seansean1444
New member
i have been hearing allot about 6.5 grendel and 6.5 sweede. what are these rounds never really heard of them before but allot of people say good things about them
whats all this about 6.5
- Thread starter seansean1444
- Start date
the 6.5mm bullets have a very high ballistic coeffeint, wich in exterior balistics the bullet travels well, and retains velocity and for hunting purposes gives deep penitration compaired to a bullet will a lower BC. BC is a formula of weight to diameter, the square of it's base, so in any caliber a heavier bullet has a higher BC then a lighter bullet, lentgh maybe in the equation also, because in given bullet and weight, the pointed one will have a higher BC then a round nose. I am sure someone will chime in and give a better explanation.
handlerer2
New member
I have owned and hunted with a 6.5x55, a very efficient and sensible cart. I have owned 30 cal, 7mm's, 340WBY.
The 6.5mm bullet has a relatively high SD for it's weight, but these SD can be achieved in 7mm, and 30cal, and 33 cal bullets also.
While the 6.5 cal is a fine and efficient cal, it's not magic and won't do anything that any other cal bullet will do. Saying this, if you're a reloader you should be quite pleased with the accuracy and retained energy possible with the 6.5 bore. IMO the Swede is as good a mule deer cartridge as any I have ever used. I have taken two nice muleys only one of them took a step after being hit, but only a dozen or so. The other deer just dropped dead. The only drawback to the swede is the brass, I will only use Norma brass, after some less than satisfying results from domestic brass. It is more expensive up front, but altogether superior to any other brass except for Lapua, which I have yet to try.
If you decide on the 6.5 you should be as satisfied as any hunter using 7mm, or 30 cal.
The 6.5mm bullet has a relatively high SD for it's weight, but these SD can be achieved in 7mm, and 30cal, and 33 cal bullets also.
While the 6.5 cal is a fine and efficient cal, it's not magic and won't do anything that any other cal bullet will do. Saying this, if you're a reloader you should be quite pleased with the accuracy and retained energy possible with the 6.5 bore. IMO the Swede is as good a mule deer cartridge as any I have ever used. I have taken two nice muleys only one of them took a step after being hit, but only a dozen or so. The other deer just dropped dead. The only drawback to the swede is the brass, I will only use Norma brass, after some less than satisfying results from domestic brass. It is more expensive up front, but altogether superior to any other brass except for Lapua, which I have yet to try.
If you decide on the 6.5 you should be as satisfied as any hunter using 7mm, or 30 cal.
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Catfishman
New member
The 6.5 has caught my eye too.
It maintains it's velocity better so you can get a flat shooting round without the heavy recoil. Also they don't get blown around as much.
You can get the same sectional density with larger calibers but you would have to use heavier bullets.
This is all a little over my head but I think my statements are accurate.
I plan on getting a 6.5 Grendel AR someday.
It maintains it's velocity better so you can get a flat shooting round without the heavy recoil. Also they don't get blown around as much.
You can get the same sectional density with larger calibers but you would have to use heavier bullets.
This is all a little over my head but I think my statements are accurate.
I plan on getting a 6.5 Grendel AR someday.
glockcompact
New member
I did buy a 6.5 grendel in the 16" AR-15 platform. I love this round. A very versital cartridge. Initial velocity is only about 2500 ft/sec (depending on bullet weight of course) so it's not a barrel burner. Yet you can shoot bullets in the +.500 bc range for excellent energy retension. If your interested in an AR-15 I would definately recommend looking into the 6.5 Grendel. Especially if you reload. But even if you don't reload getting ammo is not as dificult as it was say 2 years ago. I don't see the military getting away from the 5.56 anytime soon but this round is becoming more popular with recreational shooters (Hunters/Competition). If your looking to put it into a bolt gun there are probably better choices out there. It's great in the AR because it gives you more knock down energy then the 5.56 and still fits in the AR-15 action.
6.5x55 Swedish is a great cartridge for whitetails. With my handloads (140gr Sierra Gamekings) I've never had a deer go more than 30 yards after being hit and most haven't gone more than 10 yards. Low recoil makes sight in day a joy, and accuracy even in my 17 1/2" bbl sporter is excellent. Sierra list 6.5mm (.264") bullets from 85gr to 142gr. As I recall, the cartridge was used in Europe as an elk cartridge also.
Stu
Stu
Shane Tuttle
Staff
Hell, it's a great cartridge for any North American game...
BusGunner007
New member
Why we don't adopt the 6.5 MPC is beyond me.
It seems to be the perfect choice to replace the 5.56x45.
All you need is a new bbl.
ETA: 6.5x55 Swede gots to be one of the best rounds evar...
It seems to be the perfect choice to replace the 5.56x45.
All you need is a new bbl.
ETA: 6.5x55 Swede gots to be one of the best rounds evar...
Stevie-Ray
New member
A coworker of mine got a rifle in 6.5 Swede back in 94. It very quickly became his favorite caliber. He was a big-time shooter and hunter, so this spoke volumes to me.
