Specific calibre...what rifle?

[I. Farticus]

My Sako 75 Synthetic Stainless with 20 1/2" 1in8 twist Hunter profile barrel (it was shortened slightly by previous owner) will happily shoot 140gr SSTs at 600yds.

Now moved onto 143gr ELD-X, and just chrono'd the ammo at 2,700fps with 46.7grains N560, so should be absolutely fine.

Find something that fits you, and get out and play. I carry mine considerably more than I shoot it when stalking, so prefer the lighter profile barrel. It's not a range rig - you'll want a 24-30" Varmint profile for serious range work - but it does exactly what I need it to do

2 on Guntrader:
Sako 6.5x55 Rifle | Second Hand Guns for Sale | guntrader (Hunter profile barrel)
Sako 75 Action 4 Hunter Wood Blued 6.5x55 Rifle | Second Hand Guns for Sale | guntrader (Varmint profile barrel)

 

[zambezi]

Argh, 6.5x55,,,,,really!??

Can I just be straight up, unless you reload and can put together some 140g partitions pushed fast, you need to get a deer dog as well.

Factory ammonia is too heavy and slow for the swede; resulting in runners, seen in MANY times.

Experiences differ, but your take on the 6.5x55SE looks to be a minority position. My own use of the 6.5 Swede, both here and abroad, using factory ammo is one-and-done. Really easy to shoot well on the range and in the field. A lovely chambering.

As to factory ammo being slow or heavy, a simple search shows otherwise. My preferred pill is from Sako and has an MV of 855m/s [2800ft/s].

 

[Dorset Guy]

Thank you all for the advice and comments! Fantastic to hear from so many with so much experience.

 

[6pt-sika]

Evening all,

As a newbie, what are people's experiences with their 6.5x55 rifle choice?

I'm 99% set on the calibre for putting holes in paper and stalking and it would be great to hear opinions on what rifles? Also, heavy or light barrel? What are your thoughts on choice?

I appreciate same rifle can be different calibre etc

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Let’s see over the last eight years I’ve owned five Swedish military Mauser in 6.5x55 and still have three of them . Also own a CZ550-FS in 6.5x55 and like or liked them all . I also like the 260 REM and have had five bolt action rifles an AR-10 and two bolt action pistols all chambered for the 260 . I still have two of the bolt rifles and the AR-10 . Picture below is my AR-10 260 this past season with two scrubby bucks , used the Hornady 123 SST handloads in Lapua cases (I have a shell catcher for the AR’s and I use it when hunting).

 

[6pt-sika]

Experiences differ, but your take on the 6.5x55SE looks to be a minority position. My own use of the 6.5 Swede, both here and abroad, using factory ammo is one-and-done.

If we’re being honest here I’ve found if I do MY PART , most ALL deer compatible cartridges are one and done . I will say some deer might take a death run but 90% of what I shoot I see drop from my tree stand .

 

[Slickshot]

For the range you stated I would get a 308 win. If you plan on going out to the 1000 yard range something in the 6.5 family would work..

I shoot a blaser R8 in 270 win & 6.5x284 Norma this covers all my hunting needs from close to mid range..

My long range only tool is an AI AT in 6.5 creedmoor

 

[7mmAL]

Check out the Tikka CTR (semi heavy barrel) May cover you for both stalking and target work. think they do it in .308, 6.5 creedmoor, .260 !

 

[1894]

Ive shot deer out of a 6.5x55 with 100gr, 120gr, 125gr and the odd 140gr. Reds at range, roe at range, muntjac close up, fallow at all ranges.

Its flawless, truly one does almost everything. Yes its a compromise - flat shooting bullets cause more damage on roe and its length is too much for a short action and a bit short for a long action but its such a good compromise.

I' ve not had runners and I'm surprised at PKLs experiences unless bullets were poor.

 

[Border]

6.5x55 fine for all UK deer species. Just match bullet to intended quarry. Heavy bonded bullets can pencil through roe without much expansion. 120 to 140 grains good for allround deer use.

