6.5x55 Swede for deer

[holahead]

I know I am going to sound like I don't know anything about guns when I ask this question so please don't laugh at me to hard. In the area I hunt most everybody uses 30.06 270 or 30-30 myself include When you are a young boy you start out with a 22 then when you get in your teens you start using 30.06 270 or 30-30 .Some folks might use something else but not that many. In the last year or so I started to get itch to be different. I have only read about the 6.5x55 Swede in gun books and really paid not much notice to the articles. When I got on Greybeard I saw alot about the 6.5x55 and it peaked my interest. So my question is would this be a good round for whitetail deer.Where I hunt most of the hunting is done over food plots. Our deer range in weight of 80 to 175 pounds.and most shots being any where from 10-100yards with every once in a while to around 200 but mostly under 100yards Also what is a good factory round.

[Buckfever]

It is a great caliber with light recoil and killing power beyond it's size.  It is getting some interest over here in the states but slowly because most of us don't get the metric system and perfer what every one else has.  Did I mention the fact that they are accurate as HELL!!!!  You can get ammo for them, I use Hornady 140gr for 18.00 a box but if you really want to optimize the capibility of the caliber reloading is necessary.  Because this caliber is over 100 years old the ammo companies don't want to put anything hot in a cartridge that could cause a problem in and old gun.  So if you want different, ability to take deer out to 300yds, accuracy, and
lay them down like they are hit by lighting this is maybe for you.  Tikka and CZ make some models that won't break the bank and shoot very well.  Also CZ makes this gun in a beautiful Full Stock, CZ 550FS.  Now we are really talking different and Retro beautiful.  I have one in a 9.3x62 and most hunters I am with ask me what it is.   Buckfever

[Cement Man]

Holahead,
Welcome aboard. I think you are considering a superb cartridge for whitetails.  It is one of my favorites for sure. I'd have to echo everything Buckfever said.  I also like the Hornady ammo, and I truly lust for one of those CZ 550FS rifles.  It would make a great rig for your purposes.  Good luck!

[nomosendero]

Yes, it is a very good Deer round, especially under the conditions you stated, about perfect. My wife
has used the round for the past 17-18 years with great results. She currently uses the Hor. Lt Mag
129 gr. load, I may load for her soon.

[257 roberts]

The Swede is as good as it gets deer,

[holahead]

Thanks for the info.  The rifle I was looking at was the C-Z 550FS I think I might have tostart saving some money up .

[hdj2520]

I have a Winchester 70 with controlled round feed that has become a favorite. It's varmint gun accurate and with a decent bullet and
proper placement, as is true of any round, it will amaze you. It's very popular in Europe, being a military round there and is a popular
moose killer with 156gr. Norma ammo.

[S.S.]

Next to the 7mm Mauser, I would put it as the best Military cartridge to be used
in sporting weapons. Flat shooting, Accurate, Plenty powerfull and very pleasant to shoot!
 

[smokepolehall]

As stated they're not a mag. or speedster. They are very good and bullets from 120 to 140 will take any deer that ever walked. They have sectional density , long for their size and penetrate like the big bores. I have 2 of them and its my big game rifle for anything in north america. Best way to go is a modern made rifle, it costs to much to sporterize the military rifles. Thats what i have Model 96 Infantry Swedish Mauser, 1899 and 1916. #1 bores. Had the 1916 one sporterized and 1899 is #'s matching original not Bubba'ed.

[Brithunter]

Hi There,

      Yep the 6.5 Swedish is an excellent round  I have two rifles chambered for it and both have been used for taking Deer.

Thanks for the info.  The rifle I was looking at was the C-Z 550FS I think I might have tostart saving some money up .

    The CZ rifles are also an excellent choice. I have an older model CA ZKK 601 in .308 which I brought Christmas Eve 1997 I swopped the set trigger for the std curved one as I prefer it's look and feel  I also cut away the square corner of the stock at the loading/ejection port to it's relived there and stripped off the varnish and applied a traditional Oiled Finish  In fact I was at therangewit it yesterday testing a new load (which is didn't like  ) but I also took a few rounds of the old load I use for hunting and it certainly likes them :-


The stray is from a Winchester 180 Grn Silver Tip wich this rifle does not like as it spread them across the target  .

    The rifle is standard regards bedding so it does not have a free floated barrel. How they stock up and bedd the 550's I have no idea. The 550 is the model made for the American market as for some reason they thought that the old 600 models didn't appeal to the US shooters 


This is my ZKK 601 you can see the bevelled loading port. This is the standard model which I prefered to the Deluxe which had a monte carlo stock and longer fore stock with wood cap.

[holahead]

Again thanks for all replys ya'll are really a big help with any questions. Brithunter that is one nice looking rifle and some good shooting.

[Brithunter]

Thankyou, the shooting was done prone using a sandbag atop a 7.62 ammo can so the forestock was supported. I have actually shot better groups with the 6.5x55 Swedish using this sporterised Swedish Mauser:-



  The other 6.5x55 rifle is an Mauser Oberndorf M96 Slide Bolt:-