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Author Topic: 6.5 mm caliber rifles  (Read 1758 times)

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Offline thumbcocker

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6.5 mm caliber rifles
« on: April 25, 2006, 03:26:55 PM »
The other day at a gun shop I got a chance to see some 6.5 mm 160 gr. hornady bullets. Pretty impressive looking. Do any of you fellas have any on game experience with these bullets?
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2006, 03:47:20 PM »
I think they are a little to much bullet in the 6.5 for deer.  Over penetration (lack of judgement) could be a problem.  One of my brothers killed two bucks with one shot using the 6.5, 160 grain Hornaday.  Bullet penetrated both bucks killing both with the one shot.
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Offline Golsovia

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« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2006, 06:59:26 PM »
I used the Hornady 160 last year on caribou. This is one which end-for-ended one (chest to ham):



I think this one parachuted - flipped around- judging from the flow of the jacket mushroom and dent in the heel. The rifle was a Swede M70. It punched through the gut though which, on caribou anyway, can be a rather substantive mass in winter when they graze on lichen. Several other were pass-throughs.
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Offline Mikey

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« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2006, 02:17:42 AM »
I used that bullet from a 6.5mm Carcano in Colorado 40 years ago to cull herds while working for the State and it would overpenetrate.  It would bust right on through heavy bone and keep going.  If you are hunting critters smaller than Moose, Elk, Bear or Boar you can effectively use a 129 - 140 gn bullet.  If you want to hunt those big guys then load up the 160 gn heavyweights for the 6.5.  JMHO.  Mikey.
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Offline smokepolehall

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« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2006, 06:40:29 AM »
Best i can tell you is like the rest. Its use would be for very big and stout game. I use 120gr. Speer hot cor bullets for deer and they are very good.
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Offline thumbcocker

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« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2006, 09:39:13 AM »
Thanks for all the info guys. I have a chance to buy a swede and I imagine it has the twist for the heavier bullet. Penetration with this bullet really sounds impressive.
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Offline Siskiyou

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« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2006, 02:23:01 PM »
My brother give me a sporterized 6.5 Swede.  One shot, one buck.  I was impressed.  The bullet was 140 grain Nosler PT.
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Offline smokepolehall

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« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2006, 02:29:40 PM »
I have 2 model 96 Swed's and they have the 1 to 7 1/2 twist. They shoot 120gr. bullets and up great. I save the big heavy bullets fer big game, if i ever get to hunt it.
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Offline Slamfire

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« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2006, 07:36:39 PM »
In the words of Ross Seyfried, "The 160 grain bullets can expand, fly apart, expand again, and still be longer than other bullets safe in their boxes".  :wink:
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Offline muskeg13

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« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2006, 08:28:31 PM »
A few years ago I shot a Swedish fallow deer, about the size of a nice whitetail, with a 6.5x55 using a handloaded 156 gr Norma Vulkan bullet.  It was probably overkill.  Of course the bullet sailed right on through and wasn't recovered, but the deer dropped in his tracks like he'd been electrocuted.  I hunted quite a bit in Norway at the time, and the 6.5x55 was highly regarded.  In fact, I think most Norwegian moose are still taken with 6.5 bullets.
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Offline Brithunter

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« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2006, 08:19:53 AM »
Hi All,

    Yes I have used the Honady 160 Grn bullet in a sporterised Swedish mauser with 20" barrel. A rather hot load was used as it proved accurate and I shot a Roe Doe at about 90 yards from a tree stand. The Doe weighed about 35 lbs and the bullet expanded nicely from the size of the exit wound, she spun round 180 degrees and dropped on the spot, however the exit side shoulder was bloodshot  :?  so I have not used the load again on Roe. However my friend the gamekeeper had a client from Sweden who used the 6.5x55 Swede and factory Sako 156 Grn ammo to shoot some Muntjac which are smaller than Roe. A mature muntjac weighs about 25 lbs and the 156 grn bullet worked very well.

    Yes it will penetrate right through and a suitable backstop is called for. As normal good hunting practice we should all be aware of what is behind our "target" so the fact that the bullet carries on through is, or should, not be a problem. Never should a shot be taken with other beasts behind the target one even using light bullets like the 100 grn 6.5mm ones you will get complete penetration a lot of the time and for safeties sake it should be expected.

    Oh Sierra also make a 160 Grn 6.5mm bullet  :grin:  as yet I have not gotten around to trying them out. It's another planned thing to do this year.
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Offline Golsovia

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« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2006, 06:44:21 PM »
Hopefully you have a few of those fine Sierra 160s set aside if you plan to try them. To the best of my knowledge, they are no longer being made.
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Offline Brithunter

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« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2006, 12:17:50 AM »
Oh darn it no only the one box  :roll:  :oops:  I didn't buy anymore as I was not enomoured with Sierras performance after a 180 Grn PH bullet came apart at about 90 yards on a 35 lb Roe Doe from my .308. It was a mida range load taken from Hodgdons #26 manual and I was using Rel 15 powder. The Sierra 160 intrersted me as it has more lead exposed than the Hornady and a friend in the US told me to give them a try.

Now I only buy Sierras if I cannot get Hornady or Speer, or unless it's such a steal of a deal. But you say they perform very well?

  Oh well I will ask around and see if someone has some still in stock  :?  :wink:
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Offline CyberSniper

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« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2006, 05:55:33 PM »
Just checked the Sierra web site, and they still list the 160 grain bullet.
Seems they are out of stock right now though.
If they had stopped making it, I don't think it would still be listed.
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Offline j two dogs

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« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2006, 07:01:35 AM »
I use two bullets in 6.5 swede 129 gr. horn. and 125 gr nosler partion both shoot moa out of my mauser. Tried some 100 gr. ballistic tips guess the twist would not stabilize they did not shoot well.
Seems I heard several years ago that some game officials in Africa were using 160 gr. 6.5's full metal jacket for brain shots on culled elephant bulls.
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Offline kudzu

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« Reply #15 on: May 14, 2006, 01:11:17 PM »
I won a 350 rem (rem673) at a NRA dinner. Trades it for the 300remsaum. That was the only two cal. offered at the time. Shortly after that they introed the 6.5rem mag. Wish I hada waited.
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Offline S.S.

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« Reply #16 on: May 18, 2006, 05:38:08 AM »
I have found in the two 6.5's that I have, Accuracy
drops off severly with anything over 120 grains.
Both love the 100 grain Ballistic tip at about 2600 fps.
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Offline thumbcocker

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« Reply #17 on: May 18, 2006, 07:02:13 AM »
What about that 160 in a 260 remington?
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Offline Slamfire

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« Reply #18 on: May 19, 2006, 04:36:27 PM »
Quote from: thumbcocker
What about that 160 in a 260 remington?


Given Remington's 9 inch twist you might be on the ragged edge of unstable with the 160s. I can't think of a use for any thing over 140 though, and the 129s just might be the best all around.
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Bold talk from a one eyed fat man.

Offline thumbcocker

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« Reply #19 on: May 20, 2006, 03:35:24 AM »
Slamfire, thanks for the info. The 160 looks really impressive though. A guy ought to have a rifle to shoot it.
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