6.5x55 for all deer

[Norfolk Deer Search]

People need to keep in mind that a 6.5 mm bullet in copper is a fair old size a 120 gain copper is a fairly big bullet . 100 grain copper tTSX has acounted for the most of my Red deer . Breaking both shoulders is the expectation on a broadside shot and the deer takes a nose dive and never gets up! Hart shots ? take longer sometimes so a little run might be involved but its little hole in and a bigger one the side of your fist
The 120 grain also does a great job but the only differences is a very slightly bigger hole and a little more recoil

I hated the 120’s, the 140’s before they stopped making them were far superior

 

[West5575]

Personally I’d get both just to have them. Also personally I’d maybe opt for the 06 for the biggest reds but the 6.5 with proper bullets will do the job and with style!

Any animal can run when lung hit. Also interesting to note that Norma loads its 156 gr to the same velocity as 140 gr. Either of those will poke a hole straight through anything you shoot at. Only reason I might go with -06 is flatter shooting but if you hand load the Swede will get up there to the 2800 range with a great bc bullet.

In summary buy both shoot both. Enjoy.

 

[G0JSM]

Some talk of runners after being shot with 6.5. I can assure you I've seen as many runners with 30.06. Its were you put the bullet that counts

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Some talk of runners after being shot with 6.5. I can assure you I've seen as many runners with 30.06. Its were you put the bullet that counts

And it’s what bullet you use that counts!

Never had a problem with a Barnes TTSX not having the living daylights trashed out of it blood trial every time minimal running

 

[owenlee]

What bullets?

Hornady super performance 140gr sst

 

[CAVHUNT]

There has been comment on deer running off after the shot and then collapsing at various distances from where it initially ran from. Usually it is heart shots or lung shots which cause this phenomena.
Perhaps we might take a closer look at what happens when a deer is heart shot.

Deer have a significantly faster reaction time than us humans. To put it in perspective their reaction time to external stimuli is more than twice as fast as we humans can manage which means for us watching them that heir response is instantaneous. A deer with its heart destroyed will react to this damage even quicker than its normal reaction times with "genetically pre-programmed" commands kicking in with either "fight or flee".

At the shot it's brain is still full of blood, its operation is normal as are all its muscles so when its brain issues the instinctive command to flee its response is, for us watchers, instantaneous so its run is on automatic pilot.

But...with blood no longer pumping through its system and its brain is dying it can no longer issue commands. Its legs respond to the brains last command which was flee so they blindly obey that command. With a now non functioning brain it can no longer recognize or avoid obstacles in its path which it either runs straight through [shrubs/bushes] or crashes in to [trees/rocks/fences].

Similar to the dying brain with no blood supply its legs can only maintain forward momentum for a brief second or two. The deer is like a fired cannonball...it can only go in a straight line losing speed as it goes. With no fresh blood and no commands from the brain the legs now collapse under the still running animal. At this the deer still has forward momentum without vision or thought which means as it collapses it does the loud "crash landing slide" we are all familiar with after a heart shot. It is why they often end up in a tangle of legs, antlers, enmeshed in bushes/trees/ground litter etc. From the shot to the collapse is only a couple of seconds but in that time it can cover some 20 or 30 yards and do it running up hill.

 

[tackb]

i use a creedmoor which is the far sexier younger version of your ballistic twin 6.5x55 and prior to that i used a 260rem which is the less sexy weirdo brother that never really became as popular !

in my opinion a 120-140gr 6.5mm projectile at medium velocity say 2500-3000fps is just about perfect for uk deer , i have shot them all with it from 15m munti's to 450m big red norfolk dollops and they all died no problem

 

[Rutland lad]

I shoot 6.5x55 with 123 Fox Classic Hunter monometal bullets. I homeload them so they’re much firmer than the weak factory offerings, running at just around 2,900 fps.
They’re very good on all deer up to sika which I manage in a park.

I also have a .300 WinMag barrel which I use in Scotland on the red deer. They will run on a little with the 6.5 but basically drop to the spot with the WinMag.

Basically, it’s physics. The homeloaded 6.5 produces 2,200 ft/lbs at the muzzle. The homeloaded WinMag is 3,500 ft/lbs by virtue of a bigger bullet travelling just as fast. That’s over 50% more energy hitting the deer and the energy has to be dissipated into the body causing it to drop to the shot.

