Gentlemen... for a medium range (300 yard) deer/antelope and potentially black bear over bait, which would you choose? I'll handload for it so facory ammo won't be a limiting factor...

Thanks,

I'd use the 6.5x55, IF I had to choose between these 2 and could only use the one. 120s and 160s respectively for the 2 tasks (pushed as fast as possible of course).

.257 roberts is more than enough. Use 90 to 100 grain bullets. Have used 87 grain flat base bullets for the best accuracy to to 300 yards. Good Luck

I'd definitely take the swede.

Which ever would tickle my fancy. The 6.5 can handle heavier bullets if you hate spending a few pennies on premiums, while the .257 can fit in a short action. The 6.5 has lots of match bullets available for it. I think you can still buy surplus ammo for practice as well for the 6.5.
I've seen too many deer and Pronghorn killed with .243's and .25-06's to consider it much of a problem. E

It's fairly close, but since you added bear to the equation I would lean toward the 6.5 unless you really want a short action. It has a bit more versatility than the .257, but they are both very nice cartridges.

Only one logical solution, get both.

Given proper bullets, either would do quite well, but the Swede does hold an edge with 140 grain bullets. In fact, for medium game, a 140 grain soft point at 2650-2750 fps is arguably one of the most efficient killers ever devised. The long,slender slugs have a high SD, penetrate extremely well and negate the need for a premium bullet on game up to and including caribou. I've used them on everything from vermin to dozens upon dozens of wild hogs and have nothing but praise for the performance of 6.5mm, 140 grain bullets launched at moderate velocity.

If I was hunting deer and bear I would get the Sweede. If coyotes or, other varmits were included, I would get the Roberts. The .257 shoots great with 75gr to 120gr bullets. The Sweede's don't shoot the lighter bullets well, the twist is too fast.

I like Bob M.'s solution, like both cartridges, they'll both do the job. That said, the Bob is superior if you see varmints in your future, the Swede if you imagine something bigger than deer. Twist rates are an issue with both.

For those who feel twist is an issue with the Swede, I beg to differ: I have a number of 6.5x55 rifles at the moment, from as-issue military to full custom. In fact, my son's varmint load in a '94 6.5x55 features the Sierra 85 grain HP, which consistently prints groups under 0.75 MOA. Within reason, you can't overstabilize a bullet, but you can certainly understabilize one.

The "myth" of Swede's not shooting light bullets well stems from the length of the throat and not the rate of twist. Experimenting with seating depth can "cure" this.

Either way, actually shooting proves that the 6.5x55s can accurately handle the entire spectrum of bullet weights/lengths.

....let me add my agreement to Bobby T..... not only does he come from the home of the best beer in the world, but he is also correct about the 6.5 and moderate velocities... I load my Swede with Hornady 140's at about 2600fps.. sighted about 3" high at 100yds, and they are still pretty much on at 300 or so... I took a shot at a running coyote at about 300 (didn't have the rangefinder with me)... thought it was farther, and held just over his nose... the bullet hit just over his shoulder... amazed me....startled the coyote. You ever see a coyote kick in the afterburner? I didn't have time for a second shot.... they also kill deer graveyard dead.. right now. It would be my uncontested choice.

....And I will back up Bobby T and Hornetguy. I have loaded 100 grain BTs in the 6.5 and they work just fine. Dynamite on foxes. You can't get anywhere near the lands, but that does not seem to be an issue.

Patrick

Jeff, my 6.5x55 is built on the LH short action Remington 700. Though it is not the ideal length for this cartridge, it is workable--you just have to seat the bullets deeper. My barrel is 21 1/2" long. The 140g Hornady chrono's 2881 with the bullets seated to OAL of 2.80. There are several loads which have shot 1/2" or better at 100 yards.

Thanks for all the advice... I've ordered a long and a short M1999 action and was considering using the short for either the Roberts or the Swede... if I was going to use the long action for a 6.5 "something", I'd likely opt for a 6.5 Gibss or another 6.5/06...

Since bear was thrown in as a remote possibility, this really is just a deer/lope gun primarily. All that being said, I could just pony up another thousand dollars and do both... however; spare "G's" are an issue right now!

A late vote for the 6.5X55, but I like the old 257 Roberts too.

