Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Swede n Elk

Upper Scandanavia Alg are taken every year by the 6.5x55. Anyone with any experience using the Swede against our Elk?
Curious as to recoil compared to 06/180s, and effectiveness.
What bullets worked best on big ungulates?
Exploring possibility of introducing recoil sensitive to hunting. Thinkin about the Swede.
Need info from experience only.
Let it fly.

I'm not a gunwriter, and I don't have any experience hunting elk with the 6.5x55 Swede, but I do have a comment about your recoil question. I'll also relate some experiences I've had that might help you decide on whether to buy one. I own and have experimented a lot with both a 6.5x55 mm Swedish Mauser (Ruger M77 Mk II) and a .30-06 (Remington 700). The recoil of the 6.5 with any bullet is MUCH lighter than that of the .30-06 with max loaded 180 grain bullets to my shoulder and in my rifles. It is also noticibly lighter than max loads with 130-150 grain bullets in the .270 Winchester. I've found what many before me already knew: the 6.5x55 is light in recoil and very accurate. I'll never give up my .30-06, but I'm very happy with the Ruger 6.5x55.

A few other points (based only on my experience-- your experience might be very different) if you are planning on buying a rifle chambered for the 6.5 Swede. First, in my area the Ruger is a special order item, which means a long wait and premium price. Same for the Winchester M70 and Tikka. Second, again perhaps depending on where you live, components are not as easily available (e.g., at the local gun shops) as for more common cartridges. I can only buy one brand of bullets (Nosler) and one factory load (Norma-- 2 boxes at one store, $33/box) within 20 miles of my house. Components are readily available from the usual catalogs and thats how I usually get them. And lastly, component dimensions, especially cases, vary by manufacturer. About 20% of a batch of new Remington cases had rims that were so undersized that the extractor in my rifle was unable to extract them from the chamber either completely or partially. I went to Lapua cases and they are made to specifications, but they don't fit well in my Redding shell holder (they fit, but tightly). From this I'm guessing that there is a lot of variation in components, rifles, and reloading equipment that you would not see if you bought a more modern caliber. To me this variation is kind of fun and interesting, but you might not be so amused. I really wanted a 6.5x55 Swede, and would have nothing else. If that's how you feel, go for it. But, if you just want 6.5x55 Swede ballistics, and fewer problems with equipment and components, you might consider the .260 Remington.

MAK, The 6,5x55 works fine for even large bulls..so long as one places his shot well and limits distance to 200 yards and closer.

I have used surplus Swedish Mausers for hunting bear, deer, elk for over 15 years and the three bull elk I shot-killed were recovered within 50 yards of where they stood when hit.
One just nose dived where he stood..

I use 140 grain Sierra spitzers, Rel22 powder and the MV runs around 2550 fps..Nosler partitions or Lapua Scenars are great bullets also, but Sierra regular hunting bullets work fine for me.
Something about the SD of the bullet and coefficient coupled with the fast twist of the mil barrels helps make a well placed shot very lethal.Thru shoulder shots into the heart-lungs.
Recoil( particularly on my 10-12# rifles) is not even an issue..Far less felt recoil than my 7.2# 30.06, but kills just as dead.
The 160 grain Sierra SMP round nose bullet does very well also..but I like the 140's best.
In a new mfg rifle I'd look for a Tikka or maybe a Ruger..Jim

I have one elk to my credit with my 6.5x55. 140 grain Noslers.....no problem.

CZ also makes the 6.5x55 in the CZ550 model, both the mannlicher-stocked FS and the American. Obviously, the FS isn't all that suited to elk hunting due to weight, but it is an interesting rifle nonetheless.

I have a Husky M38 in 6.5x55 and it is one of my favorite rifles. Not only did I shoot my first deer with it (at age 12 which tells you a lot about recoil) it is also quite accurate. It won't win any beauty contests, but it does the job. I wouldn't have a problem shooting moose with it, so, while I haven't hunted elk, I wouldn't have a problem using it to do so.


SS

SamSteel, I'd forgotten the CZ rilfes..Good value!
My Husqvarna M38(and the M96) both have Wwarne steel QD mounts and vintage 4X glass.
The M38 is probably the best all around of the Swede milsurps for hunting.
I also like either of the two M94 carbines that sport conventional stocks..Muzzle blast is more..:) but even with the 17.5" barrels, they have fine accuracy.jim

Jim, why this qualificaton?

In Scandavia what they call elk is actually moose. I've never hunted or shot either animal, so can't comment on the appropriateness of that cartridge.

I have only used the 6.5x55 on deer and antelope, finding it virtually without limitations there. A buddy in town has killed 7 elk with it, all one-shot kills.

MD

I shot my first elk last fall with mine. Sierra 160 SMP over a max charge of R22. Muzzle velocity was about 2400 fps, elk was at a later laser measured at 273 yards. In the on side behind shoulder, angled forward through vitals, through off shoulder, and the bullet was found directly under the skin un the off side.

