Aloha!

Curious...

Who here has hunted with the 6.5x55mm 120grain bullet?

I'll be trying out me and my son's two new rifles that are chambered as such...

His a Savage LA that's been re-barrelled to a 22.5" McGowen SS Premium Match Grade 6.5x55mm [8.6" twist] and my NIB Ruger MKII M77 6.5x55mm [ 8" twist? ]...

We'll be doing load development next week with IMR 4350/ 120gr Rem CL/ CCI 200...

Just curious what other hunters are experiencing with the 120 grainers out there on deer...

Terminal performance?

Accuracy?

Thanks!

quote:

Who here has hunted with the 6.5x55mm 120grain bullet?

and little Johnny, in the back of the room, was wildly waving his hand..............

I'll speak to that question if I may.....

I've used a VZ-24 chambered in 6.5 X 55 with a 21" barrel for the last several years.......I am using the Northfork 120 Grain HP bonded but stronglt believe that any good 120 grain bullet will do as well.....

Darn thing shoots like a .25-06 with that same weight bullet.....dead deer and one shot.....and at any range the .25-06 will do.

3,045 FPS translates to flat shooting and a lot of retained energy upon arrival.

I now consider the 6.5 X 55 in a modern action to be among the finest of rifles one can own for animals up to 300 pounds!......and maybe more.

.....129gr hornady interlock, never had to shoot anything twice

Roger

I have shot the 120 Ballistic Tip in my CZ loaded with RL 22 to just over 3,000 fps. So far, it has accounted for two or three Antelope, three Whitetails and an Axis buck. Ranges were from 40 to 170 or so yards. One Antelope buck was shot twice, although he was dead on the first one. Eeverything else was one shot-one dead animal.

I also have 129 grain Hornady's which I also use, and 140 grain bullets which I haven't even loaded yet. May not as 120-130 seems to be a great bullet weight for Whitetail and similar animals.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by joe25/06:
May not as 120-130 seems to be a great bullet weight for Whitetail and similar animals


Thanks Joe...more and more that's what I'm hearing from those that have tried those weights of bullets...So, I'm giving them the GO myself and wait and see time...

VD and yumastepside...I appreciate you sharing...

Roland,

there are not any real bad bullets in the 6.5 range. I routinely use everything from the 85 grain HP to the 160 grain RN, and everything in between.

of course there are favorites, one preferred over others. I am fond of the 120 grain ballistic tips, and the 125 grain Partitions.
I look forward to hunting with the 130 grain Accubonds this coming season.

There are no flies on the Barnes' bullets in 120 and 130 grain weights either. With any of those bullets you can take about any really big game animal anywhere in North America, as usual, with the exception of the big bears in AK. But then again, many a polar bear has bit the dust snow, courtesy of a 6.5 x 55 in Scandanavia.

Hornady's 129 and 140 grainers are great bullets, as are the 120 and 140 grain Corelokts from Remington. Shockingly, the most accurate bullet in all my 6.5 bore rifles is the Remington Corelokt. I don't know it is just the batch of a 1000 that I picked up years ago, or they are all that way. However I spoke with a few guys here at the West Coast IHMSA shoot, were shooting some sort of 6.5 bore, and they all were using the 140 grain Corelokt also, stating the exact same thing in their experiences. Who knows.

on the smaller side, I have taken deer with the 100 grain bullets, from Hornady Sierra, both Nosler's 100 grainers. The discontinued 100 grain Barnes.

the 85, 90 and 95 grain bullets on the market also are great for reduced load off season shooting and varmints like coyote. I don't redline them, instead just run loads of 30 grains of IMR 4198 and RL 7.

Also use the exact same charges for the 160 grain RN bullets, still having some of the Discontinued Sierra's and the still available 160 grain Hornady.

Never tried the Lapua bullets available in the 6.5 bore, as the American stuff has been more than adequate.

To side step the naythsayers, PM me off line if you are interested in a max dose charge of 4350 for the 120s in the Swede, which I got out of an older Speer manual.. back before reloading had the attention of leftist lawyers.

