So which caliber, in what rifle ? The 6.5 Creed, the 6.5x55 Swede, or the .257 Roberts

[Two Trax]

I am a southpaw. Looked for years for a lefty stainless in the Swede. Found a killer deal on a Sako 85 Carbon Light in 6.5 CM. Gonna have to do.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I am a southpaw. Looked for years for a lefty stainless in the Swede. Found a killer deal on a Sako 85 Carbon Light in 6.5 CM. Gonna have to do.

You simply cannot go wrong with a Sako in that caliber. Enjoy

 

[Mustangs Rule]

You are confusing the cartridge with the rifle. The ruger77 RSI has a 1-10 twist. The original in the savage 99 had a 1-14 twist.

It is confusing. A friend of mine had a later Savage 99 with the thumb safety, aluminum not brass magazine spool, and it was stamped 250 Savage and had the 1/10 twist. Much better. The Ruger is sweet, enjoy it

 

[Brad]

As someone that is 75% Norwegian, I resent the 6.5x55 being called "Swedish."

The 6.5x55 was actually a joint Norwegian/Swedish development, and if it hadn't been for the Norwegians it would have been a rimmed cartridge (what the Swedes wanted) rather than rimless, which would have been a pretty dumb move. Having said all that, I've never had a 6.5x55. Just doesn't float my boat. It requires a long action (or Mauser length action), and I'd sooner use the All-American 270 Win if toting a LA.

I've had 3 different 6.5CM's and currently have one - a Kimber Montana. Smartest cartridge to come out in my lifetime (I'm 64). I'll probably get a couple more in different platforms. It handles everything I want to do with a rifle.

Thinking back, I've had 6 different 257 Rob's, and currently have one - a Kimber 84M Classic Select. I only wish it were a 250 Savage.

I've had exactly one 250/3000 - a Ruger M77 RSI. I just love that little cartridge.

 

[Brad]

and used to hunt polar bear by early Scandinavian Arctic explorers.

I'm not aware of any Arctic or Antarctic explorers that used the 6.5x55. Nansen, Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott, Perry - none used it. The 6.5x53 was often used by explorers of that era though.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

As someone that is 75% Norwegian, I resent the 6.5x55 being called "Swedish."

The 6.5x55 was actually a joint Norwegian/Swedish development, and if it hadn't been for the Norwegians it would have been a rimmed cartridge (what the Swedes wanted) rather than rimless, which would have been a pretty dumb move. Having said all that, I've never had a 6.5x55. Just doesn't float my boat. It requires a long action (or Mauser length action), and I'd sooner use the All-American 270 Win if toting a LA.

I've had 3 different 6.5CM's and currently have one - a Kimber Montana. Smartest cartridge to come out in my lifetime (I'm 64). I'll probably get a couple more in different platforms. It handles everything I want to do with a rifle.

Thinking back, I've had 6 different 257 Rob's, and currently have one - a Kimber 84M Classic Select. I only wish it were a 250 Savage.

I've had exactly one 250/3000 - a Ruger M77 RSI. I just love that little cartridge.

All well said and understandable though my draw to the Nor-Swede remains steadfast, especially since it is in a long action. Before going all Copper and lead free, I used to shoot the 154 grain Lapua mega and the 160 grain Hornady Round nosed interlock bullets in my newer Model 70 CRF. Used on even big wild boar, even hitting that thick cartilaginous shoulder plate they went through and killed very well. I have seen personally faster lighter .270 pointed bullets fail here on real wild russian boar.

Now i use the 140 grain Lapua all copper Naturalis round nose for such service and do they ever serve well, but a long action is a must for such bullets. The 140 Naturalis RN being as long as either of the heavier lead core RN bullets mentioned above.

These heavy for caliber high SD bullets have always been where the little Nor-Swede flexes its muscles.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I'm not aware of any Arctic or Antarctic explorers that used the 6.5x55. Nansen, Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott, Perry - none used it. The 6.5x53 was often used by explorers of that era though.

Thank you,

Without any specific Arctic explorers being mentioned, a google search just made credits the 6.5x55 as being used by early Scandinavian explorers of the Arctic.

Who knows. Again, thank you

 

[Brad]

These heavy for caliber high SD bullets have always been where the little Nor-Swede flexes its muscles.

I concur, but only with conventional bullets. All-copper completely changes this.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I concur, but only with conventional bullets. All-copper completely changes this.

For the better with Barnes,

My baseline for judging the field effectiveness of killing power for different bullets has been as a licensed guide specializing in hunting wild boar, real big black ones with the toughest skin and that notorious cartilaginous shoulder plate.

Going from lead core to Barnes bullets as they evolved and improved over decades has been a positive learning and hunting experience.

I have killed and been witness to over a hundred wild boar kills many well over 350 pounds and have been impressed, with the R and D Barnes has succeeded in doing over and over for decades.

Some of the greatest testimonials have been coming from African Professional Hunters.

Read the more recent ones. earlier there were expansion/penetration issues for sure.

 

[noharleyyet]

My long time affinity for .25 cal is realized with Mr. Weatherby's magnum and the venerable naught 6.

 

[Brad]

For the better with Barnes,

My baseline for judging the field effectiveness of killing power for different bullets has been as a licensed guide specializing in hunting wild boar, real big black ones with the toughest skin and that notorious cartilaginous shoulder plate.

Going from lead core to Barnes bullets as they evolved and improved over decades has been a positive learning and hunting experience.

I have killed and been witness to over a hundred wild boar kills many well over 350 pounds and have been impressed, with the R and D Barnes has succeeded in doing over and over for decades.

Some of the greatest testimonials have been coming from African Professional Hunters.

