Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Youth 6.5x55 Load for Blacktail?

I'm trying to decide what to load for my 11 year old son's first outing for blacktail. His rifle is a Model 70 in 6.5x55 that has been cut to fit him.

I'm thinking either the 100 grain partition at its normal velocity, or, a reduced load 140 grain Accubond. I can do the 60% rule on H4895 for the 140's.

Thoughts?

What a lucky young man to have a M70 Featherweight in 6.5x55 for his first hunt. The Swede is such a versatile cartridge and mild in recoil. I have not down loaded it but any starting load for a lighter bullet should serve him well. I use mostly 120 to 140 grain bullets but the 100 partition should not disappoint. Any of these starting loads will run the 100 grain at 2,800 to 2,900 fps. Recoil will be like or slightly less than a 243. https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/65x55-swedish-mauser/

At these reduced velocities a premium bullet is certainly not required and I think performance actually would be better with a more conventional bullet. The Nosler Ballistic tip would do well or even better than the Accubond at reduced velocities. Although I shoot a lot of premium bullets at deer I can't help but ask myself why? A more conventional bullet would actually perform better or at least produce faster kills than a premium especially at reduced velocities.

If you still want a premium bullet the 129 grain Nosler ABLR has done well for me short or far. It expands down to around 1,600 or 1,800 fps so would work well at reduced velocities. One of the 4350s would send this down range at a respectable 2,800 fps with a starting load and no deer would complain over the results.

Just don't let the young man develop a flinch. Shoot rim fires and then maybe even a more reduced load for the 6.5. Let him try the hunting load with a shoulder patch and if any adverse reactions at all stop immediately. Let him dry fire and then shoot a pip squeak load and hold off on the hunting load until time to hunt.

When I was eight years old I shot my hand loads in a Savage 243 with a really rough pot metal pad. My shoulder had an almost bloody bruise after about a 100-150 rounds and I developed a flinch that took a damn long time to over come. This was really counter productive.

The 120 grain ballistic tip started around 2800 FPS is a very effective deer killer with mild recoil.

He has shot a lot of rimfire and I'm just now moving him into centerfire. We will be headed to Kodiak this fall and he might be able to get a reasonable distance shot. I won't let him take a shot much longer than 100 yards because we haven't practiced enough.

I was thinking of the 140 AB because I have a large supply of them. I may see if there are some 100 PT's available.

Either should work, but my oldest started with the concept of a standard weight bullet at 30-30 speeds. In her case it was 7-30 waters speeds, as she was shooting a 7mm-08 with 140 NBT at 2,200 or so. She killed several broadside deer inside 100yds with full penetration and decent bloodtrails. These were Blue Dot loads, and the 140gr/4895 loads you are considering would just be more of the same good thing. I'd try those before buying new bullets. Sight him in an inch or so high at 100yds and go to it.

I used the 120 BT over a youth (60%) load of H4895.. Was real accurate and ran 2500 FPS. Was a really gentle sorta load as well. Can't see you having much trouble with any decent 100-140 grain bullet from 2300-2500 FPS.

I've shot 140's and 160's - I've taken elk and antelope with the 140's (NP) and performance was great. I've also had good luck with S&B 131 grains and antelope, but the 140 NP is to my thinking a great all-around bullet.

Go with the lighter bullet, much less recoil.

Having spent a couple of decades chasing blacktails in western Washington, I'd say that you have to consider where he'll hunt. If he'll be in the brush, then shots will be short and almost anything will work. If he might have to reach out across a clearcut, then I'd go with something like a normal load (if he can handle the recoil), and I'd zero at 200 yards like any other big-game rifle. Either way, his father is squared away enough to set him up with a Model 70 in 6.5 Swede, so he's in good shape. Post pics of his deer when you guys get back.


Okie John

I did this for my son, but used a 7mm-08. Very effective on a mature 3x3 blacktail.