I will really put the supercharger on the 6.5 x 55. It has proven more than safe, in my 1920 Mauser sniper rifle, my Ruger 77 and my Model 70 with a custom 28 inch barrel on it.

Something I also need to do, is pick up some Lapua brass in 6.5 x 55. Based on its reputation, considering how much life I am getting out of Remington and Win brass, Lapua brass with proper care, should last me a life time.

once you start using the 6.5 bore, it will become for you, what the 30 caliber bore is to most other American guys.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Who here has hunted with the 6.5x55mm 120grain bullet?

I now consider the 6.5 X 55 in a modern action to be among the finest of rifles one can own for animals up to 300 pounds!......and maybe more.

X2 but VD can you strech that 300# just a bit with heavier bullets? roger

My sons and I have hunted quite a bit with Swedes. I have had impressive ballistics through the chronograph with 120 and 129 grain bullets but we always seem to hunt with 140 grain bullets. With those we have had great luck in several Swedish Mausers as well as a Win M70 Featherweight. We've had great luck with Speer and Nosler bullets at 140 grains.
With the Hornday 160 gr. RN I get excellent accuracy from a gem of a carbine. I believe I could shoot through an elk with that bullet but for one reason or another I have yet to hunt with it. I have never met a Swede I didn't like. Did I mention my Grandpa came from Darlana, Sweden? Yet his favorite deer rifle was a 38-55. Go figure, eh?

John,

Thanks for sharing I appreciate it...

I believe I have the info you gave me awhile back in a PM in regards to the Speer Manual max IMR 4350 load...Thanks!

Thanks for sharing Al...

Hi me and a friend of mine shoot two reindeer does last fall with a 6,5x55. The load was 120gr sierra pro hunter, 50,5 grains of VV N-160. The range was 130 meters. Both one shoot kills no problem, scope zero on 200m. This load is quite accurate in my riffle, Sauer 202, 8mm group on 100 meters and 20mm group on 200m. I am convinced that I can shoot it better if I use my benchrest scope rather than my hunting scope that has tick crosshairs. So no problem with 120grains bullets.

Used a 6.5 swede last fall with 120 grain nosler balistic tips. Unbelievable killed three large deer as if they were struck with lighting. The gun is a rem. 700 classic, currently building a mauser, with a tikka in the mail, obviously love the caliber.

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
Aloha!

Curious...

Who here has hunted with the 6.5x55mm 120grain bullet?

I'll be trying out me and my son's two new rifles that are chambered as such...

His a Savage LA that's been re-barrelled to a 22.5" McGowen SS Premium Match Grade 6.5x55mm [8.6" twist] and my NIB Ruger MKII M77 6.5x55mm [ 8" twist? ]...

We'll be doing load development next week with IMR 4350/ 120gr Rem CL/ CCI 200...

Just curious what other hunters are experiencing with the 120 grainers out there on deer...

Terminal performance?

Accuracy?

Thanks!

No game performance stories for me yet but my 6.5's are shooting 120 TSX's and 120 Nosler BT's pretty accurate with H380 in Speer cases, CCI and WW primers.

quote:

Originally posted by sherpi:
Hi me and a friend of mine shoot two reindeer does last fall with a 6,5x55. The load was 120gr sierra pro hunter, 50,5 grains of VV N-160. The range was 130 meters. Both one shoot kills no problem, scope zero on 200m. This load is quite accurate in my riffle, Sauer 202, 8mm group on 100 meters and 20mm group on 200m. I am convinced that I can shoot it better if I use my benchrest scope rather than my hunting scope that has tick crosshairs. So no problem with 120grains bullets.

That's great to hear Sherpi...

Thanks I appreciate it!

I have a 1908 brazilian M98 with a parker hale 22" 6.5x55mm barrel. My load for that is Lapua cases, Win WLR primer, 46 grains AR2209 (AR2209 is sold as H4350)and a Rem 120 corelockt. Works rather well. My other rifle is a VZ33 with a Swedish M38 barrel - it prefers Norma cases, Win WLR primer, 129 gr Hornady Interlock and either 46 gr N204 or 48.5 gr of AR2213 (sold as H4831SC).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Ray:
Used a 6.5 swede last fall with 120 grain nosler balistic tips. Unbelievable killed three large deer as if they were struck with lighting. The gun is a rem. 700 classic, currently building a mauser, with a tikka in the mail, obviously love the caliber.[QUOTE]



Mike...as far as I can remember almost EVERYONE says that about the 120 grainer in the 6.5x55mm...and that's why I would like for me and my son to give it a try...

