Author Topic: Your thoughts on the 6.5X55 Swedish (Read 2058 times)

nasem · « **on:** September 20, 2006, 10:42:11 AM »

Since I sold my bushmaster a while back, I been trying to find me a replacement caliber that will be good for varmints AND occasionally used on white tails & boar. I wanted 243 win in a tikka stainless BUT..... I decided that I wanted to add an "odd ball" cartridge in my collection and get a non-american round.

What are your thoughts on this round? I do think its way over kill for those poor little woodchucks lol but hey, oh well.

spinafish · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2006, 10:48:19 AM »

well, IMHO with a 6.5 Swede one doesn't need a .243 Win, a 6mm/.244 Rem., a .257 Roberts Or Roberts IMP,or a .260..or a 6.8 SPC or a .270 Winchester...especially if you are a reloader..the range of bullet weight available are unbellievable and a reloader can upgrade his ammo from rather sedate factory rounds.It can pretty much do it all..with proper bullets and bullet placement of course..

Wynn · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2006, 12:34:05 PM »

It is my #1 "go to" caliber for coyote, bobcat, feral dogs, whitetail and hog. I have rifles I have never even carried to the woods in calibers from 223 to 300 mag but the 6.5 Swede is the workhorse in my battery. My job entails occasional use of a rifle to eleminate varmints due to depradations on the properties I oversee. My custom Swede Mauser lives in the truck because it gets the job done every time.

TC2 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2006, 04:22:06 PM »

I'm sold. I did a lot of research on the 6.5x55 before buying my encore this year. It is great. I have an encore Stainless 22" barrel. The low recoil means that I can shoot all day with out geting a sore shoulder. Practice makes perfect. I feel very cofident that it will hit where I point it. It gets sub MOA at 100 yards. There are lots of bullet possibilities. If you look at the ballistics the 6.5x55 stands right up there with the 308 etc. I have a 308 Ruger and a Vanguard 270, love them both. But I will be hunting with the 6.5x55 this fall.

crow_feather · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2006, 04:24:43 PM »

I also have a swede custom 6.5 that was made for me by a gunsmith from Brownells. I had it until my wife shot her 5/8 inch group and declared it her personal hunting rifle. It has done her well over the years and is close to having it's 100 th birthday. The Swedes made one great caliber and rifle. Sort of an 06 without the weight and loud bang.

C F

nasem · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2006, 04:45:50 PM »

I appreciate all your comments guys~
Only problem Im having so far with the 6.5X55 is I can't find a good modern stainless steel bolt gun. Tikka makes one but they dont' import it to USA

they only made the hunter (but its blued

)

anyways, I'll keep begging beretta for one, maybe they'll ship one for me

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2006, 03:36:48 AM »

The 6.5x55 will make your other rifles gather dust.

USMC0332 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2006, 04:05:56 AM »

CZ makes some nice rifles in that caliber, but I don't see any stainless ones on their website. I think this is a sharp looking rifle. http://www.czusa.com/product_detail.php?id=17

dobk · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2006, 09:02:54 PM »

I found a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 6.5x55 at Walter Craig in Montgomery, AL. Don't know if they have any more.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2006, 03:49:26 AM »

Quote from: Sweet 6.5 on September 22, 2006, 03:36:48 AM

The 6.5x55 will make your other rifles gather dust.

Now if it would make them vacuum, cook and mop the floors I'd have to have one!

Swampman · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2006, 03:33:34 PM »

It seems ok if the game isn't bigger than a whitetail.

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2006, 05:46:00 PM »

Hey, Swampman, you're fun'n with us, aren't you? Tens of thousands of Scandinavians probably think their "elg" (our moose) run a mite larger than whitetails. The 6.5X55 is used by more Swedes, Finns and Norweigans than any other cartridge to put their annual moose in the freezer.

Rifle magazine ran an interesting study conducted by a DNR project in Norway (I think). The research compared data on what cartridge was used on literally tens of thousands of moose harvests, how far the moose traveled after the shot and how many times it was shot. The study concluded that given proper shot placement (read, heart/lungs), there was no meaninful difference between the lowly 6.5X55 and much larger cartridges. It's not magic. It 's just that the higher than normal sectional density of 6.5 bullets combined with quality bullet construction and moderate velocity works very well on game-even game that is much larger than whitetail deer.

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2006, 04:19:09 AM »

nasem: get yourself a 6.5 Swede and you won't ever look back. This cartridge is one of those phenomenal critters that is a killer beyond all proportion. It is a 'wide use' cartridge that is good for varmit, whitetail, bear, boar, Elk and Moose. It penetrates almost beyond comprehension. It shoots through critters that you wouldn't expect would be shot through by a 6.5mm slug. It is also an easy shooting cartridge that doesn't wear you out on the range. HTH. Mikey.

nifty · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2006, 04:51:46 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on September 24, 2006, 03:33:34 PM

It seems ok if the game isn't bigger than a whitetail.

Swampman - I'm not sure what a whitetail is, but if it's compared to a 6 foot, 180-200 pound kangaroo and is standing anywhere between 300 to 500 yards away, and in the sights of my 1927 6.5x55 sweder, then your right "it's OK". I've been using mine for some 25 years and I can't find it's equal as an "all rounder" on game from a roo down to a goat - and anything in between!

Swampman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2006, 11:31:12 AM »

Pretty amazing considering the bullet weight and velocity. Must be magic.

Slamfire · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2006, 05:22:40 PM »

I've had two, a 94 carbine I traded away in a fit of stupidity, and a 96 that just couldn't be made to shoot less'n 4" groups. I have had extensive 6.5 experience though, and my present one is a rebored, and throated .243, labeled .263 Express, which is probably the first iteration of the .260 Remington. None of the others 6.5x57, 6.5x55, or even the .256 Newton have better ballistics, and it does better'n most with the 129 Hornady bullet, which is my rifle's favorite.