P

I'm hoping there will be some fine deer on or near the beach. We're going to Kodiak the week of Thanksgiving so they should be pushed down low. Best laid plans and all.

I had the Model 70 6.5x55 featherweight shortened for him, although it is still a little long. I think carrying it all day will wear him out, which is a good thing! If he does take a shot, and, it is a bad one, I'll be there to back him up with my .375, which should be adequate for blacktail!

I was perusing my stash of Noslers and I found I have both 125 and 140 grain partitions, in addition to Accubonds. I'll try the 140 partitions first, and see how they perform with the reduced charge of H4895. If I have to go to the 125's, I'll up the velocity a bit. I'd rather go with the heavier bullet at these moderate to low velocities.

If the point of the reduced load is to make a more manageable load for a young shooter, I'd say the lighter bullets would serve you better. If it were me, I'd probably go 120gr Ballistic Tip at start charge weight. If you're not looking to buy a new bullet, give the 125gr Partition a try (although I have heard some claim this particular bullet acts fairly stout so perhaps it would be "too stout" at the slower speeds).

My oldest started using my 6.5x55 when he was 9. I had moved him from a .22 up to a .223 first so he could get the feel of a centerfire. Federal Fusion 140gr have always shot well out of it and he's enjoyed shooting it. I did put a slip-on limbsaver pad on it just to soften the recoil for him a bit.

Where your going the Nosler either one is not a bad idea to have around especially with potentially Pavlovian bruins. Maybe they will den up early. Just saw where you will have a 375 along, not a bad idea at all. A starting load with any of the 4350s should be about right for either the 125 or 140 but any of the medium slow powders should work. Recoil will be mild.

With bears in the mix, go with the heaviest Partition you have. The boy may have to go it alone.


Okie John

^^^^^^
Makes a good point.
And a 140gr Sweede is pretty much a match to a 140 7-08,
long considered a good kids round. (Have tried 2 140's in the Sweede, not quick killers for me. Before the flaming starts, it was just a few deer,
I give up quick following a fustercluck)



Considering bears, use Partitions. (They weren't the ones we tried)


Some light loaded ammo might be good for introducing the boy.
But come on, this is a mild cartridge, you can't find any hard kicking data
in any books. And if you follow the data for early guns, that is really light.

Not trying to be Mr. Macho here, I sure don't want to see a kid get beat up,
but this isn't a 308/270/30-06/+ level gun here.


If they do bump too bad, go full power 100gr Partition.


Do you have a good recoil pad?
That's the best place to reduce recoil.

When I introduced my daughter to deer rifles, I explained that the blast was the worst part.
That the recoil wouldn't hurt as bad as the sting from hitting a fastball.
Then she closed her eyes, and focused on the recoil while shooting into the bank. (Wearing plugs and muffs)
She has never been afraid since.

Another vote for something like this.

Had a mod 70 featherweight years ago, used rem factory ammo in I believe 140gr, not accurate at all. Read later if I remember right by Ken Waters that the barrel twist was appropriate for the 160gr bullets. My 12 year old granddaughter is shooting a Howa 308 youth model and is having no problem with recoil, but it is relatively heavy for youth model. The 6.5-55 is a low recoil round, with a good recoil pad he should be able to handle the recoil.

I have some loaded for tomorrow, we'll see. QL predicts something under 2000 fps, we'll see where they end up. I won't take them if they are that low. For the 125, I want to see 2500. For the 140's, at least 2300. We've got a variety of "working up" loads - we'll see how he does.

I might suggest the Barnes 100gr TTSX. Loaded to 2800 to 2900 fps recoil will be minimal. This bullet will give superior penetration with reduced recoil. If more penetration is needed a bullet like the Barnes TSX or Hornady GMX at 2600 fps will also give minimal recoil & deep penetration while still maintaining sufficient velocity to expand out to at least 250yds. Since the mono's tend to maintain 100% of their weight a bear can be taken on successfully.