Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Deer hunting and general medium-game hunting |
| Bullet Type | Soft Point (SP) |
| Bullet Weight | 131 gr |
| Case | Brass (long-action cartridge) |
| Primer | Boxer (Large Rifle) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $30.99/box – $1.55/round |
| Closest Competitors | PPU Metric Rifle 139 gr SPBT, Federal Fusion 156 gr SP, Hornady Superformance 140 gr SST |
Official Specs
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sellier & Bellot | Manufacturer |
| Cartridge | 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser | Manufacturer |
| Product Line | Rifle | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Soft Point (SP) | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Weight | 131 gr / 8.50 g | Manufacturer |
| Manufacturer Catalog Code | V330602 | Sellier & Bellot official cartridge table |
| U.S. Item Number | SB6555A | Verified U.S. distributor feed |
| UPC | 754908512393 | Verified U.S. distributor feed |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,602 fps | Sellier & Bellot official cartridge table – 600 mm test barrel |
| Muzzle Energy | 1,971 ft-lbs | Sellier & Bellot official cartridge table |
| BC G1 | 0.389 | Sellier & Bellot official cartridge table |
| BC G7 | 0.195 | Sellier & Bellot official cartridge table |
| Case Material | Brass | Manufacturer / verified product data |
| Primer | Boxer (Large Rifle) | Manufacturer / verified product data |
| Reloadable | Yes | Boxer-primed brass case |
Source labels identify the verified origin of each value. Missing official manufacturer values are left blank rather than estimated.
Ballistics Table
| Distance (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) | 10 mph Wind Drift (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2602 | 1971 | -1.5 | 0.0 |
| 100 | 2379 | 1646 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| 200 | 2166 | 1365 | -4.7 | 3.9 |
| 300 | 1965 | 1123 | -16.8 | 9.2 |
| 400 | 1776 | 917 | -37.9 | 17.2 |
| 500 | 1600 | 745 | -70.1 | 28.2 |
| 600 | 1441 | 604 | -115.9 | 42.7 |
| 700 | 1301 | 492 | -178.5 | 61.0 |
Muzzle velocity, muzzle energy and BC values are official Sellier & Bellot data. Downrange values are calculated reference values using G1 drag, standard atmospheric conditions, a 1.5-inch sight height, a 100-yard zero and a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind. They are not manufacturer test data.
Key Takeaway
Sellier & Bellot’s 131 gr soft point is a traditional 6.5×55 hunting load with officially published 2,602 fps muzzle velocity and 0.389 G1 / 0.195 G7 BC values. It is best matched to deer and similar medium game, while tougher game may justify a heavier or controlled-expansion design.
The 6.5×55 Swedish and the Soft Point Tradition
The 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser cartridge dates to 1894, developed as a joint military project between Sweden and Norway. It earned a reputation for outstanding inherent accuracy and relatively mild recoil long before the modern 6.5mm renaissance brought the caliber back into mainstream popularity. Sellier & Bellot’s 131 gr soft point load sits squarely in the traditional weight range for this cartridge — heavier than the 120–123 gr options favored for varmints and lighter deer, but lighter than the 156 gr options used for larger Scandinavian game like moose. The soft point design has been the workhorse hunting bullet construction for over a century precisely because it offers a reliable balance of penetration and controlled expansion without requiring sophisticated bonding technology, keeping costs accessible for hunters who shoot volume.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- White-tailed deer hunting at ranges of 50–300 yards
- Fallow deer, roe deer, and similarly sized European game
- Hunters using classic Swedish Mauser rifles or modern bolt-actions chambered in 6.5×55
- Shooters seeking a cost-accessible, traditional hunting load without premium bullet pricing
- Situations where controlled expansion on medium-sized game is the priority over maximum penetration depth
Not the right tool for:
- Elk, moose, or other large, heavy-boned game where deeper penetration or bonded bullet construction is advisable
- Long-range shooting beyond 400 yards where published BC data would be required for precise hold corrections
- Jurisdictions with lead-free ammunition requirements (this is a traditional lead-core soft point)
- Hunters who require published ballistic data for precise ranging systems or ballistic calculators
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source user observations, Sellier & Bellot ammunition is produced at the S&B factory in Vlašim, Czech Republic, one of the oldest continuously operating ammunition manufacturers in the world (founded 1825). Their brass-cased, Boxer-primed construction is widely noted in open sources as consistent in dimension and suitable for reloading. Soft point bullets from S&B in this caliber are reported across hunting forums to feed reliably through both military-surplus Swedish Mauser actions and modern bolt-action rifles. No specific failure modes have been identified in open-source reporting for this load. All notes reflect manufacturer claims or publicly available community observations — not structured performance data collected by this database.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | Muzzle Velocity | BC G1 | Best Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sellier & Bellot Rifle 131 gr SP | 131 gr | Soft Point | 2,602 fps | 0.389 | Lighter traditional hunting load |
| PPU Metric Rifle 139 gr SPBT | 139 gr | Soft Point Boat Tail | 2,540 fps | 0.491 | Higher published BC |
| Hornady Superformance 140 gr SST | 140 gr | Polymer Tip Boat Tail | 2,735 fps | 0.520 | Fastest and flattest published option |
| Federal Fusion 156 gr SP | 156 gr | Bonded Soft Point | 2,500 fps | 0.489 | Heaviest bullet and bonded construction |
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $28–$34 per 20-round box depending on retailer and market conditions
- Per-round cost: approximately $1.45–$1.70 at typical retail
- PPU 6.5×55 (budget alternative) typically runs $26–$30/box — roughly $0.15–$0.20 less per round
- Hornady American Whitetail 6.5×55 typically runs $33–$38/box, offering published ballistic data and the InterLock bullet at a modest premium
- Norma Oryx and Lapua Mega run $48–$60/box — premium bonded constructions for hunters targeting larger or tougher game
- At $30.99, the S&B 131 gr SP sits in the mid-tier of 6.5×55 hunting ammunition pricing — competitive for brass-cased, reloadable hunting ammunition from an established European manufacturer
- Prices above $36/box for this load should be considered elevated unless supply conditions are unusual
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Sellier & Bellot Rifle 6.5x55 Swedish 131 Gr Soft Point (Box)
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FAQ
What exact factory load does this report cover?
Sellier & Bellot Rifle 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser with a 131 gr soft point bullet, catalog code V330602 and U.S. item number SB6555A.
What velocity and BC does Sellier & Bellot publish?
The official cartridge table lists 2,602 fps muzzle velocity, a 0.389 G1 BC and a 0.195 G7 BC from a 600 mm test barrel.
Are all values in the ballistics table official manufacturer data?
No. The muzzle values and BC figures are official. Downrange values are calculated references under the conditions stated below the table.
Is this case reloadable?
Yes. This load uses a Boxer-primed brass case with a Large Rifle primer. Inspect every fired case before reloading.
Is this ammunition appropriate for a vintage Swedish Mauser?
Use only ammunition appropriate for the rifle and have any vintage firearm inspected by a qualified gunsmith. Rifle condition and chamber dimensions matter more than the model name alone.
