Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5x55 In Africa

I recently picked up a pretty neat Dale Goens Mannlicher pre-64 M70. I want to take it to Africa. I'll likely chase buffalo with my M70 416 Rem. What bullet would you use for game up to the size of sable/roan. I know the 140 gr TSX works via 270 Win on elk. Just a toss at a thead looking for experience.

The 140 Accubond or similar works pretty well for me. I'd guess anything like a Swift A-Frame, Scirocco, PT, LRX, TTSX, Hammer would all be good. If you held a gun to my head, I'd use my current load of R26 and 140 AB's at 2890, or the factory loaded Norma 140 PT. Both shoot great and would likely do all that a 6.5 needs do'in.

I took a pair of Winchester 70s to Botswana in 6.5x55 and 375 H&H.

Except for the warthog, I shot everything with the 6.5x55 using 156 grain Norma c&c factory loads. If you can put a properly constructed bullet into the vitals, you'll kill whatever you're hunting. I put 2 shots into every animal 'cause the PH wanted me to keep shooting as long as the animal was upright. I shot the Eland 3 times 'cause it stayed upright longer than the other antelope, but each of the 3 shots would have put it down.

This.

SE loaded, and got'em at less than component cost.

Couldn't be happier.




GR

I've never been to Africa, all I've ever shot with my 6.5X55 are deer and the only two bullets I've used for that are the 130 grain AB and 130 grain SGK (HPBT). The only one I've ever caught was one of the AB's which hit a deer right out at 400 yards from slightly above and slightly from the deer's left side, head down browsing, Broke the spine, took the top off the heart and damaged lungs, exited the guts, re-entered the off-side hind quarter which is where I found it when cutting up the deer, up against the femur which was broken by it, but stopped it. IIRC, the cleaned up bullet weighed around 90 grains, but don't quote me on that. All I can tell you about the 130 SGK is high shoulder hits drop deer right there, if it's in the crease they run 50 to 75 yards, usually, depending on all the usual variables. Anxious to see your pictures from Africa.

Over the past few years I've become very impressed with the 127-grain Hornady LRX in a wide variety of 6.5s. Have yet to recover one, and kills have been quick.

Have personally never been able to tell the difference in how any of the milder 6.5s around 6.5x55 powder capacity perform in the field compared to the .270 Winchester.

From the 21" barrel of my custom 6.5x55 the 127 LRX gets around 2850 fps.

I've only used the 140's - both Cup n Core and Bonded in both the Swede and the CM on elk and black bear. Just run them at classic MVs around 2,700 fps out of a ~24" barrel and you'll be fine.

I do have a bunch of these. Just looking for other experiences.

I don't think a "premium" bullet is necessary. I've never taken the Swede to Africa - always took the 264 or a 30 caliber. That said, I've had great luck with Hornady Innerlock 140gr and 129 gr. Another bullet I've used a bunch is the SGK 130 gr HPBT. I've got 40 years of experience with 6.5 Swede and it is one of my favorites. Of course, if you feel better using Accubond or another "premium" bullet, you won't be disappointed with them.

Hi Ed. As of recent, I’ve had really good luck with the 120GMX and 140AB. They both kill just superbly, and above their weight class. Before these, I used a 140 Hndy Interlock on elk, deer, antelope, etc and it performed flawlessly. I always keep a few hundred of those on hand just incase I can’t get one of the others to shoot. I’ll send my load for the 120GMX that placed second at the 24hr hog hunt.

I have several 6.5s, though never to Africa. I have a wide selection of 6.5x55 factory ammo and also roll my own. Like the Norma 140G Partition, a couple of the factory AB loads and the Barnes Ttsx but truly love the 156g Norma Oryx bullet. It just bang flopped every animal I shot with it.

I now have some Vulkan loads to try this fall, we will see.

RAS

PS Anyone got any experience at all shooting S&B either 131 or 140G into game animals? The stuff is so inexpensive I may just buy a bunch for the brass.

RSherburne,

The 156 Oryx is a great bullet too. It also works in Africa--and not just the 6.5 version but the 7mm in the 7x57.

But the trajectory isn't nearly as flat as with lighter bullets, especially a really sleek one like the 127 LRX.

A lot depends on where in Africa somebody is hunting. Some is pretty much "thornbush," where ranges tend to be relatively short, but other areas are very open. You can also encounter both types in the same safari.

Swift A Frame 140 grain would be my first choice.

Well, am loading the Speer 140 gr. GS at ~ 2740 fps (24" Bbl.)

At 300 it's > 2200 fps., 1500 ft-lbs., and 8" drop for a 200 yard zero.

No complaints, either.




GR

If I had a Goens stocked rifle I'd sure want to take it to Africa as well

Would you mind sharing a picture of it?

Thanks

Thanks ED. Stunning piece. Very few regrets about rifles seen and not bought but I have 1 for certain a really nice 7X57 on a Mauser stocked by Dale.
Thanks for sharing

Don't know that I'd take that in the thickets.

Beautiful rifle.




GR