. Right around the corner...

Thanks for the words of encouragement, by the way. Anyone else?

 

[cracked butt]

You don't need a superduperwhizzbangultrashortmagnum to kill an elk. They used to hunt them with 30-30s. Last time I checked, a .308 will still kill them. If a .308 can kill them, a 6.5x55 certainly can.

 

[cracked butt]

ntxt

 

[MLC]

I'm planning on using my x55 with some 160g sierras on white tail.
We have a crop damage permit.
I'll post any results that I find.
What twist rate do you have in your kimber?

 

[buzz meeks]

My Mauser still has the original barrel so it's 1 in 7.5 inch or thereabouts. Despite the fast twist, it still shoots 85 and 100 grain bullets as well as it shoots 140 grainers.

 

[MLC]

Mine is a 1/8 or 1/8.5 and the best shooting bullets I've found so far are the Sierra 160's.
I had decent results with the Hornady 160's but the Sierras were awesome.
I shot two .75" 5 shot semi rapid fire(without letting the barrel cool between shots) groups out of my CZ 550 last time I was at the range.
I'm hoping for the deer to line up side by side.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

One of my Swedes is a Bubba Kimber 96. Not too bad for what I have in it, money-wise. I hear say that the Swede hunters over there take about a half million moose critters with that caliber per year. Their moose are somewhat smaller than their North American cousins, but certainly no smaller than a good elk is in your woods.

I think anything 140 grains or up with a good partition bullet will dig a deep hole in the engine compartment and bring one down. You should do just fine.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[MLC]

The doe I got this evening gave a glowing review on the humane, in capacitating effects of the Sierra 160g RN.
It was very close(35 yards or so) and the bullet made an oval entry wound due to the angle at which she was standing.
It carved a 1" furrow through the shoulder meat and knocked about 2-3" of ribs out.
She didn't bleed much, probably because the bullet went through her stomach and plugged the hole. I found stomach contents coming out of her shoulder and the thorax was filled with it.
I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an Elk with that bullet.

 

[mete]

6.5x55 is the minimum cartridge for moose in sweden as I understand.They recommend a 160 gr bullet and a premium one at that. You need the penetration and of course your mauser has the twist that will stabilize the 160.

 

[sumpnz]

There always the 140gr Barnes X bullets . "They" say that you usually need a lighter X bullet than what you would choose if going with a traditional jacketed lead core bullet. So, these might just do the job for even fairly large elk. I have no personal experience however, so take this for whatever it's worth.

 

[Jaywalker]

As I understand it, the Scandinavian (Swedish?) minimum is a 139 grain bullet (as expressed in grams). I don't expect to use anything heavier than 140 g in mine - standards for deer, and superbullets of one variety or another if I need more penetration than for deer. I'd prefer to stay with spire-point bullets for all of my needs, and my impression is that all of the 160 are round-nose...

Jaywalker

 

[buzz meeks]

Jaywalker- you bring up a good point. Are there any 160s that are spitzers or anywhere close? The Sierra 160 SMP looks more aerodynamic than the Hornady but I don't have any numbers handy.

Wildalaska- do you know the ballistic coefficient on the heavy Norma bullet? Have you ever used them?

The 160s are appealing for my purposes. There is just such a big leap in sectional density even though there's only twenty grains difference. But the 140s retain more velocity so perhaps it's a wash past two hundred yards?

MLC- the last whitetail I shot with my 6.5 also had a two to three inch exit wound like you describe. The bullet was a Speer HotCore 140 at 2600 fps. The entry wound was nothing special but on exit, the bullet centered one rib and shattered it and also broke the ribs on either side. Range was about seventy-five yards on a medium sized buck.

 

[Wildalaska]

I dont know the BCs of the Normas, all I shoot is match kings

WildnofountofknowledgeAlaska

 

[buzz meeks]

Do you use those Matchkings on game? I only ask because I know of one or two hunters here in MT who ignore Sierra's warnings to the contrary and use the MK on cow and spike elk. Probably not my first pick but I am curious.

 

[MLC]

That description was actually the entry wound, the exit was a neat hole in her side.
I think that the angle I hit her at dragged a good bit of surrounding tissue off.
I hit her behind the front right leg, just below the shoulder blade and the bullet exited 4-6" in front of her left hip.
I plan on trying the 140's and 120's but have little use for their ballistic advantage since most of my shots are 50-75 yards.

 

[Wildalaska]

Do you use those Matchkings on game

Nope killed my last thing with a 338 win mag Federal Premium 250 Nosler...

Last bear trip (unsucessful) used 303 Jungle Carbine, generic 180 grain sps...

If I do a Swede this year I have a box of Norma or 140 Grand slams...

WildthematchkingsareforpaperAlaska

 

[buzz meeks]

I take Sierra at their word on the MK. When they say do not use it on game, I think they mean it. I did however run into two gentlemen in the northwest part of the state who claimed to use the 155 MK on elk. Of course they also claimed to make 800 yard kill shots with regularity. Right.

 

[MLC]

I think the sectional density of the 155 SMK would make it quite a killer.
I wouldn't use a match king personally but I'm sure with good placement they are effective.

 

[M67]

As I understand it, the Scandinavian (Swedish?) minimum is a 139 grain bullet (as expressed in grams).

According to Norwegian regulations 9 grams (138.9 grains) is the minimum bullet weight for big game, regardless of caliber. With a bullet weight between 9 and 10 (154 grains) grams the minimum energy requirement is 2700 joules (1991 foot pounds) measured at 100 meters. With a bullet over 10 grams, the energy requirement is 2200 joules (1623 foot pounds) at 100 meters.

I don't know the Swedish... scratch that, I did a search. For big game they have the same requirements, except that they only need 2000 joules at 100 m for bullet weights over 10 grams.

Roe deer, a bit smaller than your white tail, is not big game, it's in the same class as beaver, lynx and wolverine with a minimum requirement in Sweden of 50 grain bullet and 800 joules at 100 m, in Norway 980 joules at 100 m with no weight requirement.

Expanding projectiles are mandatory.

Rabbit, half a million is a bit much, but at a guess I would say that maybe 50,000 moose are taken with the six-and-a-half in Norway and Sweden combined. The only two calibers to compete with it for "most popular moose cartridge" are the .308 and .30-06. Smaller numbers of moose are taken with every other big game cartridge you've heard of, and probably a few others.

I read somewhere about a Swedish study of a significant number of moose shot with a variety of cartridges, and the distance covered by animals after they were shot, was shorter for the 6.5x55 than for any other caliber, including the various magnums. Sorry, I don't have a source, and in any case it was in Swedish.

I don't think our moose is much smaller than the North American ones. It's the same species, just local variations. The size varies a bit in different parts of Scandinavia too, depending on population density, hunting policy and such.

I don't know if this is of interest, but that's the bureaucratic side of it anyway.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

M67, thank you for the correction. My reference for that number was 20 years out of date and came from an American gun magazine which I believe is no longer published.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Jaywalker]

M67,

Yes, thanks, that's very interesting. I've read references to the study, but have never seen a transliteration. If you ever come across one, please post it.

Jaywalker