Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 swede RN bullets?

What's the opinions on RN bullets for the swede?
Always thought the original 160? gr RN was a cool looking combo.

Going to try loading for my Zastava.
From another forum, seem that the honady RN isn't too good.
Something like a Lapua 156 gr Mega seems to be well reguarded.
From looking around I also see PPU makes a RN bullet, seems to be a ok quality one.
Price seems quite good compared to the more premium version, $42 CAD for 100 from $90 for the lapua.

I tried the Lapua 156s with a few different powders in my Barrett 6.5x55 and never found a load I was quite happy with. From what I've read, they have a very heavy jacket compared to normal jacketed lead bullets, and given the lower velocity out of a Swede, I'd expect they'd penetrate more and expand less - better bear or elk bullet than one suited for a whitetail. I've read 156gn is the minimum legal weight in Europe for hunting northern big game with a 6.5, so they may be more designed for moose than NA big game? Much better luck with 140 Gold Dots on whitetail and black bear.

I have shot the PPU version of the 286gn Lapua Mega in my 9.3x62 with very good results on whitetail - good accuracy, velocity, and absolutely knock-down terminal performance. If I were looking for an old-school bullet for the Swede, I'd definitely have them on my list.

I have used the Hornady 160 RN in the 260 Remington on Whitetail with zero problems. I know others have reported variable problems with that bullet but I have had none.
I have also used the PPU 153 which is really a FN bullet not round. It is soft but works just fine on Deer as well. I ran it slow and it expanded, killed and exited. I ran it fast and it expanded, killed and exited.
F01

If you handload, why the lower velocity of the Swede?

If concerned about expansion, you might consider these. The expanded bullet in the pic was removed from a black bear, shot at close range. Starting velocity was approximately 2150fps from a 6.5x54. I've shot a few deer with these, with good results, though have never recovered a bullet as all were pass-throughs. They are soft.

The Hawks seem to get mixed reviews around here. I use them because they give the best accuracy from my Mannlichers, which have oversized bores.

Why not?

**Huge CGN .264 Bullet Test Result** (lots of pics!)
There it is!!

The line up:


- The impact velocity was made to duplicate modern 6.5X55 loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5X55 Swed
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Sierra 85gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 9.0
Average Weight Retained (grain): 13.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 16
Average Expansion (inches): 0.476



Speer 90gr TNT
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 28.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 31
Average Expansion (inches): 0.549



Hornady 95gr V-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 6.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 34.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36
Average Expansion (inches): 0.470



Barnes 100gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 16.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 83
Average Weight Retained (%): 83
Average Expansion (inches): 0.423



Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip
Average Penetration (inches): 10.30
Average Weight Retained (grain): 74.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 62
Average Expansion (inches): 0.643



Barnes 120gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 14.42
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 95
Average Expansion (inches): 0.586



Barnes 120gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 13.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592



Barnes 120gr TTSX
Average Penetration (inches): 17.2
Average Weight Retained (grain): 119.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 99.3
Average Expansion (inches): 0.547



Swift 120gr A-Frame
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.53
Average Weight Retained (%): 95.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552



Alberta Wildcat 120gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 11.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 49.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 41
Average Expansion (inches): 0.704



Alberta Wildcat 125gr SP
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 73.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 59
Average Expansion (inches): 0.712



Nosler 125gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 88.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 71
Average Expansion (inches): 0.614



Hornady 129gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.08
Average Weight Retained (grain): 90.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 70
Average Expansion (inches): 0.626



Swift 130gr Scirocco II
Average Penetration (inches): 13.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 124.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.685



Barnes 130gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 129.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552



Lapua 140gr Naturalist
Average Penetration (inches): 16.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 136.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 98
Average Expansion (inches): 0.556



Sierra 140gr GameKing
Average Penetration (inches): 13
Average Weight Retained (grain): 64.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 46
Average Expansion (inches): 0.467



Speer 140gr HotCor
Average Penetration (inches): 13.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 54.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.513



Hornady 140gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.75
Average Weight Retained (grain): 78.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 56
Average Expansion (inches): 0.524



Hornady 140gr SST
Average Penetration (inches): 13.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 95.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 68
Average Expansion (inches): 0.695



Hornady 140gr A-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 75.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 54
Average Expansion (inches): 0.597



Nosler 140gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 108.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629



Nosler 140gr Accubond
Average Penetration (inches): 14.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 64.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.621



Berger 140gr VLD Hunting
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 50.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.576



Sierra 142gr Match King
Average Penetration (inches): 14.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 40.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 29
Average Expansion (inches): 0.445
** First bullet disintegrated and not significant pieces were recovered.




Military 142gr FMJ
Average Penetration (inches): 14.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 134.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 94.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.338
* One veared off course and exited


Alberta Wildcat 142.5 VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 45.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 32
Average Expansion (inches): 0.598



Lapua 156gr Mega
Average Penetration (inches): 14.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629



Norma 156gr RN
Average Penetration (inches): 14.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 57
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592



Woodleigh 160gr Weldcore
Average Penetration (inches): 12.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 148.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 93.1
Average Expansion (inches): 0.915



Hornady 160gr RN IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 117.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.694



Sierra 160gr SMP
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539



Alberta Wildcat 168gr VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539



Cast 174 gr (as dropped)
Average Penetration (inches): 24
Average Weight Retained (grain): 122.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 70.5
Average Expansion (inches): 0.360



Cast 174 gr (water quenched)
Average Penetration (inches): 24+
Average Weight Retained (grain): 128.8
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.438
*Under estimated their penetration, only recovered one.



Approximate impact velocity:
90-100gr.............2850-2900fps
120gr..................2750-2800fps
125gr..................2600-2700fps
129-130gr............2550-2600fps
140gr-142.5gr.......2500-2550fps
156-160gr............2400-2500fps
168gr..................2300-2400fps





**A special thanks to all the members who contributed by providing bullets and brass. Thank you all for you patience.**

This is copy pasted from a Canadian Gun forum I'm a member of.

Have Norma 140 gr. Partitions in the hotter factory SE loading, as well as 140 gr. Speer Grand Slam handloads.

Happy with both.





GR

Cast works as well as most

What I get for thinking out loud! 🤣

Even at "modern" load levels, the Swede just doesn't push Barnes as quickly as I'd prefer, since I've had issues with TSXs not opening up at all. With the 127LRX being softer, I probably will give them a try at some point.

I was getting very good speed with 120 Hammers but wasn't especially enthused about on-game performance.

I had good luck with Norma Alaska factory load on mule deer. Had loaded 160 Sierra SMP was my favorite but might be hard to find these days. I killed an elk and a mule deer buck with them and both were like they got touched by the hand of God…bang flop would be an understatement.