6.5x55 or 6.5prc - Blaser barrels

[Rutland lad]

I concur with Thomas Haugland on TLHR (?) channel YouTube.

‘6.5x55 is the most underrated calibre’

It is my favourite to shoot from my 3 choices.

 

[3595wilk]

I'm going 6.5x55 Sauer 404 and a
308. barrel as my
deer/boar solution ...yes not a Blaser but.from the same factory and will cover all my requirements.

Looking at 6.5x55 in 110+ 140 monolithics for fallow down as my main choice.

 

[Blaser243]

In my experience most people who think they need more gun or faster bullets to kill uk deer simply have not shot very many deer. Then they extrapolate from a small data set that they are struggling to "knock them down". Obviously no rifle will "knock down" deer, they die from central nervous system failure (head and neck shoots) or blood loss leading to organ/brain failure in the case of chest shot. "More gun" might be required at 500m plus as you need to retain velicity for good terminal performance but who actually shoots deer that far away? It seems to be only Americans on the internet. It's not sexy, but right bullet in the right place kills deer at normal ranges... boringly any deer legal rifle will do.....

Perhaps true regarding velocity per se, but not my problem. I would think I shoot considerably more every year than the average, and have done so for nearly 25 years. For me, choosing a new cartridge isn’t a frequent thing so I like to mull over the many possibilities when I do (unless I’m guided on my choice by availability of a particular rifle, as I was with my 7x65r and .25-06). They will all do the job, but they do do it slightly differently and there is nothing wrong in enjoying the process of both selection and then optimisation (via home loading).

 

[Utectok]

Perhaps true regarding velocity per se, but not my problem. I would think I shoot considerably more every year than the average, and have done so for nearly 25 years. For me, choosing a new cartridge isn’t a frequent thing so I like to mull over the many possibilities when I do (unless I’m guided on my choice by availability of a particular rifle, as I was with my 7x65r and .25-06). They will all do the job, but they do do it slightly differently and there is nothing wrong in enjoying the process of both selection and then optimisation (via home loading).

By all means shoot and choose whatever cartridge you like I’m just saying it probably makes very little difference at normal ranges… not that anyone who shoots a .270 would believe you.

 

[PasqualeM]

The 6,5 swede has killed more moose here in Sweden than any other calibre. So...if you need a "heavier" calibre for the UK deer- probably not.

 

[remmy243]

I’m at around 3100fps with a 24” barrel and 114gn projectile (yew tree tlr)

Nice about to start loading the 114 up myself
What load you using out of interest

 

[Scipio]

Thanks all so far. No question, the Swede is a fine round, but focusing in on the original question - twist rates of 1:8.66" and copper bullets. I'm getting the sense that they will fly fine (although interestingly the Berger stability calculator doesn't seem to love the combination).

hello buddy, well there are calculators, as already kindly posted by others, but isnt the 1/8,66 pretty much the classic 6.5x55 twist rate? If so it has succesfully been used to regularly fire 156 grn lead rounds on moose, i believe. Now lead is about 20% more dense, so if the bullet shape kept the same that would equate to about 137 gr copper bullet.

 

[Scipio]

All non toxic fly fine from my Blaser 6.5 x 55......Virtus, Yew Tree, Fox, Peregrine, Hornady, Barnes...all weights between 100 and 140 work without issue. Fox 123 grain is my go to

May i ask how you find the 100 grns vs the fox 123 grn coppers in your 6.5x55, and why you prefer the latter ?

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

I was between a 6.5 creedmoor , 6.5x55 and a 6.5 prc.

In the end I went for the creed.

6.5x55 is a lovely round but I cant get ammo for it localy/very limited which is a real shame

6.5 prc looked great but felt like it was too much for my needs which was a do it all rifle. Vermin to deer with target. Barrel life is also somthing to remeber its alot of powder behind a very slim, long bullet.

In the end I went 6.5 creedmoor as I can get ammo in every shop locally, plenty of rifles and seemed to tick all the boxes.

 

[Blaser243]

This thread seems to have popped back to life, so to update on my position, I went for a 6.5x55 on the basis that I could load it hotter than the outdated pressure figures and then be pretty close to a middle of the road PRC load.