I built my first 6.5 back in the 80's, a 6.5-06 on a Newton action. I am on second one now that I built on a Ruger 77. I have taken over 20 Elk, 3 Moose, lots of Deer and a pile of Antelope all with 140gr. Nosler Partitions. It has never failed me yet, and I have yet to find a bullet in anything I have shot with it, even bull Moose. In my eyes it is about the closest thing to a perfect all around North American big game cartridge you can find. The only drawback is that you have to form your own brass and reload. I cant say enough good about the 6.5 bore, with the right bullet it will do just about anything you want it to.
Bob
Bob
6.5x55
When I lived in Alabama I joined a small deer club. Everyone was shooting 30'06 and I showed-up with a sporterized 6.5x55 swedish mauser. They stopped laughing when they noticed that the little swede seemed to anchor the deer. In several seasons I never had to track one. (The season there was 60 days with a deer/day bag limit so we did shoot lots of deer). With the swede they always dropped. And my little swede had a flatter trajectory that the '06's.
My fav load for Whitetail is 120 gr Nosler BT and 46 gr H4350.
Agree with Handlerer - Rem or Win brass isn't the best because the base isn't sized correctly. Lapua is excellent.
When I lived in Alabama I joined a small deer club. Everyone was shooting 30'06 and I showed-up with a sporterized 6.5x55 swedish mauser. They stopped laughing when they noticed that the little swede seemed to anchor the deer. In several seasons I never had to track one. (The season there was 60 days with a deer/day bag limit so we did shoot lots of deer). With the swede they always dropped. And my little swede had a flatter trajectory that the '06's.
My fav load for Whitetail is 120 gr Nosler BT and 46 gr H4350.
Agree with Handlerer - Rem or Win brass isn't the best because the base isn't sized correctly. Lapua is excellent.
FrankenMauser
New member
^The key to all the misinformation about the 6.5mm bore size.
People always compare same-weight bullets when looking at the 6.5s. The problem is that comparing same-weight bullets from different bore sizes is like comparing same-displacement engines, when one is in an industrial truck, and one is in a small car.
If you want to compare apples to apples, use bullets with the same BC in each bore size. Then compare trajectories and "efficiency".
With a .243 Win, .270 Win, 7x57mm, .30-06, or even 7.62x54R, I can do everything the 6.5mm bore size can do.
Keep the comparison "apples to apples", and it's just another cartridge with a lot of hype based on misinformation and improper comparisons.
6.5x55 - only a few of the loadings are legal for moose in Sweden . I don't think any of the modern American wimp loads would be legal.
With original loadings it's a fine cartridge and never failed me after many years of deer hunting .A fine combination of very good inherent accuracy , mild recoil, low muzzle blast , and efficient performance.. Perfect for deer as Finn Aagaard said.
With handloads matching the original [about 2750 with 140 gr] it's at it's best.
With original loadings it's a fine cartridge and never failed me after many years of deer hunting .A fine combination of very good inherent accuracy , mild recoil, low muzzle blast , and efficient performance.. Perfect for deer as Finn Aagaard said.
With handloads matching the original [about 2750 with 140 gr] it's at it's best.
i have shot four of them. two military swedes and two factory rifles. (a win 70 and a ruger). in military trim with surplus loads it was fun. in the civilian rifles the loads needed to get either rifle to perform i wound up with about the same recoil, blast etc as the more common 270/7/30 cal domestic ammo BUT with the expense of norma ammo. so i will stick with my roberts and a 308. jmho bobn
mapsjanhere
New member
Frankenmauser, you are right in that equal BC would make all those calibers pretty equal - if you could find them: The 6.5 hits just the sweet spot between bullet length and BC. Typical 140 gr 6.5 bullets have BC around .6, try to find that BC in a 30 cal. You're looking at 200+gr VLD bullets that won't give you an acceptable OAL in most loadings. In the smaller calibers I haven't found a bullet with a BC over .55.
Weight to diameter is sectional density (SD). Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a ratio of how the bullet compares to a "standard projectile" in overcoming drag, and is indicative of a bullet's ability to retain velocty and energy in flight.
6.5mm (.264") chamberings are the current sweethearts of target shooters due to the fact that you can shoot a lighter bullet than other calibers with similar BC bullets, which translates into lower recoil. 7mm (.284") bullets also have very good BC, and are as good at long range energy retention when compared to 6.5mm bullets, and better for hunting due to the heavier weight available. But since there are no free lunches, apples to apples, 7mm rifles will kick harder than a 6.5mm rifle. You pick.
Difference is you can run most high BC bullets of the 6.5 out of a short action, with good speeds, where as take the .30 cal and 7mm (no WSM) and you don't get near the performance with the equal comparison of (BC to BC). Excluding the .243. The .30 shape and bullet design really doesn't hit it's stride till you get to 190gr and up. Same with the 7mm bullets try to establish a speed of 2750+ with a 168gr VLD or a 180gr VLD in a 7mm-08. Excusing alliant's new 2000-MP powder its relatively difficult to find an accurate load, or i don't see them that much at that speed. It's not that the 6.5 is magical, it's that the weight class of bullets with high BC are light enough to be run through a short action with good speeds.
WyomingWhitetail
New member
well guess i must have bought into all the hype of the 6.5 because im having RwBeV help me build a 6.5-06 on turkish mauser. Course it didn't take much convincing i had a 270 and loved it then went to the 25-06 and love it and 6.5 is right in between so the best of all worlds. i also have a friend building a 6.5-284 which oughta be pretty sweet.