Inside 200 yds high and tight on the shoulders seems to be doing the trick from the accounts I've read...If I can I'll stay away from center-punching the shoulders tho, but need to have several experiences in the field to see how it works for me in terms of the terminal type of performance I'm looking for in this combo...

In this cartidge for the style of deer hunting we'll be doing I chose the 120gr Rem CL because I'm looking for a bullet with a bit of velocity that will open up quickly and dump all it's energy into the shoulder/spine/vitals...Shot-placement and a bullet like this should do what I want done...it's just that I haven't done it before with this combo...and we need to see it for ourselves...

However, on a meat hunt I'll stay off the shoulder on a tasty doe....and go for the high-heart/lung shot...and hope the bullet I've chosen will give me a high percentage of instant kills or dead within a few feet or yards...

I don't expect all my hunting adventures to be as such in different terrain as in open fields as it's not necessary, but in the dense brush when hunting at home, it's definitely what I'm after...THE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING EFFECT, DRT, Mighty Hammer of Thor...are the type of results I'm desiring, hence why I want a fast, flat shooting bullet that'll open up quickly...Just my strategy when hunting this particular terrain for these thin-skinned Axis deer and Mouflon sheep...

If I was going on a Trophy Elk Hunt and shooting my M98 30-06 I would choose my 180gr NP load or 165/168gr TSX...Stouter bullets for these bigger and heavier-boned beasts...

Just wanted to share my thoughts...Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by KimW9:
I have a 1908 brazilian M98 with a parker hale 22" 6.5x55mm barrel. My load for that is Lapua cases, Win WLR primer, 46 grains AR2209 (AR2209 is sold as H4350)and a Rem 120 corelockt. Works rather well. My other rifle is a VZ33 with a Swedish M38 barrel - it prefers Norma cases, Win WLR primer, 129 gr Hornady Interlock and either 46 gr N204 or 48.5 gr of AR2213 (sold as H4831SC).

Thank ya mate

I appreciate it!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
No game performance stories for me yet but my 6.5's are shooting 120 TSX's and 120 Nosler BT's pretty accurate with H380 in Speer cases, CCI and WW primers.

Two good bullets there for sure...

Ya should be able to cover alot of game with those...Safe hunting!!!

Reading this thread and thinking about what's said made me wonder a bit. The 120 grain bullet is on the low side for the 6.5X55 and on the high side for let's say the .257 Roberts. There is only .007" difference in their diameters.
Does anyone see a real difference /in field performance.Don't no why But I've always felt that the 25 calibers have been handicapped by not having 147 grain bullets and here are a bunch of gunners haveing heavy bullet availability in a cartridge that's done well with the heavies and droping down to the 25cal max.
Gotts ask; why not just go with the 120 in the Roberts? Is it because you got those nice 6.5s and want to mimic the .257? I'm confused. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

Gotts ask; why not just go with the 120 in the Roberts? Is it because you got those nice 6.5s and want to mimic the .257? I'm confused. roger

bartshe- In my particular situation I don't own a Roberts

But I'll shoot deer-sized game with my...

243W with 85/100 grain Rem CL

25-06 with 100 grain Sierra SBT

6.5x55mm with 120 grain Rem CL

270W with 130 grain Win PP/Rem CL/Hornady

7RM with 154 grain Hornady

308W with 150 grain Rem CL/Win PP/Hornady

30-06 with 150 grain Rem CL/Win PP/Hornady

These bullet weights may not be traditional for the cartridge's reputation or intended design, but just a choice I selected in terms of my strategy...A bit UNCONVENTIONAL, hmmm I don't know? Maybe, cause I'm only three years into the game with only 29 animals down between me and my son...Based on our LIMITED experience and only shooting the 30-06 til now, we hope to LEARN more in the years ahead as hunters and shooters...bullet weights and velocity in regards to terminal performance that may be expected in reference to shot-placement...So much more to learn...I took up sport hunting just three short years ago at 46 years of age with my son who was 17 years old at the time...I'm definitely a Late-Blommer to this wonderful sport and it's my goal to get as much exposure to it all for me and my son to enjoy for a long, long time...God-willing

I just like what I'm hearing about terminal performance from guys shooting these bullet weights...

