Opinion on 6.5X55

[tomblincoe]

It may only be 0.5mm wider but its slinging 40% more lead downrange with over 200ft/lbs of energy more at the muzzle. (That is comparing 95gr SST with 140gr SST superformance factory loads)

Its not a magic round and certainly isn't a 30-06 but is a step up from .243 in performance and less damaging to carcasses.

Tom

 

[The deer man]

I shoot a fair few Red, Fallow and Muntjac each year and from practical experience have never had a problem with the Swede. But then I use soft point bullets which work well at 6.5x55 speeds. I've said before on here the use of premium 'A frame' type or bonded bullets is unnecessary and a waste of money but from a practical point they are not perhaps doing the speeds at longer ranges that gives them the expansion required for swifter kills.

So before we slag off the 6.5x55 or any calibre for that matter for poor performance perhaps we should look at he performance of the shooters ability to choose the correct bullet/ammunition for the job.

 

[Wills]

I shoot a fair few Red, Fallow and Muntjac each year and from practical experience have never had a problem with the Swede. But then I use soft point bullets which work well at 6.5x55 speeds. I've said before on here the use of premium 'A frame' type or bonded bullets is unnecessary and a waste of money but from a practical point they are not perhaps doing the speeds at longer ranges that gives them the expansion required for swifter kills.

So before we slag off the 6.5x55 or any calibre for that matter for poor performance perhaps we should look at he performance of the shooters ability to choose the correct bullet/ammunition for the job.

So, what do you use?

 

[Markfox]

I use a 6.5x55 for muntjac , roe , fallow and fox I don't shoot over 150 - 200 yards

it drops all I shoot its quiet and recoil is not really noticible

im more than happy with RWS 140 factory ammo and I consider it a do it all calibre

if I go Scotland to shoot something bigger I'm quite happy to use my 6.5 as I have complete confidence in it to get the job done

 

[jimsim]

As Edi said, it is all about the bullets.

Relatively tough, heavy for calibre bullets at modest velocity don't expand quickly and there is less damage on a clean chest shot - you will get runners.

Now, load that modern 6.5 with a 120gr bullets at 2900fps plus, which is perfectly achievable, and you will see a different outcome. I shoot mostly Sika with a 120gr 6.5 ballistic tip, I get very few runners.

It's been said before, a competent handloader can turn the Swede into a passibly useful deer rifle....

Well said brain I also use 6.5 with 120 grain noslers running @2900 fps shot around 40-50 fallow last season no more runner s than iv had with the .243 I find the 6.5 a cracking calibre for uk deer

 

[Boarboy]

Well said brain I also use 6.5 with 120 grain noslers running @2900 fps shot around 40-50 fallow last season no more runner s than iv had with the .243 I find the 6.5 a cracking calibre for uk deer

Is that the 120gr ballistic tip or the partition jimsim?

 

[Vipa]

I shoot a fair few Red, Fallow and Muntjac each year and from practical experience have never had a problem with the Swede. But then I use soft point bullets which work well at 6.5x55 speeds. I've said before on here the use of premium 'A frame' type or bonded bullets is unnecessary and a waste of money but from a practical point they are not perhaps doing the speeds at longer ranges that gives them the expansion required for swifter kills.

So before we slag off the 6.5x55 or any calibre for that matter for poor performance perhaps we should look at he performance of the shooters ability to choose the correct bullet/ammunition for the job.

agreed.. My first rifle was 6.5x55, I ran 125 & 140 gn partitions through it and saw little expansion.. Small entry, small exit.... Did the job but more ran than not.. I feed my current 6.5x55 with 156gn Norma Vulkans, traditional construction and fast expanding.... What a difference, they hit like a steam train..... No runners, they devastate what they hit so I have to agree.. It boils down to bullet choice rather than calibre

 

[The deer man]

So, what do you use?