Even so in a modern rifle there ain't none better!

wareagleguy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 26, 2006, 03:04:27 PM »

Got a new CA last week. So far Federal ammo shoots better than anything I have reloaded for it.

I sure would like any reloaders out there to give me some hand rolls you use

S.S. · « **Reply #17 on:** September 27, 2006, 09:24:24 AM »

If there ever was an almost perfect all around
medium to big game cartridge made, I would have to say it
would be the 7mm Mauser. I would place the 6.5 Swede
just below it. Being second to the 7mm Mauser is a grand achievement.
I never fell into the Magnum-Mania trap, If a cartridge does its job,
I see no need for anything bigger. The 6.5 does it's job Well !

Swampman · « **Reply #18 on:** September 27, 2006, 11:23:15 AM »

I'm a huge fan of the .30-06 and the 7.62 NATO.

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #19 on:** September 28, 2006, 02:54:00 AM »

No arguments from me on those two, Swampman. They're terrrific!

Mikey · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2006, 02:58:14 AM »

Swampman - the 'magic' to the 6.5 Swede is that the bullet is long for the bore (or at least that's what I think the magic is). As such they are incredibly accurate and used quite often in Europe for match guns. I forget who makes them but 6.5x55 match ammo is available. Many shooters prefer the 6.5 over the 308 for its long range accuracy. In addition, the penetrability of the 6.5 is very well known and as a result it is favored by many as a big game caliber.

Whitetail are no contest with a 6.5. The Swedes and the Norwegians (sp?) use it for moose and elk. I'm thinking about taking mine on my next elk hunt. Also good for bear and boar. JMHO. Mikey.

Buckfever · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2006, 03:24:55 AM »

Just was at the range with my 6.5x55 T3 Tikka. It is my favorite carry gun because if size, weight, killing power and light recoil and extremely accurate. This is just a great firearm!!! Buckfever

fordisto · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2006, 05:12:52 AM »

Winchester makes the Model 70 Featherweight in a stainless configuration in the 6.5. It has a walnut stock. It is a beautiful rifle if you can find one. I got the only one I had ever seen last February.

nomosendero · « **Reply #23 on:** September 28, 2006, 04:15:47 PM »

My Wife has used the 6.5X55 for many years, & it has done great! Out to at least 300 yards it will take any White Tail or Mule Deer
that walks. It is a fact that the Scandinavians use it for Moose more than any other round, I would use a bigger round personally, but it obviously will work for big stuff up close.

Sectional Density takes all of the mystery out of this. The Sectional Density of a 140 6.5 is .287 & the Sectional Density of a 190 Gr.
30 cal. is .286, virtually identical. Therefore a 140 6.5 will out penetrate a 180gr. 30cal. bullet of the same const. & fired at the same velocity, & this is why the 6.5X55 will take any size Whitetail or Mule Deer at medium ranges & actually a little further with the right bullet.

And the S.D. of a 160gr. 6.5 is .283 & the 220 Gr. 30 cal. is .331, so they are in the same ballpark, this explains how the 6.5 will penetrate a Moose at close ranges.

Nasum, this will be a great choice for Deer & Antelope. For Long range shooting, I would rather have more powder in the 6.5 like a 6.5-06 or bigger, but you did not ask about that. It will do what most people require out of a Deer rifle. For varmits, you have the excellant 100 Bal. Tip at about 3,200 & other good Varmit bullets, it can serve you well.

I have other choices that I think are a little better for your application, but you will not go wrong.

For Hogs, I would use a good 140 gr. soft point or lighter if you use a TSX or possibly a 125Gr. Part.

I killed a 300# Boar with my Wife's 6.5X55 with a conventional 120 gr. bullet, this was deep in South AR. Swamp country. I am
convinced he died quickly because he was too far back in the sticks to gain access to any gun magazines!

RLB · « **Reply #24 on:** September 29, 2006, 03:38:29 PM »

Some of the volicities yall quote are alot faster then factory loads...do you really have to hotrod this load for it to be usefull.?? I know my 7X57 factory loads are pretty anemic so reloading is a must unless you can afford norma ammo...

RLB.....

I have paid alot of attention to this caliber I don't need one but would like a tikka t3 in 6.5 swiss...that combination seams to go together well...

Brithunter · « **Reply #25 on:** October 01, 2006, 11:54:56 AM »

Quote

I know my 7X57 factory loads are pretty anemic so reloading is a must unless you can afford norma ammo...

Hmmm I suppose that Bell didn't really kill all them Elephants with the 7x57 and the 173 grain RN bullets back prior to WW1. Those bullets were travelling around about 2300 fps out of a M93 Mauser. Yes sure in the M98 or a modern action they can be loaded hotter but the Mauser made it's name using the old RN 173 grain bullets at moderate pressures

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** October 01, 2006, 12:13:02 PM »

I don't think brain shots with FMJ ammo tells us much about the killing power of the 7X57. I'd bet that more elephants are killed now days by the 7.62X39 from SKSs than all other rounds combined. POS .303 Enfields are commonly used as well.

I like the 7X57 and it's little brother. They are suitable for deer sized game if you compare them to all the commonly used deer cartridges they come in on the lower side. I shot a small deer recenty with the 7-08.

one eye joe · « **Reply #27 on:** October 02, 2006, 04:33:23 PM »

If you reload, it is a .25/06 with 100-120 grain bullets, a 7/08 with 130-140 grain bullets, and a never ending penetrater with 160 grain bullets. Can't thik of a better round for most uses.