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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,113 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,113 Likes: 6 |
For years, I used 140 gr Game Kings and H4831, at about 2600 fps.
Now I use Nosler 130 gr AB"s with 4831. Chronied just shy of 2800 fps and they are more accurate than the 140 GK.I think these long AB's match the twist in the old Swede better.
I have only killed two pronghorns with the AB's so far, but I have a late season buck tag this year for deer that I might get to try them on.
When I tried to run the 140GK faster ,the accuracy went to pot.
Last edited by saddlesore; 08/05/14.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512 |
"Guessing" - love it.
OP - a 129 or 140 Hornady SP will do fine, I prefer 130 NAB.
140 AMax are deer deadly, dumped a deer w/a 105 Amax at 400 yds, stick to lung shots.
SST's have a reputation for blowing up, so do not expect much more from them. Avoid heavy bones and you will be fine.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527 |
I've tried every weight of bullet in my Swede. The 120's seemed to offer the most velocity while still providing a decent BC.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437 |
The 6.5x55 is one of my favorite and most often used deer cartridges. I have come to prefer the 124 and 140 grain Nosler Partition bullets.
μολὼν λαβέ
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,239 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,239 Likes: 11 |
blammer,
I'd get me several different bullets and try loads know for their accuracy with those bullets and let the gun tell me what it likes.
I think any bullet mentioned so far will kill deer.
I agree with lower speed A-Max bullets being great.
Nathan Foster in NZ has done a bunch of comparative work on bullets and how they perform on game. I know in the 7x57, he claims the 162 gr. A-Max is one of the best. Check him on line to see what he says about the 6.5x55.
In my 6.5x55, I'm shooting the 139 gr. Scenar as this bullet groups the best.
DF
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
I agree with you Dirtfarmer, but I'm thinking that 'best shooter' is a bit irrelevant when longest shots are less than 200yds. A 4 moa shooter would work fine on deer at that range.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,527 |
If I were shooting sub 200yds, I would guy some ballistic tips.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,585
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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The 6.5x55 is very behaved and well balanced in the same category as a 7x57 IMO as I load for both.The Swede with 1:8 or 8.5 twist will stabilize and digest anything I put down the tube be it mono's or C&C.Barnes and Partitions are my first choices but Speer & Hornady also shoot well....They aren't finicky.
I've been around Swedes on and off for many moons,if one doesn't shoot it's most likely the guy behind the trigger.
You better be afraid of a ghost!!
"Woody you were baptized in prop wash"..crossfireoops
Woody
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,494
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,494 |
if one doesn't shoot it's most likely the guy behind the trigger.
Definitely with the Swede, and usually with a lot of other combos. Tweak the shooter, not the shooting iron. 
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov 4:23)
Brother Keith
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
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I purchased 3 boxes of bullets when I got my build back from the smith:
140gr Bergers
130gr Barnes
and 120gr NBT
I was able to find a load using the 120gr NBT with 39grs of Varget. Group size was under .30 @ 100 yards. Just can't bring myself to finding loads for the other bullets.
Try some Varget. Work your way up the ladder as 39 grs is the published max. Let us know what you find.
HaYen
EDITED:
Ok I should mention I haven't killed Deer size game or larger with this rifle and load, but the round is accurate. I have no doubt that when its her time to hunt, she will put down a Couse WT if I do my part.
Last edited by HaYen; 08/05/14.
Remember, not everyone has a happy ending, so be happy when you can
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,340
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
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My Swede is a CZ 550 American. The first bullet I tried was the 140 gr GK. Could not find an accuracy node. I read that 1:8 twist is better for 140 gr bullets and mine is 1:9. So I tried 130 gr Berger Hunting VLD's and they were so accurate I haven't tried anything else. The Bergers have worked just fine on deer for me.
Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,239 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,239 Likes: 11 |
I purchased 3 boxes of bullets when I got my build back from the smith:
140gr Bergers
130gr Barnes
and 120gr NBT
I was able to find a load using the 120gr NBT with 39grs of Varget. Group size was under .30 @ 100 yards. Just can't bring myself to finding loads for the other bullets.
Try some Varget. Work your way up the ladder as 39 grs is the published max. Let us know what you find.
HaYen
EDITED:
Ok I should mention I haven't killed Deer size game or larger with this rifle and load, but the round is accurate. I have no doubt that when its her time to hunt, she will put down a Couse WT if I do my part. Where you finding all that Varget...? DF
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,374
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,374 |
If I owned a 6.5 Swede, I'd find out what Scandinavians use because they use the Swede to hunt moose.
The 6.5 Swede is an excellent North American big game cartridge.
�If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.�
***US President James Madison***
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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If it was me, I'd load R19 and 120gr NBT as fast as I could safely push them and commence killing deer.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512 |
"Longest shot likely 100 yds"
No need to push them hard, 2200-2400 MV w/a 120 NBT will kill deer all day long - modest load at 2700-2800 is way more than enough.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,413 Likes: 1 |
"Longest shot likely 100 yds"
No need to push them hard, 2200-2400 MV w/a 120 NBT will kill deer all day long - modest load at 2700-2800 is way more than enough. This tracks with my experience. 140s at 2600-2650 were wicked and more than enough at 200 yards.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,179
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,179 |
AMax will kill what you shoot stone dead. I had great luck with 6.5 Berger VLD hunting. My favorite projectile by far. I hunt in Georgia. So don't think it's only a long range bullet....
Regards,
Nick- Georgia
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 338
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 338 |
The Scandinavian loads are typically 160 grain round nose. Not a high BC bullet but brutal on game.
Hornady says not to use a-max bullets for hunting, so I don't. I know many have had good luck with them and they are very accurate and consistent.
Last edited by Rodell; 08/09/14.
"Think about how stupid the average person is, and then think that half of the people are stupider than that" - George Carlin
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