I'd go with the 6,5x55. As for lighter bullets, Normas practice ammo with a 100gr hollowpoint groups very nicely in my rifle, so does the 156 gr pills

Flip a coin, you can't lose.

[ 03-01-2003, 05:17: Message edited by: Kboom ]

Been through this debate time and time again...I have a 6.5X55....A friend has a 257bob. We go through this each time we see each other and it boils down to personal preference. Besides....... If we both had the same chamber we would have nothing to argue about and that would be boooooring!
Regards
Rick

The swede has better penetration, bigger variety of bullet weights, more versatile. Go with the swede.

my $.02

swede

I have no experience with the 257, but I do with the Swede. I have found the Swede to be a very effective round for critters varying in size from ground squirrels to mule deer. It has great bullet selection and mild recoil. It just works!

[ 03-01-2003, 19:16: Message edited by: DOCTOR LOU ]

The Swede is better for deer and up, but the .257 wins in versatility. The Swede can't match the .257 as a varmit round.

.264-.257=.007 to close to call in my book....
6.5 have more options for reloading, and was the deciding push when I started work on a 6.5x55 BJ Ackley, (Still in the building stages).

quote:

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deer/antelope and potentially black bear

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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mauserkid:
[QB].264-.257=.007 to close to call in my book....

Case capacity is the same 55.4 grains water. The only solution is one of each--100 grain in the Roberts 140's in the 6.5x55. Both will shoot an easy half inch at a 100 yards in an M700 Rem.

Throw em both out and build yourself a 25-06!!! Ain't nothing on this continent it won't kill!!! Antelopes...name me a better choice!! Bears over bait... 17HMR in the right place will do it! GHD

My first choice for that game would be a .308 Winchester. Once you start shooting bears at close range I don't want a small, weak load like the 257 Roberts.

Imagine sitting in the camp the first night before the hunt and discussing what bullets each of you is shooting. Mike over there has a .358 Winchester and has taken some really large bears. He is using the 225 gr Partition now just because he wants the best he can load.

Then it's your turn to tell about your rifle. "Yea I got this 722 ADL cheap. It's in .257 Roberts and I got some ammo from Old Western Scrounger. It' says Peters on the box"

Huh!

I have never owned a rifle chambered for the the .257, so I can't speak from practical experience, though I am sure it's a great round. However, I own a couple sakos in 6.5 SE, and have taken a lot of game with one of them (the other is unfired),e.g., marmots, ground squirrels, coyote, blacktail/mule deer, antelope and the like. Let me tell ya. it kills like the Hammer of Thor! FWIW, I usually shoot 120 grain Ballistic Tips and 120 grain Barnes XLC.

You load a 120 gr Speer SP over some RL-22 in 6.5 and it will take care of any deer size game with out a hitch. For Bear over bait, thats simple a 160 gr Hornaday RN and RL-22. I been shooting the 6.5 x 55 since the mid 1980's. I have a 257 Roberts, I had one since the 1970's and I have not shot the 257 in better than 20 years. I find the swede to be a better hunting cartridge, but thats just me. A lot of guys like the 257 Roberts, and one of these days,I'm going to have to get reaquainted with that fine cartridge.

In many years of shooting one of my most pleasant surprises was when I realized my Remington Classic 6.5x55 would shoot Sierra 85gr. HP's into .86" (5 shots at 100yds) and would shoot the same group with Sierra 160gr. SPSP. It has a 1 in 9" twist. Usually a twist will allow one extreme to shoot much better than the other, but both bullets? I find that amazing. That 160 is enough for our Canadian moose. I'm older now and do most of my shooting from the bench. I figured it is a Scandanavian round so I'd use their components. In my Classic the Lapua 108, 123 and 139gr Scenar bullets pushed along by VihtaVouri 550 and 560 powders is awesome. .50" groups are quite common. What is there not to like? A moderately recoiling rifle, an accurate rifle that shoots an unbelieveably wide range of bullets from 85 to 160grs. Man, if we in North America decide to stop hating all things metric, this will catch on like wildfire. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I put the vote in for the Swede. That 25-06 also sounds like good advise.

I like 6.5x55. I use it on moose with 140grains partition. Most bullets go through. In Sweden is 140grains bullets (and 2700 Joule at 100m) legal minimum for big game so the .25 caliber cartridges are very very rare here.