 

[The deer man]

There are so many inaccurate myths told about the 6.5x55! Firstly it is a very capable calibre for all UK species (preferably using a soft point and not some salesman's wet dream uber super latest accuracy mending miracle!) given the correct bullet selection as for all calibres. Secondly, it is not loopy as some claim unless talking about themselves! Thirdly, it is as accurate and powerful (if you handload) as any other 6.5 calibre irrespective of barrel weight. Heavy barrels give you the advantage of quantity (of shots) not quality. Fourthly and every other 'ly the 6.5x55 holds its own easily amongst the latest - so get what you can buy which suits your personal feel and choice, you won't go wrong with this classic!

 

[Ronin]

6.5 Swede is one of the most capable cartridges around.

It’s levelled millions of large deer in Scandinavia and used as an effective target round in many shooting disciplines

There may be a trend towards the creedmoor whixh is no more accurate or capable than many other 6.5 cartridges (260 Rem, 6.5 Lapua, 6.5swede)

Yes you may need to hand load to use lighter bullets 120-140 grain but it’s a hell of a good deer and target round.

The marketeers have captured many with the creedmoor - there’s a new cartridge called 6.5 Skan.........

Guess what that is - 6.5x55

Old dog still alive and kicking

 

[ejg]

The Skan is just a CIP 6.5x55. I personally think the 6.5x55 is overrated for hunting. Very sensitive to bullets used. Trying to make a big game cartridge with low energy levels means bullets need to be made heavy, are then slow and should not expand/tough otherwise you will not achieve penetration needed for Moose. (Lapua Mega ) this bullet just ****es through our small deer which just run away. I have seen it many times and many deer were never found. The Mega starts slow has a lousy BC, drops like a brick and very little energy when it arrives. I recon a 223 would put a deer down quicker and leave more energy in our small Sika. This cartridge alone, which was one of the only 6,5x55 available in southern Ireland for a while gave it a very bad reputation. Up to now guides are not so impressed with the swede here. For those that don't believe this I think they are still available as factory ammo, put it over a chrono, try shooting a 200m target and you will understand. Put the right bullet in the 6,5 for medium game and you are fine. Still not a 308.
In Sweden the 6.5x55 is used for everything because they had nothing else, no other reason. In Finland the 6.5 is often not even mentioned for moose, for example the article in an older VIT manual mention even a 30 cal being marginal for moose and a 9.3x62 being much better. How can opinions differ so much?
My take is one should rank a cartridge by the energy it produces. Of course also the energy at the distance one shoots an animal at which can mean the 6.5 might be better a X meters compared to a 308 if the bullet matches game and speed. For normal stalking distances say average 100m a 308/30-06 in my book is in a totally different league to a 6.5x55. New bullet development for the 6.5creedmoore has a side effect that finally we will have a much better selection of hunting bullets available for the all lower powered 6.5mm cartridges like 260, 6.5 CM and 6.5x55.
edi

 

[The deer man]

The Skan is just a CIP 6.5x55. I personally think the 6.5x55 is overrated for hunting. Very sensitive to bullets used. Trying to make a big game cartridge with low energy levels means bullets need to be made heavy, are then slow and should not expand/tough otherwise you will not achieve penetration needed for Moose. (Lapua Mega ) this bullet just ****es through our small deer which just run away. I have seen it many times and many deer were never found. The Mega starts slow has a lousy BC, drops like a brick and very little energy when it arrives. I recon a 223 would put a deer down quicker and leave more energy in our small Sika. This cartridge alone, which was one of the only 6,5x55 available in southern Ireland for a while gave it a very bad reputation. Up to now guides are not so impressed with the swede here. For those that don't believe this I think they are still available as factory ammo, put it over a chrono, try shooting a 200m target and you will understand. Put the right bullet in the 6,5 for medium game and you are fine. Still not a 308.
In Sweden the 6.5x55 is used for everything because they had nothing else, no other reason. In Finland the 6.5 is often not even mentioned for moose, for example the article in an older VIT manual mention even a 30 cal being marginal for moose and a 9.3x62 being much better. How can opinions differ so much?
My take is one should rank a cartridge by the energy it produces. Of course also the energy at the distance one shoots an animal at which can mean the 6.5 might be better a X meters compared to a 308 if the bullet matches game and speed. For normal stalking distances say average 100m a 308/30-06 in my book is in a totally different league to a 6.5x55. New bullet development for the 6.5creedmoore has a side effect that finally we will have a much better selection of hunting bullets available for the all lower powered 6.5mm cartridges like 260, 6.5 CM and 6.5x55.
edi

Utter drivel! No point in responding further!

