Thread: 6.5x55 Swede - 130gr vs 140gr tragectory

Hi all,

I was down country browsing some local hunting shops and noticed that none of them stocked Sako gamehead pro 130gr ammo which I've been using. They did have a few different brands in 140gr.

My Swede has been cut down to 20" and suppressed and is sighted in 1" high at 100m with this 130gr ammo.

In a situation where I couldn't get 130gr and had to use 140gr - what would the change in tragectory (drop) be, out to say 200m max?

My guess is that the drop won't be that bad at shorter ranges for my purposes (deer). I have some 140gr so will check it out for myself next time I'm at the range.

Are there any rules of thumb that can be used in situations like this?

Thanks in advance

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go to www.hunting nut
on main page at top left is wee box full of list
on that list is pointblank online
click on that and follow nose
enter the values you KNOW and do best guess for the rest.
its free and accurate compared to other apps
you can change figures as often as you like...changing sight in range is eye opening and may change your way of doing so.
best bit is the answer is given two ways...in numbers like used to get on old Norma ammo packets AND in pretty curve picture which works better for me.

I would hold a couple of inches higher at 200 with the 140.

Originally Posted by maccanz

Hi all,

I was down country browsing some local hunting shops and noticed that none of them stocked Sako gamehead pro 130gr ammo which I've been using. They did have a few different brands in 140gr.

My Swede has been cut down to 20" and suppressed and is sighted in 1" high at 100m with this 130gr ammo.

In a situation where I couldn't get 130gr and had to use 140gr - what would the change in tragectory (drop) be, out to say 200m max?

My guess is that the drop won't be that bad at shorter ranges for my purposes (deer). I have some 140gr so will check it out for myself next time I'm at the range.

Are there any rules of thumb that can be used in situations like this?

Thanks in advance

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Using Shooter app, there is not an option for the Sako ammo, but this could be an indication of what you can expect between a 130 and 140 gr projectile assuming both leave the barrel with exactly the same velocity:

140gr:


130 gr:


In my 20” rifle the velocity for the 130’s are about 100fps faster than the 140’s, but those are hand-loads so not sure if factory ammo will differ a lot. The velocity for the above was 788ms (2585fps).


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Very helpful - thanks everyone.

Here is the link to the calculator

https://www.huntingnut.com/index.php...intBlankOnline

Cheers

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

As long as it shoots to the same point of aim there wouldn't be enough diference in trajectory to bother thinking about at 200 on a deer.

Here is the Sako trajectory sheet that comes with their boxes of ammo. It's pretty clear you only have to holdover 2-3" at 200 from yr 130 gn zero.

Originally Posted by Phil_H

Link not working MD

Wanted to go and have a gander myself....

Cheers
Phil

I didnt post a link...LOL follow my instructions...they arent difficult.

https://www.huntingnut.com/index.php

Originally Posted by maccanz

Hi all,

I was down country browsing some local hunting shops and noticed that none of them stocked Sako gamehead pro 130gr ammo which I've been using. They did have a few different brands in 140gr.

My Swede has been cut down to 20" and suppressed and is sighted in 1" high at 100m with this 130gr ammo.

In a situation where I couldn't get 130gr and had to use 140gr - what would the change in tragectory (drop) be, out to say 200m max?

My guess is that the drop won't be that bad at shorter ranges for my purposes (deer). I have some 140gr so will check it out for myself next time I'm at the range.

Are there any rules of thumb that can be used in situations like this?

Thanks in advance

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Greetings Maccanz,
The short answer is that the tables will give you a prediction of what might happen but there is one giant fly in the ointment. Some combinations of cartridges and rifles string loads with different projectile weights and velocities vertically and some put them close together. Additionally if your 140 grain cartridges are made in the US velocities are liable to be a great deal slower than your Sako ammunition. I see you have a zero 25mm high at 100m so I strongly suggest that you test your current and new ammo together at 200m. Two shots of each should suffice as you are looking for point of impact rather than testing for accuracy. This could be rather interesting. Once this is done you will know rather than have an opinion. I would suggest also that you select a Europe manufactured cartridge rather than US which should cut down the variables. In my rifles the .308, .303 group string vertically with more velocity or change in projectile weight and the 6.5x55 tends to plunk 129 grain and 120 grain in the same hole but I have not tested 140 grain yet. Different stocks and bedding seem to have an effect as well.
Regards Grandpamac.

My 20" Tikka puts the 130 gr Sako Gamehead Pro and 140 gr Hornady SST very close to each other.

my std x55 tikka seems to prefer 120gr sierras

In my Swede the following loads all hit the same point of aim at 200 meters.

120 Nosler BTS on 47 gns of 2209
140 Amax on 46 gns of 2209
129 Hornady SP on 47 gns of 2209

i guess the point being some rifles and cartridged can do what you want but you will need to check it out. Beyond 200 i would expect them to diverge.

Originally Posted by Dicko

In my Swede the following loads all hit the same point of aim at 200 meters.

120 Nosler BTS on 47 gns of 2209
140 Amax on 46 gns of 2209
129 Hornady SP on 47 gns of 2209

i guess the point being some rifles and cartridged can do what you want but you will need to check it out. Beyond 200 i would expect them to diverge.

Greetings Dicko,
My results for the 120 and 129 grain projectiles match yours but with a grain less of AR2209 in both. Current AR2209 appears to be significantly faster than that made 20 years ago, around 80 fps for the same charge in 120 and 129 grain projectiles. The ADI/ Hodgdon data uses the old powder in its load data.
Regards Grandpamac.

Buy some and try it out. only way to know exactly what it will do.