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

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.