I just may be ignorant and inexperienced, but I assure you no one is more PASSIONATE than I about the entire hunting adventure and experience and sharing those precious moments afield with my wife, son, and daughter! Those are the things that matter the most to me as a hunter, shooter, husband, and father! Treasured trophies indeed along on the HUNT!!!

But with more experience I may need/want to change but I hope not...However, I'm flexible and if they aren't performing as desired I'm not resistant to change, but I'll now have more experiences afield and understanding...hopefully....hehehe

And maybe I'm just a medium-light for caliber guy...just the road I've committed myself to in the process of LEARNING...

By choice I like a little velocity on my deer cartridges with a conventional bullet opening quickly...So I have chosen a fast, flat smooth shooting 120 grainer for my 6.5x55mm rather than near maxxing a 140 grainer in the Swede...they both will kill...however, just my preference...LOL

Again, soo much to learn and experience and time soo short...BUT definitely having FUN

And no I don't own but one pretty rifle and it's in one of my four chambered 30-06 rifles to commemorate our 2008 trip to Namibia...that one was loaded with 180gr NP/IMR 4350/CCI 200 it performed really well...

I dont have a 6.5x55 but, i do shoot a .260 at 2925 fps.. with the sierra 120 sp. does a real good job on the white tail around here.. and is very accurate.. like vapodog said it has 25-06 performance.. i also like ballistic tip.. the speer 120 does not group very well in my gun..

Hi the reason that I tried 120gr in my 6,5x55 was that I was trying to make an alround load to use og Reindeer fox and goose. Not that I shoot fox and goose much with a riffle (rather shotgun). Me and my friends have almost always used 140grains on reindeer, and still do in an older Carl Gustav riffle that we own. But the thing is that they work about the same. We shoot at the heart, and the hunting are done in open mountainus country. Now I am working on new loads namely 130grains Nosler accubond and also trying 100 grain lapua scenar just to see if it stapilies this light bullet. The old Carl Gustav most accurate load was a 156grain Sako gamehead factory shoots.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810106135#810106135

I use the 120 grain bullets a LOT in my 6.5 rifles. I own 5 different variations including 260, 6.5x55, 264WM, 6.5x284 and 6.5-06AI. Most of my deer over the last 10 years have been taken either with the 120 Ballistic tip, 120 CL or 125 partition. They act exactly as described above, basically DRT. I did have one go about 10 yards before piling up. That one was from the partition and the 264WM at about 300 yards. The messiest one was from the 6.5-06AI at about 50 yards with the 120 BT moving at about 3000fps. It acted like a varmint bullet and destroyed all internals immediately.

For all of them except the 264WM, I just use appropriate doses of IMR or AA4350.

vines, sherpi, and larrys,


Thank you gents for your input...

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

Gotts ask; why not just go with the 120 in the Roberts? Is it because you got those nice 6.5s and want to mimic the .257? I'm confused. roger

bartshe- In my particular situation I don't own a Roberts

But I'll shoot deer-sized game with my..........................................................................................................

And no I don't own but one pretty rifle and it's in one of my four chambered 30-06 rifles to commemorate my 2008 trip to Namibia...that one was loaded with 180gr NP/IMR 4350/CCI 200 it performed really well...

Your whole answer was really nicely done. Sounds like you got a pretty good grip of things in three years. Good hunting roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

Gotts ask; why not just go with the 120 in the Roberts? Is it because you got those nice 6.5s and want to mimic the .257? I'm confused. roger

bartshe- In my particular situation I don't own a Roberts

But I'll shoot deer-sized game with my..........................................................................................................