Cost was the main factor (and not needing an ultra high speed load). I got an immaculate second hand match barrel and mod for £700 (beware the one in Greenfields of Salisbury at the moment, it is a bit of a dog). This was a lot less than I could source a prc barrel from and I didn’t have to get a new bolt head at another £400-500 either.

Been faffing with other rifles recently but will be working a load up shortly in time for the fallow.

 

[Scipio]

This thread seems to have popped back to life, so to update on my position, I went for a 6.5x55 on the basis that I could load it hotter than the outdated pressure figures and then be pretty close to a middle of the road PRC load.

Cost was the main factor (and not needing an ultra high speed load). I got an immaculate second hand match barrel and mod for £700 (beware the one in Greenfields of Salisbury at the moment, it is a bit of a dog). This was a lot less than I could source a prc barrel from and I didn’t have to get a new bolt head at another £400-500 either.

Been faffing with other rifles recently but will be working a load up shortly in time for the fallow.

That sounds sensible, let us know how it goes

 

[Heym SR20]

….

 

[Dorsettaff]

May i ask how you find the 100 grns vs the fox 123 grn coppers in your 6.5x55, and why you prefer the latter ?

Better groups with 123 Fox out of my 6.5 barrel. Speed is not my priority. Accuracy and repeatability of load is

 

[Scipio]

Better groups with 123 Fox out of my 6.5 barrel. Speed is not my priority. Accuracy and repeatability of load is

Hello mate, and thanks for the feedback - and yep, if the 123s make the best hunting load for your rifle, then why not go that way

I must say that i am a bit curious about how the 100 grn fox classic hunters fairs in the 6.5. I wonder if it's not quite similar to what most in the past associated with 270 or 25-06 type of performance on deer with lead projectiles.

 

[6pt-sika]

I’ve owned a bunch of 6.5x55’s and a 6.5 PRC and they all shot (and killed) well . If it were me contemplating a Blaser barrel I’d be more inclined to wanna try the 6.5x65 RWS . But that’s more of I wanna try something I’ve never had in my hands and truely doubt it improves on the 6.5-06 or 6.5-284 but I’d still like loading for it and killing a few deer .

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Up to 309m , I would use 6.tx55 all day long.
Less recoil, plenty energy and lots of good ammunition.

 

[millsy9201]

hi, ive been using the sellior and bellot 6.5 x 55 120grain blue tips (ttrx?) through my Blaser for a while now , shot plenty of deer of all sizes and the only time a follow up shot has been required was due to my error, being honest! s & b have brought out a 130 grain now im wondering if anyone has had chance to compare them yet?
I do plan to load at some point but just not got round to it yet.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the 6.5x55 mate

 

[Scipio]

Up to 309m , I would use 6.tx55 all day long.
Less recoil, plenty energy and lots of good ammunition.

and after 300 meters, i take it you use a 6.5-06 ? Tbh,twist rates not being taken into consideration, isnt the 6.5 prc and 6.5-06 extremely similar in terms of umff behind the same diameter projectile? (if one loads to similar pressures).

 

[Scipio]

I’ve owned a bunch of 6.5x55’s and a 6.5 PRC and they all shot (and killed) well . If it were me contemplating a Blaser barrel I’d be more inclined to wanna try the 6.5x65 RWS . But that’s more of I wanna try something I’ve never had in my hands and truely doubt it improves on the 6.5-06 or 6.5-284 but I’d still like loading for it and killing a few deer .

i think Nathan Foster mentions that cartridge bit, in his review of the 6.5x57 mauser, (i know because i have that, hence why i read his piece on that cartridge).
As for power behind the projectile, i think you are bang on already, i reckon it will be in the 6.5 prc, 6.5-06 etc territory, however i think Nathan mentions it was partially invented to allow for 6.5x57s to be reamered out to the x65 rws, but in that process it eats some of the freebore and throat that the x57 had, thus making the x65 less suited for long for caliber projectiles, which modern non leads are, after all,even at moderate weights. Just a thought.

Edit: yes, it seems i was right. 6.5x57 Well right according to NF, (and due credit to NF, of course, for his knowledge base, which is to a fair extent made free for reading on his website), and he should know better than me, i reckon.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Yeah I have a 6.5-06 and it's more like a 6.5x284.
Hits like a 270, used on larger deer.
I like my 6.5x55 sako 75 Finnlight.
Moderate recoil ,light weight and does the job.
Good luck on your choice
Jim