.270 or 6.5 x 55

[SussexSteve]

There's a lot more to muzzle flip than just calibre. Can certainly see impact with a moderated 270. Personally I'd find the rifle I want and see what ammunition they stock in my local shop (if you don't reload) and pick a calibre from there. I've shot both nothing between them

 

[Utectok]

Okay I know it’s not a swede but the ballistics is pretty similar
Anyway enjoy

6.5 Creedmoor Versus 270 Winchester — Ron Spomer Outdoors

In a 6.5 Creedmoor versus 270 Winchester ballistic competition, which wins? Drop, drift, retained energy, velocity, and recoil are compared.

www.ronspomeroutdoors.com

 

[.270]

As i have said before, a .270 cal is only for Real Men.

 

[Dunwaters]

I'm sure this bullet's terminal performance is beyond reproach, but I don't think I'd be pleased with such a heavy, blunt, slow offering in a .270 intended for the hill...

The 156gr load isn’t too loopy in .270, its flat enough out to 250 or a little more, in a 6.5 its a very different story, 200 max.
Both of them will fully penetrate just about any animal from any angle, I have 3 boxes of Sako 156gr in .270 to use up before my transition to copper is completed, I‘ll use them on the stags this year.

 

[Sika-Hunter]

6.5x55 simply does not have the legs for it.

Sorry have to disagree, Have shot 100's of deer from Norfolk Stags , hill hinds/Stags , woodland Sika and lowland Fallow all with my 6.5x55 never ever thought it doesn't have the "Legs" for the job. To be honest its all about shot placement and knowing your setup

 

[Foxyboy43]

You start shooting red deer out to 250 plus there is a massive difference between the 2.

6.5x55 simply does not have the legs for it.

Thats the reason i sold my 6.5x55

Lovely calibre for sniffing around the woods with, but its not an all round killing calibre.

156gns has 2.8cms and 43 joules between the 2 at 300m if you use Sako 156gns. Gosh just think of all that additional dialing/holdover/guessing etc…..

 

[Leec6.5]

Sorry have to disagree, Have shot 100's of deer from Norfolk Stags , hill hinds/Stags , woodland Sika and lowland Fallow all with my 6.5x55 never ever thought it doesn't have the "Legs" for the job. To be honest its all about shot placement and knowing your setup

That makes 2 of us, and its good to disagree!

 

[Utectok]

As i have said before, a .270 cal is only for Real Men.

Real men shoot whatever they fancy

 

[Ratel]

If I was starting again I would still commence and use the same rifle for deer on these islands. But I wouldn't change from the bigger one as I have.
First was .22 Hornet.
Second 7x57. If it's good enough for Tigger's and Dumbo's it's good enough for me.

 

[Dalua]

Sorry have to disagree, Have shot 100's of deer from Norfolk Stags , hill hinds/Stags , woodland Sika and lowland Fallow all with my 6.5x55 never ever thought it doesn't have the "Legs" for the job. To be honest its all about shot placement and knowing your setup

The missing bits here are information on range of shot and equipment used. I use a .270 with a plain 6x42 on the hill, and with a 200yd zero, I know that I need to hold a couple of inches high at 250, and on or just below the back at 300yds (depending on size of animal). Not that I'd routinely take 300yd shots - but it's good to know that I could if necessary, and without having to faff about.
I prefer to avoid holding off off the actual animal, as it gets harder to judge. This is not a problem for diallers-in or folk with fancy reticles - so if you've got those things it won't really matter if you've got an 18" drop at 300yds, as you'll still be holding 'on'.

 

[Leec6.5]

If I was starting again I would still commence and use the same rifle for deer on these islands. But I wouldn't change from the bigger one as I have.
First was .22 Hornet.
Second 7x57. If it's good enough for Tigger's and Dumbo's it's good enough for me.

I have a 7x57 and i cant wait to shoot it.

 

[Dalua]

156gns has 2.8cms and 43 joules between the 2 at 300m if you use Sako 156gns. Gosh just think of all that additional dialing/holdover/guessing etc…..

However, if we don't use the world's heaviest, least aerodynamic bullet .277" bullet and actually put a decent amount of powder in the case, things start to look markedly flatter............

 

[Foxyboy43]

However, if we don't use the world's heaviest, least aerodynamic bullet .277" bullet and actually put a decent amount of powder in the case, things start to look markedly flatter............

Ballistics!

 

[Heym SR20]

Okay I know it’s not a swede but the ballistics is pretty similar
Anyway enjoy

6.5 Creedmoor Versus 270 Winchester — Ron Spomer Outdoors

In a 6.5 Creedmoor versus 270 Winchester ballistic competition, which wins? Drop, drift, retained energy, velocity, and recoil are compared.

www.ronspomeroutdoors.com

Not a lot of difference at all. With the Swede, quite a lot of ammo is loaded pretty soft, whereas the CM is loaded for modern rifles. But the Swede has more case volume so you can stuff in more powder. But more powder equals more recoil. And response to shot I think has far more to do with where the bullet actually strikes, the type of bullet and its construction, the particular animal and its state of adrenalin. Or put it another way - you can easily enough drop a big red stag with one shot from a 243 if the bullet hits the right spot - many are every year and indeed in the old days you could have said .222 or even 22 Hornet. But put a 338 Lapua Magnum in the wrong place it will run a very very very long way.

 

[nCognitos]

Really interesting replies, I started stalking 30 years ago with a .270, very quickly moved on to a Varberger 6.5 x 55 and for the next 20 years until I gave it up the .270 never got pointed at another deer, just got taken out for zeroing. I was never an open hill or moor stalker, strictly lowland, Southern England forests and fields, so I guess for me it was the right calibre for the environment and the short ranges. If I was doing it again, it would be a 6.5 of some kind, my RFD stocks hunting ammo for both CM and Swede but I'm sure there is a hell of a difference between shooting small deer at 100yds, and the larger species at 200yds in open country, which I have never done.

 

[RPE79]

Interesting topic... Have seen plenty of deer shot with both calibres all as dead as each other. 270 is the ultimate 'one does all' killing tool. However I have had this conversation with a pal recently who is currently having his 270 re-barelled in 6.5x55 as he fancied a change and when asked he couldnt think of any postives of the change other than it being nicer to shoot. I would choose the 6.5 if I was sniffing around woodland on the smaller deer species however would favour the 270 if working with the bigger species and taking them at greater distances.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I do really enjoy these threads and the range of opinions freely given about preferred chamberings for deer. Then I recall that for many centuries, even long before “gunpowder” came to our shores, “man” hunted and killed UK deer of all sizes, initially with stones then progressed to using pieces of wood, flint, sinew and a strong arm. The culmination of all this effort probably delivered a projectile at much shorter distances, with considerably less accuracy and at a tiny fraction of the energy of either of the chamberings under discussion. Funny old world!

 

[Dalua]

The culmination of all this effort probably delivered a projectile at much shorter distances, with considerably less accuracy and at a tiny fraction of the energy...

I've been trying to restrain myself - but it needs saying: what you're describing there is the 6.5x55.

The true culmination of mankind's efforts to produce 'hunting' equipment is the .270.

So there.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I've been trying to restrain myself - but it needs saying: what you're describing there is the 6.5x55.

The true culmination of mankind's efforts to produce 'hunting' equipment is the .270.

So there.

I like your style D! Just a minor concern about your judgement…. In truth I love both chamberings - .270 was first c/f I fired in anger - 5 hinds that far off day and at distance on a Scottish Glen but as the years take their toll the 6.5x55 just suits me perfectly.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Got a 308 it's OK. Want my 270 megadeath back.