Author Topic: Any experiance with 6.5x55? (Read 987 times)

dangerranger · « **on:** March 08, 2004, 08:17:02 PM »

I have a mauser in6.5 with a bad crown.Im thinking of shortining it , mounting a scope ,a new trigger,and maybe a new stock. anyone have any experiance with these on larger preditors? Before it was damaged it was a great shooter.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2004, 07:22:07 AM »

dangerranger

"I have a mauser in6.5 with a bad crown.Im thinking of shortining it , mounting a scope ,a new trigger,and maybe a new stock. anyone have any experiance with these on larger preditors? Before it was damaged it was a great shooter.[/quote]"

I have been using the 6.5x55 (and the 6.5-06 or 6.5-280) on varmints for years. I currently have two sporters in 6.5x55. One is a scout with a Leupold 2X. It is in a fiberglass stock, has a Timney trigger, converted to cock on opening and has the bolt handle forged. The other is a new surpluss military barrel I installed on a SR Mexican M98 action. It also is in a sporter stock but has a 3x9 Tasco World Class on it. Both are capeable of sub MOA with Sierra 100 HPs, Sierra 120 SPs, Nosler BTs and Hornady 129 and 140 SPs. The Sierra 100 HP is the only Varmint weight bullet I've used so far that holds together past 3,000 fps because of the fast twist. I have not tried the light BTs though.

The 100 HPs at 3235 fps will do a number on most any varmint up through large coyotes. The Sierra 120s are deadly also at 2926 fps on any varmint and are my usual choice as the they are zeroed for 225 yards with the 200 yard zero of the 140 SP. For deer and larger I prefer the Hornady 140 SP at 2710 fps. For the larger "preditors" the 140 SP will work fine.

Larry Gibson

dangerranger · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2004, 08:41:28 AM »

Thanks for the responce, in mill trim it would shoot sub moa with 140gr ammo. Im going to try lighter weight bullets as soon as its shortened.

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2004, 01:37:10 PM »

dangerranger,

Keep in mind that the lighter weight bullets designed for varmint hunting do not stabilize well in the military rifles. Also they have a strong tendency to ricochet(can be a problem if hunting around farm animals). My wife tried using her Swede and it didn't work all that well. Accuracy wasn't all that good. Now I am building her a .223 Remington for varmint use. Lawdog

dangerranger · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2004, 10:28:13 PM »

LD how light of a bullet would it shoot before accuracy fell off? If I can get it to shoot 120s Ill be happy. 100s would make me estacic.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2004, 09:14:05 AM »

dangerranger

"LD how light of a bullet would it shoot before accuracy fell off? If I can get it to shoot 120s Ill be happy. 100s would make me estacic.[/quote]"

Suggest you try the Sierra 120 SP. Work up to 44.5 gr of Varget. They run 2926 fps out of my Swede and shoot sub MOA.

With lighter varmint bullets with thinner jackets it is the fast twist that destabilizes or spins them apart. I found Hornady 100 SPs to shoot quite well up to 2950 fps but if you really want to get "estatic" get some Sierra 100 gr HPs and work up to 47 gr of Varget. They run 3235 fps out of my Swede and also shoot sub MOA.

Larry Gibson

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2004, 09:37:10 AM »

dangerranger,

From the military rifles I tried in the Swede a 120 grain bullet was about the lowest weight they would stabilize. Any lower weight and the groups would really open up. And for varmint use no 120 .264 bullet is considered a varmint bullet. Great for small deer. The 6.5mm Swede is a great cartridge with a great history of accuracy. It has been used with great success on deer size animals all the way up to and including moose. Varmints?? It was never designed for varmint use. Lawdog

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2004, 01:06:47 PM »

"Lawdog"

" And for varmint use no 120 .264 bullet is considered a varmint bullet. Great for small deer...... Varmints?? It was never designed for varmint use. Lawdog

[/quote]"

Got to disagree with you here. If you go back and double check Sierra's manuals you'll see they list the 120 gr SP as for varmints and light game. Have been shooting rock chucks and coyotes since '73 with various 6.5s using that bullet. They do a very effective job. They were designed for the smaller 6.5 cartridges to be effective on small deer at 2300 to 2400 fps. Push them up to 2900 (as the europeans do) in the 6.5 Swede and the 6.5x57 or up to 3200 fps in the 6.5-06 and they are deadly on Varmints.

The Speer, Remington and Winchester 120s were made for deer/antelope in the higher velocities of the 6.5 Remington and 6.5 Winchester magnums. They, as you say, were never designed for varmints and generally are poor performers at 6.5 Swede velocities on such.

Larry Gibson

Lawdog · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2004, 10:26:00 AM »

LMG,

Quote

If you go back and double check Sierra's manuals you'll see they list the 120 gr SP as for varmints and light game.

True they are listed for varmints and light game BUT when we tried different bullets for varmints in my wife's Swede they would ricochet. ANY bullet that tends to ricochet is not a bullet to be used for small varmints(such as Ground Squirrels and critters in the same size category). The very nature of the sport lends itself to bullets ricocheting due to the low trajectory of the shot to begin with. If a bullet does not fragment when it hits the ground then it is not a bullet suitable for varmint hunting in my book. I never found a .264 bullet that fragmented upon striking the ground everytime. It is for this reason I don’t consider ANY .264 caliber suitable for varmint hunting. Lawdog

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2004, 01:04:07 PM »

Lawdog

"True they are listed for varmints and light game .... BUT when we tried different bullets for varmints in my wife's Swede they would ricochet..... ANY bullet that tends to ricochet is not a bullet to be used for small varmints(such as Ground Squirrels and critters in the same size category). The very nature of the sport lends itself to bullets ricocheting due to the low trajectory of the shot to begin with. If a bullet does not fragment when it hits the ground then it is not a bullet suitable for varmint hunting in my book. I never found a .264 bullet that fragmented upon striking the ground everytime. It is for this reason I dont consider ANY .264 caliber suitable for varmint hunting. Lawdog

[/quote]"

My apologies, wasn't aware of your criteria for a "varmint" bullet when I responded to dangerranger. Can honestly say I don't recall shooting any ground squirrels with any of the 6.5 bullets I mentioned out of a Swede. Cast bullets yes, guess they ricochet too but where I shoot them that is not a problem. Then the .22LRs I shoot ground squirrels with don't fragment either....nor do the .32, .38, .41, .44 or .45 handgun cast bullets I shoot them with fragment, nor do the 210 or 275 gr cast bullet from my 45-70...come to think of it maybe very few of the bullets I shoot ground squirrels with "fragment on impact with the ground". Guess your right, none of them are "varmint" bullets either. The bullets I use in the .22 centerfires mostly do fragment and the ones my wife uses in her .243 do also. I'd probably bet money the 100 gr Sierra HPs at 3200 fps out of the 6.5 Swede would fragment when they hit the ground as they sure as heck do when they hit a rock chuck or coyote! Matter of semantics I guess unless we take what the manufacturer says they are and what they are used for at face value. As always, I respect your opinion but just disagree in this case.

Larry Gibson

dangerranger · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2004, 06:37:52 PM »

I had not thought of using it for ground squirls but more as an open country coyote gun. along the lines of the 243 rem. I am now using a 30 06 [hardly a varmit gun eather.]Most of the coyotes I shoot now are with a 12ga.