6.5x55 Factory loads for deer?

[bcraig]

Hi,I just picked up a sporterized 6.5x55 1896.
Barrel is about 24 inches long and stepped(original I guess)
never had one and and now I do!
Can someone with experience with these rifles tell me what I can expect from it on deer say to 200 yards and what are good factory loads(brand and grain wt)that will probly shoot good from the Military barrel and what kind of results you have had on game with the loads.
Ps It has a scope on it but it is a redfield mount and I want to change the mounts to Weaver original style rings.
Any idea what Weaver bases this would take ?
Thanks
Craig

[flinter54]

Bcraig,

Congratulations on your new acquisition. The 6.5 Swede is a fabulous cartridge and has a long and honored history in the big game arena.  I personally don't own one myself, however, I have customer that I have loaded 6.5 ammo for some time now.

In the arena of big game cartridges the 6.5 Swede is a pretty mild cartridge. What makes this caliber (.264) shine is its ability to push bullets with high Sectional Density at a moderate velocity. The higher the SD a bullet has, the greater penetration potential it has also. The .264 projectiles also have high ballistic coefficients as well, allowing them to better retain their velocity and energy as distance increases.
                                                                SD          BC     
For example:     .264 140gr Nosler Partition     .287       .509
                      .308 180gr Nosler Partition     .271       .474

                      .264 130gr Nosler Accubond   .266       .488
                      .277 130gr Nosler Accubond   .242       .433

So when compared to other caliber's popular bullet weights the 6.5mm (.264) is really pretty darn good. This combination of high SD's and BC's have been the reason moose hunters in Europe have used this cartridge for decades.

As for factory ammunition, I know there are offerings in 140 and some 130's. I'm not absolutely sure how light factory loading's go. As for reloading, you can shoot as light as 90 grain and as heavy as 160.

As great as any one cartridge may be, for it to work properly, shot placement is the key factor to harvesting game. So as long as you put the bullet where it needs to go, the Swede will clearly work for deer at 200 yards.

I know this was a long winded answer to one of your questions. I hope it shed some light on the 6.5, I'm sure you will really enjoy your new rifle.

Take Care.

Flinter54

[spruce]

Great rifle and cartridge.  Mine was made in 1906 by Carl Gustav.
Had the barrel shortened to 21", bolt handle turned down, and an older Bushnell 4X scope in Redfield mounts put on it.  Had it since the late 1980's I think and have taken maybe a dozen or a few more deer with it.
 
Most any brand of 140gr. ammo will do an excellent job on deer.  In the Scandanavian countries the 6.5X55 has been a favorite for moose hunting - for over a hundred years I'd guess!
 
Very pleasant cartridge to shoot and those model 96 Swedes were finely crafted rifles.  You'll like it.

[Paul358]

+1 on the 140gr factory stuff. If you handload I was using 129gr Hornady's over IMR4350.

[hillbill]

there may be no telling off hand what bases it may take. the smith that tapped may of used about anything he had on hand that could be made to fit.he mite of used a base that fit the contour of the reciever or milled some to fit.id take it to a good smith if you can find one and see if he can recognize the screw spaceing.

[mcwoodduck]

I have a plane jane 96 millatary.
I shoot the 140 grain Winchester soft points out of it and get good resuslts.
When I shoot the 131 Seller and Bellot (when I can find them) the bullets go exactly to poing of sight on the military sights.
Any of the projectiles would work on Deer.
 

[james]

I've tried Rem, Win, Privi, and Hotshot with 140 gr. bullets and all would be sufficient for a deer sized animal at 200 yards but I get more fps and better accuracy with reloads.  I've successfully taken deer and antelope with 120 to 140 gr bullets and one coyote with a 160 gr.  I could tell no difference in the lethality of the bullets.   My longest shot was 386 yards on an antelope with a 120 gr bullet and he dropped in his tracks.

[hillbill]

I've tried Rem, Win, Privi, and Hotshot with 140 gr. bullets and all would be sufficient for a deer sized animal at 200 yards but I get more fps and better accuracy with reloads.  I've successfully taken deer and antelope with 120 to 140 gr bullets and one coyote with a 160 gr.  I could tell no difference in the lethality of the bullets.   My longest shot was 386 yards on an antelope with a 120 gr bullet and he dropped in his tracks.

 you wont really reach the potentiol of the the 6.5 with factory loads.but it wont really matter. the long 140 grn bullet is a killer even at lower velocities in factory loads.if your bore is good the step barrel may shoot better than you can even tho its 100+ years old.