 

[User00033]

@ejg...

Yes I totally get what you're saying about the old Lapua Mega ammo. My old mate Bjerring has some of that on his shelf and I always think of you when I see it! But he also has a bunch of other factory ammo... Hornady Superformance (140gr SST @ ~2750fps), Federal Powershok (140gr @ (guessing) 2600+fps), Nosler Partition (140gr @ 2700fps). And he reloads too, standard fare, nothing too hot.

The only game animal in NZ that I'd hesitate to use any of these factory loads for would be scrub bulls! Heavy wapiti and red stags are taken every year with the Swede and a 140gr bullet doing around 2700fps. So that means there's nothing in the UK or Ireland that it can't deal too either.

The Swede has a massive following down here, and you just never ever hear these complaints about the cartridge. A tiny number of guys choose to hunt with historic firearms, but those fellas all know about the low pressure limitations. I'm talking about massive popularity of modern stalking rifles in 6.5x55mm, still a top five seller according to Beretta NZ. You see them out and about all the time, particularly Tikkas and Sakos, I think I see or hear of more 6.5x55 Finnlights than any other cartridge for that model rifle. They just go together, hand in glove.

I think you've gotta move on from the bad old days of limited supplies in Ireland. Times have changed. A good quality factory 140gr load is a gnat's willy of a difference to a 140gr in a 7mm-08, not enough in it for a deer to realise the difference. The other fella playing like a stuck record on this matter can heed the advice as well. Put 'em in the right place, and a 140gr hunting bullet will bring home the venison every time.

Take note! A 6.5 Grendel does the business just fine, the baby 6.5! Lets argue about that too!

 

[ejg]

Utter drivel! No point in responding further!

Which part did you not understand?
edi

 

[zambezi]

I personally think the 6.5x55 is overrated for hunting. Very sensitive to bullets used.

Not my experience. I use Sako120gr, Hornady 140gr SST and Sako 156gr interchangeablely with less than MOA difference in POI at 100m.

I use the non-toxic monolithic 120gr in the UK as I hunt for personal consumption. I agree that that bullet usually passes through Roe and Fallow at all normal ranges, exit wound is 2x entry size and anything between those points is utterly disrupted. The furthest any animal has proceeded (death run) from the strike site was 25m.

On a recent trip to Africa the 140gr bullets dropped Impala, Waterbuck, Nyala and Wildebeest. All were one-and-done. [I have yet to use the 156gr, but they are there for Eland if I get the chance...]

What the easy-to-shoot-accurately 6.5x55mm affords is precise bullet placement out to 200m+. Used that way, it is very efficient. If you take shots where bullet placement deviates from the heart/neck/head then I imagine that style of hunting requires a larger calibre+frangible bullet to ensure sufficient trauma to precipitate death.

 

[ejg]

Dodgy, in some countries the 6.5 Swede is the absolute minimum for big game. I think one should treat it as that. More a specialist cartridge. I think some will be very disappointed when putting factory ammo over a chrono with a 20 -22" hunting rifle. In Germany they might not let you take part in driven shoots with the swede and rightly so because others will have to do the follow up work not the shooter.
I will be getting one or two 6.5CM rifles soon and really looking forward to them mainly for longer range fox and as a 243 replacement. With the right bullet they will be OK for our small Sika deer but I don't expect magic.
What is really funny, how often do we have discussions of the 3006, 308 or 270 not being up to it compared to the Swede on these forums? The Swede seems to be mentioned weekly....
edi

 

[Pine Marten]

I've long had a hankering after a 6.5×57 or 57R. It doesn't really do anything another cartridge doesn't. It just seems sort of elegant, somehow.

 

[stephentri]

6.5x55 140 grain sst have used it for years never lost a deer or needed a second shot.

 

[User00033]

But we're not talking about "big" game though are we, @ejg. Deer are medium game, some are very small, others are bigger. Elk and moose are large and deserve respect accordingly. But I maintain that for muntjac, roe, fallow, reds and sika, a well placed 140gr from a 6.5x55 is no different to a 7mm08. The true factory ammo velocity and/or short barrel variables are not unique to the Swede, they are common across the board.

Driven game is a totally different proposition to stalking. As soon as an animal is on the move, the shooter needs to resort to blunt force rather than precision. I don't think its relevant to include driven shooting in the same discussion.