Read the more recent ones. earlier there were expansion/penetration issues for sure.

Nice to hear that kind of experience!

I will say though, I'd be curious for further explanation re your negative comments about the 270 vs. the 6.5x55. What bullets did you see problems with with the 270" Frangible 130's? If so, I can't see how that's a fair comparison to a stout 150 or 160 6.5mm. Other than kicking very slightly less, there's just no way I'm buying the 6.5x55 with "name-your-conventional-bullet" has anything in the real world over a 270 stoked with 150 or 160 Partitions.

 

[Trail&ErrorAK]

.257
I've wanted to get one but just not practical for what I want to do.

I'd Say Roberts, Swede, Creed.
But I do own a Creed for my kids to have as a Caribou and range gun. I wouldn't be too worried about them taking a sheep with it, especially if I was backing them up.
Took my 59" bull last year with an Ackley.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Nice to hear that kind of experience!

I will say though, I'd be curious for further explanation re your negative comments about the 270 vs. the 6.5x55. What bullets did you see problems with with the 270" Frangible 130's? If so, I can't see how that's a fair comparison to a stout 150 or 160 6.5mm. Other than kicking very slightly less, there's just no way I'm buying the 6.5x55 with "name-your-conventional-bullet" has anything in the real world over a 270 stoked with 150 or 160 Partitions.

You hit it dead right. Was a 130 .270 that hit the shoulder plate on a big male boar at angle coming in. The boar went down, laid there, did not move. Keep my crosshair on him if he twitched wrong. Still...then when I got up he jumped up and ran away. The next day another hunter shot a boar that was dead match and dressing him out there was a huge fresh scar on the shoulder blade same side.

Of course you are right about this being a lesser bullet for the .270, but seeing the lesson right in front of my face, with real feedback the next day was very convincing.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Nice to hear that kind of experience!

I will say though, I'd be curious for further explanation re your negative comments about the 270 vs. the 6.5x55. What bullets did you see problems with with the 270" Frangible 130's? If so, I can't see how that's a fair comparison to a stout 150 or 160 6.5mm. Other than kicking very slightly less, there's just no way I'm buying the 6.5x55 with "name-your-conventional-bullet" has anything in the real world over a 270 stoked with 150 or 160 Partitions.

Ohh and that was one of my very first big boar, after that always favored heavy slower bullets

 

[MS 9x56]

As someone that is 75% Norwegian, I resent the 6.5x55 being called "Swedish."

The 6.5x55 was actually a joint Norwegian/Swedish development, and if it hadn't been for the Norwegians it would have been a rimmed cartridge (what the Swedes wanted) rather than rimless, which would have been a pretty dumb move. Having said all that, I've never had a 6.5x55. Just doesn't float my boat. It requires a long action (or Mauser length action), and I'd sooner use the All-American 270 Win if toting a LA.

I've had 3 different 6.5CM's and currently have one - a Kimber Montana. Smartest cartridge to come out in my lifetime (I'm 64). I'll probably get a couple more in different platforms. It handles everything I want to do with a rifle.

Thinking back, I've had 6 different 257 Rob's, and currently have one - a Kimber 84M Classic Select. I only wish it were a 250 Savage.

I've had exactly one 250/3000 - a Ruger M77 RSI. I just love that little cartridge.

Great cartridge and rifle. Mine excels in stillhunting and tree stands.

 

[brymoore]

You hit it dead right. Was a 130 .270 that hit the shoulder plate on a big male boar at angle coming in. The boar went down, laid there, did not move. Keep my crosshair on him if he twitched wrong. Still...then when I got up he jumped up and ran away. The next day another hunter shot a boar that was dead match and dressing him out there was a huge fresh scar on the shoulder blade same side.

Of course you are right about this being a lesser bullet for the .270, but seeing the lesson right in front of my face, with real feedback the next day was very convincing.

Huh. I’ve killed elk, deer and antelope with Win 270 and 130 ABs.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Huh. I’ve killed elk, deer and antelope with Win 270 and 130 ABs.

Great 130's would be perfect. Going into big black Russian Boar however is a different world, more so hitting that one inch thick cartilaginous pie plate sized shoulder plate.

 

[brymoore]

Great 130's would be perfect. Going into big black Russian Boar however is a different world, more so hitting that one inch thick cartilaginous pie plate sized shoulder plate.

What bullet were you using?

 

[Mustangs Rule]

What bullet were you using?

On this boar where the bullet glanced off the shoulder plate, I was using a 130 grain Hornady Spire point. I had taken one or two before with a 280 and 154 grain RN.

I see lots of hunters in Texas shooting little ones with 223 but big ones are a different world. My minimum became 280 or 7x57 for a while but landowner issues made me move up in caliber.

I was hunting them on a 3,000 acre barley ranch and one neighbor did not allow recovery even if one was dead fifty feet on the other side of the fence.

And the action was so often right at the fence line.

I shot so many over decades I kept track of kill details for my kills and clients,

In the wide open barley fields for big boar at 300-400 yards the 338 Win mag was the ticket. In the tall grain fields up close I liked the 35 Whelen with 225 grain Barnes tsx with a fixed 2.5 x scope

Same at night under a full moon with depredation permits, shooting then standing up eating peaches in orchards.

Lots of variation but one direction was clear, use enough gun. Some went to an honest 400 pounds.

Ohh and one more thing, keep shooting them, take as many as possible. Best if one is killed for each shot fired.

In the end best all around choice was a 30-06, using a 150 grain Barnes TTSXBT, or if lead core a 165 grain, going to lose 10% minimum bullet weight to fragmentation.

So back to my preferring the Swede of our three, can use the heaviest bullets.