Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 6.5 Swede for Plains Game

I'm going to RSA in May for Kudu, Gemsbok, wildebeast, impala and warthog. My primary rifle will be a Weatherby Ultralight in 30-06 shooting 150 grain Barnes TTSX, I was wondering if the Swede shooting 140 grain Nosler Accubonds would be a suitable back up rifle. This is my first trip to Africa. I have other rifles including a 7x57, 270 and 280. Thanks.

280 !

Sir, since your primary rifle will be the 30.06, I would say that you would be fine. I am inclined to agree that the 280 would be a better option for a backup than the 6.5. The fact that you will be chasing Kudu, Gemsbuck and Wildebeest is my main concern for the Swede. Can it be done, absolutely! Is it the best choice out of what you have available, certainly not.
Enjoy your safari, and hope to see some great photos from a successful trip.

Marius,

Have no fear hunting a good client with the 6.5 Swede shooting 140's. It's effectness seems out of proportion to the paper ballistics. You won't see a difference between the Swede and the .280. I've had great success in RSA with the Swede.

I wouldn't use if for eland, and I have witnessed gemsbok soak up the lead and move on, but they use that round in Scandanavia to take trucks loads of moose every year.

I agree with hatari about the Swede killing bigger than the numbers would indicate. A friend of mine kills moose most years with a Swede out to 250 yards or so, and he says they kill like lightning on thousand pound animals.

But it is his money and his hunt, so take the one he wants. All of them will work fine.

Good bullet in the right location equals dead animal.

A mate and I did a trip to Namibia a few years back and he took a Sako finnlight in 6.5x55 running 140AB's. He took kudu, oryx, red hartebeest, blesbok and multiple springbok and not one of them took a step after bullet impact.
Our ph hadn't seen one before and it made quite an impression on him.

Having said that, the bugger can shoot, he took one of the springbok at a lasered 290yds off sticks.

The 6.5 is a Killing Machine. Just remember African animals Vitals are a little farther forward. Also use a premium bullet!!! Have Fun

6.5 has been doing it for 100+ years, the animals are not any tougher!
However, If I was taking an '06, I'd opt for a second larger rifle, like a 375 H&H! Just because it's AFRICA!!!

Enjoy!!

I have killed a plains game with a 6.5x55, all one shot kills, except for the Eland that took three equally fatal hits before it gave up.

Would a Ruger Alaskan do?

I've used the .30-'06 with 180-grain Hornady Interlockeds to cleanly kill over fifty head of plains game. Never found it lacking in any respect.

When in doubt, use the .30-'06 and you will be totally satisfied.

Note: The 6.5 Swede is a fabulous round and I've killed lots of deer/elk with it, but it is less, way less, than the .30-'06 with equally good bullets. And I apologize for that.

God Bless,

Steve

I've had quite a few hunters bring the 6.5, and they do work great. I've had a lady take a Kudu with a 25.06.
I still prefer my hunters to pack a little more than 6.5mm on something like. Kudu,Gemsbuck or Wildebeest.
Like i said, can it be done, absolutely, but I see many calibers listed by the OP that will pack a little more heat than the 6.5

I'm sure Marius has seen his fair share of hunters using lighter than recommended calibers and making spectacular kills with them.
...I'm also willing to bet that he has seen more than his fair share of hunters who couldn't shoot well (for whatever reason: lack of skill, poor eyesight, poor range judgement, etc). and put a bullet of marginal caliber in a less than perfect spot and loose that animal. Would it have been better with a larger caliber/bigger round? Maybe...

The 6.5 is a great round; have one myself,and I love it. But I think that there are better choices out there for large African game, and the fact that there are so many different species of different sizes and weights that one might run into, I'd rather be overgunned than undergunned.
If the O.P. can't afford another rifle, or is just plain bent on taking that 6.5, I think I would recommend that he load up with premium bullets, practice, and choose his shots carefully.

OP was asking about taking the 6.5 as a back up to his '06.

I don't believe I'd do that, but it's his safari - so have at it!

Agree, agree. For me, the 9.3 x 62 and 6.5 Swede are a great combo to safari with. I suppose that is just the oddball .375 H & H and .30-06 idea, but it works for me!

Thanks guys, I have decided to go with the 280 as my back up shooting 140 grain Barnes TTSX.

You should be fine.

Don't listen to me, as I am a Looney here, but I would personally prefer the 6.5 as my primary, call my nuts. Less than the 06 and 280? Sure, on paper, and perhaps in less than ideal situations. I would assume a guide is on hand, that would be my "back-up" and I would pick my shots and lay low my intended game using good bullets thru vitals.

A 6.5 will have a narrower would channel thru game than say a larger 30 cal, yet penetrate they will. A 140 Partition, Accubond or similar, (in a handload or factory that gives +/- 2700 fps will dig deep and I cannot imagine any game animal properly hit, survive. Just me.

The adage use enough gun definitely applies, especially on African game, but to my thinking, proper bullets with proper shooting skills is what gets bullets to and thru vitals. That is the bulk of the task at hand IMHO. Now on dangerous game, quick stopping power by bullets of high caliber, mass, energy may be much preferred.

In the end, Confidence shores up shooting skill, proper bullets thru vitals usually takes care of the rest. Use what you have confidence in. Nothing wrong with a 9.3 or 338/06, some would even choose a 338 Win Mag or 375 H/H but my shooting would suffer as recoil goes up. Others, vary.

Best of success on the trip and safe hunting Enjoy!!

As you're talking about a backup rifle, rather than a second rifle intended for a different purpose than your -06, IMO the backup should be effectively similar in terminal ballistic efficacy as the primary rifle.

Any of the cartridges you mentioned, with the appropriate bullet weight and construction, are functionally equivalent for the range of PG you mentioned.

I would have no hesitation to use a 6.5x55, with modern loads and a bonded or monolothic 140 grain bullet for all the PG you intend to shoot - either as a backup or a primary rifle. Straight line penetration is important for killing power and few of the cartridges you're considering, including the -06 with 180s, is likely to outperform the 6.5 with 140s in that task.

Finn Aaggard did a penetration test years ago, the Swede/140 PTs hung with many good rounds, including well stoked '06....