Bullet was a nice little mushroom and retained about 72% of it's weight. Bull made it about 10 yards and was already running at the shot.

I wouldn't feel handicapped with any of the premium 140gr. bullets, my rifle just loved the cheap 160s. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have a close friend who went to Australia this past spring. One of his customers invited him on a hunt for Red Stag, which he gladly accepted.
He was offered any of several rifles and decided on a Ruger 77 in 6.5. He had one shot at a stag going over the crest of a hill, IIRC, about 140 yards away, which he took. Stag traveled from view over the hill and was found about 50 yards from where shot.
He wasn't sure of bullet weight, just that it was some kind of factory load.-Joe

Wasnt sure where to put this question, so put it here. Never intended it to be gunwriter only response.
Really like my 06, but its recoil is too heavy for person in question.
Searched around for somethin else that would work, and takin a real good look at the 6.5x55.
Points on cases/shellholders/etc. well taken. Probably cuz its a venerable cartridge.
Might as well point out we over here prefer to hunt, not lob artillery. 200yrds no problem.
Was leanin toward the featherweight 70. Saw a Steyr in such chambering but didn't want a second morgage so left it alone.
Will have to check out CZ.
Thanx all.
Have a good one.

Brad, The 200 yard max caveat is my own limitation based on some 35 years of hunting-killing-butchering-packing-eating bull elk..Roosevelt & RM..

I have mostly hunted in timbered country of Arizona, NM, and Oregon rather than the high plains one might encounter in Wyo, Mt or even eastern Oregon..
Shot distances often are well under 100 yards due to cover and terrain..

I prefer to hunt in closer and to be able to tell a branch bull in dim light from a large cow with the naked eye..:)More exciting for me anyhow..I like to smell them, see their breath and watch them roll their eyes when the bugle..:)

Practically for me and my .300 Savage & 6,5x55, hunting in closer, particularly with a mid velocity cartridge, gives a better chance at best bullet placement and eliminates-reduces some of the longer distance variables of wind, critter movement etc.
Also helps insure the bullet still has sufficient energy/velocity at impact to expand-penetrate properly..

Those are just my own observations tho.Others have successfully killed bull elk at much longer distances..jim

Have a good friend.....Norwegien heritage but grew up in Finland.Comment above correct...Elg slightly smaller version of our moose.Most of their hunts are large drives,at least in his experience.Sometimes post 10-12 shooters,may have 25 drivers.....most shots at running game,close range.
He says he and family members have occasionally taken standing animals at 250 "meters" plus,one sometimes two shots.His family has used a number of metric cartridges ,all work.Most still use 6.5 X 55,Norma or Lapua or RWS,says most effective bullet is 156gr RN though they have a different system to designate weight.

I know of one Colorado hunter that has used the 6.5x55 Swede from a Swedish Mauser Carbine. He swears by the 160 grain Hornady roundnose bullet. Hunting on horseback and often jump shooting elk; "It's an elk eatin' SOB". he said. South end shots ended up near the shoulder blades and more. Not a good bullet in his experience for deer though. Too much penetration, and too little expansion. Had a FMJ type experience on a muley buck and didn't care for the results. (they did eat him though).AW

Mychum with the ormerly broken back is going to shoot his bull next week with my Mountain rifle in 260, balistically the same gun. I loaded 130 TSX's at just under 2800 fps, I'm not worried out to any sane distance.

I will second the 260, it does anything the 6.5x55 does, but it does it in a short action and they are available in an off-the- shelf Remington. I have owned two 6.5x55's, one in a Sako 75 and the other in a Rem 700 BDL and while I liked them both I have become more of a fan of the 260 Rem. Prior to my experiences with the 65.x55 and 260 I swore by the 30-06 and a 165 gr. Nosler Partition but I have been converted.

Yes, the 6.5x55 and 260 will kill elk/moose or anything else, but like all cartridges they demand good shot placement there is no "magic" in any cartridge that can make up for that.

No worries about odd-ball diameters on the base of the brass of the 260 and availability of components is not a problem. I have never shot a factory load in my 260 so I really don't know what is available in that area.

I'm a great fan of the Swede, but in the end, I have to agree with Drover that the 260 Remington has a lot going for it in comparison. The nostalgia factor is what pushed me overboard on the Swede. If the more than 100 years of history that the Swede carries around didn't fascinate me, I'd probably choose the 260 too.

You really do believe in being concise, don't you, Mule Deer?

That's the best (and funniest) post I've read all day.

I could go on and on about how several items in a general group and of the same performance level are more the same than they are in fact remarkably different (the .41 Mag and the .44 Mag come to mind somehow (private joke)) but what's the point?

I actually think 6.5s are sort of the cat's meow in many respects. I admire the Skandanavian version and the Remington as well.