I love the 6.5, but when I’m faced with a deer that might cover 50/60 m of clearfell after the shot, I love the WinMag more.

 

[Cris]

Do people over think the humble Swede. It’s capable and most that shoot it, just do that and get on with it nicely. No need to shout about it.

 

[Siggy]

Currently shooting fox 100gr copper in my 6.5x55- it’s knocking the fallow over very nicely. That’s including some 53 kg bucks. Think it is doing 3050 ft/sec so fairly fast. Nice clean through and through, and nothing has run far yet. I was worried moving away from Sako 120gr blades but so far so good

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

All deer legal calibres work. But its pretty obvious that some work quicker than others.

I think if i was a large stag- or any deer really- all other factors being equal- i would rather be hit with a larger more powerful calibre that made a bigger hole, deposited more energy into me, causing me to bleed out and lose conciousness quicker. Whether i feel pain after being shot is debated- but at the least i would experience confusion and probably distress- and would like this period to be as brief as possible.

I would want the hunter to have the best chance of putting the bullet in the perfect place and thus not be shy or fearful of recoil.

Thus i would vote for the largest calibre which that particular hunter can shoot whilst maintaining accuracy.

So if the OP wishes to try a larger calibre for the larger species- go for it i say.

 

[3595wilk]

I shoot 6.5x55 with 123 Fox Classic Hunter monometal bullets. I homeload them so they’re much firmer than the weak factory offerings, running at just around 2,900 fps.
They’re very good on all deer up to sika which I manage in a park.

I also have a .300 WinMag barrel which I use in Scotland on the red deer. They will run on a little with the 6.5 but basically drop to the spot with the WinMag.

Basically, it’s physics. The homeloaded 6.5 produces 2,200 ft/lbs at the muzzle. The homeloaded WinMag is 3,500 ft/lbs by virtue of a bigger bullet travelling just as fast. That’s over 50% more energy hitting the deer and the energy has to be dissipated into the body causing it to drop to the shot.

I love the 6.5, but when I’m faced with a deer that might cover 50/60 m of clearfell after the shot, I love the WinMag more.

Still finalising my load for my swede......used Fox in my .308 and my .243 previously. Would be interested to know what you settled on with the Fox if that's ok?

 

[Ratel]

I've shot the bigger end of the six species with the 6.5x55. I've shot all of the six with the 7x57, no difference between them. Some may run, some don't. I've also shot the six with a .243w and not noticed a lot of difference. So my answer to the OP, the 6.5x55 is adequate for all our deer, just go for it and fill yer boots.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Hornady super performance 140gr sst

Sounds like you're putting it in the wrong place. Where you aiming? Furthest I've had a roe run was a few yards and im amazed it ran that far. That was with the eldm and the sst is worse

 

[Ratel]

I love the 6.5, but when I’m faced with a deer that might cover 50/60 m of clearfell after the shot, I love the WinMag more.

That's cos you're getting old my friend.

 

[Rutland lad]

That's cos you're getting old my friend.

Thank God - the alternative to getting old isn’t that great !

 

[TommyPro555]

Steady now! Getting older means you probably have more experience with different calibres, bullet weights, different barrel lengths, twist rates, lead and now non-toxic. Only problem with being older is that you have more to forget! 6.5C is actually a very sound calibre and I’m happy with mine

 

[Mike1979]

Steady now! Getting older means you probably have more experience with different calibres, bullet weights, different barrel lengths, twist rates, lead and now non-toxic. Only problem with being older is that you have more to forget! 6.5C is actually a very sound calibre and I’m happy with mine

With that comment at the end I wasnt sure if you were taking the pee or if you are actually happy with a Gaymoor

Being older means you dont care as much about what people think so having a Creedmoor is spot on and upsets the bog snorkling, cave dwellers, and flat earth brigade who go on about "oooh the .270 is so great" ...but havent tried anything decent

 

[TommyPro555]

Spot on Mike. I’ve still got a .243 and .308 but the former doesn’t do non-toxic in the right weight and latter is a bit punchy for me now. So 6.5C and a bun is the favoured option now

 

[glasshalffull]

Minimal meat damage with the 6.5x55 over the 30.06