I reload using Sierra 140gr SPBT Game King and/or Sierra 120gr SP Pro Hunter.
Both are exceedingly accurate and find both good for all UK deer however I do find the 120's a bit severe on Muntjac and prefer the 140's for meat preservation.
Velocity 120gr - 2,850 ft/sec
Velocity 140gr 2,690 ft/sec

P.S. I saw someone referred to Nathan Foster website. . . well I wouldn't take it as gospel! I always get the feeling from it that if it isn't a magnum, speed of light, blow it to smithereens rifle it's no good! If you drive any bullet faster than intended it becomes frangible, even the Sierra website tells you this.

 

[sikadog]

The Nathan Foster web site is a bit strange I looked on it for details for a 338-06 and reading between the lines it said it was not a very good caliber.
I WOULD NOT LIKE TO STAND IN FRONT OF ONE COMING MY WAY

 

[Dalua]

The 6.5x55 was designed for penetration through many layer of winter clothing when in use by the Swedish army

Was that after it was found that the .303, 7mm and 8mm bullets of other armies simply bounced off the overcoats of winter-clad Scandinavians?

...so it can't be suprising that a Roe deer, which has a ribcage width of about 8 inches, is not much of a medium for bullet expansion.

Indeed - no suprise at all that a 160gr FMJ roundnose fired by a fin de siécle Swedish infantryman would pass straight through a roe without expanding much: even a roe in winter clothing.

As Edi helpfully points out - it's all about bullet choice: forget the broadcloth-piercing FMJs for a start, and avoid the long heavies if you're after roe.

 

[jimsim]

Is that the 120gr ballistic tip or the partition jimsim?

I use the 120 ballistic tip

 

[mmbeatle]

Been reading the thread with interest and shoot a 6.5x55 myself, ok i reload and use 140 gr gameking with H4350 powder pushing 2700 ft/sec last time i checked. I have shot everything with this caliber from 30 yards to 200 yards with no complaints it flattened everything that it has been pointed at with nothing running to include chest shots.Please do not underestimate the caliber it is up to shooting anything we have in the uk.The go to bullet head would always have to be the 140 gr which this caliber loves.
Does help if you reload as you have a few more options but there is plenty of good factory ammo out there

 

[mmbeatle]

tt

 

[Vipa]

Been reading the thread with interest and shoot a 6.5x55 myself, ok i reload and use 140 gr gameking with H4350 powder pushing 2700 ft/sec last time i checked. I have shot everything with this caliber from 30 yards to 200 yards with no complaints it flattened everything that it has been pointed at with nothing running to include chest shots.Please do not underestimate the caliber it is up to shooting anything we have in the uk.The go to bullet head would always have to be the 140 gr which this caliber loves.
Does help if you reload as you have a few more options but there is plenty of good factory ammo out there

It's 'native' projectile weight is 156gr which it is what it was actually designed to shoot.

 

[Sika98k]

The included photo shows heads recovered from sika and fallow deer. The group on the right are Norma 156gr Oryx.
The group on the left are Nosler ballistic tip 120gr heads. As you can see a few shedded their lead cores. I found they caused a lot of meat damage. They were doing about 2800fps.

 

[The deer man]

The included photo shows heads recovered from sika and fallow deer. The group on the right are Norma 156gr Oryx.
The group on the left are Nosler ballistic tip 120gr heads. As you can see a few shedded their lead cores. I found they caused a lot of meat damage. They were doing about 2800fps.
View attachment 56579

Looks fairly typical for the non-bonded ballistic tipped bullets.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

I think the trick is to match bullet construction with the velocity this round is capable of.

A 140gr 6.5 ambling along at 2700 FPS does not need to be a super tough bullet, the suggested 140gr Gameking should open up and perform very well at these speeds. A Swift A Frame may not open up as readily.

 

[Glendine]

I use the 120 ballistic tip

+1

 

[mmbeatle]

+2

 

[The deer man]

I think the trick is to match bullet construction with the velocity this round is capable of.

A 140gr 6.5 ambling along at 2700 FPS does not need to be a super tough bullet, the suggested 140gr Gameking should open up and perform very well at these speeds. A Swift A Frame may not open up as readily.

Couldn't agree more.