[BBF]

I bought by mailorder a Husky in 6.5x55 from an outfit in Quebec for over 500 bucks. The stock was awful, it wasn't bedded as a matter of act I don't think it was the original factory one. I found out that the barrel was shot out as well and I had it  replaced with a new in the white military step down barrel. By the time I added up the cost it came close to 1 K. The good side of that whole affair is that the rifle is an excellent shooter without an break in time for the barrel.. Since it is military it has a long chamber to accommodate the real pointy 140 gr BT's. Since my hunting range is short I've used the 160 gr Hdy RN in it.

[shot1]

As has been said most any of the factory ammo that is soft point will do you fine for deer. Stay away from the ammo with match bullets and FMJ for deer. Most factory ammo will run a 140 gr bullet around 2550 fps. The very best ammo is by Norma. It also cost the most. I hand load for all 5 of my 6.5X55 Swedes. One of the best deer killing bullets that I have used is the 120 gr Nosler ballistic tip and Norma loads this bullet to around 2800 fps and it is listed in the Midway catalog Product #306-004  $42.49 for 20 rounds. I have killed deer with 140 gr Sierra and Hornady Sp bulelts and 120 Sierra and Nosler BT bullets. They all get the job done very will. I would not change that Redfield base for a Weaver. Readfield is one of the most solid bases you can get. Plus if the person that drilled and tapped it did not do a perfect alinement job you may need the windage adjustment built in to the Redfield base with the back screws to get your scope lined up properly. By the way Burris, Leupold, Millett and Weaver all make rings that fit the Redfield bases.

[Mikey]

bcraig:  great round, excellent rifle.  Best factory ammo is Sellier and Bellot for mil-spec (140 gn) or hunting (131 gn soft point).  US ammo is crap, don't waste your $.  The 6.5 Swede will shoot through a whitetail out farther than you can probably hit it.  From a ballistic profile standpoint I equate the 131 gn .65 slug with the 180 gn 30 cal slug.  PRVI is also good ammo.  If you don't reload you may want to begin with the 6.5.  Leave the Redfield bases, they are better than the Weaver rail....  Good Huntin'.

[hillbill]

bcraig:  great round, excellent rifle.  Best factory ammo is Sellier and Bellot for mil-spec (140 gn) or hunting (131 gn soft point).  US ammo is crap, don't waste your $.  The 6.5 Swede will shoot through a whitetail out farther than you can probably hit it.  From a ballistic profile standpoint I equate the 131 gn .65 slug with the 180 gn 30 cal slug.  PRVI is also good ammo.  If you don't reload you may want to begin with the 6.5.  Leave the Redfield bases, they are better than the Weaver rail....  Good Huntin'.

yes weaver rail has no advantage over the redfield bases.
 
if you hunt with that gun much and i mean hunt and kill deer with it. it may become your favorite deer rifle if it shoots good.

[bcraig]

Hi ,thanks for all the information.
I really like the Weaver style better as I feel like they are not only lighter in weight but sturdier as well.
The rear mont doesnt really provide much in the way of sturdiness and about the only thing I like about it would be for a scope really out of line with the bore so I wouldn,t have to use up all the scope adjustment .
I also like being able to take the scope off and on, either in case of a scope failure I can put a pre mounted and sighted in one or just to change scopes for the heck of it and not have to worry too much that the scope will be way off. I find that easy with the weaver style.
Also if I decide to sell the rifle I can just take the scope off ,buy another pair of bases for the new rifle and use the existing rings.

But regardless thanks for everyones input !
Regards
Craig

PS does anyone know if there is a factory offering with either the 125 or 140 Partition ?

[Paul358]

Nosler has loadings with 140gr Accubomb

[bcraig]

I have a few boxes of the Hornady superperformance 140 Grain SST at 2750 FPS(for the 1896 Mauser) on their way plus a couple of boxes of Hornady 150 grain SST 7.65x53 at 2750 FPS(for an 1891 mauser) on their way and will report accuracy and hopefull performance this November deer season.
Thanks to all
Craig