And no I don't own but one pretty rifle and it's in one of my four chambered 30-06 rifles to commemorate my 2008 trip to Namibia...that one was loaded with 180gr NP/IMR 4350/CCI 200 it performed really well...

Your whole answer was really nicely done. Sounds like you got a pretty good grip of things in three years. Good hunting roger

bartsche...Thanks!

And with alot of DISCERNMENT I've learned almost everything here on this great forum from kind, generous, and patient folk just like yourself...

I appreciate this forum a whole lot and the members who have helped me by answering my numerous noob questions via PM's as well...

One day I hope I'll be able to give back what others here have invested in me!!!

Aloha!

Roland

I always find it a curiosity that people will rave about the 270 Win and 130 grain bullets but drop down to a 6.5 and you must use a 140 grain bullet?
I've never understood that logic so I shot some 140's thru the 6.5 thru load development then switched to 120's and 100's and I'm confident the 120's in a 6.5 Swede are a great balance of velocity and penetration for that caliber and case size. I also have a .257 Roberts that shoots 100 grains bullets and 120's, it just so happens that it shoots 117's the most accurate but I don't feel compelled to make it shoot 100's or make it shoot 120's for any reason. Performance on game for the .257's and 6.5's is way out of proportion to its size.
Good luck with yours!

I load the 120 grain NBT for my dad in his 6.5X55. A nice mellow charge of H4831 gives 2850 fps out of a 20 inch barrel. He's taken a half dozen deer or so with it over the past few years out to about 250 yards. All were one shot kills. At that velocity, the bullet holds together nicely and is a very effective killer. Recoil is almost non-existent.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
I always find it a curiosity that people will rave about the 270 Win and 130 grain bullets but drop down to a 6.5 and you must use a 140 grain bullet?
I've never understood that logic so I shot some 140's thru the 6.5 thru load development then switched to 120's and 100's and I'm confident the 120's in a 6.5 Swede are a great balance of velocity and penetration for that caliber and case size. I also have a .257 Roberts that shoots 100 grains bullets and 120's, it just so happens that it shoots 117's the most accurate but I don't feel compelled to make it shoot 100's or make it shoot 120's for any reason. Performance on game for the .257's and 6.5's is way out of proportion to its size.
Good luck with yours!

Snellstrom- Thanks!....That's precisely my mindset...

talentrec- Gotta love a sweet shooting Swede that hits'em hard yet with no payback on the other end...We've really grown fond of this cartridge and bullet weight...

Dad looks HAPPY and PROUD...NICE bucks!

Congrats to your success!!!

Anything you can't do with a 125gr partition in the 6.5x55 probably shouldn't be tried with a 6.5x55

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quote:

Originally posted by talentrec:
I load the 120 grain NBT for my dad in his 6.5X55. A nice mellow charge of H4831 gives 2850 fps out of a 20 inch barrel. He's taken a half dozen deer or so with it over the past few years out to about 250 yards. All were one shot kills. At that velocity, the bullet holds together nicely and is a very effective killer. Recoil is almost non-existent.

Doesn't hurt that your pappy is shooting a Steyr for his 6.5x55, mine is a great shooter as well. FS

It all depends on what you want a bullet to do and how large your intended game animal is. I like bullets to completely penetrate an animal because i hunt in thick mountain laurel, where tracking an animal can be a nightmare without a really good blood trail.

I have shot 120gr, 129gr, 130gr, and 140's pout of the swede and all bullets have completely penetrated except a 140gr speer hot core. If your deer or other game are on the small side, a cup and core 120gr bullet should do well, especially if you are in open country where you can see the animal fall.

The 120 i used has been Barnes X and XLC's and they did a great job. Im convinced that a Hornady 129gr S.P. is the best all around bullet for the 6.5X55 and 260rem. Run it fast and it will open up nice, yet is tough enough to penetrate shoulders.

With a good 140gr or the 130gr TSX i wouldnt hesitate shooting an elk or moose. The new Barnes 100gr TTSX also looks to be promising for whitetail and after seeing what the 120gr Barnes will do i have no doubts that the 100 will penetrate em completely.....